What do you think?
Rate this book
The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods
In March 2004, Hank Haney received a call from Tiger Woods in which the golf champion asked Haney to be his coach. It was a call that would change both men’s lives. Tiger – only 28 at the time – was by then already an icon, judged by the sporting press as not only one of the best golfers ever, but possibly the best athlete ever. But Tiger was always looking to improve, and he wanted Hank’s help. Over the next six years of working together, the supremely gifted Woods collected six major championships and rewrote golf history. Hank was one of the very few people allowed behind the curtain.
Always haunting Tiger was his fear of ‘the big miss’ – the wildly inaccurate golf shot that can ruin an otherwise solid round – and it was because that type of blunder was sometimes part of Tiger’s game that Hank carefully redesigned his swing mechanics.
Towards the end of their time together, the champion’s laser-like focus began to blur and he became less willing to put in punishing hours practicing. Hints that Tiger hungered to reinvent himself were present in his bizarre infatuation with elite military training, and – in a development Hank didn’t see coming – in the scandal that would make headlines in late 2009. It all added up to a big miss that Hank, try as he might, couldn’t save Tiger from.
There’s never been a book about Tiger Woods that is as intimate and revealing – or one so wise about what it takes to coach a superstar athlete.
Always haunting Tiger was his fear of ‘the big miss’ – the wildly inaccurate golf shot that can ruin an otherwise solid round – and it was because that type of blunder was sometimes part of Tiger’s game that Hank carefully redesigned his swing mechanics.
Towards the end of their time together, the champion’s laser-like focus began to blur and he became less willing to put in punishing hours practicing. Hints that Tiger hungered to reinvent himself were present in his bizarre infatuation with elite military training, and – in a development Hank didn’t see coming – in the scandal that would make headlines in late 2009. It all added up to a big miss that Hank, try as he might, couldn’t save Tiger from.
There’s never been a book about Tiger Woods that is as intimate and revealing – or one so wise about what it takes to coach a superstar athlete.
272 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2013
423 people are currently reading
1440 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews
May 19, 2012
Boring and Hank Haney comes across as whiny and hurt. Haney is filled with inner turmoil during his time coaching Tiger, most of which didn't make sense. Tiger didn't give him a popsicle. And he really wanted a popsicle. Should he just ask if it's ok to have one or get it out of the refrigerator himself? Seriously.
I felt he wrote this book to give the finger to all the naysayers who said Tiger really suffered under his coaching. There wasn't much humility here, especially at the end when he counts up all of his wins and compares them to Tiger's previous coach.
But who are we kidding -- we all read this to get dirt on Tiger Woods, not a peek into Haney's conflicted psyche. And I got a better picture of Tiger than I did before. He's a robot, devoid of emotion and feeling and one who doesn't give a damn about making conversation or being polite. We pretty much knew that. I didn't know he was so infatuated with becoming a Navy SEAL -- and that his bizarre excursions playing SEAL may have permanently damaged his leg.
I felt he wrote this book to give the finger to all the naysayers who said Tiger really suffered under his coaching. There wasn't much humility here, especially at the end when he counts up all of his wins and compares them to Tiger's previous coach.
But who are we kidding -- we all read this to get dirt on Tiger Woods, not a peek into Haney's conflicted psyche. And I got a better picture of Tiger than I did before. He's a robot, devoid of emotion and feeling and one who doesn't give a damn about making conversation or being polite. We pretty much knew that. I didn't know he was so infatuated with becoming a Navy SEAL -- and that his bizarre excursions playing SEAL may have permanently damaged his leg.
December 23, 2023
Enjoyable
A very interesting book that for golf fans like me was fantastic. I will admit that I am very much Tiger Woods fan and therefore this book attracted me and did not disappoint.
He goes into details that golf junkies would really get a lot out of.
overall, a very good book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I recommend
A very interesting book that for golf fans like me was fantastic. I will admit that I am very much Tiger Woods fan and therefore this book attracted me and did not disappoint.
He goes into details that golf junkies would really get a lot out of.
overall, a very good book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I recommend
June 7, 2012
OK, I admit it. I picked up “The Big Miss” expecting a train wreck. Like a voyeur, I was hoping for either the inside dirt on Tiger’s Greek fall or an ego/pitty parade where Haney casts himself as the innocent guide more “sinned against than sinning.”
“The Big Miss” failed to deliver on those counts; rather, it is an excellent exploration of what it takes to be great and the unintended consequences of the effort. The theme of the big miss is expertly woven throughout this very engaging book. Not only is it Tiger’s propensity to hit the hard hook and the on-going battle to avoid it (it is fascinating and freeing to learn that Tiger has the same fear of the driver as I have). The big miss is also the propensity for many of us to overlook the obvious because questioning might call too much of our own values into question.
As you may know, I am a Raymond Chandler fan. While his noir style so perfectly fits his LA settings, what is most compelling in his stories is, in his own words, “a quality of redemption.” I started “The Big Miss” looking for an expose of the dark world surrounding Tiger Woods, rather Hank Haney has given us a sliver of insight into the risks and possible redemption of greatness.
“The Big Miss” failed to deliver on those counts; rather, it is an excellent exploration of what it takes to be great and the unintended consequences of the effort. The theme of the big miss is expertly woven throughout this very engaging book. Not only is it Tiger’s propensity to hit the hard hook and the on-going battle to avoid it (it is fascinating and freeing to learn that Tiger has the same fear of the driver as I have). The big miss is also the propensity for many of us to overlook the obvious because questioning might call too much of our own values into question.
As you may know, I am a Raymond Chandler fan. While his noir style so perfectly fits his LA settings, what is most compelling in his stories is, in his own words, “a quality of redemption.” I started “The Big Miss” looking for an expose of the dark world surrounding Tiger Woods, rather Hank Haney has given us a sliver of insight into the risks and possible redemption of greatness.
May 5, 2012
In deciding to purchase this book I was mainly motivated by certain questions I've had about Tiger's personality,his relationship with his caddies, his reason for changing a very successful swing and if this book did in fact cross some kind of boundary. I'm a fan of Tiger the golfer, not so much of Tiger the person off the golf course and this book did nothing to change that except increase my sense of tragedy in Tiger's life.
It is tragic that Tiger is such a closed person as I imagine it cuts him off from experiencing all the joys of friendship that could be his. But maybe for Tiger to survive the ever present scrutiny he has to protect his boundaries and so is one of the costs of his fame.
Haney did not go into much more detail about the Williams-Tiger breakup than was reported publicly. But again here was another example of a lamentable breakup that might have contributed to Tiger's golfing decline.
According to Haney, the swing changes happen because Tiger is deeply driven by perfection and this is perhaps where Tiger's life takes on the form of a true tragedy with Tiger the protagonist and his unbeatable enemy--the desire to have the perfect golf swing, to be the perfect golfer. Probably no one has come closer than Tiger, but such a quest has little chance of bringing happiness or satisfaction.
Regading the question of violating somekind of ethical code as charged by Rick Smith, another famous swing instructor, I don't think Haney did. As the author points out there are two sides to every relationship and he is as entitled to present his side as others are to present theirs. I do think he wrote this book to protect his reputation as a swing instructor because of the prominence of his relationship with Tiger Woods and the amount of criticism he thought he might receive. And the lack of any confidentiality agreement suggests the code is well established so Haney took a big risk in writing this book. But I thought his presentation and arguements were fair and balanced.
So for me the book provided more insight into that unique instructor - student relationship than I would ever have had. The fact that this complex relationship involved one of the premier golfers in the world and a highly reputed swing instructor only enhanced my enjoyment and learning.
It is tragic that Tiger is such a closed person as I imagine it cuts him off from experiencing all the joys of friendship that could be his. But maybe for Tiger to survive the ever present scrutiny he has to protect his boundaries and so is one of the costs of his fame.
Haney did not go into much more detail about the Williams-Tiger breakup than was reported publicly. But again here was another example of a lamentable breakup that might have contributed to Tiger's golfing decline.
According to Haney, the swing changes happen because Tiger is deeply driven by perfection and this is perhaps where Tiger's life takes on the form of a true tragedy with Tiger the protagonist and his unbeatable enemy--the desire to have the perfect golf swing, to be the perfect golfer. Probably no one has come closer than Tiger, but such a quest has little chance of bringing happiness or satisfaction.
Regading the question of violating somekind of ethical code as charged by Rick Smith, another famous swing instructor, I don't think Haney did. As the author points out there are two sides to every relationship and he is as entitled to present his side as others are to present theirs. I do think he wrote this book to protect his reputation as a swing instructor because of the prominence of his relationship with Tiger Woods and the amount of criticism he thought he might receive. And the lack of any confidentiality agreement suggests the code is well established so Haney took a big risk in writing this book. But I thought his presentation and arguements were fair and balanced.
So for me the book provided more insight into that unique instructor - student relationship than I would ever have had. The fact that this complex relationship involved one of the premier golfers in the world and a highly reputed swing instructor only enhanced my enjoyment and learning.
April 3, 2012
If you want to learn about golf from Hank Haney, read his book "Essentials of the Swing instead. This book is more like a bad soap opera with some insightful information about some of Tiger's greatest, and worst, performances. Tiger's a great golfer, but with the social skills of a sheltered child, Hank is upset because he isn't offered a popsicle & Steve Williams is mad because Tiger won't talk to him. I don't know if Tiger will catch Jack Nicklaus, and it will be a great drama to watch him try, but one thing is clear -- Tiger will never out class him.
February 23, 2017
(2 1/2). Hank Haney is a really good golf instructor. Tiger Woods was a really good (one of the best ever) golfer. Their worlds merged (some would say collided) for a very successful run of about 6 years. This is Hank's version of what happened. I would love to hear the other two sides as well (Tiger's and the truth). If you are a golf nut, as I am, this is big fun. If you are not, this book would mostly be boring beyond tears. Kind of a fun sports sidecar that I rode while I have been working on a really big book at the same time.
March 29, 2012
What you'd expect. Tiger's really intense, very private, kind of a dick, a great competitor and athlete. Not too much insight here.
November 21, 2024
Solid book, definitely as close to an “inside” perspective of Tiger Woods as you are going to get. Humanizes him for sure and you get a sense of his quirks and how it may be like dealing with him on a consistent basis. At times I felt like it was a little whiney from the authors end, but when dealing with the greatest of all time I imagine you are hard pressed to make rational decisions when it comes to defending yourself. My own golf game has declined since beginning this book , hence the removal of a star.
January 17, 2022
Some good behind the scenes stories about working with Tiger. However the author does come off as pretty desperate for attention when comparing Tiger's record with him versus other coaches he's had. Very skim-able in parts.
July 16, 2019
Interesting insight for any Tiger fan. It's always hard to gauge objectivity but it is a must-read for those interested in the Big Cat.
June 28, 2024
As a golf fan, I was intrigued to learn more about Tiger Woods through this book by his coach. I thought it was well-written and I appreciate the good work that Haney did with Tiger, even while Tiger wasn't great to him.
July 2, 2025
The good half was insight into Tiger's personality that you don't read about in the news. The bad part Hank came across as super sensitive, i.e. maybe when Tiger's life is falling apart in scandal, he's not going to acknowledge your long-winded email, and if you want a popsicle so bad, buy your own!!
November 9, 2014
“An extraordinary ability to focus and stay calm under stress.” Selfish. Obsessive. Stubborn. Cold. Ruthless. Petty. Cheap. All words author and swing coach Hank Haney uses to describe his golf student, Tiger Woods. That’s also how Haney defines “the Package,” the sum of all of Tiger’s qualities and characteristics, the good and the bad.” While Haney taught Woods on the PGA tour for six plus years, those “special qualities . . . helped him win. And winning gave him permission to remain a flawed and in some ways immature person.”
Wake up at six a.m. Work out until eight. Shower. Eat breakfast. At nine, 90 minutes of hitting balls on the practice tee. From 10:30 to 11, practice putting. From 11:00 to noon, play nine holes of golf. One hour lunch break at noon. At 1:00, an hour of short-game work. At 2:00, 90 minutes of hitting balls. From 3:30 to 4:45, play nine more holes of golf. From 4:45 to 6:00, practice putting. From 6:00 to 7:00, an hour of shoulder exercises. Dinner at seven. So you think you would like to be Tiger Woods? That’s how the legendary athlete spent his days at home at Isleworth. You have to wonder, how could anyone on that schedule have time for a wife and two children?
Perhaps the most surprising thing you’ll take away from Haney’s tell-all diary here is to discover Woods’ “growing obsession with the military.” For example, did you know that Tiger attended four days of Army special-operations training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina? Did you know Woods spent “two-or-three-day sessions at naval and marine outposts involving exercises with Navy SEAL teams?” In fact, Haney reports his pupil “probably went on half a dozen SEAL trips” in 2007. Tiger’s secret, GI Joe life also involved jumping out of airplanes and weapons training with live rubber bullets in a Kill House exercise. At one point, Woods seriously considered leaving the PGA tour to become a Navy SEAL.
Across the line. Draw. Fade. Hook. Laid Off. On Plane. Pull. Push. Saw Across. Slice. Stinger. Stuck. Up and Down. If those terms are foreign to you, you probably don’t play professional golf. Not to worry. Haney, being the professional teacher he is, provides a handy glossary of golf terms in the back of the book. That’s where you’ll also find four pages of Tiger’s scores, shot totals, finishing positions, margins and money earnings on the tour during Haney’s tenure with Woods.
