Hank Haney's new book preaches golf swing fundamentals

Hank Haney is the man who has helped Tiger Woods become the most recognizable athlete on the planet.

Love or hate Woods, it would still be wise to take some of Haney’s expertise to heart. Hank Haney’s “Essentials of the Swing,” his 2009 book published by John Wiley and Son’s, outlines a seven-step program to hitting more consistent shots and learning to shape them on command.

Haney’s first two books were about fixing swing problems and offered insight into the way he gives a lesson. With this book, Haney hopes to explain his vision of what every aspect of a swing should look like.

Haney starts with the most basic of fundamentals, moving from the grip and the stance, posture and alignment to the backswing and forward swing. Chapter six touches on practice, emphasizing how important it is to concentrate on each ball you hit at the range.

Next, Haney moves to the course and prepares you for the final lesson, how to work the ball and shape shots. The book is a bare-bones instructional guide. There are no graphics and no real fancy photos. It’s just Haney swinging the club.

While other swing books might look better, this one is better. The meat of it, the text, is juicier, rich with important details. You might never play like a Tiger on the course, but at least by reading this book you can relate a little better to the world’s No. 1 player.