Range Etiquette

[ginsu]

Hi guys. Quick question. How do you cope with "coach buddy" in the next stall while you are getting in your practice swipes at the range? After finally taking a lesson and getting serious about my practice time, I seem to attract pairs of practicers to my general area who commence yapping through all of my practice time. I find this highly disrespectful and more than a little annoying. While I realize that I could load all the balls back into the bucket, collect my clubs and move to another stall, the principle of it bugs me. Plus I would be wasting valuable (because I don't have a lot of it) practice time constantly shifting around. Last, it is unfortunately the only range that I can really go to for practice. Thanks in advance fro your input, and great site.

[obagain]

Be honest.
Tell them you have just taken a series of lessons from a pro and you are working hard to impliment the thing he has taught you.
I was working in a golf shop in dallas about 15 years ago and we had a salesman like this. He would try to get everyone to go to the hitting area to get some "tips"
On day a lady comes in and he spends almost a hour trying to get her swing right. I had all the sales guys watching as this guy is giving a lesson to Kathy Whitworth. If you don't know, Kathy is in the LPGA hall of fame.
You should have seen his face when we told him who she was.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Be honest.
Tell them you have just taken a series of lessons from a pro and you are working hard to impliment the thing he has taught you.

My exact words. Tell them this and that you are on the range for a reason, to practice what the pro taught you. If you were there for any other reason, there would either be a pro present, or you would be on the course. If they do not respect this advice, then tell them to "Bug off", for lack of more polite terms.

[JasonMacIsaac]

There is chatter on every range, even on tour. Just move instead of speaking up, it makes you look like an arrogent ass IMO.

[uhpilot]

Just focus on your training. And remember, that they're at the range for practice/training too!


I try to get into a zone and block everything out. Kind of like practicing to ingore things. Comes in handy when playing at a course built in and around houses and the kids are in the yard screaming and playing on the weekend.

Just my 2 cents

Ricky

[Witmaster]

It's a "Practice Range". You're gonna get that sideline chat (pretty much) wherever you go. If it really bothers you then move down away from the noise.

Now, if they persist in thier distractions when your on the course... feel free to go "Happy Gillmore" on thier asses

[token_hottie]

It looks like I am alone on this one, but I generally welcome any advice that is thrown my way on the practice tee.

[Rockford35]

It looks like I am alone on this one, but I generally welcome any advice that is thrown my way on the practice tee.

You wouldn't had you just taken a lesson.

You try and instill the same swing tips that your coach just gave to you to practice, and them some jackass comes by and wants to lend you a hand.

But then maybe you're into old guys that hang around the driving range....

R35

[ezra76]

I have this happen quite often. I was working on two buckets of balls a couple of weeks ago when an older woman and what looked to be her grandson came over to the two stalls in front of me. Then what looked to be the granddad comes over and starts giving them simultaneous lessons. I shanked a 6iron and that was it, I was pissed. I pulled out my R7. If anyone has ever hit this puppy on the sweet spot with a 120mph swing you know what I mean. Makes your ears ring, badly. I took it easy on the first 3 to ensure I was making good contact. Then I went all out, swinging out of my shoes and grunting. Pounding 320yd. drives into the woods. After about 15 in a row, they moved over to where granddad was in the enclosed stalls. I am an Ahole.

[SiberianDVM]

Yeah, but you're an Ahole with a powerful swing. That's gotta count for something.

[Youngun5]

headphones? if you can wire yourself so the cords don't get in the way.

fake being deaf?

pretend you don't speak english...

constantly clear your throat

shank one

that oughta do it

[GregInOz]

Turn so you are aiming at the perpetrator(s).

Say loudly "you mean like this?"

Take a fierce backswing and a mighty swipe forward, just missing the ball, hopefully sending them scrambling for cover.

Go back to practicing.

Repeat as necessary.

[Big Brother Dunk]

If they were analyzing your swing, then that's down right rude.

If they weren't then I agree with Witmaster.

It's a "Practice Range". You're gonna get that sideline chat (pretty much) wherever you go. If it really bothers you then move down away from the noise...

[Adam Pettman]

To make on lookers move I generally turn around look them in the eyes and Grrrrr loudly in their direction or show them my mates new sasquatch driver that clubs so ugly it tends to make people cover thier eyes and run

[token_hottie]

Is it impolite to watch others' swings? Sometimes I like to just take a break and watch what other people are doing...