Do you let other people hit your clubs?

[DevilGolfer54]

I was teeing off on 17 yesterday and a guy asks if we can play the last couple together, as it was getting pretty dark. No problem, let's go. We play the par 5 and when we get to the green he goes "hey, mind if I use your putter? Left mine in the trunk" I thought this was weird but didn't mind too much, so I let him putt out with my baby. Onto the 18th tee, he asks if he can hit my (first round, brand new) driver. "What driver is that, you killed it on 17! Mind if I try it?" I was baffled. I played it off and he didn't end up using it but I couldn't believe he even asked.

 

Any of you guys ever have something like this happen and was I in the wrong to say no? Do you let other (strangers) hit your sticks?

[outofpractice01]

I let my regular playing buddies use my stuff all the time. One of us gets something new, we all pretty much give it a go.

But this is because were friends and we know if we stuff it we fix it. Or buy a new one.

Random people? Not going to happen. Though weirdly I was hitting on the grass at a local range and got to talking to the guy next to me. Turns out he was new to golf but had just picked up a new M1 at a fairly good price. No qualms straight up tells me to give it a go. It was a stinking hot day, I'd forgotten my glove and was barely holding onto my own clubs. Politely turned the offer down.

[DevilGolfer54]

I let my regular playing buddies use my stuff all the time. One of us gets something new, we all pretty much give it a go.

But this is because were friends and we know if we stuff it we fix it. Or buy a new one.

Random people? Not going to happen. Though weirdly I was hitting on the grass at a local range and got to talking to the guy next to me. Turns out he was new to golf but had just picked up a new M1 at a fairly good price. No qualms straight up tells me to give it a go. It was a stinking hot day, I'd forgotten my glove and was barely holding onto my own clubs. Politely turned the offer down.

 

If offered I have no problem with it, I've let people hit my clubs 1) if I trust them 2) if I know they won't leave a dummy mark. This guy was probably a 25 HC and I'd never seen him before on a course that I play a couple times a week. For all I know he could've ran off with my putter into the neighborhood and been gone haha

[KYMAR]

No, you were fine saying no. And yes, he was a little Rude Asking Imo but maybe it's just being naive. I've been a member for many years and distinctly Remember stories like this going the other way "....so I reluctantly Handed it over and I'll be damned if this yahoo didn't hit the biggest pop up I've ever seen. Aarrggghh!!! " so in the long run, you did the right thing, You're not a driving range, you're not Toting around a Bag of Demo clubs. Plenty of places to hit those, the 18th tee with some Stranger isn't that place. So I say Well done.

[kekoa]

If the guy can play and i know him well i would let them hit a few shots with my clubs- no problem. If the guy is a hack of sorts then no way. I had a guy shank an iron of mine a few years ago and it hasnt been the same since.

 

 

[sevenfourate]

Generally if they are 'better players and i know there's very little risk of paint damage etc i will of course. If i don't know them - they are beginners etc.......it ain't happening. To be fair i'd rather no-one did and in the most part i'd prefer not to offer.......

 

Funny though isnt it: I have no issues with a stranger coming into my house, and im not really that bothered about lending my car out. But i do have "issues" with people even touching my clubs if im honest. How does that work ??

[philly2kuk]

If it's my dad or one of my close golfing friends then yeah, they can borrow it to try for a shot or two. Random strangers or anybody else? Hell no!

[playa]

In this circumstance there is no problem politely saying no. For a complete stranger to ask to hit someone's new driver is pushy imo. I let people I know hit my clubs if they ask, as long as I know they won't leave a sky mark or damage the club by hitting the ground too hard etc. A complete stranger? No way.

[Brompton]

When the titleist 909 driver came out I picked one up almost on release. My mate asked to have a go and he even gave me a pep talk on the way down the first fairway telling me how he feels he is massively improved and guarantees there will be no marks left on the club.

 

Second hole, let him tee up with it, biggest roof mark I think I have witnessed, thanks mate!

 

I still joke about it now with him...

[playa]

When the titleist 909 driver came out I picked one up almost on release. My mate asked to have a go and he even gave me a pep talk on the way down the first fairway telling me how he feels he is massively improved and guarantees there will be no marks left on the club.

 

Second hole, let him tee up with it, biggest roof mark I think I have witnessed, thanks mate!

 

I still joke about it now with him...

