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The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing: Curing Your Hit Impulse in Seven Simple Lessons
The biggest paradox in golf is that the harder you try to hit the ball, the worse you do so. In The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing, Michael McTeigue offers you a simple system of sequential body movements that produces a true swinging motion with every club in the bag. The result is increased distance and greater accuracy for all sizes, shapes, and ages of golfers for a minimum investment in learning time. The clarity and simplicity of McTeigue's frill-free approach to the golf swing leads the reader to a new experience of power and effortlessness. He truly shows how to build a swing you can trust and keep for life. If you love golf but have never played to your potential, here is a book that you will quickly come to treasure.
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Most golf instruction books are written by famous performers about how they personally swing the club, and there's no doubt the better ones can be helpful—especially if you share the author's athleticism, ambition, appetite for work, and opportunities for practice and play.
This book was written by a very bright but at the time "unfamous" young teacher whose daily bread depended on delivering permanently decent-to-good golf games to averagely endowed people with no interest in becoming slaves to the sport. He became so successful at that in his immediate community that his pupils demanded he put the system on paper for their constant reference and reminder. He called the result The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing, and sent it to a number of star players, one of whom passed it on to me. After one quick reading I believed that the book would help so many other existing and would-be golfers to such an extent that it just had to be made available nationally. Jim McQueen, one of the world's top golf artists and a former professional, fully shared those sentiments and agreed to do the illustrations, and the nation's leading golf book publisher became an enthusiastic third party.
The key to Michael McTeigue's success with his thousands of pupils of all sizes, shapes, ages, and ability levels in California, and the beauty of this book, is the clarity and simplicity and the supremely logical sequentiality of its approach to the golf swing.
Follow the easily mastered steps or "keys" in the recommended order and with a reasonable degree of patience, and in a remarkably short time, you will be experiencing entirely new sensations of both accurate striking and effortless power. Encouraged by those—and the accompanying evaporation of confusion—you will persist with these simple and clear-cut moves until they become thoroughly muscle-memorized. At that point, you will be swinging the golf club effectively and with total confidence on every shot entirely by feel, which is the closest you or anyone else will ever come to golf's "secret" (ask any champion if you doubt that). Gone forever at long last will be the Band-Aids and the gimmicks and all that frustrating stumbling from one fruitless theory to another.
If you love golf and want to play better for a lot less effort, then forget Michael McTeigue's fame quotient and work with this little gem of a book. It could make you as big a fan of his as all those happy pupils for whom he originally wrote it.
Ken Bowden
May 1985
A former editorial director of Golf Digest magazine, Ken Bowden has co-authored more than a dozen golf instruction books, seven of them with Jack Nicklaus.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Most golf instruction books are written by famous performers about how they personally swing the club, and there's no doubt the better ones can be helpful—especially if you share the author's athleticism, ambition, appetite for work, and opportunities for practice and play.
This book was written by a very bright but at the time "unfamous" young teacher whose daily bread depended on delivering permanently decent-to-good golf games to averagely endowed people with no interest in becoming slaves to the sport. He became so successful at that in his immediate community that his pupils demanded he put the system on paper for their constant reference and reminder. He called the result The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing, and sent it to a number of star players, one of whom passed it on to me. After one quick reading I believed that the book would help so many other existing and would-be golfers to such an extent that it just had to be made available nationally. Jim McQueen, one of the world's top golf artists and a former professional, fully shared those sentiments and agreed to do the illustrations, and the nation's leading golf book publisher became an enthusiastic third party.
The key to Michael McTeigue's success with his thousands of pupils of all sizes, shapes, ages, and ability levels in California, and the beauty of this book, is the clarity and simplicity and the supremely logical sequentiality of its approach to the golf swing.
Follow the easily mastered steps or "keys" in the recommended order and with a reasonable degree of patience, and in a remarkably short time, you will be experiencing entirely new sensations of both accurate striking and effortless power. Encouraged by those—and the accompanying evaporation of confusion—you will persist with these simple and clear-cut moves until they become thoroughly muscle-memorized. At that point, you will be swinging the golf club effectively and with total confidence on every shot entirely by feel, which is the closest you or anyone else will ever come to golf's "secret" (ask any champion if you doubt that). Gone forever at long last will be the Band-Aids and the gimmicks and all that frustrating stumbling from one fruitless theory to another.
If you love golf and want to play better for a lot less effort, then forget Michael McTeigue's fame quotient and work with this little gem of a book. It could make you as big a fan of his as all those happy pupils for whom he originally wrote it.
Ken Bowden
May 1985
A former editorial director of Golf Digest magazine, Ken Bowden has co-authored more than a dozen golf instruction books, seven of them with Jack Nicklaus.
- GenresSportsNonfiction
112 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 22, 2020
I recently picked back up playing golf again and this book should be required reading for all recreational golfers who are serious about improving their game. It’s a very smooth read, with simple but effective illustrations to reinforce and guide the learning process. The patient student will be well rewarded by this book. I have taken my time to absorb the instructions that lay within these pages, rereading chapters several times as I pause to apply what I learn towards attaining an effortless golf swing. A superb golf swing instructional book - I would give this ten stars if the rating system allowed me.
July 8, 2021
amazing book. I have read many golf books and taken too many lessons, but Michael McTeague breaks the swing down better than anyone -- and provides the drills to help high handicappers (like me) learn to swing through the ball, rather than HIT at the darned thing.
April 6, 2014
A must for all duffers.
November 1, 2017
Urge to HIT !
