Unwanted Advice

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By Carl T

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  • 17 Replies
  1. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    Went to a local golf shop to try out some new drivers. You hit into a golf simulator that shows club head speed, distance, ball spin, etc. While hitting away a customer came up and started giving me unwanted advice on grip, take away, hip rotation, etc. Not being rude I let the guy just talk but he really ruined the day for me. What do you say to person who gives unwanted advice when just trying new clubs or swing changes and you don't want to come off rude ?
  2. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Politely say "thanks" and continue on or maybe interject (in a polite way) that what works for that person may not work for you and, "besides, I am hitting the ball pretty straight." 99 percent of the time I just ignore them unless I really have some fault that pops up (even then I can figure out where I'm going wrong). If you're one who is hitting them dead straight at the range and you see someone who is obviously struggling to hit the ball straight (or even hit it, for that matter), you CAN interject but need to lead into it a little bit (for instance, casually drop a hint that the person is lifting the left foot on the backswing - the most common thing, because people are under the impression they need a big 90 degree backswing to hit the ball far).
  3. Dr. Kovatchian

    Dr. Kovatchian
    Carlsbad

    Hand him the club and let him hit a few...then say thanks for the advice I'll pass.
  4. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Totally agree with the Dr. Nothing worse than giving advice and then getting egg in your face by hitting bad shots. If you are going to be the one giving the advice you need your stuff in one sock.
  5. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    I have found that total strangers that come up to you with unwanted advice are really just wanting to toot their own horn. Same thing when some stranger comes up to you and ask you if you have found God. Usually they just want to talk about themselves and really could care less about what you think. The guy at the golf shop just wanted to show how far he could hit the ball. After he hit a couple he disapeared but I was mad at my self for letting him get under my skin but not saying anything. I guess next time I will be rude and tell him to just go away. I will use the line that I have a golf instructer and don't need any advice from a total stranger that has no clue about what I can or cannot do physically.
  6. Brent W

    Brent W
    St George, UT

    Just yell "I need an Adult!"

  7. eagle3

    eagle3
    Fairfax, IA

    It is hard not to be impolite, but sometimes it is best to just stop and politely, but firmly thank the guy for his advice and advise him that your not there for lessons, but just trying out new clubs for some fun.

  8. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    eagle3 said:

    It is hard not to be impolite, but sometimes it is best to just stop and politely, but firmly thank the guy for his advice and advise him that your not there for lessons, but just trying out new clubs for some fun.

    Bingo!
  9. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    Lou G said:

    It is hard not to be impolite, but sometimes it is best to just stop and politely, but firmly thank the guy for his advice and advise him that your not there for lessons, but just trying out new clubs for some fun.

  10. GaelicGolfer

    GaelicGolfer
    Eaton, CO

    eagle3 said:

    It is hard not to be impolite, but sometimes it is best to just stop and politely, but firmly thank the guy for his advice and advise him that your not there for lessons, but just trying out new clubs for some fun.

    I stopped trying to be polite when someone does this - why should I, THEY are being incredibly rude.  **One time I told myself I was going to hit an entire bucket working on NOTHING but low, hard, spinning punch shots to help with windy firm conditions.  (I am not a pro- but I am a legit 6HC)  Halfway thru the bucket this guy behind to me literally walks on to my mat and starts trying to grab my hands and show me how to release the club.  This guy could barely hit it out of his damn shadow and I had just had to deal with him giving 10 minutes of HORRIBLE advice to some kid on his other side.  My response got a lot of attention - maybe I was a little over the top with what I said, and it was definitely rude - but in my defense 4 people actually CLAPPED when I was done.  Then - to seal the deal I told him I would show him how to "release" the club and let one fly.  I am not sure how many people laughed after I absolutely pure'd it but it was a lot. 

    Afterwards I hit another half bucket with my regular swing - why not?  For some reason the guy behind me left a half bucket behind when he left the range.

  11. James H

    James H
    Huntington Beach, CA

    Just act like you don't speak english. 

  12. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    I'm going back to the golf store Tueday or Wednesday to check out a couple of drivers and take them to my club where I can hit away in peace. I am 64 years old, been playing golf all my life, I have a 10.0 index, know that I have lost a lot of flexibilty in my back swing and know from the ball flight what the club face is doing when it makes contact with the ball. Another thing the rubber tee on the hitting mat in the store does not tee the ball as high as I like and the store did not have any higher. I like about half of the ball to extend above the top of the driver unless I want to hit a fade. I appreciate the advice and the next Jack Waggon that wants to give out some "free advice" when I did not ask for any is going to get it. One more thing is one of the rules of golf. The higher a golfers handicap, the more they want to give advice to those around them.
  13. John L

    John L
    Dewey, OK

    Just say thanks but i'm fine if they keep at it you may have to be rude. I always say to people that have done that is "My old golf coach said when in comes to swing advice you get what you pay for." hopefully he gets it that your not paying him so you dont need the advice. Or just say thank you but I have a swing coach for those things. I dont know that its much help but 

    cheers fairways and greens

  14. Matt S

    Matt S
    Worthington, OH

    Challenge Accepted! How would you like to play for 100 dollars a hole sir?

  15. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Don't forget sneakies, sandies and all that golfer stuff. And make sure that Howie is in your foursome to keep score (I LIVED "Caddyshack" in 1972-1973; considering the author was a looper at Indian Hill CC at that time - I also was a caddie at that time at another country club in Greater Chicago's 'burbs).
  16. Quintin H

    Quintin H
    Morehead, KY

    I haven't had the problem in years, you may find it better to just be rude in the beginning.......word gets around fast.

  17. Joe D

    Joe D
    Boulder, CO

    Hey Carl I am 15 but have a 2 handicap but when I am at golfsmith people will come over and start teaching you and even once when I was playing this guy clamed to be a PGA pro and talked the whole round about how terrible my swing was and what I am doing wrong I kindly asked him to stop because he was not a PGA pro then 5 holes later he asked me who gave me my terrible grip and I told him it was a PGA tour pro who lives near my course who I played with he then replied that the tour pro didn't know what he was talking about. That was right after I chipped in for an eagle. In the end he shot 98 and I shot 71.
  18. Fred Closs

    Fred Closs
    Denton, TX

    It never hurts to be nice, but no matter what you say to "That Guy" you are going to feel like the "Bad Guy" even though you did nothing wrong. Given that, politely say, "Thank You. I'm certain you only wish to help me but I'm not looking for any advice right now". If he doesn't back off, hit him in the skull with your 9 iron LOL

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