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I am always weary about taking tips from players who are worse than me, I know that the top golf teachers are not as good as the PGA players (ie. Tiger Woods/ Hank Haney sp.) I believe that I am shooting my score for a reason, and if someone is worse, they are worse for a reason.

I am self taught for the most part also, I have never paid for a lesson.

I just dont really know who to listen to I guess is my point? some advice please

  Borf said:
I am always weary about taking tips from players who are worse than me, I know that the top golf teachers are not as good as the PGA players (ie. Tiger Woods/ Hank Haney sp.) I believe that I am shooting my score for a reason, and if someone is worse, they are worse for a reason.

I can kinda see where you are going with this, but you are missing a few important points. When you say "worse than me", are you talking just straight handicap or that every aspect of their game is worse? Also, is the person the same age/physical condition as you? I know of plenty of people that are extremely inconsistent on any type of swing but are some of the best putters you will run across. I'd take a putting lesson from them anyday. Also, there are plenty of older players that have detereorating games if judged by handicap/score but have more knowledge about the game than you could wish to know.


Great points

I am talking about handicaps mostly

I quiver when a 10-15+ handicap trys to tell me something

With so many areas in the game, I can always improve somehow, but It just doenst sit right with me when, like i said, a high handicap trys to tell me something

  Borf said:
I am always weary about taking tips from players who are worse than me, I know that the top golf teachers are not as good as the PGA players (ie. Tiger Woods/ Hank Haney sp.) I believe that I am shooting my score for a reason, and if someone is worse, they are worse for a reason.

Listen to your Heart, it's what keeps calling for you.... jk I am 6'3 and roughly 210 pounds, and am fully aware that advice comes at you in all different ways on the course and that everyone seems to be teaching different. I too am self taught but have attended lessons for putting, I am not much on true hc's as some rounds require a 66 and some just require a 78 to walk away with a pocket full of loot... :) But, if I were to tell you to listen and use the guidance of one person it would be "Ron del Barrio's Passive Golf Swing" I have never had a lesson from him, but my swing is a lefty mirror imange of his. I actually had a friend call me and tell me to type his name in youtube. The most similar thing is what I call my "line of sight". At the moment the club passes thru the ball my head is looking directly at my intended target..... Oh, and the 2 Thumb putting grip I now use came from a friend of a friend who consistantly shoots in the high 90's.. :)

I believe that you should listen to anyone that offers you advice, even if they are a 30+ handicapper. Hearing other peoples advice can not hurt your game in anyway. You should be open to any suggestion that are thrown at you. I am not suggesting that you apply every tip that people give you to your game, but you should have the respect for them and the respect for yourself to listen to them and at least consider what they're saying. You never know when that meaningless tip could spark the swing thought that propels you to a 7 handicap.

It's not so much who gives you the tip, or how they give you the tip, it's about the application of the tip. If someone is trying to reconstruct your swing from the ground up, disregard it. But if it's a simple tip such as a grip modification, hear them out, consider it, and then either adopt it, or disregard it. Don't judge a book by the cover, you never know what's inside...
What I play:
Cleveland HiBore XLS 9.5 Fujikura Stiff flex | Titleist 735.cm Stainless Steel True Temper S300 3-PW | Titleist Vokey GW 52 | Cleveland 588 SW 56 | Titleist Vokey LW 60 | Scotty Cameron Studio Stainless | Titleist Pro V1x

Where I play:
Texas A&M UniversityHow I play:Goals for 2008

thanks a lot, I will try to hear people out when giving tips. Your right, one little tip could change my whole game for the better

  Borf said:
Great points

I can understand the feeling. But this isn't really a logical response. A person's ability to execute doesn't necessarily have any bearing on their ability to see and truthfully relate something about your swing or tactics, (ie; ahead of the ball at address) or to relate a truly helpful tip. IMHO.

My problem is I'm usually painfully aware of what I'm doing wrong, but I'm doing it anyway - and of course one of my friends will feel obliged to point it out

What's in my bag:
Cleveland Hibore XLS Monster Driver
TourEdge Exotics 2,3,4 hybrid irons
Tommy Armour 845cs Silverbacks 5-PW
Assorted wedges, Ping Scottsdale Anser


Dont be so blind,the top fault detector I know plays off 16,the single handicap guys are always comming up to him and saying take a look at this or that and he puts them on the road to recovery.

In The Bag
Mizuno MX 560 Driver
Taylor made 3 wood
Mizuno HIFLI 21*
Mizuno MX 25's 4-pwMizuno MX series wedges 50, 56*/11 & 60*Bettinardi C02 putter4 bottles of pilsner,2 packs cigars


execution and knowing what to do are two totally different things, and I think this is what I need to realize

  JKilgore44 said:
I believe that you should listen to anyone that offers you advice, even if they are a 30+ handicapper. Hearing other peoples advice can not hurt your game in anyway. You should be open to any suggestion that are thrown at you.

The problem with taking advice from anyone is that you don't know their level of knowledge on the swing. I have found that there are too many people out there who give themselves way to much credit then they deserve when it comes to their knowledge and ability. These people are the worst because they come across with confidence when in reality they have no clue.

I have a pro I have been working with to improve my game. I'm not going to listen to anyone else since it could contradict what my pro is trying to work into my game. Now, if someone is just hacking along and building their game without professional help then your advice may work. On the range only of course. There is nothing I hate more than someone trying to throw me a fix on the course.
In my bag:

Driver: FT-5, 9° stiff
Wood: Big Bertha 3W/5W
Irons: X-20 TourWedges: X Tour 52°/56°Hybrids: Idea Pro 2/3/4Putter: Black Series #2Ball: NXT Extreme/NXT Tour
Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Well I see your point. However, high handicaps may be doing more research or taking lessons and may just be passing the advice they have gathered on your way.

