The Nicklaus Way: An Analysis of the Unique Techniques and Strategies of Golf's Leading Major Championship Winner

Most books on golf instruction are all about one teacher's view of what is good and proper with his version of the ideal swing, etc.. The only time we get a guest appearance by one of the greats in the game, or another instructor, is when they happen to say something along a similar line and they make a name-dropping cameo. With The Nicklaus Way and others in Andrisani's series, we get a look at a specific golfer, Jack Nicklaus, and what he does best. It is given in full, whether we want to agree with it or not. For example, most would agree that a slow takeaway is a good idea for a well timed swing. We also all have our bread-and-butter shots that we are more likely to hit than anything else, simply because that is our style, and we should play with this in mind. Nicklaus did and does all these. However, not all would buy into the idea that learning power should take presidence over precision. This is meant to be advice for absolute beginners, but it still probably has most of us questioning Jack's early teacher Jack Grout's sanity. Another is the fact that Nicklaus not only lifts his heel well off the ground during the backswing (most teachers put a limit of one inch), but shifts his foot's position while replanting it. This probably gives some top 100 instructors short breath. The why, when, and how of the Nicklaus game is here, in all its glory. The book is short and an easy initial read, but going back to some of the points gives a person pleanty to think about and to experiment with. Most reassuring, though, is that this is the technique of a golfer, and we know it from the start. It isn't one-size-fits-all instruction. I can only hope that we will be seeing more of the same in the future.