One Move to Better Golf (Signet) Paperback – April 30, 2015

I bought this based on the rave reviews it has received, which date back several years, with the thought in mind that "50,000,000 Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong."Well, France has nothing to do with it, but so many people talking so favorably about a book, and especially a book about golf, over such a long period of time, just had to mean that it was worth looking into.And so I did buy the book and have read it from cover to cover, and do feel that the man knows virtually everything there is to know about the golf swing.What makes it very helpful for me is that I am an "old-school" golfer, meaning that I am self-taught, which means that the student knows just about as much as the teacher - which is next to nothing - about what he's doing.(Which is also code for "never had a lesson in his life.")I would venture to guess that most golfers - prior to the Golf Channel era - have never had a formal golf lesson.(Which would make them, by definition, "self-taught.")For over 24 years, I hit a big, wide, banana-ball slice, which sailed directly into the woods on the right, on every single hit I ever attempted.Of course, that's not an exceptional skill; you might already know a few golfers who do that now!But one day I just grew weary of forever slicing the ball into the woods, and decided to try to figure out how to cure it, even though I had no idea whatsoever about the mechanics of the golf swing.Well, it certainly wasn't easy, but I was determined - and, lo and behold, I actually thought that I detected, after much trial and error, that I was seeing a slightly less severe slice, even though I really couldn't believe it was true.To make a very long story short, I did eventually not only lose my slice, but actually succeeded in hitting a big, high, beautiful draw, which sailed long and high, with a slight right-to-left draw, just skirting the tree-line on the right, but then moving back into the center of the fairway, and when it finally came down, bounced high - once, twice, three times, and finally rolled straight toward the green, giving me another 30 or 40 yards on the ground.A draw is the best thing that ever happened to the game of golf. It turns it into a completely different game, and actually makes it fun! Instead of feeling like an incompetent duffer, you start to feel pretty good about yourself.I simply could not believe the distance I was getting; I didn't know it was even possible for a golfer to hit the ball that far.After so many years of utter frustration, it was actually thrilling to know that almost anybody I would be paired up with, I would virtually always hit it longer and straighter than they did. It feels pretty good to be long, in the middle of the fairway, and seeing your playing partners chopping their way out of the woods, and standing there slack-jawed at how far you hit the ball.But the problem was that I still didn't know what I was doing, and didn't know the mechanics of what caused me to be able to hit the draw. For that matter, I also didn't know the mechanics of what I did when I hit a slice, either, and that proved to be a big problem, in years to come. Even though I had taught myself to hit a beautiful, high draw, I couldn't explain precisely what I was doing.It was amazing to me that I could not describe - and I feel sure that most other golfers also cannot describe - exactly what they do in their swing. We just do it, but have no idea of the specific details of what we are doing.Since I had always hit with just my arms and shoulders, and never learned to follow through, as we see the pros doing so beautifully, I didn't know how to avoid falling back into all of my bad old slice mechanics, and would very often revert back to doing it all wrong, and didn't know what to do to keep that from happening. I knew that I made a totally different swing when I hit that beautiful draw, but I could not explain exactly what I did that was different.That was very frustrating, because even though the swing felt completely different than my old swing, I didn't know anything at all about the mechanics of what I did - either in the draw swing, or even in the slice swing, so I didn't realize when I would slip back into doing it all wrong.Of course, I do know now, but it took me many years of floundering around in the darkness to finally figure it all out, and learn not only what I did to enable myself to hit a draw, but also what we do when we hit a slice. If you don't know what causes the one, you can't know when you revert back to doing it wrong, so you have to know both the right way and the wrong way to make the golf swing.Which brings me to this: As much as we tell ourselves to continue on around, and not stop the swing immediately upon impact, and bring the club up over our shoulder, if you've been doing it wrong for 50 years or more, it's pretty hard to change.In fact, "change" is literally impossible; your subconscious mind will never change, once it has learned something.However, you can always learn something new - which your subconscious mind welcomes.And a draw swing is definitely different than a slice swing, but only in very small, incremental, subtle details.But we, being mere mortals, still insist on reverting back to our old bad habits, especially in the golf swing, because any new swing is, quite naturally, so similar in many respects to what we were doing before.To the casual observer, a swing is a swing, is a swing. There are actually only