Golf is Not a Game of Perfect

Did I pick this book up because it promised to make me better at golf? Maybe. Did it? Maybe. In truth, I don’t think that’s why people should read this book. You’re rarely ever going to get better at something by spending time reading about it instead of practicing it.

What Dr. Bob Rotella does well is provide insights into the sides of golf that are less about the game and more about the moral and mentality behind it all. He’s not going to walk you through swing mechanics, let alone techniques to hit better shots and shoot lower scores. Instead, he’s going to remind you that few games can teach you more about yourself than golf.

Golf is Not a Game of Perfect definitely has some “life is about the journey not the destination” wisdom in it, which perhaps causes it to lose some of its uniqueness. But it’s also full of cool stories about professional golfers putting Rotella’s theories into practice and how that works out for them.

The best part of this book is its title. Golf isn’t about perfection. And neither is life. Without getting too theological, there’s a wonderful picture of God’s grace in there. Even between shanks and skulls, golf is a place where you can still find God.

Favorite Quote

You cannot hit a golf ball consistently well if you think about the mechanics of your swing as you play.