So. What’s Tiger Woods really like? As Haney discovered, “even for those who are actually around him a lot,” as the author was for a half dozen years, “he is very hard to know. There is a lot going on behind those eyes, but very little is shown.”
Wake up at six a.m. Work out until eight. Shower. Eat breakfast. At nine, 90 minutes of hitting balls on the practice tee. From 10:30 to 11, practice putting. From 11:00 to noon, play nine holes of golf. One hour lunch break at noon. At 1:00, an hour of short-game work. At 2:00, 90 minutes of hitting balls. From 3:30 to 4:45, play nine more holes of golf. From 4:45 to 6:00, practice putting. From 6:00 to 7:00, an hour of shoulder exercises. Dinner at seven. So you think you would like to be Tiger Woods? That’s how the legendary athlete spent his days at home at Isleworth. You have to wonder, how could anyone on that schedule have time for a wife and two children?
Perhaps the most surprising thing you’ll take away from Haney’s tell-all diary here is to discover Woods’ “growing obsession with the military.” For example, did you know that Tiger attended four days of Army special-operations training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina? Did you know Woods spent “two-or-three-day sessions at naval and marine outposts involving exercises with Navy SEAL teams?” In fact, Haney reports his pupil “probably went on half a dozen SEAL trips” in 2007. Tiger’s secret, GI Joe life also involved jumping out of airplanes and weapons training with live rubber bullets in a Kill House exercise. At one point, Woods seriously considered leaving the PGA tour to become a Navy SEAL.
Across the line. Draw. Fade. Hook. Laid Off. On Plane. Pull. Push. Saw Across. Slice. Stinger. Stuck. Up and Down. If those terms are foreign to you, you probably don’t play professional golf. Not to worry. Haney, being the professional teacher he is, provides a handy glossary of golf terms in the back of the book. That’s where you’ll also find four pages of Tiger’s scores, shot totals, finishing positions, margins and money earnings on the tour during Haney’s tenure with Woods.
So. What’s Tiger Woods really like? As Haney discovered, “even for those who are actually around him a lot,” as the author was for a half dozen years, “he is very hard to know. There is a lot going on behind those eyes, but very little is shown.”
April 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. Even if you're not a big golf fan I think you may find fascinating the relationship between Tiger Woods and coach Hank Haney. If you're not a golf fan though you may find it difficult to sit through all of the miniscule descriptions of holding the club face, hitting the ball, working on longshots. Haney tended to be a bit repetitive in his descriptions and context as related to different golf tournaments but overall I thought he did a good job painting a picture of Tiger's rise and fall.
Hank Haney realized early on that he was never going to be able to relax with Tiger Woods. He was going to be complicated and he was going to surprise him with his bad moods. His goal was to try to adapt on the fly but he was never able to really be comfortable with Tiger Woods. Tiger never let anyone really into his world.
If I ever got back into golf I would probably need to reread this book because there are some fascinating golf tips in this book. Remember Hank Haney is one of the greatest golf coaches of all time. And he points out that his one unifying principle of hitting a golf ball is that all good things in the golf swing flow from achieving the correct swing plane. He explains it this way "the plane of the swing is established by the angle of the club shaft in the address position. When the shaft retains the angle of that plane as it moves through the swing, a player has the best chance to hit good shots."
Overall this book was a fascinating look into the mindset of the world's greatest golfer. It'll be interesting to see if Tiger ever regains that status.
Hank Haney realized early on that he was never going to be able to relax with Tiger Woods. He was going to be complicated and he was going to surprise him with his bad moods. His goal was to try to adapt on the fly but he was never able to really be comfortable with Tiger Woods. Tiger never let anyone really into his world.
If I ever got back into golf I would probably need to reread this book because there are some fascinating golf tips in this book. Remember Hank Haney is one of the greatest golf coaches of all time. And he points out that his one unifying principle of hitting a golf ball is that all good things in the golf swing flow from achieving the correct swing plane. He explains it this way "the plane of the swing is established by the angle of the club shaft in the address position. When the shaft retains the angle of that plane as it moves through the swing, a player has the best chance to hit good shots."
Overall this book was a fascinating look into the mindset of the world's greatest golfer. It'll be interesting to see if Tiger ever regains that status.
