Shaw should know what it means to be unique. He’s just 5’ 6” and 125 pounds, a rather unique size for a golf professional. He once hit a 1-iron (that’s right, a 1 iron, perhaps the most unique club in the bag) 225 yards into a stiff wind over water to eight feet and then drained the putt to take over the lead in a tight match. Shaw was born in Independence, Iowa, a town that would seem to set the tone for a unique individual. He was the first golf professional to set foot on the Moscow Country Club course in Moscow, Russia, and now works extensively with the Russian National Team, which makes him pretty darn unique among his professional colleagues. He prefers playing balls numbered “1,” the official number of the unique. He often wears white shirts and stays uniquely cool among his opponents. Everything Shaw does seems to have a unique, pure quality about it. Naturally, his approach to teaching the game follows suit.

“Most coaches use a directive approach - do this, do that with the club,” says Shaw, now in his 13th year of instruction. “We focus more on proper motor-skill learning - hitting off 2x4's to learn balance, writing on gloves to create the correct grip, and so forth. Students manipulate the swing less and learn faster.” Which is what Shaw’s students rave about most often – the speed of the learning process. Not surprisingly, most of Shaw’s new students come from referrals. He has worked with many top ranked juniors, amateurs and aspiring professionals. These students first looked to Shaw for assistance in hitting the ball longer with more consistency. Shaw gave them that and a whole lot more. 

“I use a lot of video and teaching aids to make learning more effective,” says Shaw. “We also focus on the mental side (we use a personality profile to improve on-course performance), physical evaluation and workouts with Healthsouth or other personal trainers.”

Shaw’s beginner students are advised to focus on the basic fundamentals of Grip, Alignment and Posture. Shaw starts them off with free arm swings with their feet together. From there, he works on creating proper body rotation. Intermediate golfers generally have a decent swing, according to Shaw, and therefore should turn their attention more fully to the short game. “70% of the game is within 100 yards,” notes Shaw. With advanced players, Shaw uses video to routinely capture their swings and identify what needs fine-tuning. He also works with Healthsouth to produce a workout regimen that reinforces correct flexibility and strength to help the student make the swings they want to make. “If your body lacks flexibility or strength, or is out of balance, practice and improvement is hindered,” says Shaw.

Shaw knows a little something about the importance of fitness. He works out three times a week to increase the strength and flexibility he brings to his own golf game. Engaging in other sports – tennis, swimming and running - also keeps him active and in shape. When he practices his golf swing, he tends to practice in multiple short sessions of 15 minutes or less. “I work on balance and rhythm at first and work swing mechanics for the last part,” explains Shaw. 

“I start with short irons and work up to longer clubs and end again with short irons. I practice with a 6 or 7 iron when I work on mechanics.” This approach has served him well; Shaw competed at the high school and college levels and also in Midwest and U.S. Junior Tournaments. As a professional, Shaw has teed it up in numerous local PGA events in Indiana, New York, Connecticut, Arizona and Nevada.

“I was too small to play other sports competitively, so I turned to golf,” says Shaw, who first picked up a club at age 10 and went on to play for Cornell College in Iowa, serving also as a teaching professional all through college.  “I love to be outdoors and experience the social nature of the game. I enjoy the mental challenge: you against the course.” No matter how tough that challenge may get, however, Shaw always reminds himself that golf is just a game. 

“You can’t take it too seriously,” smiles Shaw, “the challenge is what makes it fun!” No wonder his favorite shot to hit is also one of the most challenging in golf: the flop shot around the greens, which always requires a great deal of creativity and finesse to pull off. Shaw’s greatest asset, however, is his putter. He has the most confidence in that aspect of his game.

A five-year resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, Shaw currently teaches at the Nike Golf Learning Center at Badlands Golf Club. He is often inspired by teaching juniors in particular; Shaw finds he learns new things about his own game as he passes his knowledge on to younger students. Shaw also loves to watch Tiger hit the ball. “His aggressive play and shot-making are awesome,” says Shaw. Shaw knows unique when he sees it. He also knows full well the rewards of good teaching. 

“I enjoy watching the reaction of my students when they hit that perfect golf shot,” says Shaw. “To watch their confidence soar when they do that over and over – it’s a great feeling.” Shaw watched it happen with the Russian National Team as they went from virtually unknown to competing at an international level in less than three years under Shaw’s guidance. As a talented and well-respected golf professional, Shaw has provided countless students with a unique learning experience that has changed their games for the better, forever.

To find out more about your opportunity for a unique learning experience, e-mail Shaw at FrankShaw@lvcm.com.  Thanks for sharing, Frank!