Guest Post
Dave Sheldon
Host – Sportstalk Weekend – CKNW 980
I have never had a formal golf lesson. To be clear, I have had golf pros who are friends of mine over the years give me tips on little things to correct a hiccup I was having or to get me past the present malady that my golf swing was giving me.
I had never had a golf professional look at my game and provide me feedback. In my first formal golf session two weeks ago, resident TPA MIND COACH Dr. Chris Baxter sat with Janice (my fiancée) and I and started us down the path of the mental side of the game, helping us establish goals that were important to us in golf and also giving us guidance on how to set the goals in a positive fashion. Then TPA Class ‘A’ Professional Dave Zibrik put us through our paces on the fitness side of the game, setting us up with the K-Vest to look at our swing mechanics and looking at our flexibility through the TPI Screening (Titleist Performance Institute).
I had met Fraser Mulholland through our mutual friend Jay Janower a number of years ago. The first time I played golf with Fraser was the first time that I had played with a golfer, any golfer, who shot under par. Fraser shot 64 at Morningstar, and he took the course apart by playing SMART golf. I out drove Fraser on a number of holes, but hole after hole, Fraser found himself in better spots on the golf course and in better places to make shots to score. He never had a putt over 12 feet all day, and he made damn near everything that hit the flat stick all day.
Fraser has the right attitude to be a teacher. He, like Chris and Dave, look at the game from a positive point of view. But like anybody who is looking to impart wisdom, it is imperative that you have a student who wants to buy in. Fraser sat us down and talked about expectations, ours and his. Then Fraser asked about our work habits when it came to practicing and getting ready for a game of golf.
Let me clarify, Fraser wants to know that we are committed to working on our games, but remember, it is supposed to be FUN! He wasn’t judging our work habits, he was seeing what they were, and while he was happy to know that we both had good habits to get ready for a round of golf, he had some sound ideas from the get go and made an immediate impact on our games.
There are some people I know who run up to the first tee and get after it…very little stretching, no putting, no warm-up bucket, just go hit the ball. That may work for some people, but for most it is the start to an agonizing day on the course. You head out to the course cold and the next thing that you know, you are 10 over par after four holes and you cannot believe your bad luck! It’s not bad luck, it’s bad preparation. For the amount of money that is spent playing the game of golf, the green fees, the equipment, the 19th hole with the buddies afterwards, would it kill you to take 30 minutes of your day before the round so that you can enjoy the next 5 hours on the course?
What Fraser showed Janice and I about warming up is how to use your warm-up time efficiently. Fraser gave us a warm-up protocol that all the pros on tour use…if it works for them, why not us. People forget that PGA tour pros are just like you and me, except they are the best golfers in the world…that’s it. They still have to stretch, they still need to warm up, they still need to eat, pay bills, worry about the day-to-day stresses that life throws at you…they are just like you. So if I can practice like they do, I know some of that preparation will rub off and I can become a better player.
As we warmed up, Fraser went back and forth between us, looking over our swings. Janice was having difficulty, flaring shots to the left. For the record, Janice is a lefty, so she was outright hitting the ball to the left, not a slice, but still a cause for concern as in the past this was always where Janice’s ball would end up if she did not make proper contact. Fraser identified that Janice’s grip could use a little tweak that would reduce these instances while still being comfortable. As soon as Janice made the change, she noticed an immediate difference. Janice felt that by changing her grip she was better able to finish her swing, thus allowing the club to pass entirely through the swing plane. Janice also was given a tip on driving. Let’s be clear, Janice can hammer the ball off the tee. But what Fraser saw wasn’t a deficiency, but an opportunity to maximize the distance for Janice. Janice’s swing plane was a little up and down and closed, almost hooding the driver and not allowing the club it’s proper loft. Janice plays a 9.5 degree driver, but the way she was hitting the ball was more like a 7 degree driver. Great velocity, lots of roll, but no height. Fraser had Janice sole the club, laying the back of the club in its natural position and allowing the club to use its proper loft. Janice took one swing and wasn’t immediately comfortable. Fraser encouraged her to try again and WHAMMO! For the next ten or so swings, Janice’s drives were not only straight, but long and towering! Janice added 15 yards extra with each swing, which on a normal spring or summer day may equate to an extra 20 to 30 yards per drive! BIG SMILES FROM JANICE!
Fraser saw the same issue with my swing that Dave Zibrik had seen in the previous session. I opened my front shoulder up to the target and was hitting the baby fade. It isn’t a bad shot to have, but if I wanted to improve my game, this had to disappear. You see, when the baby fade doesn’t happen on my swing, the ball goes wherever it wants, usually dead left, or dead right. It does not allow for a fun day on the course when you do not know where the ball is going. Fraser had me change how my front shoulder was set up and also had me bring the ball back in my stance more, just back into the centre, to allow me to square my club face. The results were instantaneous. The ball’s flight path was dead centre and if I wasn’t square, the ball was actually DRAWING a touch left instead of the fade right.
In just one session, Fraser had taught us better work habits and tweaked our swings to see instant results. Now we just need to practice and get those habits in place. We look forward to our next session next week and I will keep you up to date on our progress.
***MARCH 26 is my first shot at the Vancouver Golf Tour out at Morgan Creek. Fraser is the Commissioner of the VGT and is looking forward to getting me game ready for the opening event of the season. I can’t wait!
You can hear Dave Sheldon on Sportstalk Weekend Every Saturday and Sunday night from 9 P.M. to Midnight on CKNW 980. Listen for PGA Tour Insider Fraser Mulholland every Saturday night with Dave on Sportstalk Weekend!
