JuliWooli

Well said, and you're definitely right but I would rather play against and beat a LH jerk than a HC jerk any day of the week. Unless I spent most of the round looking for his wayward shots and he accused me of slow play at the end. I'd execute the MF.

I was once reported to the committee after a tournament for slow play. I nearly dropped the trophy that I won that day. I shot a 75 (3 over) and at the time my handicap was around 7. I was a slower player back then with a 15 second pre-shot routine and could overdo it a little with club selection and throwing grass in the air etc. Even so, I was shocked with my team mates who played quite poorly that day. They were all LC who had played with me many times. It was a day that I didn't miss a fairway and hit most GIR. On most holes, I spent a lot of time helping one or two of them search for their wayward balls and our foursome took just over 4 1/2 hours to finish 18. Of course I didn't get a warning but these three players continued to insist that my slow play had caused the problem. I gladly refused to play with the feckers after that.

@Pretzel I do enjoy your detailed replies, abbreviations (LC & HC) and profound opinions. I am pretty sure that golfers, in general, tend to have better etiquette etc in the UK and probably the US but my experience here in mainland Europe differs. On this board your views have been approved by most and although I disagree, for my personal reasons, I must accept that not everywhere is the same. I envy you all.

Firstly, Bryson is an undeniable Adonis and I will here no evil words directed towards him. Plus he's almost as nice as @Double Mocha Man Most tour players take soft airy practise swings away from the ball, no divots and no power. Waggles are ok. As I said before, I'm sure non-golfers think high handicappers have missed the ball when they take their practise swings, with full pre shot routine, so close to the ball. BTW maybe your wife should start taking practise swings!

There's not many pro shops here with this equipment. I'm guessing its quite pricey. Is there a home tool shop method for this?

@Pretzel at the beginning of this thread, I strongly suggest that the better the player, then normally etiquette and speed of play are better. It has definitely been my experience. Is it not the higher handicappers who tend to take two or more practise swings on every shot thus making them slower? I rarely see a single digit player taking any. To add insult to injury they are all carrying range finders these days when they dial in a stock 8 or 9 iron once a fortnight. Do they not tend to lose more balls thus spending a lot more time looking for them. Then there's the discussion on a few holes whether they had a 6, 7 or 8 which can lead to confusion and slow play. We have to explain, "You chipped on for four and three putted, that's a seven." They often reply, "No, I chipped on for three." And then you have to recall the three shots they had before chipping on. Jesus Christ! And I have to get geared up for my next tee shot. I haven't even touched on etiquette yet. I repeat once again. "Am I alone?"

That's it, I'm coming to America!

I'll give you that @Zippo and I've already said there are exceptions on both sides. 22 handicap you say. Sir, you're a God-damn liar!

I totally agree but you must admit lower handicappers tend to have better etiquette. Of course there are exceptions but please don't tell me when you look at the start list that you don't make judgements depending on the quality of the player. If I'm put out with 3 players of 18 or over, which happens all too often, I feel like going home. Normally my initial dread realises itself, on the course, more often than not.

My tolerance level is at best a three and, by the sound of it, yours is nearer to ten. Am I the only golfer on TST who is well below five on a scale from one to ten or am I perhaps the most honest. BTW I am fairly popular in real life. Probably because I'm gorgeous.

I guess 11° and 8°

We don't have a coastline where I live in central Europe but I must say the German people are very tidy. You would be verbally criticised for littering here.

Yeah, I talk during my backswing too. "That bampot's moved or jingled in his pocket again." It doesn't help me. However, with my regular partners I don't anticipate any bad etiquette. Perhaps using my Strauss thing will help when playing with morons. Another new drill for me for the coming season. Thank you.

Hello. As no-one seems to be answering this, I'll have a uninformed, unqualified stab. My coach always said 'steep to flat'. Steeper shaft on the backswing, flatter on the downswing. To get your shaft steeper on the backswing, grip the club shorter and on at P3, stop and look where the butt is pointing. Preferably between your ball and the feet. I'm sure someone will come back with more detailed and informed instruction.

Joking aside! 🔉 I used to hum Strauss (inwardly of course) during practice sessions, "Die Schöne Blaue Donau" (The Beautiful Blue Danube) . Tra la la la la, boom boom, boom boom. Tra la la la = backswing, 4th la = transition, boom = impact, boom = Finish, and boom boom = feedback (strike quality, smoothness or jerkiness, balance etc). I haven't done this for years, I'll be trying this again soon. Don't laugh at me!

