Conquering Golf With Butch Harmon - Vol. 1 - The Basics / The Short Game

Undoubtedly you will be listening very intently indeed as he presents this excellent introduction to conquering the infuriating vagaries of hitting the ball and managing the course. The consistent message is one of concentration, restraint and intelligence in selecting club and shot, rather than trying to hit every shot as hard as possible. With a minimum of distracting graphics and presentational frills, Harmon delivers his message with a charismatic and calm assurance that belies the complexity of adjusting stance and address to suit different lies and conditions. He places great stock in confidence and using methods that you feel comfortable with, but doesn't shy away from the fundamental truth: good golfers are made as much on the practice ground as on the course.

This first volume is divided into two halves; the first introducing the "basic fundamentals of a good golf swing", including grip, posture and ball position ('if you aim at nothing every time you're bound to hit it"), and the second dealing with the short game, from bunker play to the most individual aspect of the game, putting. (The second volume covers trouble shots and course management.) There are excellent, easy to remember drills for improving your swing and avoiding the pitfalls that produce topping, shanking and slicing, and useful tips on playing variable conditions, such as downhill and buried lies. The sheer amount of information presented means it may be better to take each mini-lesson individually, but this is a video you can return to time and again to improve your game and solve specific problems. The only sour note may be that, as Harmon executes yet another perfect shot, it is perhaps testing the boundaries of believability when he states "it works for Tiger Woods, it'll work for you!" --Steve Napleton