I know my biggest fault in golf is the need to smash the ball instead of swinging the club and not knowing how to control this urge. In very clear lessons, Michael shows you how to overcome this urge and develope a acceptable golf swing. He is very clear that it takes work and practice to succede, he shows the way, it is up to the golfer to follow the path he has layed out
I know my biggest fault in golf is the need to smash the ball instead of swinging the club and not knowing how to control this urge. In very clear lessons, Michael shows you how to overcome this urge and develope a acceptable golf swing. He is very clear that it takes work and practice to succede, he shows the way, it is up to the golfer to follow the path he has layed out
June 4, 2023
Simple, Concise, Repeatable Fundamentals
This book helped me build a consistent and successful golf swing. I practiced the seven lessons in sequence, establishing muscle memory for the set up, balance, tempo, and staying relaxed. This frees up the mind to focus on strategy to visualize your next shot.
I have also read his book Bullet Proof Putting and highly recommend that one for the same reasons.
This book helped me build a consistent and successful golf swing. I practiced the seven lessons in sequence, establishing muscle memory for the set up, balance, tempo, and staying relaxed. This frees up the mind to focus on strategy to visualize your next shot.
I have also read his book Bullet Proof Putting and highly recommend that one for the same reasons.
June 5, 2016
Fantastic
Concise and clear building blocks for the construction of a consistent golf swing. Focus is on broad and considerable emphasis is put on resisting tension and the "hit" impulse.
Would highly recommend this book to beginners and experts alike.
Concise and clear building blocks for the construction of a consistent golf swing. Focus is on broad and considerable emphasis is put on resisting tension and the "hit" impulse.
Would highly recommend this book to beginners and experts alike.
March 9, 2020
Simple Keys to Good Golf Swing
I could understand the coil and major swing keys more easily after reading the book and practicing at the driving range. Good read for anyone who wants to improve their golf swing.
I could understand the coil and major swing keys more easily after reading the book and practicing at the driving range. Good read for anyone who wants to improve their golf swing.
December 31, 2017
Affordance of club
Perceptual development is a process of learning about affordances, becoming better able to detect appropriate sup-
ports and resources, and discovering new affordances as ac-
tion capabilities change (E. J. Gibson, 1992). Affordances
themselves develop. The acquisition of new motor skills—
looking, reaching, walking, weightlifting, swimming, driv-
ing, sewing, hand writing—produces new affordances to be learned throughout life.
Perceptual development is a process of learning about affordances, becoming better able to detect appropriate sup-
ports and resources, and discovering new affordances as ac-
tion capabilities change (E. J. Gibson, 1992). Affordances
themselves develop. The acquisition of new motor skills—
looking, reaching, walking, weightlifting, swimming, driv-
ing, sewing, hand writing—produces new affordances to be learned throughout life.
March 9, 2018
Major common errors highlighted
Helped me in that it reinforced swing info learned in Ben Hogans Five Lessons book. Swing planes described in it need to be achieved with relaxed effort. Reminds me this won't be so easy for older golfers
Helped me in that it reinforced swing info learned in Ben Hogans Five Lessons book. Swing planes described in it need to be achieved with relaxed effort. Reminds me this won't be so easy for older golfers
June 29, 2019
Look no further
Having read somewhere close to 30 different books over the last 10 years I’d say this the easiest and simplest method to understand and implement. This book is straight to the point with no fluff.
Having read somewhere close to 30 different books over the last 10 years I’d say this the easiest and simplest method to understand and implement. This book is straight to the point with no fluff.
July 12, 2019
Succinct Summary of How the Swing Should Work
Quick read, with great descriptions. The text made intuitive sense to me. I will re-read it in more detail. Think of it as building on Hogan with more attention paid to feel. Great book.
Quick read, with great descriptions. The text made intuitive sense to me. I will re-read it in more detail. Think of it as building on Hogan with more attention paid to feel. Great book.
July 9, 2025
Small Steps to Promote a correct Swing
I like how the author has you practice a one piece or lighthouse swing in small segments until the student goes on to lengthen his back swing and shift his or her weight. I have been
I like how the author has you practice a one piece or lighthouse swing in small segments until the student goes on to lengthen his back swing and shift his or her weight. I have been
July 4, 2017
Good enough
Was a fast read. Not all that much new information presented, but was good enough. It was over before I knew it so did read fast.
Was a fast read. Not all that much new information presented, but was good enough. It was over before I knew it so did read fast.
March 25, 2018
A superb distillation
I’ve been plagued most of my life on the golf course by what this slim volume teaches the reader to avoid. It’s liberating!
I’ve been plagued most of my life on the golf course by what this slim volume teaches the reader to avoid. It’s liberating!
June 4, 2019
Very easy read. steps are simplified to help the reader put everything into practice and improve their golf game almost immediately. highly recommend.
December 19, 2021
Ha dei suggerimenti molto utili anche per esercitarsi a casa
June 6, 2023
Best golf book for beginner and intermediate gòlfer. Applying the theory in this book, I gained 1 club more distance for each of my clubs.
September 3, 2025
I learned couple of good essentials for my golf swing by reading this book. Yet, illustrations are rather rare citizens and definitely will help me to follow material more easily.
August 21, 2020
I read this book again in October, 2020... it is primarily about how to swing the golf club with your body core... very detailed.... I compare the author's system to what Paul Wilson teaches... the only difference is McTeigue believes in passive wrists while Paul Wilson teaches active wrists that hinge and rehinge through the swing process... I want to use their body core swing methods in 2021 and rebuild my game around this system... I have already started to do this in 2020 with good results, but i need to be more committed to this system exclusively.... I believe it is easier on your body and at my age of 73, that is of most importance.... watching Paul Wilson's videos on You Tube is probably the same thing as using McTeigue's method... with small variations such as passive vs active wrists.
June 28, 2015
Very clear!
Simple and clear. Should be easy to practice at the Golf course to find the effortless swing I'm loking for.
Simple and clear. Should be easy to practice at the Golf course to find the effortless swing I'm loking for.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews