The Easy Break Golf Book Review: Can This Book Help You Finally Master Your Short Game?

Just two years ago, PGA Teaching Professional Todd Kolb revolutionized golf for thousands of amateurs with the release of his bestselling book, The Bad Lie.

Now he’s just announced the release of another groundbreaking guide to the game of golf—and this time, he’s zeroing in on the short game.

His new book is called The Easy Break: A Radically Simple System for Better Putting, Chipping, and Bunker Play. It promises to provide golfers of all levels and ages with a groundbreaking short game system—one that invites us all to break free from the overcomplicated strategies we’re used to.

But what does that mean, exactly? And does Kolb’s book deliver on its promises?

We’ve got all those answers and more for you right here.

But first, let’s tackle the big question: 

Why Read a Book That’s Just About the Short Game?

Kolb is well aware that most amateur golfers gravitate toward the long game in their golf practice. He also doesn’t fault anyone for that tendency. After all, it’s fun to hit bombs off the tee. 

But Kolb makes several compelling cases for prioritizing the short game, starting with the fact that: 

“A 250-yard drive and a one-foot putt are worth exactly the same on your scorecard. And it’s always going to be easier to lower your scores by fine-tuning your short game, whether you’re 17 or 70.”

He also introduces the reader to several real-life golfers who’ve seen massive gains in their game because of their focus on the short game.

There are the senior golfers (though Todd prefers the term “experienced”) who are beginning to reclaim the excellence of their younger years by focusing on their short game instead of battling speed and mobility challenges on the tee.

You’ll also meet a college golfer in the prime of her life. She’s never had a great talent for distance, but her short-game proficiency allows her to keep up with (and often surprise) her competitors. 

Then there’s LPGA player Angela Stanford who stubbornly deprioritized her short game for years, leaning on the strength of her long game. But with Kolb as her coach, she fine-tuned her strategies around the green and won her first major—an experience she credits with extending her career.

Through these stories, it becomes clear that mastering the short game is one of the most powerful things you can do for your scorecard. It doesn’t matter who you are.

And you’d better believe that these gofers are also enjoying their short game practice a lot more than they used to.

Who is This Book For?

Everyone. It’s a point Kolb emphasizes repeatedly throughout the book. Everyone can benefit from improving their short game. And his specific style of instruction is accessible enough for beginners and innovative enough to be a revelation for high-level players.

Of course, if you follow Kolb, his USGolfTV channel on YouTube, or VLS Golf, you know this instructor is famous for centering “experienced” golfers in his instruction. 

While senior players do have to share the focus with everyone else in The Easy Break, they can still count on guidance tailored to their needs.

Who is Todd Kolb?

If you’re a regular here at USGolfTV, you already know who Todd Kolb is.

If you’re new here, let us fill you in.

Todd Kolb is a PGA Teaching Professional with thirty years of experience coaching golfers of all ages and skill levels. He’s a four-time Golf Digest Best in State Instructor and a former Minnesota PGA Teacher of the Year.

His USGolfTV YouTube channel boasts over a quarter of a million subscribers, and his bestselling book The Bad Lie has been a game-changer for thousands of golfers.

What Makes The Easy Break Different From Other Short Game Books?

The subtitle says it all: The Easy Break offers a radically simple system for a better short game.

After all, simplicity is what Kolb is known for. His instruction invites you to abandon the convoluted advice and complicated techniques that only create more tension around the green.

What he offers instead is a few simple checkpoints, drilling each shot down to its core objectives. Instead of approaching your short game with a head full of to-do’s, you learn to focus on the ultimate goal of your setup and swing motion.

Sounds obvious, but in the world of golf instruction, it’s revolutionary.

Of particular note is Kolb’s ALL-Go putting system, a method that strays from traditional putting tips to help golfers of all levels discover more control. This system is designed to eliminate a handful of errors most golfers make without realizing it.

This book also stands out for its liberal use of images, checklists, recaps, and practice drills, making the content easy to conceptualize, recall, and execute. 

Kolb even concludes his instruction with an extensive “Next Level Short Game” section. Here, he digs into the mental and strategic short-game skills that separate the exceptional players from everybody else.

What’s Inside the Book?

Most of the book is divided into three sections, each one dedicated to a specific short game shot: putts, chips, and bunkers.

Each section is divided into the same seven chapters:

• The Objectives – Understand the mechanical goals of the shot so you can connect better with the instruction.
• The Foundation – Learn how to set up your shot to fulfill the objectives every time.
• The Motion – Learn how the body and club move together to create the perfect shot.
• The Practice – Discover drills to hone the techniques you just studied. 
• The Mistakes – Find out how to overcome the most common errors amateur golfers make.
• The Situations – Unlock little-known strategies for addressing some of the trickiest situations on and around the green.
• A Recap – Get a quick-and-to-the-point rundown of everything you just learned.

The book ends with the “Next Level Short Game” section, which includes the following chapters:

• Proper Expectations – Learn how to keep a cool head and get actual statistics to put your performance into context. 
• Think Like a Champ – Find out how the best players think about their short game.
• Practice Plans – Get your own customizable practice plans designed to fit into the amateur golfer’s busy schedule.
• Testing – Discover strategies for testing your skills and tracking your progress.
• A Recap – Get a quick-and-to-the-point rundown of everything you just learned.

Our Favorite Thing About The Easy Break

If we had to pick the one thing we like best about this book, it would have to be its interactive nature. You’ll find tons of a checklists, recaps, personalized plans, and downloadable resources.

Make no mistake: the instruction itself is powerful. But it’s the effort Kolb makes to ensure you can translate that new knowledge into actual improvement that makes this such a standout book.

And that’s no accident. Readers of Kolb’s previous book loved the practice guides, checklists, and pictures. So in this one, he’s giving you even more of them.  

Bottom Line: Could The Easy Break Help Your Short Game?

Absolutely. The Easy Break is filled with amateur- and senior-friendly guidance you won’t find anywhere else. It will get you thinking about your game differently and bring simplicity to shots that have been sending you into panic mode for years.

Where Can I Buy The Easy Break?

The Easy Break is available on Amazon in e-book and paperback (both regular and large print).

That’s Our Opinion: What’s Yours?

Does this sound like the kind of guidance you’re looking for in your short game? Have you already read The Easy Break yourself?

Join us in the comments and let us know your thoughts!