"Grind", that's the word I was looking for. The closer you get to the hole, the harder it gets. I have only played the 3 player version with two teams and that takes an average of 30 mins per hole. Having discussed this on this thread, I believe playing individually against a partner or 2 vs 2 would be formats that could be possible. As you could imagine, the further you are from the hole is always the most time consuming with O.B., lost balls, provisionals and water etc.

Schadenfreude is experienced to some extent by everyone but they don't voice their opinions. Grumpy old men tend to do this more openly. Perhaps a little decorum would be appropriate but they enjoy other people's misery too much. I would imagine that most golfers would love the reverse scramble because their natural tendency towards 'schadenfreude' could be experienced without feeling the guilt that is associated with it. I am looking forward to attempting the individual version of this as soon as the new season gets underway. I will be playing against an opponent, every shot with two balls, and progressing through every stage with worst ball (opponents choice). I would imagine playing alternative holes this way when or if the pace of play allows it. I am looking forward to giving more accurate feedback when this occurs.

Those drills are physically painful. The reverse scramble is mentally challenging and should only be played occasionally and treated as a character builder. I've read about some of the playing strategies on TST and these would be strengthened playing this format. For example... Not aiming at flags, lag putting, middle of the fairway etc. I much prefer the reverse format because every shot from every player is crucial.

My mother is fit and well. She is definitely not grumpy, I believe its an older man thing.

He doesn't show any pleasure, he's grumpy. You wouldn't know he was enjoying your bad shots, but he is.

Don't get him started. Between self checks for testicular cancer and being willed to probe his prostate, he's had enough. These days an invisible nanny is saying, "No carbohydrates, no salt, no alcohol, no tobacco, no sugar, oh yeah and don't eat meat to save the planet. And don't go out on a bicycle without wearing one of those stupid helmets. Yes, he wears a mask but I see him pretending to wash his hands with those cleansing devices at the entrance to every store.

As I said before, why do men get grumpier with age. My dad only smiles or laughs at unhappy things. He absolutely loves when he passes a broken down car on the motorway. Or the family down the road has had their house repossessed, that makes his day. Since the onset of Corona restrictions he says things like, "Mark my words, we'll be phoning the bastards for permission to have a shit next." He totally refuses to visit the doctors saying, "All they want to do is fiddle with my balls and stick a finger up my arse." He absolutely hates Christmas, birthdays, weddings, holidays, etc. Last year we went to Italy, planning to stay for 10 days and he hated it so much we were back home the next day. And don't get him started on the internet. My young cousin, girl, 12 years old was talking to him about her favourite bike, a Raleigh Chopper which he had never heard of. She brought her laptop over to him and punched 'Raleigh Chopper' into google and up pops some explicit porno shit. He nearly had a heart attack. And then there's his soccer. He sits in front of the TV telling every player in the team how bad they are, how the coach should be sacked and swears he will never watch another game. Now that's a promise I wish he would keep.

Italian Sports Drink? Espresso Martini? Help, I'm not understanding this one.

I disagree. I am not saying that lower handicappers are saints but most of them have earned their stripes. Ask @HoganApexFanwho was a marine for over 20 years, he'll back me up. There are also high handicappers who know their place when they are playing out of their league. I appreciate a little cap doffing but, in these cases, I would rather avoid such adulation. I quit a game once in my life and regretted it afterwards. It was on a visit to Scotland a few years ago in November. It was freezing cold, pouring and the wind was blowing the heavy rain at an angle closer to horizontal. I had already played about 12 holes and was soaking through. My hands were so cold I couldn't feel the club head, f*** it felt like I was swinging a garden cane. I was sure that hypothermia was setting in. To cut a long story short, one of my playing partners informed me on the 12th that I could take a short cut back to the club house from the next tee. I am not passing the buck but his suggestion was just too tempting and I made my apologies and hiked it. I did feel guilty and have never quit since but thoughts of a hot shower, dry clothes and my favourite tipple beckoned me back. Or was it Satan? himself. Drunk and stoned = Contact buzz! f*** that, golf's hard enough. BTW are we allowed to say 'piss'?

I know him. He plays in Germany now. He's a total moron. I always tell him that I am playing a practise round and not keeping score today. Of course at the next he'll ask again. When I tell him to mind his own business and stick his pencil up his ass, he'll not ask me for at least a couple of holes.