Just wanted to thank you all for the outpouring of supportive comments, emails, texts, and phone calls in response to this video - they’re greatly appreciated and make me feel even better about my decision to focus on quality over quantity with my future videos. Taking a step back from the grind of publishing weekly videos has already freed up some some creative headspace and sparked some fun ideas that I’m looking forward to sharing with you. Thanks again for the support and for staying tuned in to the channel by subscribing.
You have already helped to popularize hickory golf by presenting content in your own unique way. You've got to a point where the tail is now wagging the dog. Good move to stick to your core values and what is important for you rather than trying to be rewarded by the "algorithm." A break from social media and even golf might better define your goals. I have been playing golf since I was a kid and have taken several breaks away from the game. I have had many times in woodworking where I have lost inspiration. All these breaks give a fresh perspective. Don't force it, it will come. You already seem excited about diving deeper into clubmaking...which of course is a noble pursuit 😊. Thanks for all you have done Christian.
Thanks so much for the kind words and encouragement. And you're absolutely right about the need to take a break. I've run into similar situations with previous endeavors, and it's true - taking a step back always seems to recalibrate me and help me refocus on what's most important. I'm glad I recognized soon enough that I need to do this channel differently - Hickory Hacker and my own well-being are going to benefit from that.
Hello Christian - first time commenter, but now felt like the time to break the ice. Wanted to share how appreciative I am for your videos (at whatever pace you want to release them!)…it was you that finally compelled me to start purchasing hickory clubs and feel confident enough in restoring them. Having visited Scotland for the first time and played several rounds of golf there last year, I can’t wait to see some more of your own trip with hickories. Keep on keepin’ on - I’m sure there are more like me who appreciate each and every video but have been silent on the communication/comments side. Wanted to make sure you know we exist! Thank you for what you do - Cheers!
Thanks so much for your comment, Andrew - I really appreciate it. It’s always gratifying to hear from folks like you that were inspired to give hickory golf a try at least in part because of watching my videos. This is what motivates me to continue making them. Thanks again!
I've been watching for a year and have enjoyed all videos. Take care of your self, post videos when you are inspired to share something. I'm sure we will all be glad to watch. Happy Golf to you.
I think you’ve made an excellent decision Christian. Looking forward to seeing you back in Wisconsin soon. Hopefully you will have time to spend on the workshop when you are here. We can knock out the lead pours in an afternoon…provided you remember to bring the clu bheads with you. ;). Tend to your passions and have fun buddy.
Yeah - chasing the algorithm is a loosing proposition unless you want video creation to become your whole life. I'll be happy to watch fewer videos that are made with joy.
I appreciate that - thank you! And yeah, there's an insidious aspect to making a RU-vid channel where the bigger it gets, the tougher it becomes to leave. I know I'm making the right decision for my own well-being and I also know the videos I make going forward are going to be better because of that decision, too.
You're right, the worst thing you can do is to turn something you love doing into just a job; jobs have time lines that have to be met, jobs require compromises between what it is you want accomplish and what other people think is more marketable. I`ve enjoyed your channel every since I first stumbled upon it, many months ago, and will continue to look forward to future episodes in your hickory golf journey that you choose to share with us; especially love the segments that show how to protect and maintain those pieces of golf history called "hickory golf clubs".
Thank you, Ben! And yeah - I'm excited to free myself up a bit to get back in the workshop and share what I've got cooking. I'm thinking it might be time to do an updated series on refurbishing clubs; I've learned some different tips and tricks since those first repair videos I did.
Your videos have always been really fun and interesting. Thanks so much for turning me on to hickory golf! As a "content creator" myself, I totally understand what you're saying about burn out and am taking a step back myself.
I think this happens to everyone in almost every endeavor. Happened to me and I did what you are doing and it worked out well. Went back to what inspired me at first in my profession and became way happier about my life and everything around me. Was free to explore new things instead of trading the treadmill on and on to oblivion. Looking forward to seeing what happens. I rewatch your old vids all the time. Loved the trip to Scotland. Good luck with everything new.
Thanks, Mike! I'm already feeling more creative since I made the decision and getting the spark back. Looking forward to putting future videos together on my terms and at my own pace.
Christian, I hope you know that people appreciate what you do. I got into hickories because of you and your excellent content. So fun and relaxing to watch. I love to play old city courses and small-town courses which are perfect for hickories. Take care of yourself.
Thanks, Burt - I appreciate the support! Very happy to hear I helped you get into hickories. That’s why I started this channel and what I’m looking forward to focusing on again with further videos.
Been with you from the beginning. Your production value is exceptional and your topics intriguing. My son is also a youtuber and has conveyed the same. Keep 'em coming.
Absolutely a beautiful course in Scotland you have posted. I had to watch it twice to see it all. Luv your course vlogs no matter Christian, thanks buddy.
Bro, we all love your effort!!! Thank YOU f RU-vid. You bring joy to a large group of people. That is now a burden yes. But, life and golf are hard. However, when you are good at helping people that is also a level of responsibility, no? We are not asking for this, that nor the other thing. Do you. We like you. Stay strong and sincerely THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK!!!!!
I really appreciate hearing this - thank you! You hit the nail on the head as to what I enjoy most about doing this channel: helping people enjoy golf and connecting with folks who share a similar passion for golf history. Removing myself from the weekly grind of making videos to please the RU-vid algorithm was the best thing I could do for myself and the future of this channel. I'm already in a much better frame of mind and I know the videos going forward are going to be much more reflective of my passion, which will make them more enjoyable and useful to viewers, too. Thanks again for your support and encouragement!
Bro, yesterday my copy of "Golf's Holy War, the Battle for the Soul of a Game in an Age of Science" got here from eBay. If this book is what I hope that it is; I would say the title alone expresses the views of our community, I am gifting a copy to the Ferris State golf Coach. Again, many thanks! Also, even though you are the hickory guy, do you think there might be room to have a once a month "J.C. Higgins" type pre-WW2 steel shafted similar heads guy? Just a thought.
This is very much the conversation about when a hobby becomes an obligation and it loses all of its fun. I get it and I had wondered if something was up after posted only one Scotland video since you'd been back. My suggestion: spend some time playing without recording and get back to enjoying playing hickory golf for the sake of playing hickory golf. It sounds like you've got a slog of editing to do already, so no rush to record more. My workbench is also way behind. I've got a set that I'm restoring that I pulled and cleaned the heads about five months ago and haven't touched them since. I was downstairs the other day building myself a set of trestle sticks and I found a broken club that someone gave me to repair probably in January. Maybe I should get on that.
Thanks, Chris - that's exactly what I'm planning on doing: just playing for fun again for a bit. I've got enough content already filmed to keep the channel active into next golf season. But yeah, I'm excited to share the rest of the Scotland trip - that's what I'll work on next as far as course vlogs are concerned. I have a similar workshop story. I just found a really nice playable brassie standing next to my bench that needs a bit of refurbishment and couldn't remember for the life of me where I bought it. Then I finally remembered - someone gave that to me a while ago and asked me to repair it so they could play it. Yet another reminder that I was trying to juggle too much at once.
Love the videos Christian. And I don't even golf. But you've given me plenty of ideas and inspiration for my own vintage triathlon YT channel and podcast. Cheers. Ross.
I really appreciate hearing that! Just watched your latest video and enjoyed it. My sister-in-law competes in triathlons and I’ll pass your channel along to her. Cheers!
Thank you! I'm excited to share what's waiting for me to edit on the computer, especially the epic courses I have to show you from Scotland. The best is yet to come!
I understand why fighting against the RU-vid algorithm can be pretty demotivating and burn out causing. I had a video I slapped together in 30 minutes get 30k views, yet most of mine barely make it to the 100s despite usually spending hours making. Seems it's really a dice roll of which videos perform. Taking a break from forcing out videos on a regular basis should be a good way to reset. Good luck to you!
Thanks! I think so, too. I'm already feeling myself freed up creatively by acknowledging that I need to take a break from weekly posting. Chasing the numbers is a distraction. I'm learning that as long as you're making videos you enjoy, it doesn't matter what the algorithm does with them. Someone else in this comment thread mentioned that people who are interested in what we're doing will find them one way or another and they're right.
You've made a lot of great videos, informative, entertaining and inspirational, don't get caught up in the treadmill if it's having a negative impact on your life! Keep doing what you're doing, you have a big fan base. 👍 My channel is similar to yours in that its focus is golf history, I've never really understood or been fully aware of the RU-vid algorithm and hence have only dabbled around the edges in trying to feed it, making some shorts is probably as far as I've gone. I feel your pain when what you think is a great video, that has taken a lot of time and effort to produce, just doesn't get the views you expect! I don't know if this is because of the RU-vid algorithm or just because golf history appeals to a small audience, probably the latter. 🤣 When I set out I stated that videos wouldn't be released on a set timescale but rather every few weeks or so, and that's the way it's stayed, could be why I'm nowhere near 1,000 subscribers or 4,000 hours of views!
Yeah, I have to remind myself that we're working in a pretty specific niche within golf history. I think we've both done a good job of targeting and serving that small audience with how we present our content, though, and it's really frustrating when the algorithm doesn't seem to have the same priorities as we do. That's why I'm realizing how important it is to remind our regular interested viewers to subscribe to the channel. Not to boost our numbers, but to make sure that our audience sees everything we make on their home pages so that we don't have to depend on RU-vid to serve it to them in their recommended videos automatically. I also think every two or three weeks is a realistic frequency for publishing quality videos while still maintaining a balanced life. That's the posting schedule I'm going to shoot for going forward whether RU-vid likes it or not. Keep up the great work on your channel! I'm starting to dabble in classic-era clubs and will be spending more time on your channel getting myself up to speed.
@@TheHickoryHacker Two to three weeks is a good target, probably what I average out at, although I don't post on specific days. America made some of the greatest clubs ever in the classic era, you'll have lots of material to choose from!
Good decision. I find when i'm playing even carrying a camera around is a hassle !! I did the same setting up my own business - ended up working god knows how many hours a day, 7 days a week for 18 months. It had to be done but at some point you have to sit down a give yourself a good talking to and do what works for you.
Thanks, Martin - absolutely! I'm already feeling the benefits of stepping back a bit and recalibrating. I'm starting to feel creative again and - most importantly - I'm enjoying what I'm doing with golf rather than feeling obligated to do it.
Well bro... it's been great watching what you've created. I love golf and hockey... but got burnt out on hockey cause I got too involved. So, whatever you decide, good luck!
Thanks, Luke! I'm learning that taking a break and recalibrating my approach to the channel is an important part of my creative process. I'm excited for what's to come as a result of doing that.
@@TheHickoryHacker At least you aren't giving up on the game like some do. Sometimes when you tee one up, you gotta step back to reset. Hopefully we still get to see ya at a tournament sometime.
@@TheHickoryHacker I was thinking bout it. I'm doing the one in Orlando August 20th-23rd, then the one at the South Bend CC on the 27th. So it depends if I can get that weekend off. I'd like too.
Strangely, this video was in my suggested videos; I do watch woodworking videos, and this is the first video of yours that I've seen; I'll subscribe, and hopefully, some weird algorithm and BS magic will make you a well-paid RU-vidr.
Welcome to the channel, John - I appreciate the support! Case in point as to how weird the algorithm operates for this video to be the one that brings you here. I'll be getting back into the woodworking aspect of what I do soon.