There is a saying in Australia when you take out a demo or second hand driver from the pro to hit: "You sky it, you buy it".

[jplroper]

Most people just remark they remember hitting whatever model I'm playing 10 years ago.

[richard t]

I'm with most so far. Close friends-playing pals? Heck yes. I've let some of them take the whole bag to try clubs. Anyone else NOT a chance. It is wrong to ask so don't be offended at NO!

[MarkFromTheUK]

The benefit of being a lefty... You don't get asked this much at all.

 

The answer would still be no, unless his name is Phil Mickelson or Gerry Watson. Mike Weir would have no chance.

[marlowe70]

The benefit of being a lefty... You don't get asked this much at all.

 

The answer would still be no, unless his name is Phil Mickelson or Gerry Watson. Mike Weir would have no chance.

 

Really? I get asked a lot (being a lefty, too). Then I hand the club over and it is amazing to see how long it takes people to realize that the club is the wrong way around.

[Flagrant]

My Rule of thumb is unless they're a single digit handicap then no, especially if I don't know you.

[Splitter]

I think everyone is within their rights to say no. It's your gear.

 

But... I have NEVER turned anyone down. I even offer to strangers when someone shows interest... It's supposed to be a game like that. Brand new, old, $500 driver, $30 wedge. Doesn't matter.

 

I always caveat with "if you mark it or dent it, you get to keep it and pay me for it" as I hand it over. No tuff guy, just a genuine friendly smile. Some people stop short at that point. :)

 

im a big believer in actions, not words. If you really believe it's a gentlemans game, you don't ask, but you do offer. And, if you are asked, don't act like a 5 YO on the playground.

[Golf64]

We try each others clubs all the time. But, we have a saying, sky it you buy it. ;)

[KYMAR]

I think everyone is within their rights to say no. It's your gear.

 

But... I have NEVER turned anyone down. I even offer to strangers when someone shows interest... It's supposed to be a game like that. Brand new, old, $500 driver, $30 wedge. Doesn't matter.

 

I always caveat with "if you mark it or dent it, you get to keep it and pay me for it" as I hand it over. No tuff guy, just a genuine friendly smile. Some people stop short at that point. :)

 

im a big believer in actions, not words. If you really believe it's a gentlemans game, you don't ask, but you do offer. And, if you are asked, don't act like a 5 YO on the playground.

 

Not Offering some stranger to use your brand new driver means you've failed at being a Gentleman?

[vwgolfer]

I don't share. Sharing is overrated.

[Splitter]

I think everyone is within their rights to say no. It's your gear.

 

But... I have NEVER turned anyone down. I even offer to strangers when someone shows interest... It's supposed to be a game like that. Brand new, old, $500 driver, $30 wedge. Doesn't matter.

 

I always caveat with "if you mark it or dent it, you get to keep it and pay me for it" as I hand it over. No tuff guy, just a genuine friendly smile. Some people stop short at that point. :)

 

im a big believer in actions, not words. If you really believe it's a gentlemans game, you don't ask, but you do offer. And, if you are asked, don't act like a 5 YO on the playground.

 

 

Not Offering some stranger to use your brand new driver means you've failed at being a Gentleman?

 

No. It means you've failed at being a good human. It's bigger than the game. :)

 

*******But again, as I said in the very first line of my post********

 

I think everyone has a right to do whatever they want with their own gear. You buy it, do what you want with it.

 

Enjoy the day. Im headed out to have a 25 putt round!

 

(Just staying overly positive, no one freak out)

[braincramp52]

A stranger ? No way. Someone I know ,no problem.

[GolfGuitarsCars]

This usually comes up with drivers mostly. When I'm asked I respond with, "You sky it, you buy it". They usually walk away.

[traderjason]

The benefit of being a lefty... You don't get asked this much at all.

 

The answer would still be no, unless his name is Phil Mickelson or Gerry Watson. Mike Weir would have no chance.

 

I'm a lefty and find the opposite true. My right hand buddies all want to see if they can hit a 9 iron left hand into a 130 yard green. Then that inevitably turns into driver. The worst part about it is when they hit a better shot than you opposite handed! Never had a random ask to do this yet thankfully.

