general

I was expecting this book to be really dry and boring, but was pleasantly surprised. I found it really interesting and liked the occasional comments and stories about professional golfers that Dave Pelz has worked with. Obviously, this book will appeal to someone with more of an analytical viewpoint. If you are simply interested in a how-to guide that will allow you to improve your game overnight, this probably isn't the book for you. I was interested in understanding how things worked, so this book was fascinating to me.

Has this book helped my game? Yes and no. I already believed that my short game was the key to scoring better, so a lot of the book made sense to me. I did buy an additional 3 wedges just as the book recommends. I am also using the chipping technique/style outlined in the book with great success. However, I have not come close to following all of the recommendations in the book. Some of them will be hard because I don't have access to an area where I can accurately measure yardage with my wedges. That's the only downside to the book. Some of the techniques are beyond the average golfer, or require more time and resources than is practical. That's probably not the books fault though.

For me, this book is a long term guide. It is thorough enough to help the really low handicappers in nauseating detail. For now, I can only take advantage of some of the recommendations. As I get better over the years, I expect to keep going back to the book to find new ways to lower my score.

This book is simply the best scoring book that has ever been written. There are so many books on how to swing a golf club. This book explains in mathematical terms how to turn 4 into 3. That is the game of golf!
Until reading this book and taking his scoring test, i had no idea what parts of my short game hurt me most. However pitching chipping and wedging the ball to somewhere between 2 and 10 feet really ensures makeable par savers. Every scratch or better handicapper that i've played with did exactly what pelz talks about. That is, sand shots to 3' with regularity. If you think you can't get any better at golf, this is the book for you. Face the facts, measure your short game and begin to practice your weaknesses.
There are also some chapters that are a little dense. Pelz was a scientist. So i recommend reading the book like text book. Skip around to the revelant chapters and go from there. Leave it on the shelf as a complete reference.
I added the fourth wedge and have found moderate improvements. However, I use my 3iron so rarely that the benefits justify the added club. Plus around 100 yards, being able to swing exact distances is an added bonus. This book is my all time favorite golf book.

This book is excellent for the more scientific-minded golfer. Dave Pelz is a true scientist and breaks down golf from an entirely different angle. His practice sessions are a little unreasonable for most people, though. Not too many people would have the time or resources to figure our exactly how far each short game shot travels, but the book is worth the price simply for the reviews of the fundamentals of the short game swing. Just by reading the book and changing the way I practiced, I have taken about 5 strokes off of my handicap!