Question of the week [December 2-8]: What’s the worst golf advice you’ve ever received?

RELATED: The First Call Inbox archive

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There have probably been a 1,000 tips or suggestions that I have heard given over the years. Many from people who are well meaning, but try to translate a tip read in a magazine or on YouTube, which not only don’t work, but in many cases make players worse.

Probably the worst I have heard is “Keep your head down, I’ll watch the ball.” How many good players have you seen that follow this method? I suggest not many. Restricting your head translates to restricting your body core. Allow your core and arms to rotate your head as a part of a normal follow through. 

P.J. Vicary
The Villages, Florida
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Keep your head down.

Christian Brooks
Florham Park, New Jersey
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Sounds like it’s the worst, but it might have been the best: “Lay off two weeks, then quit.” I didn’t.

Jim Pomeranz
Cary, North Carolina
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Watch out for snakes in the rough.

Greg Galen
Rockford, Illinois
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A teacher, who I will not name, wanted me to lean my left shoulder well in front of my head and trunk at address. He taught other people well enough to be employed, but he badly misread my abnormal spinal curve. I need to retract my shoulders as a way of life. I declined a second lesson.  

Donn Rutkoff
Oceanside, California
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The worst advice I have ever received is from warm weather golfers who tell me to put my clubs away for the winter and give them a rest. My group from here in the tri-state area plays year-round, weather permitting. I already have 40 rounds in this year.

Bob Norris
Cincinnati, Ohio
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I was playing the Champion course at PGA National in West Palm Beach, Florida. We had to take a forecaddie. Freddie, the forecaddie, knew golf and the course, but he was a real smart-ass. My brother is way better than I am, and Freddie was giving him lots of club advice. I was struggling. 

We were on the back nine, long par 3 over water. Freddie tells my brother to hit a 4-iron. I look at him and ask “What should I do?” Freddie says “Take up tennis?”

I looked at him and asked “Are we supposed to tip you after the round?” 

Not the type of advice I expected, nor appreciated.

Mark Koszyk 
Prospect Heights, Illinois
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Front: Kevin Na instructs a participant at the National Team Clinic during the pro-am before the 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia.
Photo: Jon Ferry / LIV Golf