March 31, 2014
Tattle-tales attract us with alleged secrets, and Hank Haney uses a magnetic spectrum of them to do so. Without delving into each tale spanning his six year involvement with Tiger, suffice it to say that my curiosity is satisfied. Haney paints a Picasso-like, cubist portrait where Tiger's complexity grows over time evolving from the parent-guided child prodigy to self-deluded broken father. Especially compelling for me were the insights into Tiger's belief that intense range practice provides the foundation for success. But, as his golfing successes accumulated so did his curiosity about other sports' stars. Then he befriends pro football, baseball and tennis players and seeks a more challenging sport. In his case, it was not a sport but deadly, military combat training with Navy Seals. According to Haney, this led Tiger into bodily harm that resulted in a series of surgeries and subsequent declines in his golf status. Another fascinating tattle is perhaps the greatest one in the book: Tiger's mercuric personality. Haney presents Tiger as a self-absorbed genius who demands obedience from others. However, Haney offers little info about Tiger's Foundation or other philanthropic efforts which begs the question about Haney's motives for painting Tiger with omnipresent sharp claws and fangs. All in all, the book satisfies my persistent questions about an American icon that I still would pay to see and so would Haney who confesses to undying admiration for the greatest golfer in history.
November 28, 2015
Very insightful, very interesting book about what it takes, and what it takes from you, to be a legend. Told from the front-row-seat of his teacher, Hank Haney elaborates on the process and the challenges and the frustrations of trying to harness the impatient abilities of the greatest ever to swing a golf club. You'll learn of the many disappointing flaws of the man behind that mask, but Haney balances them with heaps of praise and offers compassionate observations for the flaws. (The big scandal is only a bit player in this book, regardless of the title.) What Haney says at the outset is maybe most fitting for what follows : "What I've learned at close quarters is that excellence, year after year, is exhausting."
A couple other favorites:
"Tiger never allowed himself to be satisfied, because in his mind satisfaction is the enemy of success. His whole approach was to delay gratification and somehow stay hungry. It's the way of the superachiever: the more celebrations, the less there'll be to celebrate."
"In the end, having once been a bit nerdy, Tiger had too much to prove, not just to others but to himself. A friend of mine has called what happened to Tiger a 'geek tragedy.' "
A couple other favorites:
"Tiger never allowed himself to be satisfied, because in his mind satisfaction is the enemy of success. His whole approach was to delay gratification and somehow stay hungry. It's the way of the superachiever: the more celebrations, the less there'll be to celebrate."
"In the end, having once been a bit nerdy, Tiger had too much to prove, not just to others but to himself. A friend of mine has called what happened to Tiger a 'geek tragedy.' "
July 4, 2012
One of the reason Haney wrote the book is probably because he never signed a confidential agreement with Woods. However, after reading insights into Tiger's personality there isn't much to be inspired about. We already know he's rude, self-absorbed and clearly his behavior on and off the golf course isn't how true golf legends conduct themselves. He doesn't care about his young fans or Elin, now his ex-wife. I hope his kids fair better with him.
Tiger had respect, fame, a gorgeous wife with adorable children and he decided that wasn't important enough. Money doesn't buy happiness because he has never looked particularly happy playing the game he supposedly loves so much.
Haney appears to be a likable human being who loves golf-even when he excelled at hockey; is a good instructor and was perplexed by the behavior he was witnessing. If you enjoy golf you will find his insights helpful as there is a great deal of golf talk. I played golf when I young and have great respect for the old school legends such as Trevino, Palmer and of coarse, Nicklaus. I hope the Nicklaus record stands forever.
Tiger had respect, fame, a gorgeous wife with adorable children and he decided that wasn't important enough. Money doesn't buy happiness because he has never looked particularly happy playing the game he supposedly loves so much.
Haney appears to be a likable human being who loves golf-even when he excelled at hockey; is a good instructor and was perplexed by the behavior he was witnessing. If you enjoy golf you will find his insights helpful as there is a great deal of golf talk. I played golf when I young and have great respect for the old school legends such as Trevino, Palmer and of coarse, Nicklaus. I hope the Nicklaus record stands forever.
August 22, 2012
An intimate view into the life of Hank Haney as Tiger Woods' swing coach from 2004 to 2010. I liked the book, primarily because it is detailed about the 'true life' of a professional golfer and Haney does a great job of coming across as sincere and respectful. After watching a few of his shows on Golf Channel, I sense that he either conveyed a lot of his genuine emotions or he is a d*mn good actor.
The book covers a little of his early history and then delves into all phases of his relationship with Woods. Haney shows great deference to Butch Harmon, a little less to Sean Foley (well deserved, in my opinion) and wraps up the book with a statistical analysis of TW's results in both the Harmon and Haney eras.
Very difficult book for a non-golfer to read, since it covers a LOT of technical terms, issues, nuances, etc... tied to the game. A glossary at the end tries to be helpful, but with limited success.
