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5 Twitter Tips for Golf Professionals and Players

November 24th, 2011 by John Graham 7 comments »

John Graham Twitter Follow Me.

Twitter Tips for Golf Professionals and Players is what I have chosen to offer all of you on this Thanksgiving Day of 2011. Below I will talk about 5 things you can do to make Twitter a more powerful resource both for learning and growing your business. Admittedly, I have made Twitter a priority in terms of my marketing plans and business model. Some of you may not have the time or desire to approach Twitter the way I do so I thought I would help you with some ideas to speed up the process. Some of these tips will require some time to get the most out of but you won’t have to spend the time trying to figure out what some shortcuts are.

1) Find the Twitter Professionals – Seek out those that are talking through Twitter. Certainly, I would put myself in this category so please use me as a resource. There are so many in this group it would be impossible to list them all. What you want to do first is follow me @johngrahamgolf. I try whenever possible to make my conversations as public as I can to help others find new Twitter users to connect with. If you want to save some time, go to my Twitter Page and feed and look who I am discussing things with. You’ll see some names appear more than a few times. Those are the users you’ll want to start with.

2) Face to Face Interaction – In my opinion, this is the key to building the strong relationships in all parts of life. Just because you are at a computer screen and so are they does not mean you talk or act any differently. I see too many people miss this point. Treat the user as you would if face to face. When you meet someone brand new to follow, say hello. It is usually better to do a little research before making your initial interaction. Go to their website, if they have one or look through their feed and see if there is anything that interests you. Just like in real life, it is usually easier (more comfortable) to say hello when you combine it with, I read your article on “X” and wanted to ask you a few questions. Something in that vein is a great icebreaker.   When someone decides to follow you, thank them for the follow. Be Real. This is simple stuff that is often overlooked. People will gather very accurate information about you as a person (in my experience) from how you tweet so be sure to tweet how you want to be perceived.

3) Butt In - Twitter is designed to be engaging so engage. If you see a conversation on a topic that interests you, butt in. That’s the whole idea. Share the opinions and knowledge you have with all of us. Don’t expect it to be universally accepted. Information that is presented in a public forum will always be scrutinized and on Twitter it will certainly be the case. For me, that is a good thing. I like testing information for accuracy and Twitter is a great place for that. If you have questions, ask them. Do not be shy. We are here for the discussion so let’s discuss.

4) Follow All Halves of the Conversation – Here is a little twitter tip to help you follow along with conversations. In order to see the entire conversation, you need to follow the users that are being mentioned. Twitter will send to your feed all tweets from those you follow. If a conversation is taking place between 3 people and you only follow 2 of them you won’t see the conversation. Conversations on Twitter are done with the @ symbol. It directs the tweet to that person’s attention. If you don’t follow everyone that is being @’d you won’t see it. When I was starting, I would go to certain peoples feed to see if I was missing some conversations. Invariably I was and I would find new users to follow. I highly suggest you do this as I mentioned in Tip 1.

5) Google it – Here’s something that I did to find more Golf Professionals to speak with. I used Google to find them. Try typing this into Google and see what comes up.  site:twitter.com/* bio+pga Basically, it will search Twitter for users that have PGA in their bio.

I hope you find this helpful and use these ideas to improve your business on Twitter. Please consider sharing this with those that you think might find it helpful by using the social media buttons located at the bottom of this post. Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving and thank for reading.

7 comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

John Graham in PGA.com Article

November 15th, 2011 by John Graham No comments »

PGA logo

Just wanted to share a little something that I was asked to participate in the other night. Here’s a link to an article written on the PGA.com website by John Kim talking about the use of Twitter by golf professionals and it’s uses for the golfing public.

PGA.com “Learning Golf thru Twitter”

Thanks for reading.

JG

No comments »

Posted in Social Media, Twitter

AimPoint and Feel

October 30th, 2011 by John Graham 7 comments »

AimPoint with LineAimPoint had another big win today by Bo Van Pelt on the PGA tour. A final round 64 with 5 birdies on the back nine closed out the tournament for an impressive 6 shot win. That makes nearly 10 wins on the PGA and LPGA Tour in 2011. An impressive stat in my opinion. The interesting part is progression of the information and it’s correlation to the changes that happened with the long game many years ago.

It used to be the case that players had to use their eyes and experience to determine their distance from the hole. The architect would use various forms of trickery to visually deceive the player. Both for long shots and on the putting green. Over time, courses started placing yardage markers or trees or bushes to help the player with the process. Many players were skeptical and continued to use their eyes for distance estimation. Honestly, they were quite good at it as well.

In the pro game, yardage books eventually became the norm so a player would have to do less visual guessing. This process would eventually progress to the point where caddies use lasers that bounce off objects to get the exact yardage from one point to another. Also using lasers and other devices to determine yardage change caused by elevation change as well. Players have stopped using time to train their eyes on how far things are and they’re using that time saved for other things. I still think many use their eyes for short shots but I think you all know what I mean.

This exact same process is repeating itself with AimPoint. Up until recently, all players have had to learn green reading through sight and trial and error. The exact same process that was used to learn distance for the long game. Sight and trial and error. Now comes AimPoint. Based on certain inputs, we now have a very accurate idea of exactly where to aim and start the ball.

Many times, especially with good players, they prefer to use their eyes and memory to determine the read. They’ve used that process for many years with extensive practice. Along comes AimPoint saying based on these things, you should aim here. Lots of resistance enters in. Some have a hard time giving up the procedure they’ve done, and done well, for very long. They tell me, “I think this is great, but it’s not for me. I’m a feel putter.” It makes me wonder. So, I ask them how do you know how far from the pin you are you when you play. They rattle off an answer like it’s 150 to the front, plus 3 more for elevation and 12 more on to the green. 156 to carry the bunker on the right and 173 off the back. Best place to putt from is just below the hole to the left so 159.

Does that sound like a feel player to you? It sure doesn’t to me. A feel player would say maybe an 8 iron and that’s it. Players are now accustomed to getting an exact number they are trying to hit the ball based on all the measurements they’ve taken on the course. Then they get on the putting green and want to use “feel” and guess. Seems strange to me but I think I understand it. The AimPoint process is different but with the same goal in mind. It’s goal is: based on where my ball is and what the ball is rolling across where should I aim. The time saved by not doing trial and error is focused on developing the specific skills necessary for generating the correct inputs for the AimChart. It’s just a matter of time before the AimPoint process replaces the process from the past of trial and error, memory and ‘feel’.  It’s coming. I believe it to be true.

The question is when do you want to adopt the new process and stop guessing?

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you at an AimPoint class in the future. A list of events can be found here –> AimPoint Classes. Please consider sharing this post through social media channels by using the buttons at the top and bottom of this post.

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Posted in AimPoint

Be Different- Death of the Cookie Cutter Coach!

October 20th, 2011 by amgolfmindcoach 9 comments »
    A question to open up with-‘Why strive to be a second rate version of someone else when it takes no more effort and time in becoming a first rate version of yourself?’This has been an article which has kicked around in my thoughts for some time..an article clear in my head for a while, but the perceived judgement it might receive had somehow delayed its appearance…I’d inadvertently started editing myself in order ‘to fit in’.

    Don’t rock the boat Andy…don’t fly in the face of what’s correct’ and ‘expected’. What will ‘proper’ coaches think? I was in danger of becoming a cookie cutter coach!

    It’s also my last article that will surface on John’s site in 2011….I’ll explain why at the end

    See, the desire to conform is all well and good…but what if in doing so, you stop being you and end up walking someone else’s path looking out for the sign displaying ‘Success Here- Blindly follow’?

    The prompt for this message actually got reinforced after a meeting with a new player back in July….an elite junior here in the UK who sought me out through well known social media sites.  I say ‘reinforced’ because I’d thought the same for a while.. it was just that it took the shared time with this young player to bring those thoughts  back to the surface.

    At 16, he was thoroughly disillusioned with the state of mental coaching in particular, likening it to nothing more than coaches talking like a textbook and making claims that quite frankly they couldn’t back up where it mattered…On the golf course WITH the player’s game. They weren’t coaching him as a PERSON..they where preaching to him as a PLAYER

    And you know what…He’s spot on!

    And by asking/listening to many others….the message is coming again and again.

    Players are fed up with the rise of the Cookie Cutter Coach….in both the swing and mental instruction domains

    What do I mean by ‘Cookie Cutter’?

    I mean the growing trend for coaches to seek and promote a conformist way…a textbook approach…a one size fits all umbrella with which to hold over the game of golf. More and more coaches (swing and mind) being churned out in the same one dimensional mould

    The current state of golf coaching has been hijacked by a generation of cookie cutters….The Generalists!

     Players being led by Generalist Coaches with Generalist Badges reading from Generalist Books…and make sure you pick up your generic newsletter, CD and audio when you check out from my generic website (looks great doesn’t it…I must be successful right!)

    Players aren’t bothered about all that…it’s more that coaches assume they are.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t players simply want to improve, feel that improvement consistently, understand what they are doing and pay a fair price for their instruction? And for the experience to be with a coach who shares time in a non-judgemental way , inspiring them to continue that process? Thinking back to my swing lessons (I had very few) I rarely got asked what I wanted  or for my opinion (That’s £40 Andy…next week ok)

    Fortunately , there is an antidote on the coaching market

    Enter the Specialist! (Cookie Cutter Free Zone)

    A growing band of coaches are now starting to question the mainstream way (and it’s not just golf)…looking at the game through new eyes, actually listening to what players want and sticking opinion out there irrespective of perceived criticism.

    The domain of the Generalists…30 min lessons, 8 hours a day, fixing kit primed……stand on a range…same stuff as 10 years ago. One man band. Self titled expert of the game.

    The domain of the Specialist…Coaching programs with longer terms, on course coaching, networking seminars, seeking constant new learning . Team Dynamic. Self titled student of the game

    Look around at the successful people in any field…and it’s not just about having extra talent, having a skill set elevated above the norm ; It’s about having the inner confidence to be themselves…know what they want and pursue if even if it means being labelled  as a non-conformist.

    See, what you want never goes away, whether you get it or not. Just because you may not have figured out the ‘how’ doesn’t mean you don’t want it anymore.

    If you’re a coach who truly wants to land an elite player and it hasn’t happened yet…you still want it

    If you’re a player with a 12 handicap and you want to play to 9….being off 12 doesn’t mean the need isn’t still there

    The evidence to back up my thoughts is out there

    Roam onto Twitter and no surprise to see where the influencers are

    John Graham, Neil Plimmer, Steven Guiliano, Martin Park, James Ridyard, Steven McDaniel. Sara Dickson, Allan MacDonald, Ian Peek….the list goes on- SPECIALISTS

    I dare say they could all continue to make a living doing the same thing over and over….but the Specialist is a new breed. They actively seek out flexibility and creativity, have a desire to learn and grow, see the person, not just a player. Winter goals are to devour another stack of literature to ensure they stay ahead of the pack….they aren’t influencers by chance

    As more and more coaches enter the market (explosion in NLP/Life Coaches in past 3 years is staggering) the coaches who will sustain a living and meet the demands of players who seek more for their hard earned cash and increasingly precious time…will be the Specialists

    As a player, you too need to seek out those coaches. Coaches who actually ask you what you want, are more than willing to push you higher and further, such is their belief in you; Coaches who rarely coach the same way twice, have massive flexibility in their tool box and don’t hide behind past reputation and player’s records.

    You want to see what’s really possible for you…seek a Specialist

    Exploit Twitter and Facebook…ask the Specialist as many questions as possible because by their nature, they will share and help you grow your skill set.

    And the 16 year old junior? He’s committed to working together until the end of 2012….an 18 month program to explore. Still disillusioned with mental performance coaching? I’ll let you decide.

    As I hinted at above, this is my last outing for 2011. I’d like to thank John for giving me the platform to stick out my articles, maybe some have hit their intended targets….maybe some missed by some margin.

    It’s been a fantastic experience writing for John, a man who is clearly moving into deeper specialist territory. I remain hugely appreciative of all he’s given me and look forward to watching his already frighteningly good skill set progress.

    Thank you for your time..

    Brand new GolferBluePrint blog is being launched, would love you to take a look and interact with me on all things mindset…Just a click below, see you there-

    http://golferblueprint.wordpress.com/

    To your enlightened success…go discover your first class version of you

    Andy

    info@progolfmindcoach.co.uk

9 comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Skills Needed for Effective Golf Coaching?

October 15th, 2011 by John Graham 10 comments »

SkillsWhat skills are needed for effective golf coaching? I think this is an excellent question. I also think that the answers will vary widely across the industry. Maybe not in terms of what those skills should/could be but in what proportion they should be in.  This post will not pretend to serve as an answer to this question but hopefully will continue the discussion that is constantly ongoing within our field.

So, let’s start with a list, in no particular order. I’m going to leave out all the buzzwords like creativity, passion and all that stuff related to sounding appropriate. Just the hard skills for now. Not saying those other things aren’t needed but not really sure I would classify them as skills.

1) Knowledge and understanding of golf swing theory, including short game, putting and everything that includes

2) Communication

3) How to play the game/The ability to compete and demonstrate

4) Mental strength/Process

Ok, so this list doesn’t seem so big yet these categories are huge and can encompass many subcategories. Based on my experience, the only skill that creates debate on whether or not it is a necessary skill is number 3. How important is skill #3 in being an effective golf coach? Remember when thinking of your answer that the question relates directly to golf coaching. I hear all the time how in other sports the coach wasn’t a player so it shouldn’t be necessary in golf.

I struggle with this question. As a coach that didn’t compete at a very high level (just PGA section events), I feel as if I am missing something when it comes to providing help for dealing with on course situations that the high level player encounters. I’m not sure if this feeling is accurate or not but it’s just how I feel. I was asking on twitter this week how people felt about a coaches playing ability and how important it is. As is typical, I heard a good mix of responses.

Here’s my take on it. Because golf is a recreational sport that doesn’t really require all that much athleticism to play, many players can get very good. Not as good as Tour level but very good just the same. Before you get all ramped up, when I say athleticism, I’m talking about the genetics that allows one to compete in speed and size based activities.  Golf doesn’t really have either of those requirements to play it well. That’s not to say that those genetic traits wouldn’t be helpful because they would.

Back to my point. Because it doesn’t require certain things, the expectations of the golf coach are higher in terms of performance. I think most students expect the golf coach to be able to perform at a certain level. To be significantly better than they are, at least at the club level. How many times have you heard the recreational golfer say, “Heck, I can hit shots like that.” when they see a bad shot on TV. It’s for this reason, that I think the golf coach should be able to perform to some level. I’m not really sure what that level is though. I think it may vary depending on the level of student they teach. I’m just not sure but I want my pro to be able to do at least a certain amount of things.

Certainly, the ability of the coach will shift over time and I am quite comfortable doing this on a sliding scale. Not in terms of age, per se, but maybe in terms of life situation or something like that. For example, is it appropriate to expect a coach that is required to fold shirts and answer the phone all day to maintain his skills as well as a coach that is on the lesson tee all day, or the coach that is expected to play with their students all the time? I don’t think so but that’s just me. Even though, I think the coach should still have the ability to hit good shots. It’s the level of his/her good shots that tells me what I need to know.

As golf coaches, I also think that skill #3 is the one we, as a group, tend to put the least importance on.

So, my question to you is, how important is your golf coaches ability to play the game to you?

If you’re a coach reading this, how important do you place skill #3 in your priorities as a golf coach?

Please leave your comments and pass this on if you found some value in it.

10 comments »

Posted in Teaching Techniques