Tag: charlotte golf lessons

The Four Corners of Social Media: Dean Smith (Or Guru) style

September 29, 2010

In this current economy, many businesses are looking for ways to cut costs, yet still get the most out of their marketing dollar. Advertising budgets are being cut and people are being laid off as to just keep the business afloat. It is no different in my business as a golf instructor working for a top 25 golf school. We are a small business trying to maintain our piece of the instruction pie while maintaining our brand recognition as well as our current standards of service and golf instruction to our customers. I don’t care how good you think you are at your craft, if you don’t get yourself in front of and stay in touch with your customer, they will find somewhere else to spend their discretionary income. The days of waiting for the phone to ring and setting back and doing what you used to do to drive business is over. The way I look at it as we enter the second year of this recession, is you can choose to be in one or two camps. 1)continue to do what you did the last 10 years and get walked on or 2)grow and move with the latest and most efficient way to market/advertise and communicate with your customer……...SOCIAL MEDIA/MARKETING!

A year and a half ago as we started this downturn, I knew very little on this subject. I look at every adverse situation as a time to grow, learn and get out of my comfort zone. You know me, I am always uncomfortable with complacency and am always looking for the next big thing to learn and grow as a person and a professional. So I went on a quest to figure this stuff out and see how it can help myself and my golf school. So I did what I always do when I don’t understand something…..I bought some books to read and started scouring the internet. The first book I bought was “Crush It” by Gary Vaynerchuck which got me fired up to try some of this stuff. So here is a small synopsis on what I call the four corners of social media and how I think it can help you in whatever business that you are in.

youtube.com

YOUTUBE.COM – This is where It all started for me as I encourage you to always listen to your customer. I used to send out a weekly newsletter with a golf tip to my students. I then started taking pictures of me doing the tip. This evolved into me linking up a professionals swing demonstrating what I was talking about. One of my students commented, “I think the video is great but it would be better if you were doing the tip,”….AHA! So I bought a flip cam, created a TV show called Guru TV. I currently have about 50 videos that I have filmed in the last 10 months. One of my videos “How to drive a golf ball straight” just went viral and youtube is now paying me for the video (very unexpected). Create an account, which is very easy and start filming. You can use your vids as an advertising tool or just a way to get information to your customers or future customers. the main thing is to connect with people. People will subscribe to your channel and you can link it to the next 3 corners that I will discuss.

FACEBOOK – probably leads the way in connecting friends and/or people who don’t know each other. Great way to keep up with customers or post updates on specials that are going on at your company. If you are using it for strictly business, I would recommend starting a fan page. Drive customers to your page through your email marketing or twitter, youtube or word of mouth etc. The more fans you create, the more eyeballs that get to see what you are doing in your business. The more eyeballs, the more chance to cultivate new customers. Using the direct message or the IM feature allows you to communicate with people in a private setting.

TWITTER .twitter.com is the newest craze, even though it about 5 years old. Most people who know about twitter get the wrong idea of how to use it for business. Even though you can only type messages of 140 characters or less, there is great opportunity to reach out to people and communicate ideas. I have met so many outstanding golf professionals and people who just love the game, by using twitter. You can post messages that you want everyone to see (your followers), or you can send a direct message that is just between you and the other participant (similar to a short email). The key is to get followers so more people can see your posts. This is a great way to promote your website or notify your followers of a new blog post…..which is my 4th corner of social media.

WORDPRESS BLOG – This is the biggest reason for the other three avenues…..DRIVING PEOPLE TO YOUR BLOG OR WEBSITE. A blog is another way to promote your business and share information through text or hook up your videos that you have shot on youtube.com. Blogging has become a great venue for many people to share information about a subject of their choice. I use my blog site to share information that I think will help my students and also to create more opportunities for golfers that don’t know me or the golf school to learn more about me. There are many other blog softwares to choose from. WordPress is very well-known, easy to use and had all of the functions that interested me. I would suggest doing your homework, reading other blogs on subjects that interest you and start writing. The cool thing about blogging is you don’t have to be perfect, just write whats on your mind or vlog (video blog) and be prepared for comments. Again, you can link up youtube, facebook and twitter to notify people who you have a blog or have a new blog post.

Click on the links to view my personal facebook, youtube or twitter pages. Friend me up or follow me if you would like. There is plenty of room in Guru Nation.                                   This is just an overview as if I went into detail we would be here all day. The coolest thing is that all of this stuff is FREE!!!!!!!! All it will cost you is your time. If you are willing to put in the work and the hours as I have, I can promise you it will pay off in the long run. Most of the people who criticize Social Media, 1) are too closed-minded to learn something new or 2) Don’t understand it so they bash it.

All I can tell you is that if you aren’t using it (and there are plenty more tools out there), You will be left behind.

So this is the Guru signing off and I AM LOOKING FOR THE NEXT TWITTER……WHOS COMING WITH ME?

Stay humble and stay nervous,

Guru

Green Reading 101 :What Time Is It?

September 22, 2010

Spider Man

How is your green reading ability? Do you hit putts on the line that you perceive as the one you are aiming at only to look up and the ball breaks a lot more than you imagined? You are not alone. When I give a putting lesson, there are 2 parts to successful putting. 1)Proper Mechanics that allow you to start the ball on the line that you are aiming and 2) Reading enough break to allow the putt to have a chance to go in. For a sake of this post, I am going to assume that you can start the ball on your intended line most of the time but are having trouble with reading breaks. I am going to give you some ideas and a process that will help you make more putts and lower your scores.

In 2004, I was fortunate enough to work with and spend some time with Sea Islands’ putting expert, Mike Shannon. A lot of what I teach I stole (or borrowed) from him. Mike has worked with many of the players on the P.G.A. tour so this information has been tested and it works. The first thing that you have to do is discover how you process information and how your vision works. There are two types of putters: LINEAR AND NON-LINEAR.

I don’t have enough time to go extensively into each but I will tell you that 85% of all tour players are Non-Linear. In simplest terms…….Linear putters (left brain) see straight lines and putt to spots. Non-Linear putters see breaks and curves (right brain)

To start my green reading lesson I always start with: 90 PERCENT OF ALL AMATEUR GOLFERS UNDER READ PUTTS (MISS ON THE LOW SIDE)

Lets see if we can get that more like 50/50. So here is the process that I want you to try the next time you read a putt.

1. Start reading the putt from a big picture perspective as soon as you get out of the cart. Visualize where the water would drain, highest side/low side.

2.  Once you have an idea of the direction the ball is going to break, walk to the low side of the putt about halfway in between the ball and the hole. (ex. right to left putt, walk to the left side)….This will give your eyes a great look at the true distance of the putt. Key: It will allow you to achieve your first objective…..see if the putt is uphill or downhill or both (speed elements)

3.  Go to the back of the hole for a quick look (this is the most accurate view)

4. You should by now have an idea of the break. Now To The Time Part

5. INSTEAD OF PICKING A SPOT ON YOUR LINE OF PUTT….TRY THIS. IMAGINE THE THE HOLE IS A CLOCK. THE FRONT OF THE HOLE IS 6 OCLOCK. (get the picture). On a right to left putt, if the ball will enter the cup at 4 Oclock…..Instead of picking a spot on the line of your putt, USE YOUR INSTINCTS AND EYES TO ADJUST YOUR AIM TO start the ball enough to the right to make the ball go in at 4 oclock. I am telling you, the first time you do this it will be a freeing experience. No more getting locked in to a spot that has nothing to do with the target. Your speed has to come first and I guarantee it will improve. Start playing enough break and work on your speed and you will be holing big 40 foot snakes before you know it. See my putting archives (putting boot camp) for additional drills to help you with your speed.

****Incorporate some rehearsal strokes while looking at the entry point. This will enhance your spacial awareness and depth perception.

See you on the lesson tee,

Guru

Web Tip For Golf Channel Contest

September 9, 2010

Here is the webtip that will go on the end of the first topic video. It is a little long for the guidelines but I will cut it down to make it legal. My driving video that I did in April is my most viewed show with over 12000 views.

Thanks for all of the comments. Keep them coming and I will let you know how it goes.

See you on the lesson tee,

Guru

Golf Channel Instructor Search: I Need Your Help

September 8, 2010

The Golf Channel is holding a contest in attempt to find “The Next Golf Channel Instructor.” I am going to submit a video and see if I can make the top 4 in which we would host our own 30 minute show. The show will be voted on by the general public to see who is the next Golf Channel Instructor. I need your help in choosing a topic that would appeal to the golfing public and also be a good representation of my instructional skills. I am filming the real video on Monday with some help from a good friend and student with better equipment than I can afford so I will have no excuses if I am not chosen. Here is what I need from you all in the meantime. I have shot two trial videos of two different topics that I would like for you to watch. Leave a comment and let me know which one that you think I should reshoot. I have been shooting videos for that past year so I am hopefully prepared to stand out from the crowd. I will do my best to represent Guru Nation.  Thank you for your help and let’s see what happens. Check out my two videos below and vote on which one I should use.

VIDEO #1     ” The 3 Absolutes”

VIDEO #2    “Fixing The Over The Top”

Remember: This is not the actual video that I will submit, this was just a trial run

Thanks for Your Help,

Guru

Sean Foley Article: Is He right for Tiger?

September 5, 2010

I apologize for the last post. I hooked up the link and it didn’t work. Here is a little insight on Sean Foley and his potential work with Tiger. Let me know what you think. I look forward to your feedback on world number 1. Have a great Labor Day weekend and I will be back soon, hopefully with my golf channel video.

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/Sean-Foley-enjoying-challenge-of-coaching-Tiger-Woods-090210

See you on the lesson tee,

Guru

Guruism’s and The lighter side of Jason

September 3, 2010

I had a few minutes in between lessons today, which is unusual, so I thought I would write about whatever was on my mind. As I spend another year on the lesson tee, loaded down with sunscreen,, zinc on my nose and a huge hat on my head, fatigue often sets in. I know, I know what you are thinking. Guru, you are in phenomenal shape and you only teach 3000 lesson per year, how can you ever get tired? But after doing this job, which I love with a passion, for 18 years……..Sometimes I get irritable or as we call it at the 5 o’clock hour on a long hot day at the golf school……PUNCHY. For those of you out there that have worked with me and know me, I don’t pull any punches…..I try to call it as I see it! Honesty is what I call it. Sometimes it may be brutal but I feel I owe my students the truth. If your club face is wide open and you are swing over the top and scooping it, It is not going to do any good if I give you fluffy advice or tell you that your swing looks great and that I wouldn’t change anything. I am going to kindly explain that we have some work to do. Just after the initial interview and watching some students warm up, One of the most common questions that I get as we approach the video room is, “GURU, IS THERE ANY HOPE”. My response is always the same, “YES SIR, I SELL HOPE” (At 125.00 hour mind you). So I thought I would give you some of the sayings that I use on the lesson tee to help lighten the mood or relax the student or just plain get my point across. Feel Free to use or repeat when appropriate as I may have stolen it from you or someone you know.You

1.  There are plenty of seats on the plane – if you are working on swing plane.

2. Where is the only place to get off of the plane? The Airport

3.  You couldn’t draw a ball with a pencil – for all you slicers out there (And a pull is not a draw)

4.   Hands and Arms University, enrollment is free.

5.  Student says after making a plane change,”I feel like I am making a loop,”…response: you were already making a loop, just the wrong direction.

6.  It feels unnatural (student making a change), response: I am not in the comfort business….but I promise it will make you better.

7.  You have to feel as if you change it 2 miles to change it 2 inches

8.  Feel is not always real. Do you know what is between the two? A looooooong bridge. My job is to make it shorter

9.  My favorite training aid:”The orange whip” is “The Answer To Cancer”

10.  We must not mistake MOVEMENT for ACHIEVEMENT…..Practice with a purpose

That is enough for now. Throughout the day, myself and the other instructors use a lot of movie quotes………that is for another post. I am late for my next lesson. Talk to you later.

See you on the lesson tee and don’t forget to breathe in a 4 count rhythm,

Guru

Matt “The Kuch” Kuchar wins first FedEx playoff: What can we learn from his one plane/reverse slot swing?

August 30, 2010

Matt Kuchar wins the Barclays Championship in a playoff over Scotland’s Martin Laird. Kuchar makes birdie on the first playoff hole to win and continue outstanding play as he enjoys his best season on tour. Matt has one of the P.G.A. tours most unusual swings and once again I have cued up a slow motion video of Matt’s move in order to educate Guru Nation on how these unusual golf swings work and further highlighting the fact that there is a lot of ways to get it done out there and play great golf. Matt has what we would call a Reverse Slot/One Plane Swing. Let me clarify what I mean by both of these labels and see if I can help you understand some of the terminology behind the two.

One Plane Swing – Top teacher Jim Hardy coined this phrase as a certain style of swing. First off, one-plane has nothing to do with the golf club swinging on a particular plane throughout the swing as a lot of golfers (and some teachers) think. The golf swing has many planes. Shaft, hands, arms, shoulders etc. One plane is a reference between the shoulder plane and the left arm plane. When the left arm and the shoulder plane match at the top of the swing it is considered One-Plane, that’s it. When the arm plane is higher than the shoulder plane it is considered Two-Plane (see past post on Carl Pettersen). So as you can easily see, Kuch is a big time one-planer. When the left arm is below the shoulders, I call that a ZERO PLANE (I made that up). Other pros that use this style are former president of one-plane nation, Chad Campbell, and current president : Zack Johnson (because he has won a major). I think this is a great way to swing if you are a chronic over the topper. But I still have one criteria. I don’t like the shaft of the club to get below the right forearm or behind the hands in the takeaway. This can and usually makes the downswing too steep. But there is always the exception to any rule……which leads me to my second point.

THE REVERSE SLOT SWING PATTERN

“The slot is an area of the downswing about half way down where the club shaft is parallel and slightly on top of the original shaft plane”. (depending what camera view you use……post for another time. Every golfer wants to find the slot and the majority of touring pros are there in the downswing. The largest portion of PGA players have a swing pattern where the backswing is outside of the downswing. In Kuchars case, it is reversed…..We call this the REVERSE SLOT SWING PATTERN. He breaks the guru rule and lets his club shaft get lower than his right forearm and couples that with a very low arm plane. So how does he make this work? ALL OF YOU OVER THE TOPPERS (EARMUFFS). Key Move: In order to get the club back in front of him and back into the slot, he must rotate his entire torso (shoulders, chest and hips), very aggressively to the left. If he was too slow with his body, the club would come in too shallow or swing too much inside/out. Kuchar makes this work beautifully as you wouldn’t think this style would work out of the deep rough as he demonstrated in the playoff. Other players that use this style are, J.B. Holmes, Joe Oglvie, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead (going old school on you).  As this post is getting a bit lengthy, I will cut it off and accept any comments. So the moral of the story  is………If you are consistently finding the slot on your downswing, don’t let anyone change your backswing!!!!!

See you on the lesson tee,

Guru

GURU TV – BODY PIVOT AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR SWING

August 6, 2010

We have talked a lot about the hands and arms but the engine to the golf swing is the body pivot. How the body moves or doesn’t move will affect how the golf club moves throughout the  swing. The one thing that I didn’t mention in this video is the player that is trying to keep his hips from moving to create torque in the backswing. Here is an fyi. If your hips don’t move, your shoulders will not turn enough to get the  club inside enough to find the plane. I hope you enjoy the vlog and leave a comment if you would like.

Guru

Visualization Skills: How To Get Bubba To Hit First

August 5, 2010

What if you could just think about hitting great golf shots and they would magically happen? Have I got your attention yet? Well, It is not that easy but your mind and your inner vision does have a huge effect on your performance. Mental coaches have really become popular on the PGA Tour and in all sports and for good reason. The ability for the athlete to control their emotions and their mind is what separates the winners from the rest of the field. I am no sports psychologist but have read enough books, talked to enough sports psych docs and worked with enough tour player who work with these guys to be dangerous. I have really tried to improve in this area so that  I can help my players with more than just their golfing skills but assist them in their mental games as well. I will write a book someday and one of my so-called titles was “How To Get Bubba To Hit First”. The first thing that you are asking yourself is “Who Is This Bubba Character?” Great question. Have you ever missed a four-foot putt only to rake it back and make the second one. Have you ever made the worst driver swing in your life, out-of-bounds, re tee and stripe it down the middle? Stand over an easy chip shot, duff it, step up and hole it like you were Phil Mickelson. We have all been there, right? That second guy is pretty good. Well, I want you to meet Bubba! The best player that lies within all of us. The Ranger Rick that stripes it on the range and drives 300 yards to the first tee and hit a drive like it was your first day playing golf. So what has changed and why does Bubba play so well and you don’t? Well, it has nothing to do with your skill because you obviously could do it on the practice tee or the provisional drive after you hit it out-of-bounds. It starts with VISUALIZATION! Have you ever heard of the LAW OF ATTRACTION? The Law of Attraction simply says that you attract into your life whatever you think about.  Your dominant thoughts will find a way to manifest. Golfers are the worst at thinking about the negatives or simply viewing themselves as lower than they are . I talked in some previous posts about “Acting As If”. Before you can act like a better golfer, you must visualize yourself as better golfer or see yourself hitting the shot that you want. I believe that the best players can visualize each shot so vividly that they have trained their mind into thinking that they have already done it…………Bubba gets to hit first. We do it in our careers. We do it in our lives. We set goals and outcomes that we want to achieve for ourselves and our families. So why not our golf games? There is an excercise called a “Vision Board” where you take a piece of poster board and paste pictures of things that you want to achieve or accomplish. They encourage you to look at it every day as you would your goals an visualize yourself doing these things. Golf is such a visual sport and the best players use their eyes  so effectively. Why did Jack Nicklaus take so much time over a putt? Not because he had a lot of swing thoughts. He took time to visualize the putt (in real-time) tracking to the hole, going in, then returning to his putter before he would pull the trigger. That took a long time! Why did Johnny Miller sit in a chair before a tournament, close his eyes and picture himself playing every shot in an entire round before he went to the course……I think he shot 63 in alot of majors in his mind. Visualization or being able to picture the outcome  or shot is one of the first things I teach in developing an effective pre-shot routine. Here are the 3 ways to visualize……find out which one works for you and Bubba will hit first more often.

1.  Seeing the flight of the ball or shot – You are the camera and you picture the ball flight as it was a video game with a white stripe.

2.  Visualize yourself as you stand outside your body – This when you are picturing yourself making the proper swing or short game shot that you want. That is why I think your should always take a video lesson when you are hitting it your best. This way you view what your swing looks like at its best and you can call that image up when you need it.

3.  Picture another Player to help your game – I used to picture Ernie Els’ driver tempo and Tiger Woods short iron swing for excellent results. You can choose your models but this is an effective way to maintain tempo and rhythm in your swing or stroke. It is no coincidence that after you return from a tour event and have watched the best players in the world practice or play, that you suddenly develop effortless tempo and rhythm in your swing….for at least a little while, right.

It worked for King Louis (and the red dot) in the Open Champioship and it can work for you. Work on your visualization skills for your golf and for your life and I can promise that you will start to attract the shots and the things that you want in your life and your golf game…….It has worked for me and I know it will work for you

See you on the lesson tee and don’t forget to breathe as you paint the picture,

Guru