Keeping mum on the range

I never volunteer advice because I am no where near qualified to instruct someone.

I do hit my short irons well and when I get into a good rhythm I might actually look like I can play this stupid game.  I've had some people on those "good" days ask me for advice.  I would kindly respond that I'm actually not a very good golfer and would be afraid I'd tell them something incorrect for their swing which would result in annoyed response of "whatever" or "just say you're too busy" from them.  At that point I'd feel bad because that's not my intent and try to help with some basic techniques but it's puts me in an awkward position.

I'm a bad golfer (for now!) but have had lots of lessons and quite a bit of basic theory.

I was recently playing with a friend of a friend who had the most ridiculous backswing since golf was invented. It was absolutely wild and he was hacking the ball everywhere. I know he's trying to get better so I politely said he should try and control his backswing so that he has more chance of hitting the ball square. His look told me that my advice wasn't reciprocated!

I've also been on the receiving end of unwanted advice from guys who clearly didn't know what they were talking about it. It's always given when you are having a bad day on the course and the last thing you need is some hacker rabbiting nonsense at you! One guy told me I should point my forearms outwards and not bend my arms on the backswing..

My advice, unless asked play your own game and let the pro's give the lessons!

I have given advice while playiing, with good friends.  Really not that big a deal, no I cant play this crazy game but an observer can see things that the person doing it cant. ie  golfer setting up to the right of the target and then wondering why he is hitting it to the right of the target..  but no I would never give advice at the range.  Now I saw a guy drilling it 165 yards and scattering them within a 10 foot circle of the pin, then do the same at 110 and 60.  I did want to ask him for advice

Gotta say.....no.

I've never given unsolicited advice as I, too, am usually the one who should be seeking advice. But, I have on rare occasions given positive comments to people when I see certain things. The last time was a guy who appeared to be a weekend amateur (so much like me) and he was hitting the most elegant draws with his irons. I just had to tell him I thought his flight path was inspiring. Turned out we chatted for my last 10-15 minutes at this range & good thing we did. I walked away with a few good points to focus on. I think he enjoyed having someone tell him he was doing something good!

I almost prefer some light camaraderie at the range as it helps me loosen up. Can't get too serious there.

I've never given unsolicited advice, nor what I ever wanted to. If i'm playing with a high-capper and they ask for a few tips, i'll just go with the basics...."Keep your head down", "Keep it smooth", "Don't overswing", etc. I'll leave the technical advice to the trained professionals!!

Same here, never will give it unless asked, I leave that for the club pro. However, the membership is pretty tight at our course and we are very laid back, the members know I coach the golf team so every now and then they will ask for some tips but I only do when asked and I have no hesitation saying you might want to talk to the pro if it is something more in-depth.

I'm not a fan of conversations with strangers at the driving range.  If someone offered me unsolicited advice, I'd give them a dismissive nod.  If they did it again, I'd pick my stuff up and move to a different mat.

I've never given advice and wouldn't even try to but I've received advice twice.  The problem with it is if you take a stranger's advice you have to blindly trust someone who could have no idea what they are talking about.  What is wrong for one person might work for another...

It's the most tempting thing in the world to offer advice to help someone with an atrociously bad swing.     I made the mistake once & the guy I was paired with was clearly not interested in my advice (which to me still seems odd - if I sucked that badly, I would have a pretty good idea that I really sucked at golf & would welcome advice from a better player, but I think ego's tend to get in the way).    Lesson learned, never again no matter how badly I want to offer unsolicited advice, will not do it ...

The only advice I was tempted to give was to a lady who was clearly exhausted and on the verge of a nervous breakdown machine gunning balls. When she went to get another bucket a discussed it with a femal member and she agreed - after a brief conversation the first lady took a break.

It's hard to know who to trust with advice, I think that's really the reason.

That's why I hardly take unsolicited advice (I'm hardly given it anyway).

Never! I suck at this eveil game, and who goes to the range to talk to strangers? I know some people do and that baffles me.

I keep my mouth shut, and have found that technique works well.

(and yes, I am tempted on obvious issues, and yes, in earlier years, I did say something. No longer and who am I to offer advice?  My advice is to let people follow their own path and let them ask for assistance, and if they do, hopefully, I will have the names of a few teaching pros with me.)

The thing that I think differentiates this discussion is without question a pro should always be recommended; but lets face it, these kind of players (those with the godawful ugly swings of the world) aren't the type that are gonna take lessons, and any of us that have been around the game for even a little while could give them a few pointers that would help them immeasurably .... but even in that case as I indicated above, sometimes it isn't taken well and I found out they often are apparently quite happy with that ugly swing - so no more free advice from me going forward ...