Swing Like a Pro: The Breakthrough Scientific Method of Perfecting Your Golf Swing

by Ralph Mann, Fred Griffin

A leading biomechanics expert and a premier golf instructor share the secrets of the perfect swing using a breakthrough learning tool—for novice and advanced golfers alike.
   
For seventeen years, CompuSport International’s biomechanics expert Dr. Ralph Mann devoted himself to studying the swings of more than 100 PGA and LPGA Tour players to uncover the keys to a better game and a lower handicap. The results: the computer-generated composite Pro, which embodies the mechanical elements of the holy grail of the golf swing—efficient, effective, and now achievable.
 
Illustrated with 175 animated 3-D stills of the Pro that pinpoint the exact motions of a body executing the perfect swing,  Swing Like a Pro  provides accurate, consistent information about how to play the game properly, breaking down the exact steps you can take to develop and refine your skills at performing every aspect of the shot. Mann teams up with renowned golf instructor Fred Griffin to examine and explain
 
• Setup, including how to grip and align the club properly while finding the perfect balance for your body
• The seven characteristics of a great backswing, with drills for improvement
• How to achieve distance with accuracy through your downswing
• How to put all these elements together with both timing and tempo
• And much more!

With its unique cutting-edge, scientific approach, and the expertise of its authors,  Swing Like a Pro  promises to be the best golf Pro you ever consulted to help you improve your swing and shave strokes off your handicap—and proves that there is such a thing as a perfect swing.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 29, 1998

Reviews

[Joe Noto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 out of 5 mostly because I learned some new things about the golf swing, and also because I was reminded of a few fundamentals that I forgot about. I also liked that this book was obviously written for an already experienced golfer that has plateaued and needs to fix some fundamentals in their swing...which is me exactly. A beginner will likely be quite lost and confused with some of the standard golf terms and the subtle changes needed to be made to yield big results.

I can't go higher than a 3.5, because there is A LOT of fluff. You can skip the Introduction and the last 2 chapters. There is nothing of value in those +50 pages. The rest of the book is great although there is quite a lot of repeated info especially in the Common Problems section of each chapter. I get it, the ball should be forward in my stance not back. I get it. Don't have to repeat it 10 times.

Anyway, I'm definitely going to take all these ideas to the range. I've never been able to hit further than 260 yards, and I'm excited to practice a few techniques that I know haven't been doing. Hopefully I could surpass 260 soon.

[Sausagecreature · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overly wordy, a lot of padding that could have been distilled into less, but I imagine they needed to have enough words to make a book so they had to fill in some.

Apart from that, this is a far better way to learn golf than the composite advice from 20 different mates and 200 youtube videos from different people. It is one approach, unified, solid, scientifically derived. Get past the fluff in the chapters, spend the time, do the exercises, learn, practice and this book will likely be the best coach you ever had assuming you know a little bit already or can google and fill in any gaps that the book assumes.

What could be worse? Lessons from Coach No1 in 2020 and lessons from coach no2 in 2025, both with different approaches and understandings of your swing. I personally think one approach to the swing from one source is the best way to improve.

Probably the best golf advice there is, but it could be half the length.

[Otis Chandler]

Played golf once with a guy who was pretty good, and he said definitely read this book.

[Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad is a freakin' genius. If you love golf, read this.