Was it worth my time to read? Absolutely. Will it be worth your time? It depends how much you like golf and/or how curious you are about Tiger Woods.
The book covers a little of his early history and then delves into all phases of his relationship with Woods. Haney shows great deference to Butch Harmon, a little less to Sean Foley (well deserved, in my opinion) and wraps up the book with a statistical analysis of TW's results in both the Harmon and Haney eras.
Very difficult book for a non-golfer to read, since it covers a LOT of technical terms, issues, nuances, etc... tied to the game. A glossary at the end tries to be helpful, but with limited success.
Was it worth my time to read? Absolutely. Will it be worth your time? It depends how much you like golf and/or how curious you are about Tiger Woods.
June 24, 2012
I was a little surprised at how much Hank retained from personal conversations with Woods. It was almost like he knew he was going to write a book, so he remembered to keep even text messages that were sent to Woods. How does someone 'keep' text messages to quote from later? Unless you send a copy to yourself. Makes me a little uncomfortable.
A lot of technical jargon interspersed in the book, which did not mean a lot to me. Probably confirms why I still shoot in the 90s... on a good day. This may prevent me from recommending this book to my wife who reads EVERYTHING.
Woods' personality is conveyed exactly as I would have predicted: He is not the funnest guy to be around. Not something to be proud of. Let's hope his relationship with his children softens him up a bit. Life is to be enjoyed.
A lot of technical jargon interspersed in the book, which did not mean a lot to me. Probably confirms why I still shoot in the 90s... on a good day. This may prevent me from recommending this book to my wife who reads EVERYTHING.
Woods' personality is conveyed exactly as I would have predicted: He is not the funnest guy to be around. Not something to be proud of. Let's hope his relationship with his children softens him up a bit. Life is to be enjoyed.
April 10, 2012
The book was fine. I enjoyed the insights into Tiger, I feel like I know him better through his book, though he doesn't sound like the friendliest person in the world. I did have two issues with this book. 1) Parts of the book go into very technical detail about swing mechanics, which I couldn't understand since I am not much of a golfer. 2) Haney spends much of the book defending his record and trying to tell people what a great teacher he is. He goes out of his way to show he has a better record than Tiger's previous coach Butch Harmon. I thought that was kind of cocky and show boaty of him to do.
May 28, 2012
I read this to find out why he wrote it, why he chose this time to reveal personal things about his former employer and private person. No doubt it is fascinating in a purient way to read the private conversations and observations but feels unsavory to me, even despite the lack of sympathy one has for Tiger. In the last chapter he spends time validating Wood's record with his time vs the prior swing coach and i suspect that is the point of the book, to shut up those that complain Haney's work was less successful. That said there are some interesting observations about the tour game and these men. Still, a sad story all the way around and not sure Haney kept his integrity.
May 25, 2012
My husband made me read it. It is so rare for him to want to read anything that I willingly obliged, plus I am fascinated by Tiger and Hank. This was remarkable insight into Tiger's character, even if only from a couple of peoples' perspectives. I would like to read the same story from his viewpoint, but know that is highly unlikely since Tiger is far from being an open book or the type of person to tell his (real) story. It's part of what makes him a champion, an addict, an icon. Even during the parts that were golf-technical, I remained interested and it produced good conversation.
March 22, 2013
First of all I received this book as a Goodreads First Reads winner. I have to say I liked this book more than I expected. I thought this was just someone trying to get rich off of a famous athletes name. Boy was I wrong! Hank Haney is a terrific narrator and writes with much respect to Tiger Woods and the game of golf. My only downside was how much golf was really in this book. I knew the book is about golfing but I mean the intricacies and all the in depth golf stuff! I recommend this book to any avid golfer. Enjoy!
December 19, 2015
It'd been awhile since I read a golf related book, so this was my foray back into it. I'm not sure what I was looking for when I picked it up. I enjoyed the read from a "want to know more about Tiger" kind of perspective - the only big things that I learned were: he was infatuated with becoming a SEAL and that probably cost him a few majors, and he's got some internal swing flaws that he's constantly having to deal with (made me feel a little better about my own "swing" mechanics, which are just plain ugly.)
I wouldn't be lining up to pick this one up. It was all-right.
I wouldn't be lining up to pick this one up. It was all-right.
May 3, 2012
I'm a fan of Tiger so reading about his commitment to the game was fascinating. I still find it hard to believe how much of his game (all of it!) he is reinventing - even up to the majors. Can't shake the feeling though that there was too much Hank was trying to take for himself in Tiger's achievements. He seems mostly bruised because he wasn't his confidant- and given his writing of the book-probably wise decision on Tiger's part!
