Driving range professionals....

[TN94z]

I know you guys have heard them before. They are the ones that are always on the range when you go practice and they seem to always find someone to "teach" while they are there.

I was at the range yesterday and there were these two high school golfers there practicing as well. Boy 1 was rushing around getting his range balls and setting up what looked like a teaching session with the aim sticks, etc...that seemed cool. Boy 2 begins to hit the ball as boy 1 watches and starts telling him to do this or do that...his advice wasn't that bad actually. But then Boy 1 starts hitting balls and can't get any of them in the air. Every shot was a worm burner and he had all kinds of things I saw wrong with his setup and swing in general. He would then go back to giving lessons to the other kid. I couldn't imagine having this kid telling me how to hit a golf ball and he couldn't hit it himself. He had an excuse for every missed shot too. It was either "I am tight," or "the club slipped", or something. I just thought it was funny that he was trying to be a teacher. The kid he was giving the tips too was hitting the ball better than him. And to top it off, the guy was talking about shooting around 80 in tournaments and I was thinking there is no way that guy shoots 80s in tournaments unless just has some major funk going on right now. I hit probably 300 balls and they were there the entire time. I bet he didn't hit 15 good shots.

[sp33d]

Course professionals are almost worse.

But yes, I witness this almost every time I take my self to the range. Usually some old guy with a Titleist hat, a worn out old polo and some pleated khakis that should have been thrown out years ago, Oh and the all white new balances, some times with Velcro. Now thats a stereotype!

Couple weeks ago, I encountered one of these "people" I was working on hitting draws with my driver. This is something I struggle with and have been working on a lot this year. So I'm duffing drives nothing terrible, like 200 yards out and yanking the ball left.

So "old dude" gently walks over to me at a safe distance and watches me swing. This annoyed me enough, more or less because I knew what was coming. "Your stance is to closed, thats why your hitting left" I being the nice guy I am "Thanks but I'm working on hit my draw" Old dude comes back with, "Oh, well then, you mind if I see a regular swing?". I agree and blast one about 290ish hitting the back fence, perfectly strait with the slightest fade. I'm thinking this will shut him up, nope. "It might help you if you transfer more weight to your front foot" Really? are you serious? I'd love to see this old guy hit half my distance... GRRR. I went over to the putting greens to get away.

[kfowler]

Not saying this was the case with the two teens but someone can be a knowledgeable teacher and really struggle with their golf game. So high handicap does not always mean they don't know what they're talking about. Self application can be difficult. Vice versa, low handicap does not always mean a good teacher either. My dad is a 6 HCP and a terrible instructor.

[TN94z]

  kfowler said:

Not saying this was the case with the two teens but someone can be a knowledgeable teacher and really struggle with their golf game. So high handicap does not always mean they don't know what they're talking about. Self application can be difficult. Vice versa, low handicap does not always mean a good teacher either. My dad is a 6 HCP and a terrible instructor.

I can agree with that. For me though, if you can't take me out to the course and beat me, I don't really care to take lessons from you. My teacher could wear me out!!

In this case though, his setup wasn't even close. Setup really has nothing to do with athletic ability. His club position was really leaned forward at address. He had a reverse pivot. He really dipped at impact and he scooped very badly. So while I see what you are saying, this is not the guy I want giving me a lesson. As far as being really knowledgeable about the swing and not being a good practicioner, don't you have to pass a certain level of play before you can become a teacher?

[clearwaterms]

  kfowler said:

Not saying this was the case with the two teens but someone can be a knowledgeable teacher and really struggle with their golf game. So high handicap does not always mean they don't know what they're talking about. Self application can be difficult. Vice versa, low handicap does not always mean a good teacher either. My dad is a 6 HCP and a terrible instructor.

The old saying... "those that can't do, teach..."

[Nickynoodles]

  clearwaterms said:

The old saying... "those that can't do, teach..."

QFT. I run into the range pro's and the course pro's about everyday. Im currently laid off and do nothing but send resumes, come on the sand trap and golf. My wife hates it but boy do i love it. Anyways they are always there. Sometimes they have somethig good to say sometimes its just completely horrible. The worst is when you try to hit that shot and they think you sliced it, or your setting your stance up to hit the ball around a dogleg left and they come up and say " Your going to hit that right in them trees over there, and you say im going around them trees." Then he says your not hitting it that far and you do it. Thats always a good way to shut them up. But i been getting the worst of it now with my new driver. I got the Nike Dymo2 Str8-fit which is adjustable and helps ya shape your shots a little easier. Its getting real annoying to hear at the range, "man your hitting that thing everywhere" "your really splattering that thing all over the place" They dont understand im hitting all of its settings to see what it does. Im not just hitting a regular club all over the place with the same swing, im changing the head posistion. Or its can i hit that once, or can i see it. Then they hit it and got a million things to tell me why the clubs no good because they swung it 1 time and topped it 10 feet infront of them. It never ends. Sorry guys my rants done. Lol

[quantim0]

I hate when anyone gives me "advice" on the course or range. I'm working on getting my lower body involved more, so I was hitting very poorly on the range for a while. It seemed someone always knew what I was doing wrong, even though I had just completly changed my swing and was gettting things back together.

