Yet still golfer's struggle, it is said the average male golfer shoots about 97 and an average woman golfer about 106.  Interestingly enough these numbers have changed little over the past 20 or 30 years.  This lend credence that mysteries of the golf swing are alive and well.

I have discovered several books that I feel unwrap the mysteries of the Golf Swing.  Though not all of these books are the most user friendly, they serve well the readers that spend the time to study and learn them.  One in particular, The Golfing Machine (TGM) by Homer Kelly that holds the truths of all golf swings.

The Golfing Machine (TGM) is the only golf reference guide for the golf swing.  It doesn't matter if you are a swinger or a hitter, fast back swing or slow back swing.  It has defined the golf swing into 24 components and variations (often referred to as preferences).  This computes out to about 400 quadrillion different golf swings.  The golf swing is defined using science, geometry and physics.  

TGM along with defining the 24 components defined 3 imperatives that all good golf swings need to have:
a.  Flat Left Wrist
b.  Pressure Point to monitor clubhead lag
c.  Straight Plane Line

In addition to these 3 imperative, there are 3 essentials:
a.  Stationary Head
b.  Balance
c.  Rhythm

And at last the underlying emphasis or thrust of TGM is that the golf swing "Is Your Golf Swing", not Joe Duffer's or Bob Bogey's swing, not some new method.  

Now a very interesting facet of this book is that all those different swing methods by those well known golf instructors, can be found between the covers of TGM.  They just aren't assembled and called Joe Duffer's Swing Method.

Now before you run out and buy this book, let me forewarn you.  The book is a technical book on the golf swing.  It is not written like other golf books who define their method.  The book in my opinion is better suited for golf instructors, cause how many golfer's really need to know and understand more than their golf swing?  

The book is based on the premise that each golfer is physically built different and therefore requires a different golf swing.  They have divided the golfer into three primary categories along with some subcategories.  Though this may appear similar to a one size fits all, it isn't cause they use body type definitions to begin the process of defining Your Own Swing.  They provide variations to each of the body types and then have a section to customize the golf swing to Your Swing.

The book has a number of good drills and exercises.

This book is a good start and it is clear the TGM has influenced the authors of this book.  It makes for a good companion book to The Golfing Machine in my opinion.  Note it is somewhat difficult or awkward to read as compared to other How to Books.

60 Day Game Improvement Program by Chuck Evans - This is a series of two tapes which without actually describing the golf swing using TGM terms, he has provided lessons and drills to build a golf swing from the ground up.  Though these tapes are short, they cover putting, chipping, pitching, full swing.  Interesting enough these tapes are so well done, that some of the finer points can be overlooked by a viewer who just watches it once.  This is definitely a tape a golfer can build a golf swing from as well as troubleshoot an existing swing.

How to Build a G.O.L.F. Swing by Ben Doyle - This is probably the only tape that track the TGM book by chapter and section.  This is a great tape for those studying TGM on their own to get insight into the 24 components.  I think Ben has done a wonderful job, both in explaining some of the details of TGM and providing a plan on how to build a golf swing.  The down side is that without a good basis or understanding a golfer could attempt to assemble a golf swing on his own that really wouldn't be "His/Her Golf Swing.  That said, for those without the TGM book and not looking to get into TGM in depth, I would advise against this video.  

Power Golf by Ben Hogan

Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf by Ben Hogan

The Essentials of Golf by John Dunigan

The Secret of the Golf Swing by John Dunigan

Swing Like a Pro (SLAP) by Dr. Ralph Mann and Fred Griffin

Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy