John Graham Golf

Clubface Shape Explained

John Graham — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:20:43 +0000

I’m sorry. It’s just one of my little pet peeves. I like things explained so everyone regardless of skill level would be able to understand them. Sometimes, I think the clubface shape is one of those things that can confuse people depending on how it’s explained.

Here’s a video talking about how I think the clubface shape should be explained.

I know some of you will not agree and that’s ok. Leave a comment and see if you can change my mind.

Facebook Integration

John Graham — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:13:03 +0000

As I expand my knowledge of social media, I keep searching for the best and easiest way to integrate my offerings.

I am currently trying out this Facebook App call Networked Blogs and this post serves as a test run to see if it shows on my personal profile page.

Please leave a comment if you would like to know how to use this app for your blog and Facebook integration

If you like what you’ve read in the past, please consider becoming a fan on my Facebook Page – John Graham Golf.

John

Golfing Goals- Toxic or Medicinal?

amgolfmindcoach — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:03:32 +0000

We all get told about the importance of setting goals, ticking off milestones as we achieve stages in our golfing carrier as a guide we’re ‘on track’ and progressing at the correct rate… but what if the way we set goals actually sabotages our game? What if the very goal we’re striving for is being de-railed by the goal itself? What then?

This week I had a fantastic session with a young player who is regarded by the ‘people in the know’ that’s she’s a big talent and it’s only a matter of time before she reaches the upper end of the game. She has a great little swing, good all round knowledge of how to play a course, supportive parents and the opportunity to play whenever she wants once school is out.

Lots in her favour…..so why is she unhappy with her game?

We met up and talked about where she saw her game developing and as I expected, the source of her unhappiness was discovered- her goals where indeed..TOXIC!

I suspect the way she’s set her goals, (or the way others have set them for her), are fairly common for a lot of players, not just low handicappers like her, but player’s right across the ability spectrum.

So, how do I arrive at the assumption that her goals may be toxic?

Have a read and notice if this sounds familiar.

‘I just want to get down to 2 by the end of 2010.. that’s my goal. (currently she’s off 3)every round is about getting cut and I’ll be happy when that happens’

‘ I’ll be happier when my stats improve and I’m hitting more fairways, more greens and converting more putts’

‘I’m frustrated because I’m playing fantastic in practice but it’s not happening on the course in competition when it REALLY MATTERS!’

For me they are goals which are toxic…..because they rely on something external happening BEFORE she’s happy. It also assumes that there is better than here, more is better than less, and she has to reach a standard to justify happiness. Ummm….doesn’t sound a whole bunch of fun and what happens if she doesn’t reach 2…what then?

I refer to setting goals in this way as ‘happiness deferral ‘ because as I said, her belief is that she can ONLY be happy when an external standard is reached. That in turn piles the pressure on her game because each round requires her to get cut and is totally based on outcomes. Those are not goals……they are wishes, dreams which lie outside her control.

Don’t get me wrong, I certainly see the benefits of setting targets as a way of gauging progress but when you attach happiness, contentment to them as well….how much benefit is there on a daily basis? And if you don’t attain those goals….you tell yourself you can’t have the happiness either. The circle continues and covertly, the enjoyment and fun is drained out of your game. The game becomes a chore, a ‘need to’ remit emerges and the external goal you’ve set is used to bash yourself around the head with.

Now it’s the domain of trying too hard, fearful of making a mistake and worrying about external judgement from the ‘expert judges’ who hold court. They have all told you where you need to be in 6 months and as the 6 months nears completion, cue the thoughts of ‘underachieving’ and ‘why can’t I do it’ commentary in our head.

If that sounds like your game…..it’s likely that your game is being eroded by a toxic goal, eating into your confidence, sense of purpose and leaving you with symptoms of frustration and isolation.

But as with any toxic substances, there’s a solution to bring the goal back to life.

Time to run the medicinal goal, a new improved version which comes with a ‘happiness guarantee’ built in. It’s available 24/7, is constant irrespective of external outcomes and insulates you from external judgement . Do you get a sense that could hold more value in your game?

Medicinal goals have one basic strategy at it’s core. Happiness is an internal state and not reliant on having to get something, or go somewhere in order to have it. It doesn’t increase the lower your handicap goes, it doesn’t increase the more money you win and it doesn’t grow the more people praise you.

Now in my business, of course I want more clients, more money….but not to make me happy. I’m happy already and that doesn’t change if I increase my player numbers from 20 to 30! I want more clients so I can share more value, help more players but if that doesn’t happen…I get to be happy regardless. It’s because I’ve set medicinal goals!

As players, your ability isn’t defined simply by the numbers on a card or whether you’ve been cut to a lower number. I understand that you believe that is but is it really true?

Cast your mind back when you started any new activity, in this case golf. When it was new, you enjoyed it and wanted to do more. With repetition you got good at it and an expectation of how good you were started to form. The seeds of the toxic goal start to sprout and now the focus changes from just playing, to playing to a certain standard. Your happiness/enjoyment of a round now get attached to an outcome and each time that level isn’t reached…’I’m not happy’ starts to roll.

This for me is the key ingredient in progressing your golf game. When happiness gets deferred and is reliant on an outcome OUTSIDE your control, the ability to connect with the game is lost and the reasons that got you engaged first….sidelined.

Medicinal goals reconnect you with the real reasons why you play. If you play off a low handicap or have pro status, there was a time when you didn’t know that was going to happen. You just played and the game progressed. Players who continue to progress and find continuous enjoyment no matter what the score are those who understand that their happiness is not dependant on a game of golf.

I was told by my trainer that happiness is my default mode and is always there. My sense of self and well being is always there too and by separating happiness from an external outcome, I get to be happy ALL THE TIME.

That’s not to say I don’t get frustrated with myself, have challenges which cause me to think too much and wonder if I’m doing the right thing……but THAT DOESN’T MAKE ME UNHAPPY.

Happiness is an internal state……not connected to external outcomes.

Ever wonder why the most balanced/ successful people in different fields also tend to be the happiest?

And if you’re unhappy why no amount of ‘external success’ is enough?

This year it’s been well documented a lot of ‘successful ‘people have gone off the rails and self destructed, people who are incredibly successful on the outside with all the trappings of success. Are they also the type of people who believe happiness is based on an outcome and pin it to that passing ship?

Look at your game and decide if your goals are toxic or medicinal. If you believe you’ll be happy or happier with a lower handicap or lower range of scores….I wish you well. It’s my belief you’ll just keep moving the external goalposts and forever be chasing the promised land.

On the course, set a goal which engages you with the game. Absorb yourself with each shot, experience the process and be happy….no matter what. You’ll be amazed that the outcome takes care of itself and the very thing you’ve been chasing….is closer than you think.

Isn’t it the case that if you chase something…..it tends to run away from you?

Accept that you are far more than the game of golf, aspire to greatness but do so knowing that greatness isn’t anywhere else…it’s always within…..right here…..right now.

If you want advice/suggestions/techniques on how you can start to set your own medicinal goals, get in touch. I’ve enough formula for you to drink down!

A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR MAKES THE MEDICINE GOES DOWN! I don’t need sugar because this medicine tastes unbelievably good.

Thank you for your attention. Speak to you soon. Stay happy!

Andy Morrison

info@progolfmindcoach.co.uk

Don’t bother if you want to stay toxic!

Flipping – Update

John Graham — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:03:03 +0000

Apparently, the topic of flipping is a big one. I recently offered The Bucket Drill as a good drill to help with the issue. I also did another post called Golf Lesson – Flipping where I showed some progress from one of my students.

I thought it might be a good idea to show you where he is now. Here’s a video from the previous post I used as a before.

Here’s his current video:

Also here’s a picture of him at impact from before:

Hands Even or Behind ball

Here’s a picture of him at impact now:

Hands More Forward

For most of you that have trouble with this issue, you’ll find that it takes considerable work to learn and create the proper pivot that will deliver the proper hand shape at impact. Just for information sake, this young man averaged 74.4 in tournaments this summer with a low of 66.

Keep me posted on your progress with the drills and please feel free to leave additional drills for everyone.

John

“Learning” Outside the Box

John Graham — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:09:57 +0000

“Thinking outside the box” was a big buzzword phrase maybe about a decade ago and still used a little today. Here’s the wikipedia definition: “Thinking outside the box (sometimes erroneously called “thinking out of the box” or “thinking outside the square”) is to think differently, unconventionally or from a new perspective. This phrase often refers to novel, creative and smart thinking.” As instructors, I think it is important to “Learn” Outside the Box. By this, I mean to seek out other fields of study that can help us become better teachers.

For some, those fields could be physical, psychological or people skills. I think the amount of linking that can be done between different disciplines is vast. I predict that when golf shows up at the olympics in 2016, we will see some things that we may have never seen before. Different ways to hold the club, different ways to swing and different ways to putt. I am very curious and excited to see what some countries come up with.

As a group, the teachers I converse with on twitter on a regular basis are quite open with information and continually suggesting reading topics from outside of golf. I can’t think of another group as extensive and talented and OPEN as this group. We are all more interested in the improvement of our players then on holding onto ideas because of any perceived personal gain.

For me, I will spend a great deal of time this winter trying to learn more about the technical business side. Last year, I help encourage a bunch of coaches to start blogging. This year I hope to learn how to enhance websites and things of that nature.

So coaches, I ask you, “What will you be “Learning” Outside the Box this winter?”

Please leave your comments and ideas and as always, we will learn from each other.

Thanks to all who participate.