In the crowded universe of golf psychology books there are two that stand above all others in my mind. Along with Zen Golf by Joseph Parent, Bob Rotella’s 1995 contribution, Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect, is a regular re-read for me at the beginning of most golf seasons.

Unlike so many of the new age golf psych books you do not need to fill out any questionnaires, prepare any worksheets, or tabulate any mental acuity scores to satisfy your need to improve your mental outlook on the game. Rotella’s approach is based more on common sense observation of human tendencies as they relate to helping or impairing your performance on the golf course. I find his old school approach more intelligible and relatable for someone who has enjoyed the game as long as I have.

Rotella has had the ear of a litany of PGA Tour and LPGA Tour stars including Rory McIlroy who recently ended his 11 year Majors drought in winning the 2025 Masters and joining that very select group of those distinguished professionals who have won all four Majors in their careers. It was very evident through Rory’s comments during and after the tournament that he was relying on daily conversations with Rotella to keep him on an even keel and focused on what it would take to break through with this career defining victory.

Others from his client list include Tom Kite, Nick Price, Brad Faxon, Corey Pavin, John Daly, Davis Love, Seve Ballesteros, Pat Bradley, Val Skinner, and many more. The book is chock full of anecdotes involving his conversations with them that convey Rotella’s principles for successful mental management in the game of golf.

The basis of all of his thinking is that players have the free will to manage their thinking processes and must discipline themselves to confine their work on swing mechanics to the practice ground and trust their swing and feel once they stand over the ball on the course. When it comes to a swing process on the course they need to focus on small targets, a specific edge or a bunker or limb on their intended line, rather than a general side of the landing area or part of the green. Small targeting is essential to precise execution of a shot intended because it helps prevent distractions.

Visualization of the result as part of the pre-swing process is important because it is telling the body what you want to execute. Having a well honed pre-shot routine is the foundation of consistent performance on the course. Put succinctly he says “When great players are playing well, trust becomes a habit. He simply picks out a target, envisions the kind of shot he wants to hit, and hits it.”

Rotella emphasizes the importance of the short game, the last 120 yards to the hole, to success of his players. At this distance there are no swing thoughts just focusing on the target. He takes it a step further saying that for the best players pitching and chipping the ball, they do not think about getting it close, they think about holing the shot.

Maybe the most important principle is having a consistently positive attitude when you play and making sure you are having fun. As the title of the book says, golf is not a game of perfect and good golfers have to get over the notion that they only want to hit perfect shots, they have to learn to enjoy winning ugly. Smothering perfectionism and unrealistic expectations lead to a sense of constant disappointment and a lousy golf disposition. He says the best thing to do when you step on the course is cast away your expectations and just play golf.

There is lots more to glean from this read, so for the good of your game take the time to read what Bob Rotella has to say about managing your thoughts and playing your best golf.

Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect

Bob Rotella (1995)