How To Deal with THAT Guy at the Range

[iceman777]

Was at the range the other day , quiet , peaceful , basically empty . Up walks a guy maybe 60's and parks his stuff at the station immediately to my left . I could almost feel him watching my every swing . Glanced over at his swing and believe me , nothing special . Next he backs away from his spot and politely says : "you're bringing your hands too far inside , that's your problem " I grunt . Few minutes later : " try standing farther from the ball " Then he goes to his CAR and brings back a printout from some golf manual that he thinks is the Bible .   I wanted to put my gap wedge through the gap in his yellowing teeth . I finished my bucket and went home to a glass of wine . Couple of weeks later , saw him do the same thing to another guy . I should have nipped it in the bud . Besides making sure I'm always standing to his left , so he can't see me swing , anybody dealt with a well intentioned , but irritating as hell "pro" ?

[phan52]

Originally Posted by iceman777

Was at the range the other day , quiet , peaceful , basically empty . Up walks a guy maybe 60's and parks his stuff at the station immediately to my left . I could almost feel him watching my every swing . Glanced over at his swing and believe me , nothing special . Next he backs away from his spot and politely says : "you're bringing your hands too far inside , that's your problem " I grunt . Few minutes later : " try standing farther from the ball " Then he goes to his CAR and brings back a printout from some golf manual that he thinks is the Bible .   I wanted to put my gap wedge through the gap in his yellowing teeth . I finished my bucket and went home to a glass of wine . Couple of weeks later , saw him do the same thing to another guy . I should have nipped it in the bud . Besides making sure I'm always standing to his left , so he can't see me swing , anybody dealt with a well intentioned , but irritating as hell "pro" ?

I ws hitting balls last Sunday at our range and there was a Junior tournament that day. There was a ton of kids hitting balls in preparation and one of the Dads was walking the range and giving kids advice. I know this guy and he can't play a lick, nor does he know anything about the golf swing. I know he was annoying some of the better players but they were too polite to talk back to an adult, so I finally went over to him and politely asked him to leave them alone, as they were preparing for a big day. He muttered something and went over to his kid, but I know it was killing him to not walk the range and give bad advice.

[WUTiger]

A few years ago, the offender for me was some guy about 10 years younger who had a bag of the latest Titleist clubs.

I had component clubs back then and was practicing a 7-iron chip and run. He got on my case for not using a pitching wedge. He started into a "reason-why" routine, but I told him he had a limited scope short game and I wasn't interested in his opinions.

He hit a few OK wedge chips, and then skulled a couple over the green. I got lucky and sank a 30-foot 7i chip. "See, that's how it's done..." I told him.

He got flustered, picked up his bag and headed for the driving range.

[bunkerputt]

Originally Posted by iceman777

Was at the range the other day , quiet , peaceful , basically empty . Up walks a guy maybe 60's and parks his stuff at the station immediately to my left . I could almost feel him watching my every swing . Glanced over at his swing and believe me , nothing special . Next he backs away from his spot and politely says : "you're bringing your hands too far inside , that's your problem " I grunt . Few minutes later : " try standing farther from the ball " Then he goes to his CAR and brings back a printout from some golf manual that he thinks is the Bible .   I wanted to put my gap wedge through the gap in his yellowing teeth . I finished my bucket and went home to a glass of wine . Couple of weeks later , saw him do the same thing to another guy . I should have nipped it in the bud . Besides making sure I'm always standing to his left , so he can't see me swing , anybody dealt with a well intentioned , but irritating as hell "pro" ?

They used to talk to me, but now they don't.  They hear how my balls fly.  If you really want to shut them up, get good at striking a golf ball.  When they obviously have nothing to say, they don't say anything.  These guys frustrate people because there's an element of truth in it that the person being approached actually does needs some help with his swing.  Don't be afraid to swallow that pride, seek out a good instructor, and put in some hard and dedicated work to develop a world class golf swing.  These guys prey on that need.  Eliminate the need and they won't have anything to prey on.

[sean_miller]

Every avid golfer has a range session eventually where they're working on something specific and they hit a few poor shots during the process. I've seen a few "my swing" threads from otherwise decent players that say that very thing. Does that string of poor shots (to an outside observer) open the door for any know-it-all range rat within striking distance to come offer assistance? No.  I sure don't go to the range to impress anyone. I go with a purpose and occasionally, yes I was actually trying to that shot even though you think was a mishit - and if I want somebody else's input, I'll ask for it. Otherwise, Mr. Range Pro wannabe, shutty.