[drbonesvt]

I was teeing off on 17 yesterday and a guy asks if we can play the last couple together, as it was getting pretty dark. No problem, let's go. We play the par 5 and when we get to the green he goes "hey, mind if I use your putter? Left mine in the trunk" I thought this was weird but didn't mind too much, so I let him putt out with my baby. Onto the 18th tee, he asks if he can hit my (first round, brand new) driver. "What driver is that, you killed it on 17! Mind if I try it?" I was baffled. I played it off and he didn't end up using it but I couldn't believe he even asked.

 

Any of you guys ever have something like this happen and was I in the wrong to say no? Do you let other (strangers) hit your sticks?

 

Random stranger - NO

 

Friends I have in the past, leads to Sky Mark City. No is the answer anymore

 

I don't let other golfers F*** my wife, so I don't let them play out of my bag

[MountainKing]

The guys in my normal foursome for sure, there's not an identical club in all 4 of our bags so at some point we've hit each others gear just to give it a go. I've also let others I'm friends with hit my clubs if they ask but I'm not sure how I'd feel about a stranger....that takes some balls to ask somebody you don't know.

[doublepar93]

The only person I will let play with my clubs is my Dad. I figured he's let me mess up enough of his stuff, so I don't mind lending a club to him.

[aceofclubs]

I normally wouldnt ask, however last time i played one of my normal playing partners brought a buddy of his along. He had a driver ive been thinking about buying but have never hit because its a couple years old and nobody around here has them in stores. He was pretty awful so i figured i couldnt do any more damage to it than he could. I waited until late in the round and asked him, he was fine with it. No harm done. I did feel weird about asking though.

[Parker0065]

Whenever these type threads pop up I always think back to a story my brother told me a number of years ago.

 

He was playing a casual round with his best friend from work and two other coworkers. They were all friends/golf buddies that had played together numerous times and one of the two other guy's was known to get a little hot under the collar on occasion. My brothers best friend had just bought a brand new Driver. Might had been a Callaway but either way it was one of the most expensive Drivers on the market at that time back in the 90's.

The guy that ran a little hot was having a terrible driving day and on the 6th tee he asked if he could "try" my brothers best friends Driver. He said sure and the guy blasted it wide right out of bounds. Without a word he went straight to his bag, grabbed another ball and reloaded pull hooking the next one deep in the woods to the left. Before anyone had a chance to say anything he let out a couple cuss words and snapped the Driver over his knee!

My brothers best friend yelled hey "add expletive" that's my fricken Driver!!!! The guy suddenly realized holy crap I just snapped someone's Driver across my knee and it's not mine, lol!

The rest of the round was filled with constant apologies from the hot-head and after the round they went straight to the pro shop to replace it with a brand new one so they all stayed friends but never traded clubs on the course after that!

 

 

For my own equipment you have to be pretty much at scratch before I'll let you start whacking away at it, lol!

[drbonesvt]

The only person I will let play with my clubs is my Dad. I figured he's let me mess up enough of his stuff, so I don't mind lending a club to him.

 

10000000% agree

[drbonesvt]

Whenever these type threads pop up I always think back to a story my brother told me a number of years ago.

 

He was playing a casual round with his best friend from work and two other coworkers. They were all friends/golf buddies that had played together numerous times and one of the two other guy's was known to get a little hot under the collar on occasion. My brothers best friend had just bought a brand new Driver. Might had been a Callaway but either way it was one of the most expensive Drivers on the market at that time back in the 90's.

The guy that ran a little hot was having a terrible driving day and on the 6th tee he asked if he could "try" my brothers best friends Driver. He said sure and the guy blasted it wide right out of bounds. Without a word he went straight to his bag, grabbed another ball and reloaded pull hooking the next one deep in the woods to the left. Before anyone had a chance to say anything he let out a couple cuss words and snapped the Driver over his knee!

My brothers best friend yelled hey "add expletive" that's my fricken Driver!!!! The guy suddenly realized holy crap I just snapped someone's Driver across my knee and it's not mine, lol!

The rest of the round was filled with constant apologies from the hot-head and after the round they went straight to the pro shop to replace it with a brand new one so they all stayed friends but never traded clubs on the course after that!

 

 

For my own equipment you have to be pretty much at scratch before I'll let you start whacking away at it, lol!

 

WOW , WOW - anger management.

 

Not to get off topic, only thing worse I ever heard than that, tournament, club champ, guy breaks his wedge and injures his partner in the arm with a flying shaft, impaled.