Jack Nicklaus’ flying right elbow. Negotiable.

         Ben Hogan’s flat arm swing. Negotiable.

         Arnold Palmer’s helicopter finish. Negotiable.

         Curtis Strange’s floating head. Negotiable.

Each of these idiosyncratic mannerisms, from Nicklaus’s elbow position at the top of his swing to the movement of Strange’s head in his backswing--although indelibly distinctive of the respective golfer--nevertheless functions as an integral part of the consistent, repeatable swings of these legendary golf champions. They are characteristic of the individual player, but not damaging to his performance.

They are negotiable. That is, they are part of a compatible arrangement of the many permissible alternatives that, while not conforming to the computer models of the perfect golf swing, can still function very well to get the job done. These elements from the setup to the finish position of your golf swing that are negotiable, represent the subject of this book. By identifying and organizing these negotiable swing components, The Negotiable Golf Swing is the first book ever to show you how you can use basic swing components and their permissible permutations to negotiate a better game of golf.

Why negotiate a consistent swing, a better game? Why not simply emulate the model golf swing? Because a negotiable golf swing gets you where you want to go faster and you make that journey with many of the tools that are already in your kit bag. A negotiable golf swing allows for the myriad of individual differences among golfers, and still yields good results. In this book I will not only identify allowable or negotiable variables – such as swing speed or a floating head, a? la Curtis Strange – but also explain how, after proper assemblage, they produce good results faster than completely tearing apart a swing and rebuilding it.

To understand better what negotiable means, look no further than the swings of the best players in the world today. Tiger Woods wins with a neutral grip, a model backswing, and a clubshaft that is parallel to the ground at the top. Freddie Couples plays with a strong, closed-faced grip, Jim Furyk wins with a steep backswing, and John Daly launches 300-yard drives with an overly long backswing. Ernie Els and Retief Goosen win with a slower tempo than Nick Price and Lanny Wadkins, who swing with a faster one. Many swing concepts focus on trying to convince golfers that they must have perfect tempo or perfect form in order to play better. This is simply not true, and in this book I will show you why.

How can you build a negotiable golf swing? I’ll begin by explaining and showing you how to apply:

1. Basic human learning skills
2. The nonnegotiable, that is, the relationship between the golf club and the golf ball that create the irrefutable laws of the flight of the ball
3. The negotiable, those aforementioned permissible alternatives, such as a strong versus weak grip

By understanding how to use basic learning skills, along with the nonnegotiable and negotiable and the link between all of them, a golfer can begin to use his or her own analysis and common sense to negotiate the building of an effective golf swing. This is the first book ever to empower the reader to forge the nonnegotiable with the negotiable.

In addition, in The Negotiable Golf Swing, I will tackle for the first time anywhere the learning problems that arise from the widespread misinterpretation of all that we read, watch, and eventually take to the practice tee and golf course. Much information or tips that we embrace are myths and “old wives’ tales” that, having stubbornly stood the test of time, have become traditional beliefs. I will address these myths and help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

This book doesn’t burden the reader with rigid swing models and excessive instruction. Rather, it’s an eye-opening tutorial that will empower golfers to create their own personal swings that repeat and get good results. Although my approach will have greater impact among double-digit handicap golfers, The Negotiable Golf Swing can help anyone – from beginners to seasoned to single-digit handicap players.

Editor's note - this book by Joe Laurentino will be available in late summer 2007 from www.JoeLaurentino.com. Read an excerpt here.

Questions or comments on this golf tips and instruction article? Send them to the editor at editor@masterstrokesgolf.com.