It doesnt mean that they know all there is to know about a golf swing. There are alot of posts that I see with problems very similar to something that I am having a problem with too so I happen to have alot of info on the subject.

Also maybe a high-handicapper was able to fix that problem because of some lessons and can help you out.

Remember advice is just a suggestion. It doesnt mean that the high handicapper is going to be your coach. If something someone says regardless of their handicap makes sense to you try it, if it doesnt work big deal, try something else.
"When I play with him, he talks to me on every green. He turns to me and says, 'You're away.' "
-Jimmy Demaret referring to Ben Hogan

In The Bag:
Driver: Cleveland HiBore XL (10.5 -conforming)3 Wood: MacGregor V-FOIL5 Wood: Mizuno MP-001Irons: Ben Hogan BH-5 (4-PW)Wedges:52 - Nike SV Tour56 - Cleve...

  Borf said:
I am always weary about taking tips from players who are worse than me, I know that the top golf teachers are not as good as the PGA players (ie. Tiger Woods/ Hank Haney sp.) I believe that I am shooting my score for a reason, and if someone is worse, they are worse for a reason.

I only took about 5 or 6 lessons when I was a wee lad. For the most part self taught, and share the same opinions on advice as you do. My one steady reference is Ben Hogan's Five Lessons (which I often refer to on this forum). The only other thing I watch is Playing Lessons from the Pros, more for course management and theory though.

Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
Callaway Hex Black Tour


  Ben said:
I only took about 5 or 6 lessons when I was a wee lad. For the most part self taught, and share the same opinions on advice as you do. My one steady reference is Ben Hogan's Five Lessons (which I often refer to on this forum). The only other thing I watch is Playing Lessons from the Pros, more for course management and theory though.

You make a good point with this. One of the only aspects of golf where "tips" from other golfers can be extremly helpful is theory/course management. So many people overlook this part of the game, yet to me it's the most important part and one that can improve your scoring/handicap more than anythign else. Every golfer's swing is different, and everyone has different technique and swing thoughts. Getting tips on swing aspects might not always be a great idea, but you can always learn from tips about how to approach the game and improve your course management.


  msd3075 said:
You make a good point with this. One of the only aspects of golf where "tips" from other golfers can be extremly helpful is theory/course management. So many people overlook this part of the game, yet to me it's the most important part and one that can improve your scoring/handicap more than anythign else. Every golfer's swing is different, and everyone has different technique and swing thoughts. Getting tips on swing aspects might not always be a great idea, but you can always learn from tips about how to approach the game and improve your course management.

Agreed. I know I really started shaving strokes when I started learning more course management tips. My swing stayed the same, but I scored lower.

In my bag:

Driver: FT-5, 9° stiff
Wood: Big Bertha 3W/5W
Irons: X-20 TourWedges: X Tour 52°/56°Hybrids: Idea Pro 2/3/4Putter: Black Series #2Ball: NXT Extreme/NXT Tour
Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

You can get good information from the most unlikely sources. My wife who doesn't play golf at all was watching me hit some balls one day. I was having a bad day. I was really inconsistent and couldn't figure why. When I stopped for few seconds she told me that it was interesting that some times my hips moved in the same plane and some times they didn't. Bingo!!! So if your wife gives you advice listen regardless of her handicap.

Robert Reid

In the bag:

Driver Cobra M/F Speed3 Cleveland LauncherCleveland Halo 2i Nike CPR 23 degree5-PW Mizuno MX 23 (graphite shafts)56 degree SW Mizuno MT


A good tip can come from anywhere. Even a person who does not even play the game can tell a good swing from a poor one. Golf is a side on rotational movement, you do not need to be a rocket scientist or a 0 handicap to undersrtand it.

I am one of those that knows what to do in the golf swing, but has trouble executing it....

I spend many hours a week hitting balls, putting, chipping, and reading/watching all the golf stuff I can, so I would like to think I have some knowledge on the subject. There can be however, a real problem if the person that I get the information from is incorrect.

I give tips only if there is enough fact to support my statement. There are a few on this forum that like to spew bad info just to do it.

I can see where the OP is coming from...there is nothing worse than someone giving you tips when you hit a bad shot.....hitting a bad shot even 6-7 times doesn't mean you don't know how.....I hate it when I have played decent for 10-12 holes and then hit 3-4 bad ones....every so-called golf instructor has something to tell me....

  Borf said:
I am always weary about taking tips from players who are worse than me, I know that the top golf teachers are not as good as the PGA players (ie. Tiger Woods/ Hank Haney sp.) I believe that I am shooting my score for a reason, and if someone is worse, they are worse for a reason.

borf, I work to keep golf as simple as possible. I've gone to a number of "big name, top 50" instructors. I now go to the best I've ever seen. He teaches a number of tour players and he has taught me to fix myself and how to handle the inevitable advice. The golf swing has three important elements 1. You must pivot (turn) both back and through 2. You right shoulder must move downplane ie. trace the target line (if you are right handed) 3. You must have a flat left wrist at impact from there there are literally billions of ways that will work. He says everything else is just style and personal preference. He also taught that when unsolicited or unqualified advice is offered he wants me to say, " Thanks, that's exactly what I've been working on!" then go about my business and ignore them.

Driver- Geek Dot Com This! 12 degree Matrix Ozik Xcon 6 Stiff
Adams Tour Issue 4350 Dual Can Matrix Ozik Xcon 5

Hybrids- Srixon 18 deg
Srixon 21 deg Irons- Tourstage Z101 3-PW w/Nippon NS Pro 950 GH - Stiff Srixon i701 4-PW w/ Nippon NS Pro 950 GH-Stiff MacGregor...


Note: This thread is 6201 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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