[Shindig]

  TN94z said:

I was at the range yesterday and there were these two high school golfers there practicing as well.

I find 80 reasonable, and you will too, when you remember that high school matches are 9 holes.

[RC]

And then there are those "internet professionals"... we are obviously the best teachers in the world so I wonder why Golf Digest does not list each one of us in the top 100? Imagine the endorsements? A TV show with Natalie, wow, the headline... "Tiger finds tip on internet that saves his career."

Sorry, I just had to. Guilty is as guilty does.

[Gerardv]

I teach classes in another target related sport and spend times at another type of range. Medical problems keep me from following all the fundamentals in both golf and my other sport so there is always someone trying to get me into the right positions. As it works out, I have two huge scars, one on my neck and one on my upper chest, so when I can't put up with the range instructors I turn around and show them my scars, then politely explain my situation. That usually gets them to leave. Every so often, I have to spend an hour swapping medical horror stories.

(By the way, this is my first post here although I've been lurking for sometime.)

[shades9323]

  RC said:

And then there are those "internet professionals"... we are obviously the best teachers in the world so I wonder why Golf Digest does not list each one of us in the top 100? Imagine the endorsements? A TV show with Natalie, wow, the headline... "Tiger finds tip on internet that saves his career."

Your seat is too high.... Oops, wrong sport.

[TN94z]

  Shindig said:

I find 80 reasonable, and you will too, when you remember that high school matches are 9 holes.

You got me there!!! Haha...didn't think about the 9 holes. But you know what I mean

  RC said:

And then there are those "internet professionals"... we are obviously the best teachers in the world so I wonder why Golf Digest does not list each one of us in the top 100? Imagine the endorsements? A TV show with Natalie, wow, the headline... "Tiger finds tip on internet that saves his career."

I have been patiently waiting on my job offer from Golf Digest to be their sole teacher.

[enduro]

  RC said:

And then there are those "internet professionals"... we are obviously the best teachers in the world so I wonder why Golf Digest does not list each one of us in the top 100? Imagine the endorsements? A TV show with Natalie, wow, the headline... "Tiger finds tip on internet that saves his career."

At least it's usually solicited here. I'd be annoyed if I was practicing and some dude came up to me and started making suggestions.

[kfowler]

  TN94z said:

I can agree with that. For me though, if you can't take me out to the course and beat me, I don't really care to take lessons from you.

If Tiger followed that philosophy, he'd never have a coach.

Funny how many people have had the range pro approach them. I've seen it happen once or twice but only had it happen to me once. Turns out the guy was actually the teaching pro at the range. Ended up taking four lessons from him. He was excellent. I've never given advice to anyone I've played with unless they've asked and I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable about swing theory. I played with a buddy the other day who doesn't get out much. He had terrible posture and his swing was all arms. He really struggled but the only thing I would ever say are small encouraging words. I never once commented on his swing. If he asks, I'd be more than happy to help.

[TN94z]

  kfowler said:

If Tiger followed that philosophy, he'd never have a coach.

Agreed. But if I was as good as Tiger, it wouldn't bother me as much. I can bet you that Hank Haney can play though. I just can't explain how bad this kid was hitting the ball. There is a huge difference between the two

[whetstone]

I work with a guy with whom I have never played. When I come in to work complaining about my long irons, he proceeds to tell me what I'm doing wrong... as if he witnessed the entire round. I know someone who has played with the guy, and the report is that he couldn't break 110 on a good day. I'd love to take him out and beat him by 20 strokes, but as soon as the advice/critique started I'd have to quit the round or kill the guy.

[is2linda]

HAHA you never know. The range pro that gives you an advice could be the next tiger woods. Then you would be like, damn i shoulda listen.

[TN94z]

I will give the kid this much, he sounded like he really knew the swing for his age. Everything he said was correct from everything I have read and experienced. But when he took a cut at it, it was bad.

Also, the kid wasn't even old enough to drive. His mom brought him. I smell a teaching career in that kid!