[rustyredcab]

I have never had a stranger offer me advise. And I've been hitting the range for over 30 years.

Maybe it is my odd (Moe Norman) setup and swing (last 10 years). Maybe it is my sticks and tools laying on the ground to form a hitting station. Certainly it is not my solid ball striking because, as Sean said, I work on my swings that I do not yet have when on the range. When I use a Tour Striker and can look like I've never hit ball after ball that looks very ugly. I might be working just on footwork on my right foot and chunk a few while trying to feel what the move I want. In short, I can look like a guy who has no idea how to hit a ball. I would venture a guess that I look sometimes look worse on the range now, as a sub-10.0 index, than I did as a 25.

[NuclearMike]

I was at the range on Friday last week when "that guy" came over.  He told me that he's been a pro for 61 years.  I let him talk for a couple of minutes, but when he grabbed an iron from my bag to show me that he could hit it from either side, and he did, I asked for my club back and politely asked him to let me practice.  My game is improving more quickly than my handicap index (because I practice a lot more than I play), so I was able to hit my next three 5 irons pretty well, so he moved on to the apparently new golfers a few stations away.  I know that he means well but I think that he's probably just lonely and wanted the human contact.

[MEfree]

To answer the OP, I would recommend politely telling him you are not interested.  OTOH, I know that I have been a bit rude or surly to guys in this situation, particularly in my younger days

Originally Posted by phan52

I ws hitting balls last Sunday at our range and there was a Junior tournament that day. There was a ton of kids hitting balls in preparation and one of the Dads was walking the range and giving kids advice. I know this guy and he can't play a lick, nor does he know anything about the golf swing. I know he was annoying some of the better players but they were too polite to talk back to an adult, so I finally went over to him and politely asked him to leave them alone, as they were preparing for a big day. He muttered something and went over to his kid, but I know it was killing him to not walk the range and give bad advice.

The comical/sad thing here is that even if the guy knew a lot about the swing, the time to have a player make a chance is NOT warming up for a tourny.  Of course, if the guy knew anything he would know that.

As a rule, I avoid giving advice to guys swing on the course, but have had two situations with bunker play that I have violated it recently.  Both guys would likely have handicaps in the teens and were ok players but with NO CLUE from the bunker.

The first guy wasn`t as bad as the second from the sand, but had a completely square club/stance and kept digging deep and leaving the ball in the bunker or barely getting it out and was becoming very frustrated.  I asked him if he would like some advice and he declined.

The second guy was even more lost and we were on friendlier terms.  On one hole he had small lip and left it in the bunker when he chilli dipped his putter.  Given the lip and green running away, he had little chance with a putter even if he had hit it well.  He might have heard two of us saying this to each other as he went back and tried to chip out with a wedge (still the wrong shot IMO). I think he struggled a few more times with various shots and finally when he chilli dipped another bunker chip on 13 I couldn`t hold back any longer and told him to hit 3 inches behind and follow through.  He said that I was probably right.

[newtogolf]

Every range has these guys, most are harmless "golf guru's" that believe they know everything about the golf swing and want to share it, others are pro's looking for new students.  I don't have a problem with either as long as they back off once I explain I am working with a golf instructor and practicing something specific from my last lesson.  I usually tend to avoid the center of the range and set up at the far ends to reduce the chances they will be nearby.

[iceman777]

thanks , next time I'll nip it in the bud and politely  say  " I ' ve got enough swing thoughts in my head . "The funny thing is , this guy was so lost I don't think he was capable of being insulted .

[TourSpoon]

This is a little different...

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

I went to the range Thursday to try to work out the hook and was next to an old timer who had some incredible extension going down the line. A conversation started and he told me that I was hitting some nice shots.  I told him about the hooks and he watched me hit a few drivers. He said your not hooking now and told me to take a backswing and stop at the top. He pointed out that I was not hinging properly (ala the right hand snatch post) and that it was  putting me into a closed position at the top. He had me try a drill and soon the 7 irons were sailing. He told me to look him up on the Internet and the next time I saw him I could either thank him or curse him.  Turns out this guy was a well known pro up north and played on the senior tour.  (I did see him today and thanked him.)

Actually he once had the 36 hole lead at the US Senior Open!