a few, fairly minor, and very subtle, differences between a swing which produces a very ugly slice, and a swing that produces a big, beautiful, high draw, which sails right down the middle of the fairway, and gives you incredible distance - but those differences are profound, and can make you look like either a complete duffer, or a master of your sport.I think that's the big reason that professional swing coaches - the successful ones - command such high prices: It takes not only a sharp eye, but an innate knowledge of the golf swing to even be able to spot the things that someone is doing wrong. And then, to be able to instruct and guide them into abandoning what they had been doing wrong, and learn anew a completely different swing, is an incredibly amazing talent.And that is also why it's so hard for anyone to change their swing: We don't know what to change. We don't know what we are doing to cause ourselves to hit a slice, and we certainly don't know what to do to hit a draw.But just because it's difficult doesn't mean you can't do it: You definitely can - you just have to learn what to do, and then work on it.In fact, it's not actually difficult, at all; it's just different. Anything that is new to you is difficult at first, because you don't know what you're doing, and it feels awkward, and not at all smooth.But once you learn it, and especially when you see the amazing results you get, it is very easy to do. You will always know how to hit the slice; your subconscious mind will never forget that. But when you also know how to hit a draw, if that is what you want to do, that is what you can concentrate on doing.No part of a golf swing is particularly difficult to perform, even a draw. There is no magic to it. It's just a matter of learning what to do. Once you learn how to hit a draw, it is as easy to do as it is to hit a slice - maybe even easier, because you get such satisfaction of watching the ball sail down the fairway, long and straight.The problem is in figuring out what moves you are making to cause your slice, and what you need to do, instead, to cause a draw.And that is the big obstacle to overcome: Unless you are able to figure it out for yourself, Good Luck in finding someone who can actually show you the finer points of the golf swing mechanics. Many "pros" will tell you many things, but that doesn't mean they know what they're talking about.Be careful of who you ask for advice, especially about the golf swing. Most people don't have a clue, but that won't prevent them from telling you what you should do, which may or may not actually be the thing for you to do.In fact, I think it's better to struggle until you finally do figure it out for yourself. That way, at least you definitely know it. If it's something that somebody told you, you aren't entirely sure that it will even work, or if you are doing it right.Think about this: You don't have to be a superman to hit the ball long and straight. Anyone with reasonably average strength can do it. In fact, it's not how hard you swing, but the way you swing.Just a few, very subtle differences in the swing will give you amazing results - which you will find totally astonishing, especially if you thought that you would never be able to get rid of your slice.The big thing about this book, and the one thing he stresses over and over, is the very valuable idea of simply starting the backswing by thinking about initiating the swing with your left shoulder - which is the key to everything - and the rest of the swing just follows along perfectly - as if we knew what we were doing.In other words, by keeping in our mind that the left shoulder starts the swing, this actually activates us into utilizing our whole body, whereas we previously may have never been accustomed to using, or even knew how to use our body, at all.Then, when we have turned our body far enough to the right, we won't even have to think about how far; our body will automatically know when to start the forward swing, and we will realize the tremendous benefits of our body weight being integrated into the swing, which will give the swing at least twice the power (and clubhead speed) of using just our arms. This gives us a fantastically superior swing, especially if we had never before learned how to use our body in the swing - which describes most of us old-school golfers.It's just a completely different feeling; very much smooth and coordinated, with the arms flowing easily into the follow-through, up and over your shoulder, as opposed to the jerky movement we have been making for so many years, which resulted in an extremely ugly slice.This is literally a game-changer: We may have struggled to try to incorporate getting our body involved in the swing, when it is a virtually new concept to most self-taught golfers, because for so many years we hit the ball almost exclusively with our arms and shoulders alone, and never even tried to turn our body. To have just that one thing that we need to remember to do (start the swing with our left shoulder) is almost too easy.But that's the message he keeps repeating, over and over; that the "One Move" is really the key to enabling us to hit the ball the way we are supposed to hit it - with our whole body, and not just with our arms and shoulders.The big problem, of course, is re-training ourselves to learn all this stuff, when we have gone so long without doing any of it - but at least we have some step-by-step instructions to rely on, and don't have to try to think it all up by ourselves.