Read
May 14, 2017Hank Haney, hired by Tiger Woods to help with problems in his golf swing, offers a revealing look at both the public and private life of who many consider to be the world's greatest golfer. If you're a golfer, or fan of the sport, the analysis Haney provides is helpful. If you're fascinated by a look into Tiger's fame, fortune and misfortune, you'll find some insight into the life of this very private person.
-- Louisa A. --
-- Louisa A. --
June 18, 2016
Great account of working with a fascinating character. The real Tiger Woods is probably unknown to even himself. Surprised to see the perceived (S Williams & Hank) lack of transference of amazing practice to competition, but then again it is Golf.
Good technical info included which will appeal to golfers.
Hank comes across as a bit needy or maybe he's just honest? (I wonder did Butch Harmon have the same complaints?).
Definitely worth reading for any Golf Fan.
Good technical info included which will appeal to golfers.
Hank comes across as a bit needy or maybe he's just honest? (I wonder did Butch Harmon have the same complaints?).
Definitely worth reading for any Golf Fan.
July 8, 2015
Interesting look into the relationship between golfer and coach. Also an interesting perspective on what genius looks like up close, and what it takes to be great.
November 12, 2016
Hank Haney takes us through the bumpy six-year ride of coaching perhaps the greatest golfer of all time. From that moment in 1993 when Haney met the then seventeen-year-old Tiger Woods at his golf ranch in Texas, he knew he was going to be something special. Haney does a great job illustrating his passion for teaching the game of golf along with the thrill of the challenge. One would think that landing a job coaching Tiger Woods would be an easy job, but as Haney explains, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
For the many golf fans out there, our only true exposure to Tiger is what we see on our television every Sunday. We have seen the golf swing, the exuberant Tiger fist pump after a great shot, and we’ve seen the temper after a bad shot. What we don’t see is the behind the scenes Tiger, who goes to great lengths to ensure just that. Haney does a fantastic job giving us a look into the life of a champion, and the trials and tribulations that each of these men faced during that time. From the death of Tiger’s father, to his heroic U.S Open win in 2008 (with a torn ACL), all the way to his downfall in late 2009 during his extramarital affairs, Haney provides very intimate details of the closed off Tiger Woods we never saw. We learn about his fascination with the Navy SEALS and his immature pranks such as the Zach Johnson hotel adult movie revelation. This book isn’t just about the stories, Haney discusses in great length the detail of what it's like to adjust the golf swing. I was quite fascinated with the stories, as I’m sure every golf fan out there would be.
The issue I have is with how often in this book, Haney discusses his own desire to stay out of the spotlight. He claims he was never looking for recognition, and that his only goal was to help guide Tiger to even more success. This is contradicted in the last chapter called, “Adding It Up”. Haney comes across as a man making an attempt at self-defense. He wants to make it clear that he actually helped Tiger succeed, as much as critics will argue that he didn’t. During this chapter, he builds his case on stats, comparing win and loss percentages between him and Tiger’s former coach, Butch Harmon. It leaves the reader confused. From the beginning, we are lead to believe his primary focus was to document an amazing time in sports history. We are left with Haney pleading his case that he truly was the one responsible for the success of his student.
In the end, the insight provided was very nicely written, leaving the reader longing for images to help illustrate what Haney is discussing. As Tiger makes yet another comeback later this year, reading this book will make us feel a lot closer to someone who never had any intention of actually letting us in.
For the many golf fans out there, our only true exposure to Tiger is what we see on our television every Sunday. We have seen the golf swing, the exuberant Tiger fist pump after a great shot, and we’ve seen the temper after a bad shot. What we don’t see is the behind the scenes Tiger, who goes to great lengths to ensure just that. Haney does a fantastic job giving us a look into the life of a champion, and the trials and tribulations that each of these men faced during that time. From the death of Tiger’s father, to his heroic U.S Open win in 2008 (with a torn ACL), all the way to his downfall in late 2009 during his extramarital affairs, Haney provides very intimate details of the closed off Tiger Woods we never saw. We learn about his fascination with the Navy SEALS and his immature pranks such as the Zach Johnson hotel adult movie revelation. This book isn’t just about the stories, Haney discusses in great length the detail of what it's like to adjust the golf swing. I was quite fascinated with the stories, as I’m sure every golf fan out there would be.
