Un-needed remarks/advice

[Maverick]

I wasn't having a stellar round yesterday. Two things happend and wanted to see your guy's opinion:

1. One of the guys I was playing with, I don't know him, wanted to see my putter (Yes! Tracy) and then he gave me his 2 cents that it was too light and that I should get some kind of f-ing weighted plug at the handle to make it heavier. He actually tried telling me the direction to this place..

Then..he wants to see my driver and asks me why I play this shaft..it kinda' left me for a loop..

I guess he could say this because he was a good player..but you know at those darkest times..I'd just rather deal with it and regroup then have some else chime in on what's good for me..

2. I wasn't chipping that bad but I fatted one in particular. The buddy, always play with, started telling me how to chip. We're about even when playing and he's never broken 80 or shot low 80's at the same course we play at to boot..and I've never "offered" advice.

[Thrash13]

Well, I can understand where you are coming from because it's always hard to take advice when things are going South. I don't mind people giving me tips on my swing or putting stroke, but I hate when people try to tell me what kind of clubs I should be playing. So I can see where you would be mad.

I like help with my swing and stuff, but it's not the equipment's fault I suck at times.

[iacas]

I'd have reacted badly to both things. With the guy, I'd have probably humored him or spit out something sarcastic. With the friend, I'd have told him to shuddup until he could beat me regularly.

I play with a regular group, most of the time, and we know each other's game enough to comment. In those cases, I'll take comments from someone who I can beat by 10 strokes because they know my game and can spot problems.

But that's not what you had going on... You probably handled it a lot better than I would have. If I'm golfing with people I don't know, most of the time I'm trying to ignore them and let them play their match. The idle chit-chat is fine, but I leave it at that and hope that others do too.

[gripitandripit]

This is probably my biggest pet peeve. I HATE unsolicited advice. The worst was a few years back in Myrtle Beach. I was playing with my cousin and a single joined us mid-round. Even though I beat him by about 10 strokes, he kept giving unsolicited "tips" about my swing. It was everything I could do not to splatter his skull with my 3 iron. In my regular foursome, we have one guy (the worst golfer of the 4) who likes to offer club selection. Since he's a good friend, I don't hesitate to tell him to shut the #%@&^* up.

[jeffgladchun]

I think all golfers hate that. I would just put on my "listening face" and tune him out. I'm lucky because like Erik, I play with a regular group of friends (all pretty good players - around 4-5 indexes) and we know each other's games and usual swing faults, we'll help out the others if they're looking rough, but things have gotten a little testy before.

Just tell the guy to keep that too himself next time.

[muskegman]

You see my handicap and so have some idea of that fact that I've got work to do. Having said that I work hard at my swing and my game and believe that I'm improving. But, if someone starts giving me advice on the course, unless I ask for it or its someone I really trust I tell them " no lessons on the golf course ." Trying new things in the middle of a round is a fast track to even worse play and unsolicited advice ticks me off. I don't listen to it and try my utmost to keep my own mouth shut about other people's swings.

[StreakyPete]

I think we can all learn from obviously better golfers merely by observing them. If a player actively seeks advice, then that's fair play. However, offering unsolicited advice is, at best, a breach of etiquette, and at worst a not too subtle form of gamesmanship.
Given that we're all out on the course to enjoy ourselves - I know, I know.., it doesn't always seem that way - it can be difficult to get a self-elected 'Guru' to button it without causing bad feeling.
Often the 'glassy' stare accompanied with the minimum of comments works best.

[kiwidave]

I hate this, people don't generally say it too many a second time tho. I have a habit of saying out loud what I'm thinking when I think someone's winding me up

[NM Golf]

I'd have told him to shuddup until he could beat me regularly.

Funny I have used that same line before with people giving advice. As soon as you can beat me you can give me advice. The only people I take advice from on the course are my father and some of the club pros I play with. Funny thing about that though is

they are good enough to know to keep their comments to themselves unless it is really neccessary. The middle of a round is the wrong place to try to make a huge swing change. They may comment if they see something I normally don't do in my swing and I can make a small adjustment. They save the major changes until the range where I can actually work on them.

[westcoast941]

You're always going to find those who feel better about themselves by giving what they think are tips. His tips being unsolicited has nothing to do with you but makes him feel important?

IMHO he's was not only rude but took away one of your weapons. Your confidence in a part of your equipment. What are you going to be thinking when you're lasering in on that 20 ft putt? The 20 ft is short or Tracy feels too light?

Pay for advice in lessons....or of course ask for them in here

[golfchief]

I ask if they would like a tip. If they are having problems after 4-5 holes and I see a minor problem that would help.

[The Undaunted Duffer]

It's a tough spot to be in. With my buddies, we regularly play together. Although all of us are Duffers to the capital "D", I usually out perform them.

Sometimes, they ask me for advise and I'm always hesitant about giving it out because what may work for me may just screw them up in the process.

Sometimes I'll point out the obvious like address issues, or follow through, or other basic stuff, but other than that forget it.

With strangers? Hell no, I'd get my ass kicked.

[NCGolfer]

The middle of a round is the wrong place to try to make a huge swing change. They may comment if they see something I normally don't do in my swing and I can make a small adjustment. They save the major changes until the range where I can actually work on them.

Good point. I

hate giving advice while I'm out on the golf course. Unless I'm out there screwing around with a couple friends, I'll only offer when asked. Also, I'm out there to play...and not to sound selfish, I want to concentrate on my game and round. Wait until after the round. Please.

[kklick]

I don't like to give advice or take advice on the course. I'd like to think I know enough about my swing to know when something is wrong. That doesn't always mean I can fix it right away but I sure don't need joe blow guessing and giving tips to help.

Now in a friendly golf league I play in we play a match play for half of the league. Unsolicited swing tips can be your friend. Just something simple after they make a bad swing like " man that swing looked pretty steep, maybe you should try to shallow that out." Or if there is trouble on a hole as you're walking up comment on how you can never stay away from that lake or bunker ect. Just get them thinking about it. Now this is just a friendly league not a sanctioned competition or anything so its ok to screw around a little.

[Deep Stuff]

There is nothing worse the unsolicited advice in my opinion.

I am relitively new and have found a small course with very freindly people to play at during the week days (9 hole course) or if I am not playing with the guys on the weekend. I would say 90% of the people are great! The 10% that are bad - they SUCK!

I have played with MANY guys there and of all skill levels. Some people are just know-it-alls and feel they are justified in acting as if they are Vijay Singh and truley helping. Fortunatley this is the minority at this course, most guys will ask if they can offer up some information about my swing (which I am glad to hear). As far as my equipment goes, I like it and I cannot afford to change it so that is off limits! I don't need to be thinking about my club with all the other swing thoughts in my head right now.

My friends and I are VERY different. To keep our mood light, we are always busting on each other. We have 1 guy who is VERY cheap and we rag on him about his clubs, ball and even the faces he makes when he breaks a Tee. This is not minded 1 bit because we are friends and this is hwo we act with each other.

[MacCool]

Like most things in life, I like to respond with a sarcastic joke -- especially to people I don't know (recognize!). So in this case I would have said, "Yeah you know ever since I used my putter to crack this guy over the head after he gave me unsolicited advice, she pulls a little to the left or I hit her a little long." Hopefully that gets the point across