How to Perfect Your Golf Swing: Using Connection and the Seven Common Denominators (A Golf Digest Book)

Jimmy Ballard was voted teacher of the decade in the 80’s. His teaching methods are still adhered to today. Without a doubt he explained the fundamentals of the golf swing so well.I was very fortunate to take lessons from him in the late 70’s in Pell City, Alabama where he started to make a name for himself.

THE best written treatment of the golf swing, period. Ballard has his faults; on video, he's not particularly organized in his communication of concepts & jumps around too much, overloading the viewer, and he spends an awful lot of time trying to demonstrate what one should do in the golf swing via demonstration of what NOT to do (which I don't find to be particularly useful as a teaching concept...teach me how to do it CORRECTLY, not what to AVOID doing).This book, however, by nature of a book, IS very organized of thought and and on-target relative to which of his fundamentals that he is writing about in each segment. I've read it 30+ times, and EVERYTIME I go back to it, I find something that I hadn't recognized as valuable in previous reads. And if you know where you're breaking down, just go to which chapter is representative of the fundamental with which you're struggling.Bottomline, get Jimmy's DVD "The Fundamental Golf Swing"; watch it, enjoy it, and then READ this book. It will organize the "clutter" in your mind that the DVD will leave you with...it's a great video jammed w/ good instruction of his principles, but if you don't understand Ballard's methodology pretty well before viewing it, it can leave your head swimming.The book, however, should be mandatory reading to anyone taking up or struggling w/ his/her game. I was a left-side dominant "puller" of the club until 2 years ago found me in my 50s, with an aching back; I had me to do something, or quit the game....I completely overhauled my swing, something very difficult to do after 14 years of swinging a different way. I got worse before I got better (as the book said I'd do). My hdcp. is now down 6 strokes from when I started the overhaul, with no pain in my back, and a much better "best shot" and much better "miss". The game is more fun, and the swing feels much more natural and athletic. The old stuff creeps in, which is why you have to keep doing the drills and keep inculcating the athletic motion that Ballard teaches...commit to it 100%; each fundamental works dependently on the preceding and builds to the next fundamental (you can't take "bits and pieces" of The Ballard Swing).

If you've struggled with a golf swing, normally you have at least one dozen, any of which may evidence themselves at any moment, this could/should be your one golf book !! Jimmy Ballard is the originator, or so I believe, of the "connected" golf swing. The idea, like most good ones, is simple (KISS), if you keep your large muscles "connected" throughout the golf swing, the swing is repeatable, how's that for an innovative concept, you hit the ball further, another idea I like and it's better for your health ( reduces back pain, elbow aches, etc., I'm no doctor I better stop there) and if that's not a triple threat I can endorse, I don't know what is !! This concept is validated, though perhaps not attributed to Jimmy, directly, when you see PGA Tour pros hitting shots on the range with a head cover or handkerchief under their lead arm, which succinctly summarizes the 'connected" concept. I've also highly endorsed, Carl Lohren's "One Move to Better Golf", which is a similar principle. The concept is supremely easy to understand and better, take to the course, you won't need 2 golf seasons to perfect the idea. Sadly, I owned a signed copy when it first came out, having hired Jimmy's golf school, when he was the head instructional pro at Doral, used it and was playing to a 4, dropped golf for awhile and when I returned went with a "who knows what swing ???" and my handicap went, you know where !! it's only been recent that I rediscovered Jimmy through his Rocco Mediate "infomercials" and while I have no comments on that product, his "connected" swing theory works !!! I'm now in my 60's, age not scores yet, and not sure if I'll ever see a 4 again, but I do like my chances...wish me well !!

The connection swing concept has made a comeback; however, its best to return to the source to get the essence of this idea. Jimmy Ballard has been preaching this for years, but for some reason he isn't getting full credit for it.This book is an excellent primer for anyone trying to understand the notion that you have to move your entire body in order to maximize your swing potential. This enables you to use your larger muscle groups to hit the ball, rather than just your arms.For low back sufferers, this is especially important. By incorporating the concepts in this book you can ensure that your swing will be "low back friendly" if done correctly. This is definitely a swing to grow old with, and it will make it easier to develop a repeatable swing.The only reason I didn't give the book five stars is because Mr. Ballard never explained the movement of the front heel on the back swing. In several of the photos/illustrations you see the heel off the ground and sometimes not. I would think that this would be something that he would address. However, I would still highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to perfect the connection swing.

great read

Completely satisfied

Excellent book!

I’m a golf pro. As a trainee golf pro at Royal Birkdale in 1986 I stood and watched Jimmy Ballard on video. His ideas struck a chord with me and made a big impression. Over 30years later I’m now a county coach I ordered this book. On reading it I realsided that my coaching ideas have been heavily influenced by the video I watched in the eighties. Brilliant, simple, insightful and in my experience the best, most practical golf advice you could find

Very good book with some good tips and explanations regarding the golf swing some of which goes against conventional teaching.The reader will have to review a number of times to fully understand some of what is being taught but it is a good read and provokes some thinking.