How do you help your golf buddy ?

[hkmp5]

I have been golfing with this guy for 3 years and we started out having fun , but this year his game is ugly, army golf left right left right e.t.c.

he says he hits well at the driving range but I find that hard to believe, for example on his drives he has the ball at least even with his back foot squats on his set up (bending knees) and stands way to far from the ball, then stands up at impact, the ball goes at least one fairway over if you can find it then he duck hooks it on his next shot, it's starting to get old looking for his ball all the time.

how can I help this guy without stepping on his toes? I have offered him some ideas on how to help but I don't think he really listens.

I wanted to stop him and set him up like most people hit the ball but decided to stay out of it hoping he would finally ask.

[tonyy]

I have a friend that's pretty bad and we played on a course and it was just frustrating looking for his ball everytime. He's one of those guys that hits a shot, gets angry and just walks away without watching where his ball goes. So I have to keep an eye on it and I lose focus on my game.

Anyway, the only tips I usually give on the course is if someone is aligned wrong, I tell them. I know some people don't like to be given advice so I try not to get into that.

If you want to really help your buddy, just go with him to the range and work it out, or you could get him lessons :p

[right handed phil mickelson]

If you know how to fix some of his problems, then go up to him and say exactly this: "Hey man. I know your mad about hitting it way right and way left all the time, right? Can I help you try and fix it? I think I know what your doing."

Then proceed to help him, if he accepts. Try and do it in a nice manner too. Don't be one of those guys who do the "Your swinging like THIS. *overexaggerated swing*."

That really turns people off to the help that your trying to give. Tell him in a simple way, what he is doing wrong, and have him take some swings with the "fixed" technique. Give him positive feedback if he swings correctly.

If you don't really know what he's doing wrong, then suggest nicely that he go ask a pro for a quick fix.

~RHPM

[Harry Truman]

  tonyy said:

I have a friend that's pretty bad and we played on a course and it was just frustrating looking for his ball everytime. He's one of those guys that hits a shot, gets angry and just walks away without watching where his ball goes. So I have to keep an eye on it and I lose focus on my game.

+1

I'm not a good golfer by any stretch, but i have 'that buddy' who can never hit the ball, and gets a shitty attitude when you try and give him advice. Like the one thread says, you shouldn't be out there trying to coach people, but, god damn, he needs help. I told him he was aiming way right on three holes and by the third one he told me the commentary was getting annoying. So much for trying to help a friend.

[Chief Broom]

I don't give people golf advice. I'm still trying to figure out this game and that sort of precludes me from being able to give any kind of meaningful and insightful advice that would really help someone's game. Putting that aside the golf course is the last place anyone should go to try and work on their game. When you go to the course, especially for an outing with others when the course is probably pretty busy (not late in the day prior to closing, etc.), you've got to commit to playing at an acceptable pace. That means any coaching from others will just slow things down and add to the struggling player's frustration. The only thing worse than watching someone struggle while playing is watching someone who doesn't have any business doing so giving them swing tips that are obviously making matters worse. If I had a regular playing partner who fits this description, obviously is struggling and isn't enjoying his time playing, what I would do would be to take a lesson myself and schedule it at a time when my partner could attend with me. I'd present it to him as an opportunity for him to meet my instructor. If he declined then so be it, but it could be a way to get your partner some much needed help from a source that can really help his game. A win-win for everybody...

[ITBs2k]

Just start stomping your feet around him until he listens to you. Or rolll on the floor till he does. That usually works for my nephew.

[David in FL]

I don't.

Unless a specific question is asked, I leave him alone. I expect the same courtesy in return.

[Cobber]

I have a good buddy that I play golf with all the time. When we started out together two years ago, we were both 19 handicaps. Now I am right at a 10 and he is an 18. He takes lessons all the time and will fix one thing and ruin another.... better swing worse tempo for example. I try to encourage him on his good shots and stay quiet on the bad ones. At the end of the round, I'll tell him where I saw glimpses of glory and that he should focus on those shots for the next round. Saying that he will never get any better is not only wrong, its just mean. He is always apologizing for holding me back. Honestly, his game has no effect on mine and I still enjoy a round with him.

[jefftommy06]

I have a buddy I'm great friends with and if either he or I are playing bad we always say to each other, "I'm going to have to find someone else to play with if you keep playing like this", joking....but kind of mean it. It might be a little extreme but we are very competitive so I think that alone helps him or me concentrate more on shots. We are positive golfers though, we don't let bad shots get to us, makes us mentally strong. What also helps is that we are so evenly matched.

[TN94z]

I have a friend that is the same way. It is a touchy situation depending on the person. My friend would listen to what I told him but if it didn't work in two or three swings he wouldn't even try it anymore. Somewhere along the line, he listened to someone's suggested grip change and he stuck with it. It has helped his game alot. You could always buy him a lesson if it's close to his b-day or something.

[imtomtomim]

I just explain what action gives what result when they ask for help and then I try throwing a couple swing thoughts to try out one at a time to see if it helps take their mind off their swing. Just hit the ball and you'll be able to play good golf.

[gohardorgohome]

I wish everyone was as considerate as the OP.

Some people just bark out swing tips and expect someone to apply them immediately on the course. For most people's problems, there is nothing you can say on the course that will magically make them swing better. They need time to digest the advice and then build the muscle memory through repetition. There just isn't time for that while playing a round. Combine that with the bad player's frustration and you are going nowhere fast. I don't understand why some people (not the OP) have such a hard time realizing that.

The advice about helping him out at the range is a good one if he's game. Otherwise, I don't think there is much else to do.

[TN94z]

While I agree for the most part, there are some fundamental things that you can tell someone that can help them immediately. We had my buddy change his grip and alignment, and he immediately started playing better. Ball position was also a thing we changed that immediately helped. I agree though, that much more technical advice is not a good thing to give on the course.

I am referring to the guys that are really off and beginners (really high handicappers).

[PiustheDrGolf]

Well...
Started golf same time and you guys are close friends each other. HCP 10 vs 18 is significant difference but he may not think so.

What about playing a round with a better player with him? He may listen the better player.

[MSDOGS1976]

If I have a good buddy who is playing bad, I just tell them to take a couple of weeks off from golf and then quit. They usually laugh or get pissed.

[kpaulhus]

I usually just keep on playing my own game. I will stay quite on my buddies bad shots unless I can tell it really didnt bother him, then Ill slide in a comment like dont forget your shovel and pail for that sand trap lol. We are very competative with each other with usually $20 on each 9. Winner could take home $40 or we both break even. That realization snaps us back onto our game almost instantly.

[MI Rob]

One of my cousins is the same exact way. I usually wont say anything until I am just sick and tired of looking for his ball after every shot, especially if he does not bother to watch where it lands.

[mc0388]

You usually can tell when to give advise and when not to. If the guys sucks but is happy, leave him alone. If a guy sucks and says 'why do I keep doing that', AND YOU KNOW THE ANSWER, help the guy out.

q: "Why do I keep missing short putts"


a: "Because your eyes are 12" behind the target line"


Done