Ok, tried lots of stuff. I should be a better golfer than I am since I started caddying when I was 12 years old at a private golf club. I'm 72 now and started golfing again about 2 years ago after A 12 year absence. I love the game but have totally failed to establish any kind of consistency. Hit a beautiful solid shot and the next one is a duck hook into the trees or a shot started to the right and slicing even more out of bounds - can any one else identify with this ? I've tried lots of different swing aids, books, videos, etc but nothing really helped. About 3 weeks ago, I read an article in Golf Digest about the "one move" by Carl Lohren. The article was well written and I thought why not, I'll give it a try. My golf shots started to improve right away. This led me to view some Carl Lohren videos on YouTube and then to purchase this book. I have to say the book is extremely well written. The "move" seems too good to be true but Mr Lohren explains why it works and it all makes perfect sense. The great thing about the "move" is that you don't have multiple swing thoughts going thru your head when you hit a shot. I've found my shots are way more consistent now and the feeling of hitting a pure shot ecstatic. Don't let the fact that this book was written in the 70's scare you - remember Mr Hogan ? As an added bonus, the illustrations are superb and the tips on putting and chipping have helped in those facets of my game as well.OK, it's still early, but I feel like Mr Lohren has given a me a foundation that I can build on...Thank You Sir !!

This book covered every part of my game that I was concerned about. The best part was the easy move to execute to address and help those area's of concern. Its still to early to say that the move solved those areas but so far it didn't hinder my game. I feel so much more relaxed over the ball. Thanks!!!

Takes the mystery out of the golf swing with one simple thought and has a lot of playing tidbits to go along with it. I recommend this book for those who play golf at any level. Good luck!

This is not one of those "secrets" to a better golf game. It is a fundamental that is taught poorly! Golf is taught poorly all over and only a few pros out there are making much sense. I have played this game at a fairly high level (low handicap) for decades and devoured hundreds of instruction books. I would put this one on my top shelf next to Ben Hogan's book and now Paul Wilson at Bear's Best In Vegas, Machine Swing Golf and his web site, "Body Golf." Listen to pros who teach the physics of the game and teach you simply through the fundamentals of great players' swings. All great players "hit" the ball with their lower body (core and hips) and not their arms/hands as 95%, no 98% of the golfers out there do. Golfers want to HIT the ball because it's a natural instinct. If you were fortunate enough to have a great teacher and learned young to use your lower body, then you probably don't need this book. But if you want to learn a fundamental that is well described, get this amazing book.

This move is mentioned in other books I have read. Probably need to focus more on how to bring the hands back into the ball, have a flat left wrist and how to properly release the hands through impact, but still the move is essential to allow for a proper release.

One of the best instructions books I've ever read, should be in every golfer's library. If you're in an instructor, this book is a must read.

A great book for learning the correct fundamental way to begin the golf swing. Unfortunately I came across this book 25 years too late. I wish I had this book when I was learning instead of 5 Lessons by Ben Hogan. Trying to unlearn all of the bad habits ingrained by 5 lessons is going to take a long time. The illustrations leave a bit to be desired but overall a simple and easy to understand book that teaches you the correct way to swing.

The sample describes the what, the full book goes deeper describes the how/why as well as some trouble-shooting/drills and thoughts. Easy to understand, clear diagrams and descriptions. Took to range after reading thru once - entire bucket except two shanks, striped down the range with tight draw and I've added extra 10 yards with every club. Rhythm and timing improved and I've discarded all other swing thoughts. . Hands down the simplest approach to a great swing, even with practice clubs like Momentus trainer and yes, I have tried everything else over last 15 years. This works, would gladly pay $50 for the kindle book and it was easy read on my phone, web, and kindle reader. Taking to course next Sunday!

Un seul petit mouvement et votre swing est très amélioré .Je suis un golfeur ancien et expérimenté .A 82 ans ,je joue encire un handicap de 7.Eh bien! Ce diable de CARL LOHREN m a permis de m 'améliorer encore ! Penser à tourner l épaule gauche ,sans tourner les hanches au démarrage du backswing simplifie tout votre swing .Couplé à ses deux autres principes ,garder l 'axe de rotation immobile et faire le swing dans le plan ,et voila tout ce que vus devez savoir .Cela est valable aussi pour le petit jeu .Il faut absolument litre ce très bon livre et aussi aller sur "YOU TUBE " pour les autres conseils qu'il y prodigue ,notamment sur le grip .

The original was bought for me in 1990 and was transformative. As Lohren contends, get the basics right and the rest follows. It will work for anyone - pity it's no longer in print.

I saw a video on YouTube about this shoulder move and researched to find this book. When I saw Anthony Ravelli illustrated it I knew it would be a quality read. My other 2 main books I've read were Practical Golf by John Jacobs and Hogan's 5 Fundamentals, both illustrated by Ravelli. I am an old school golfer and have done some teaching in the past and always prefer the "pre-video" era approach to the golf swing. There were many successful players in history who were not mechanically perfect but were able to return the clubface to their target line, which is the only thing that matters in the golf swing. This shoulder move has helped me with loading the backswing and letting the club fall back down during the first transition to the downswing. Good book, not a long read and lots of good information that's simple.

Simple golf instruction that can be easily implemented.