Do crappy players rub off on you?

[kekoa]

Im curious. when I play with chops who are 20+ handicaps, I start playing a lot worse also. I don't get it. It must be some crazy mental thing or I think it is also frustration. I'm the kind of guy who practices my swing while waiting for others to hit. That way, when its my turn, I can just swing away.

The opposite is also true. Whenever I play with single digit cappers, my game goes up a few notches.

[ScottRempel]

I'm the same way. Poor golfing can tend to bring my game down, but golfing with people who are better than I am can make me play better. I think this holds true for most sports to be honest.

[Craig Mac]

I'll admit, for me at times it can be a little painful to watch, especially if they are getting hammered while playing, but they enjoy it that way so I just play my game and usually don't pay too much attention to their games other than spotting the ball for them.

[JohnTwing]

Absolutely. Some of the best rounds I've shot have been rounds which I spent trying to keep up with single digits. Some of my worst rounds were rounds where I got stuck with very bad players.

[NM Golf]

It can be very difficult to concentrate watching someone hack it around. Plus, I find it hard to wait for someone to hit 4 shots before we get to my drive. The good thing is I rarely play with anyone who is more than a 10.

I will add though, I have played with poor players who know their way around a course and were very fun to play with. My wifes uncle is that way, he is not very good but I enjoy playing with him anyway.

[JaY_B]

Crappy golf itself does not effect me, crappy attitude does, I have been in competitions paired with people that will hit shots the same time as you, walk on your line, talk in your swing etc and as much as I know it shouldn't it really does wind me up.

[Southpaw]

In tournaments it actually helps me. I don't have to worry about being the worst player in the group and I can focus more on my game.

I have a wierd mental game. =/

[Dent]

It doesn't matter what their skill level is. It doesn't effect me.

[dragonflyin]

I'm actually the opposite, I tend to play better with bad players because there is so little pressure to play well. If it was with scratch golfers, I feel the need to contend, and try too hard.

[Smallville]

Years ago, Tom Watson said that most of his friends shot around 100 and that he liked playing with them because they KEPT UP. Playing badly shouldn't affect you if they are keeping up with the pace. If a pro (Watson) can handle playing with "crappy" players so should you, I guarantee you (anyone reading this) aren't as good as him. Crappy isn't bad; SLOW is.

[mad max]

In tournaments it actually helps me. I don't have to worry about being the worst player in the group and I can focus more on my game.

I agree I never want to be the worst player in a group but I do play much better when all the golfers are about the same skill level as me.

[bprater13]

I definitely play better with better players. I try not to do it but I always seem at least content if I have the lowest score in the group. So if I play with guys shooting 75 or 76 I will still try my hardest to be lower than them. However, when I play with my roomates or somebody who is shooting 93, 94, something like that, I unfortunately find myself content with shooting 82 or 83.

[play4him]

I guess from years of playing competitive golf I actually enjoy playing with higher handicapped players on the average. The main reason is because low handicappers take it too serious, which I did for a lot of years. I've found that most high handicappers are a lot looser and can laugh at their mistakes.

[shotstop_10]

I just thought it was me that thought when I play with people that arent very good I play bad but when I play with people that are good I seem to play really good. I am glad that there is so more people out there thinking the same way i do.

[CG031]

When I'm on the verge of trying to find my tempo, and struggling to find it (some days I'm a bit erratic...) it doesn't help when I have a hacker in my group, or two hackers lol. But when I'm in the zone, i'm in the zone. They don't bother me at all.

[Lefty39]

I don't care who I play with as long as I'm having fun it's cool with me.

[mad max]

A fun group is the most important thing for me.

[Yanks Fan]

I hate playing with slow players. I am plenty patient with new players mainly because I myself am not exactly good at golf, but also because I was there a year ago when I started playing. If I'm playing with a slow player then yes, my score in fact does get worse and when I'm playing with a buddy of mine going tee to tee with no wait and a nice pace, then my score will usually be close to a new best for me. I shot my personal best of 88 walking tee to tee as a two-some in a like a 3 a half hour round.