The issue I have is with how often in this book, Haney discusses his own desire to stay out of the spotlight. He claims he was never looking for recognition, and that his only goal was to help guide Tiger to even more success. This is contradicted in the last chapter called, “Adding It Up”. Haney comes across as a man making an attempt at self-defense. He wants to make it clear that he actually helped Tiger succeed, as much as critics will argue that he didn’t. During this chapter, he builds his case on stats, comparing win and loss percentages between him and Tiger’s former coach, Butch Harmon. It leaves the reader confused. From the beginning, we are lead to believe his primary focus was to document an amazing time in sports history. We are left with Haney pleading his case that he truly was the one responsible for the success of his student.
In the end, the insight provided was very nicely written, leaving the reader longing for images to help illustrate what Haney is discussing. As Tiger makes yet another comeback later this year, reading this book will make us feel a lot closer to someone who never had any intention of actually letting us in.
May 17, 2024
The Big Miss Book Review
Hank Haney's book The Big Miss tells us mainly about his time coaching the best golfer in the world, Tiger Woods. Published in 2012, the book goes in depth into Haney's six-year time period as Woods' swing coach, showing people the good times, bad times, and type of person Tiger is. Haney’s purpose is evident from the beginning, he wants to show insight into Woods’ career from behind the scenes.
Throughout the book, Haney provides multiple reasons for Woods' unparalleled work ethic, his relentless pursuit of perfection, and the complex way his golf game operated. One of the book's strengths is how it shows what goes on when they aren’t on TV or in a 72 hole professional tournament. Haney talks a lot about the tough training days, the strategic approach to each tournament, and the mental strength required to compete at the highest level. As a coach, he deals with the balance between pushing Woods to his limits and respecting where he stands and what he deals with as an athlete.
Haney offers readers a glimpse into the complexities of Woods' personality, from his tough injuries to his personal problems that he goes through. While Haney talks very highly of Woods, he also acknowledges the limitations of his own perspective, recognizing that he can only provide insight into the parts of Woods' life that he witnessed. Some people have given the book bad ratings because they believe Haney shouldn’t have included some of the private conversations in the book. However, Haney stands by his decision to include them because his goal is to offer readers a deeper understanding of the pressures faced by elite athletes and the sacrifices required to achieve greatness. I feel that the private conversations added a feeling of reality into the book making it really making it so when those private conversations were happening throughout the book readers like me started to feel more connected to the purpose of the book being Woods’ amazing career.
Overall, The Big Miss is a really good book for people who love the game of golf and even just people who enjoy athletics. I would rate the book 9/10. For the intended audience of this book, it checks every box for what a reader should want. Personally, my favorite part of the book was the beginning where he talked about his background and story leading up to being a coach for Woods. Personally, I feel this book was a very good read for me, especially because I want to do what Haney does and by reading this book, I learned some action steps and things to do to get on that path.
Hank Haney's book The Big Miss tells us mainly about his time coaching the best golfer in the world, Tiger Woods. Published in 2012, the book goes in depth into Haney's six-year time period as Woods' swing coach, showing people the good times, bad times, and type of person Tiger is. Haney’s purpose is evident from the beginning, he wants to show insight into Woods’ career from behind the scenes.
Throughout the book, Haney provides multiple reasons for Woods' unparalleled work ethic, his relentless pursuit of perfection, and the complex way his golf game operated. One of the book's strengths is how it shows what goes on when they aren’t on TV or in a 72 hole professional tournament. Haney talks a lot about the tough training days, the strategic approach to each tournament, and the mental strength required to compete at the highest level. As a coach, he deals with the balance between pushing Woods to his limits and respecting where he stands and what he deals with as an athlete.
Haney offers readers a glimpse into the complexities of Woods' personality, from his tough injuries to his personal problems that he goes through. While Haney talks very highly of Woods, he also acknowledges the limitations of his own perspective, recognizing that he can only provide insight into the parts of Woods' life that he witnessed. Some people have given the book bad ratings because they believe Haney shouldn’t have included some of the private conversations in the book. However, Haney stands by his decision to include them because his goal is to offer readers a deeper understanding of the pressures faced by elite athletes and the sacrifices required to achieve greatness. I feel that the private conversations added a feeling of reality into the book making it really making it so when those private conversations were happening throughout the book readers like me started to feel more connected to the purpose of the book being Woods’ amazing career.
Overall, The Big Miss is a really good book for people who love the game of golf and even just people who enjoy athletics. I would rate the book 9/10. For the intended audience of this book, it checks every box for what a reader should want. Personally, my favorite part of the book was the beginning where he talked about his background and story leading up to being a coach for Woods. Personally, I feel this book was a very good read for me, especially because I want to do what Haney does and by reading this book, I learned some action steps and things to do to get on that path.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews