for months with the putter, and it was midway through a major. Though the player was in conten- tion, he could have been leading if a few putts had dropped. I was off to the side, chatting with a friend but keeping an eye on what was happening on the green. This cad- die holds himself in high regard and envisions himself as a teacher. After the player missed several putts from 10 feet, the caddie mentioned something about the player’s left foot being slightly open. Both the teacher and player shot him a similar look. That look . . . well, have you ever been mov- ing furniture, and the furniture is stuck on a corner, and an onlooker suggests, “Hey, maybe try turning it?” Yeah, that’s how the caddie’s advice was taken. My favourite caddie-not-know- ing-his-station story comes from the Korn Ferry Tour. A player had a high finish, one that essentially locked up his PGA Tour card. This happened to be at a site where the caddie went to college, so the lo- cal newspaper worked that angle hard. The caddie was not used to getting media attention and went overboard in describing his role in the player’s performance. The ar- ticle that came out made it sound like the caddie was the reason the player earned his card. Players and caddies are a team, and we can play a big part in the success of our player. We let the players say that, not us. At the next event, the caddie got to the tour- nament site, and the player had arranged for several players and caddies to hold pencils as micro- phones and, taping with their cell- phones follow the caddie from the car park to the range to “interview” him. The caddie found it funny – I think – but the message was sent. What do all these stories tell us? As a caddie, you’re right only if the player thinks you’re right. If you think that’s wrong, you’re in the wrong profession. – with joel beall
in this competition. The flip side is that if you’re going to act like that, you can’t be upset if your opponent tells you to shove it. Cantlay doesn’t emote and has no appetite to engage in con- troversy. LaCava, though, clearly thought Lowry and the Europe- an crowds did his player wrong. LaCava’s celebration was over the top, but he wasn’t being a poor sport in victory. He was just try- ing to stand up for his guy. Every player wants that support from their caddie. Almost every cad- Once, there was a scoring issue with a top player, and one of the caddies decided to intervene. die I know acknowledges LaCava went too far, but we’re all proud of him for standing up for what he thought was right. After all, this wasn’t the first time a caddie over- stepped his station. Once, there was a scoring issue with a top player, which was pointed out by his playing partner in the tent after the round. It was an honest mistake that happens all the time. Both players, seated at the scoring table, started to go through the round, hole by hole, making sure everything added up. One of the caddies – and this is a caddie every casual golf fan knows by name – decided to intervene, hovering over his player and point- ing to one of the holes in question. The other player turned his head towards the caddie and calmly but sternly said, “Excuse me, the play- ers are taking care of this.” If that sounds prickish, I won’t debate you, except the player who said it is one of the nicest guys in the game, and the caddie, well, not so much. Even the nice guys have no patience for caddies who step over the line. Another time, I saw a caddie – also a big name in our line – work- ing with his player and the player’s coach late at night on the green. This player had been struggling
I like to say “success leaves clues.” Using the Gears motion-tracking system and studying what the best players do, we’ve found a commonality in most pros’ backswings that might seem contradictory to what you’ve been told to do, but it’s key to sequencing, timing, and power generation. High-level players start their swings with a lot of speed early off the ball and then slow down as the club approaches the top. Amateurs, often under the direction of taking the club back “low and slow,” do the opposite. Their takeaway is too deliberate and their transition is too quick. The result is they often lose control of the swing during the change-of-direction phase. To make your backswing more effective, try this drill: Grab your driver and mimic a follow-through position where the club already has passed impact and your trail foot’s heel is off the ground. This is the new start position for your backswing (above left). Replant your heel and take the club back quicker than you’re used to but let the speed die as the club approaches the top (above right). Work on this move for a bit and when it feels comfortable, expand to making through- swings to complete the task. I think you’ll find this puts newfound energy and flow into your swing and syncs everything up. – WITH RON KASPRISKE SHAUN WEBB, one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America, is at Athletic Motion Golf in Winter Garden, Florida. WHAT TECHNOLOGY HAS TAUGHT ME LOW AND SLOW IS NOT THE WAY TO GO BY SHAUN WEBB
Undercover Caddie once got into a shouting match with a player over a football bet.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 13
MAY 2024
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