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Mind Game: The Secrets of Golf’s Winners
Eye-opening contributions from the stars of game make this a powerful, groundbreaking investigation into the mind of the professional golfer.
Professional golf is the most remorseless of sports, unique in the complexity of its demands. Technical perfection must be produced in short, concentrated bursts of synchronised movement. Huge mental strength is required.
Why, then, do we know so little about what it takes to succeed – even survive – at the highest level?
What separates the good from the great? What are the rituals of preparation and execution?
How does an elite team come together?
In a truly groundbreaking exposé of professional golf, Michael Calvin and Thomas Bjorn – captain of the 2018 European Ryder Cup Team – capture the distinctive nature of the game, and the principles and philosophies of players who dominate the world rankings. With unprecedented access to the European Tour players, and in-depth interviews with the European Ryder Cup team, Calvin reveals a sport which operates entirely within the finest margins of excellence.
Professional golf is the most remorseless of sports, unique in the complexity of its demands. Technical perfection must be produced in short, concentrated bursts of synchronised movement. Huge mental strength is required.
Why, then, do we know so little about what it takes to succeed – even survive – at the highest level?
What separates the good from the great? What are the rituals of preparation and execution?
How does an elite team come together?
In a truly groundbreaking exposé of professional golf, Michael Calvin and Thomas Bjorn – captain of the 2018 European Ryder Cup Team – capture the distinctive nature of the game, and the principles and philosophies of players who dominate the world rankings. With unprecedented access to the European Tour players, and in-depth interviews with the European Ryder Cup team, Calvin reveals a sport which operates entirely within the finest margins of excellence.
- GenresNonfiction
304 pages, Hardcover
Published May 30, 2019
11 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 27, 2020
An enjoyable read for golf fans, but not particularly insightful. For a book marketed as the ‘secrets’ behind the best golfers, there aren’t many revelations or insights. Enjoyable anecdotes nonetheless.
October 24, 2022
I thought I'd try this as Calvin's prose is always readable, although my interest in golf is not particularly strong. In a similar manner to his football books, each chapter is generally formed of an interview with one golfer although his own opinions are inserted into the book at various points.
Although I did know most of the interviewees, perhaps a bigger interest in the sport would have allowed me to discern some of the nuances between players' approaches. Instead, I came away thinking they struck quite similar tones, very buiness-like, work hard and reap the rewards motivational pitches, although I think part of that is Calvin's doing as it's quite similar in his football books.
Calvin's signature fingerprints are dotted throughout, "he may occasionally be profane, but the game that frames his life is sacred" the sort of pithy or trite contributions linking quotations that can either be sharp or wearing depending on one's mood. He lets himself loose towards the end with the cartoon baddie of a $9m playoff between Woods and Mickelson in Las Vegas an easy target to rail against, having talked quite casually about similar sums earlier on. Like in Family he clearly favours the team he has access to over their opponent, and these wider reflections on golf and the tournament itself didn't have the same impact as the players' own words.
The interviews did make up the majority of the book and at the time they are good to read, it's just that I struggle to recall the differences between them, and they don't have as much context as his football interviews that help to mark out those differences. Instead he interviews rich men at the top of their sport reflecting on a game that doesn't inspire me as much as more typical team sports, so it didn't truly draw me in.
Although I did know most of the interviewees, perhaps a bigger interest in the sport would have allowed me to discern some of the nuances between players' approaches. Instead, I came away thinking they struck quite similar tones, very buiness-like, work hard and reap the rewards motivational pitches, although I think part of that is Calvin's doing as it's quite similar in his football books.
Calvin's signature fingerprints are dotted throughout, "he may occasionally be profane, but the game that frames his life is sacred" the sort of pithy or trite contributions linking quotations that can either be sharp or wearing depending on one's mood. He lets himself loose towards the end with the cartoon baddie of a $9m playoff between Woods and Mickelson in Las Vegas an easy target to rail against, having talked quite casually about similar sums earlier on. Like in Family he clearly favours the team he has access to over their opponent, and these wider reflections on golf and the tournament itself didn't have the same impact as the players' own words.
The interviews did make up the majority of the book and at the time they are good to read, it's just that I struggle to recall the differences between them, and they don't have as much context as his football interviews that help to mark out those differences. Instead he interviews rich men at the top of their sport reflecting on a game that doesn't inspire me as much as more typical team sports, so it didn't truly draw me in.
March 27, 2020
Lo más divertido del libro son las anécdotas de la Ryder y por eso le doy tres estrellas.
El resto es un poco más de lo mismo. Hay mucho autores que escriben libros de Golf explicando los por qués de sus éxitos, Pero eso es muy fácil cuando ya ha ganado.
Yo creo al 100% que un deportista de elite tiene que tener una cosa esencial, que es creer.
Creer en él, en su preparador físico, en su preparador técnico y en todas las persona que tiene alrededor. Y como digo en primer lugar en él.
Dicho esto todo irá más fácil, porque cuando alguien de su equipo le dice algo, para asimilarla lo primero que tiene que hacer es creer que lo que le dicen es lo mejor para él.
Luego cuando has creído y has trabajado en esas condiciones de repente ocurre y y ganas o a veces alguien ha hecho lo mismo y no gana.
Por lo que justificar lo que ha hecho cuando ya has ganado y has triunfado, me parece muy fácil y aburrido.
El resto es un poco más de lo mismo. Hay mucho autores que escriben libros de Golf explicando los por qués de sus éxitos, Pero eso es muy fácil cuando ya ha ganado.
Yo creo al 100% que un deportista de elite tiene que tener una cosa esencial, que es creer.
Creer en él, en su preparador físico, en su preparador técnico y en todas las persona que tiene alrededor. Y como digo en primer lugar en él.
Dicho esto todo irá más fácil, porque cuando alguien de su equipo le dice algo, para asimilarla lo primero que tiene que hacer es creer que lo que le dicen es lo mejor para él.
Luego cuando has creído y has trabajado en esas condiciones de repente ocurre y y ganas o a veces alguien ha hecho lo mismo y no gana.
Por lo que justificar lo que ha hecho cuando ya has ganado y has triunfado, me parece muy fácil y aburrido.
June 1, 2020
Quite simply a stunning read for any golf enthusiast or anyone wanting an insight into being successful. Loved all the anecdotes about players and the player by player chapters were superb. Interestingly the book on reflection comes down to a small number of key traits. I wont spoil them, read the book, enjoy and put it into practice on the fairways.
May 31, 2021
Interesting stories about top golfers. Not much in it from a sport psych perspective other than the usual “positive mental attitude” and motivational quotes.
August 3, 2023
Great behind the scenes view of golf
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews