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The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods – Book Review
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The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods
by Hank Haney
Versions available:
Genre: Golf Improvement Books
Brief synopsis:
Ever wondered what it’s like to coach the greatest golfer in the history of the game? In The Big Miss, Hank Haney shares stories from his time with Tiger Woods (2004 – 2010), including how he got the job. The exact same period that Woods was married to Elin Nordegren …
The book is a fascinating read for any golf enthusiast, Tiger Woods fan, or anyone looking to understand more about coaching elite sports stars.
Favourite Quote
Text message to Woods: “Tiger, in every instance when I am asked about Tiger Woods I always answer in the best interests of Tiger Woods. Every time you are asked about Hank Haney, you never answer in the best interests of Hank Haney. It bothers me. It Hurts me. If anybody should understand the value of friends at this point in their life, it should be you. I feel like I’ve been a great friend to you. I don’t feel I’ve gotten that in return.”
Hank Haney – The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods
Detailed Review
Hank Haney’s book “The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods” is a fascinating and insightful look into the world of golf, and specifically the coaching relationship between Haney and one of the greatest golfers of all time, Tiger Woods. I
n his book, Haney provides a detailed account of his time as Woods’ coach, spanning from 2004 to 2010. Woods won 31 PGA Tour events under Haney’s watchful eye, including six major titles.
The Big Miss is a valuable insight into the incredibly small inner circle around Woods at a key time of his career and personal life. Haney was Woods’ coach during the whole of his marriage. He was still coaching Tiger when the golfing legend’s personal life exploded in 2009, leading to his divorce from wife Elin Nordegren in 2010.
It’s a MUST READ book for any big fan of golf, Tiger Woods, or a reader who is interested in learning more about top flight coaching in any sport. Woods fans may be a little surprised by some of the stories. While Haney is very respectful throughout the book, readers will certainly learn more about “off-screen Tiger”.
Technical Golf Talk
One of the most striking aspects of the book is the level of detail that Haney goes into in describing the technical aspects of Woods’ golf game. Haney is clearly a highly skilled coach, and his ability to analyse and diagnose the various issues that Woods faced on the course is truly impressive. Golf lovers will appreciate the wealth of technical information provided in the book, which is both insightful and informative.
If you’re looking for a book more focussed more on the psychological side of golf, then why not checkout our review of Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella. ⬇️
Beyond the technical aspects of Woods’ game, Haney does also provide a fascinating look into the psychology of coaching a player of Woods’ caliber. Haney talks openly about the challenges of working with a player who is so focused and driven, and the pressures that come with coaching someone who is constantly in the public eye. Through his anecdotes and reflections, Haney provides a glimpse into the unique and often intense world of coaching a professional athlete.
While the book certainly provides an interesting look into the world of golf coaching and the life of a professional athlete, it is not without its flaws. In my opinion this is often misquoted as a “kiss and tell” book. It’s not full of gossip. Some readers may actually find that Haney spends too much time focusing on technical details and that he is too quick to take credit for Woods’ success. Additionally, some readers may find Haney’s account of his relationship with Woods to be somewhat one-sided, and may wish for more perspective from Woods himself.
Tiger Woods Golf Swing in the Hank Haney Era
During his years coaching Tiger Woods, Haney made some significant changes to Tiger’s swing. Check out PGA Advanced Professional Matt Holman‘s analysis of his 2008 swing below.
Why Golfers Should Read The Big Miss?
Overall, “My Years Coaching Tiger Woods” is a compelling and engaging read for golf enthusiasts, sports fans, and anyone interested in the challenges of coaching at the highest level of professional athletics. Haney had unrivalled access to one of the greatest sportsmen in history and is able to offer an exclusive take on their relationship, and Wood’s behaviour on and off the course during that period. While it may not be a perfect book, it is certainly an insightful and informative one, and offers a unique perspective on one of the most iconic figures in the history of golf.
At times Haney really brings the reader along on his journey. A Journey which while often business-like, also shares valuable insights into the private life of Tiger Woods. They are insights that are delivered in my opinion in a respectful way which helps to purvey what I believe at the time was a true friendship … something Tiger Woods doesn’t appear to have shared with too many people over the years.
Enjoyed our review? Why not checkout our compilation of other Best Golf Books to Read.
Wanting to know more about Tiger Woods? Checkout our Tiger Woods Profile.
About the Author:
Born in Illinois, America, Hank Haney is an American Professional golf Instructor most famed for coaching Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara.
Haney’s main coaching focus is on swing plane and ensuring a golfer swings their golf club on their own, correct golf plane.
The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods – Version Details
Product Details:
The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods – Hardback
- Publisher : Crown Archetype (27 Mar. 2012)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0307985989
- ISBN-13 : 978-0307985989
- Dimensions : 16.15 x 2.69 x 24.18 cm
Product Details:
The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods – Paperback
- Publisher : Virgin Books (14 Mar. 2013)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780753541739
- ISBN-13 : 978-0753541739
- Dimensions : 12.6 x 1.7 x 19.8 cm
Product Details:
The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods – Kindle Edition
- Publisher : Virgin Digital (7 Feb. 2013)
- Language : English
- File size : 1609 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
Product Details:
The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods – Audiobook
- Listening Length : 8 hours and 43 minutes
- Author : Hank Haney
- Narrator : Hank Haney
- Audible.co.uk Release Date : 27 March 2012
- Publisher : Random House Audio
- Program Type : Audiobook
- Version : Unabridged
Product Details:
The Big Miss – My Years Coaching Tiger Woods – Audio CD
- Publisher : Random House; Unabridged edition (27 Mar. 2012)
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 0449010848
- ISBN-13 : 978-0449010846
- Dimensions : 12.88 x 2.9 x 14.99 cm
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Last Updated on 19/07/2024 by StripeyGreenTV
