Book Review: “Putting Out Of Your Mind,” by Dr. Bob Rotella

Book Review: “Putting Out Of Your Mind,” by Dr. Bob Rotella
Andrew Penner

For many golfers, losing their mind is a regular occurrence. Blow a gasket here, burst a vessel there. Throw the bench on 10, trash the water cooler on 14. For bad putters – and there are many bad putters – the fuse-blowing tirades tend to be especially interesting. In the history of the game, it’s likely that millions of putters have been snapped in half, chopped into small pieces, lobotomized, guillotined, and savagely torn limb from limb…ok, shaft from…head, from out-of-mind experiences.

If you can relate to moments such as those, you need to learn another definition of “putting out of your mind.” In fact, you should read Bob Rotella’s thoughts – and his book – called “Putting Out Of Your Mind.”

Known for being one of the best golf shrinks out there, Rotella’s quick and painless read puts a nice spin on what it takes to putt well. The gist of the book is this: you have to give up control to gain it. You have to free your mind of everything that can be a distraction – including the hot chick on the beverage cart, the fact you’ve four putted twelve of fourteen greens, the mortal shells exploding directly behind the green, etc.

Joking aside, the reason I picked up this book in the first place was because, in all honesty, my putting game has started to fester and rot. And I figured Rotella – a man highly trusted on the PGA Tour by players such as Brad Faxon, Davis Love, Billy Mayfair, and Nick Price – could set me on the straight and narrow. In short, he did. Chapters such as How Good Putters Think, Putting in the Clutch, and Speed: The Light Is Always Green, taught me plenty about the intricacies and psychology of putting. Now, thanks to Rotella’s book, I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it, putts are gonna drop. Book is published by Simon & Schuster and retails for $23.00. www.simonsays.com.