This fully updated edition of the classic Eight-Step Swing reveals the best advice from the top golf school in America, offering a detailed explanation of the true fundamentals of the golf swing. PGA Master Instructor Jim McLean, who has coached many of the game's greatest professionals, has incorporated his latest research into the art and science of the golf swing, breaking it down into a new building block approach. In this indispensable instructional manual, McLean presents the innovative swing system that has helped championship winners like Tom Kite, Alexis Thompson, Cristie Kerr, and Bernhard Langer elevate their game. With characteristic clarity and expertise, McLean breaks down the swing action into the eight key checkpoint positions that will build a grooved, repeatable, and mechanically sound swing. Helpful practice tips, drills, and mental exercises supplemented with technically accurate photographs and more than 50 new illustrations keep you on track. McLean also presents brilliant strategies and advice for the long game, the short game, the mental game, and overall game management to boost your performance to the next level no matter how long you've been playing. This fully updated edition of the classic Eight-Step Swing reveals the best advice from the top golf school in America, offering a detailed explanation of the true fundamentals of the golf swing. PGA Master Instructor Jim McLean, who has coached many of the game's greatest professionals, has incorporated his latest research into the art and science of the golf swing, breaking it down into a new building block approach. In this indispensable instructional manual, McLean presents the innovative swing system that has helped championship winners like Tom Kite, Alexis Thompson, Cristie Kerr, and Bernhard Langer elevate their game. With characteristic clarity and expertise, McLean breaks down the swing action into the eight key checkpoint positions that will build a grooved, repeatable, and mechanically sound swing. Helpful practice tips, drills, and mental exercises supplemented with technically accurate photographs and more than 50 new illustrations keep you on track. McLean also presents brilliant strategies and advice for the long game, the short game, the mental game, and overall game management to boost your performance to the next level no matter how long you've been playing. Jim McLean, owner of the #1-ranked Jim McLean Golf Schools, has been rated one of the top five instructors in America for more than a decade. He has worked with more than 100 tour professionals and has written many books and DVDs, including The Golf Digest Book of Drills and The X Factor Swing . The coach of some of the game's greatest professionals, he lives in Miami, Florida. The Eight-Step Swing, 3rd Edition By Jim McLean HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2009 Jim McLean All right reserved. ISBN: 9780061672828 Chapter One The Fundamentals and Anti-fundamentals of Golf Jim McLean's Twenty-two Fundamentals for Great Ball Striking, and Twenty-five Misconceptions of the Golf Swing As a teacher of the game for more than thirty years, I've made hundreds of friends in my profession. I've learned from many, and I've trained many. But I must report that there is still a tremendous amount of misinformation being propagated by golf instructors. Frankly, I seriously thought, when I first published the true fundamentals of top ball striking in The Eight-Step Swing more than a decade ago, that it would be a huge deal in the teaching world. To my surprise, almost no one noticed. That's why this time I lead with them in Chapter One. Often the information you read or watch on TV is just dead wrong. Sometimes the information is partially correct for a certain segment of golfers but will mislead and damage many others who try to employ this new way of swinging. "Partially correct" is a good definition for most swing methods. It's the part that is "partially incorrect" that can do serious damage. In golf instruction, a little off is way off. Mainly, teachers around the world continue to teach their opinions. As a result, they continue to spread as truth positions and movements that many great players simply do not do. If any writer or golf publication would seriously look at the number of players who reached a very high amateur ranking or who made it to the PGA Tour but were then ruined or damaged their game for many years by using a strict method (perhaps taught by well-known teachers), it would shock the golf world. Even tour players are subject to trying a miracle method. Just like you, a good number of supertalented golfers will try some new method that has "all the answers." It's an amazing thing! Quite a few gifted golfers have ended up on the junk heap of golf oblivion by changing their natural swing. They were likely taking things out of their golf swing that did not need changing, and as a result they got worse. Later they might fi