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The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing: Curing Your Hit Impulse in Seven Simple Lessons: 1 (Golf Instruction for Beginner and Intermediate Golfers) by McTeigue, Michael (July 23, 2012) Paperback

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The biggest paradox in golf is that the harder you try to "hit" the ball, the worse you do so. In The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing, Michael McTeigue offers you a simple system of sequential body movements that produces a true swinging motion with every club in the bag. The result is increased distance and greater accuracy for all sizes, shapes, and ages of golfers for a minimum investment in learning time. The clarity and simplicity of McTeigue's frell-free approach to the golf swing leads the reader to a new experience of power and effortlessness. He truly shows how to "build a swing you can trust and keep for life."If you love golf but have never played to your potential, here is a book that you will quickly come to treasure.

Paperback

First published November 1, 1985

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Michael McTeigue

12 books4 followers

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5 stars
247 (44%)
4 stars
186 (33%)
3 stars
81 (14%)
2 stars
31 (5%)
1 star
12 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
136 reviews
July 8, 2021
amazing book. I have read many golf books and taken too many lessons, but Michael McTeague breaks the swing down better than anyone -- and provides the drills to help high handicappers (like me) learn to swing through the ball, rather than HIT at the darned thing.
Profile Image for Erik.
129 reviews2 followers
July 22, 2020
I recently picked back up playing golf again and this book should be required reading for all recreational golfers who are serious about improving their game. It’s a very smooth read, with simple but effective illustrations to reinforce and guide the learning process. The patient student will be well rewarded by this book. I have taken my time to absorb the instructions that lay within these pages, rereading chapters several times as I pause to apply what I learn towards attaining an effortless golf swing. A superb golf swing instructional book - I would give this ten stars if the rating system allowed me.
4 reviews
November 1, 2017
Urge to HIT !

I know my biggest fault in golf is the need to smash the ball instead of swinging the club and not knowing how to control this urge. In very clear lessons, Michael shows you how to overcome this urge and develope a acceptable golf swing. He is very clear that it takes work and practice to succede, he shows the way, it is up to the golfer to follow the path he has layed out
Profile Image for Wangdo Kim.
20 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2017
Affordance of club

Perceptual development is a process of learning about affordances, becoming better able to detect appropriate sup-
ports and resources, and discovering new affordances as ac-
tion capabilities change (E. J. Gibson, 1992). Affordances
themselves develop. The acquisition of new motor skills—
looking, reaching, walking, weightlifting, swimming, driv-
ing, sewing, hand writing—produces new affordances to be learned throughout life.
1 review
June 4, 2023
Simple, Concise, Repeatable Fundamentals

This book helped me build a consistent and successful golf swing. I practiced the seven lessons in sequence, establishing muscle memory for the set up, balance, tempo, and staying relaxed. This frees up the mind to focus on strategy to visualize your next shot.

I have also read his book Bullet Proof Putting and highly recommend that one for the same reasons.
3 reviews
March 9, 2018
Major common errors highlighted

Helped me in that it reinforced swing info learned in Ben Hogans Five Lessons book. Swing planes described in it need to be achieved with relaxed effort. Reminds me this won't be so easy for older golfers
1 review
June 29, 2019
Look no further

Having read somewhere close to 30 different books over the last 10 years I’d say this the easiest and simplest method to understand and implement. This book is straight to the point with no fluff.
9 reviews
July 12, 2019
Succinct Summary of How the Swing Should Work

Quick read, with great descriptions. The text made intuitive sense to me. I will re-read it in more detail. Think of it as building on Hogan with more attention paid to feel. Great book.
Profile Image for Ramanujam Nagenthiran.
3 reviews
March 9, 2020
Simple Keys to Good Golf Swing

I could understand the coil and major swing keys more easily after reading the book and practicing at the driving range. Good read for anyone who wants to improve their golf swing.
Profile Image for Richard Hagee.
4 reviews
July 9, 2025
Small Steps to Promote a correct Swing

I like how the author has you practice a one piece or lighthouse swing in small segments until the student goes on to lengthen his back swing and shift his or her weight. I have been
Profile Image for CherylR.
440 reviews1 follower
July 4, 2017
Good enough

Was a fast read. Not all that much new information presented, but was good enough. It was over before I knew it so did read fast.
3 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2018
A superb distillation

I’ve been plagued most of my life on the golf course by what this slim volume teaches the reader to avoid. It’s liberating!
5 reviews
June 4, 2019
Very easy read. steps are simplified to help the reader put everything into practice and improve their golf game almost immediately. highly recommend.
Profile Image for Công Nguyễn.
30 reviews4 followers
June 6, 2023
Best golf book for beginner and intermediate gòlfer. Applying the theory in this book, I gained 1 club more distance for each of my clubs.
29 reviews
September 17, 2025
I learned couple of good essentials for my golf swing by reading this book. Yet, illustrations are rather rare citizens and definitely will help me to follow material more easily.
156 reviews
October 24, 2020
I read this book again in October, 2020... it is primarily about how to swing the golf club with your body core... very detailed.... I compare the author's system to what Paul Wilson teaches... the only difference is McTeigue believes in passive wrists while Paul Wilson teaches active wrists that hinge and rehinge through the swing process... I want to use their body core swing methods in 2021 and rebuild my game around this system... I have already started to do this in 2020 with good results, but i need to be more committed to this system exclusively.... I believe it is easier on your body and at my age of 73, that is of most importance.... watching Paul Wilson's videos on You Tube is probably the same thing as using McTeigue's method... with small variations such as passive vs active wrists.
8 reviews
June 5, 2016
Fantastic

Concise and clear building blocks for the construction of a consistent golf swing. Focus is on broad and considerable emphasis is put on resisting tension and the "hit" impulse.

Would highly recommend this book to beginners and experts alike.
Profile Image for Pedro.
3 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2015
Very clear!

Simple and clear. Should be easy to practice at the Golf course to find the effortless swing I'm loking for.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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