This has always been a pet peeve of mine in more things than just disc golf. Has anyone else experienced this? You're out playing, for fun as it always is, and you come around a guy that seems to become your coach telling you everything you're doing is wrong and tries to correct what you do? "You shouldn't throw that." "You should grip it this way." "You would be better if you did this...." You know what I am saying? Do I think they are trying to be rude? No. Do I feel they really think they are helping? Yes. Do I think they should keep their "advice" to themselves? Yes.
I have had this debate before and maybe I am off base, but if I didn't ask for your advice, then anything you have to say to "fix" what I am doing is just going to mess with my head. I played a few weeks back with a guy that thought he would give me his 2 cents after every throw and I slowly found myself second guessing what I was doing becauae of his opinions. Very frustrating I must say.
So, let me explain myself a little bit. I do like to play with people that I consider better then myself, and when I do, I ask them questions to pick their brain. They can give me feedback that I can choose to incorporate into my game or decide of it won't work for me. That is totally fine because I asked. You will never, I repeat, never catch me trying to give advice to anyone, man, woman, child, novice, or pro unless they have asked me my opinion on it. I have no beef with someone that is learning the game at their own pace. If I shoot a 48 and they shoot a 75 and they don't ask for advice, I see it as them learning the hard way and that is their choice. So be it. But if that person asks me 50 questions on how I do something, rest assured, I will try to explain it to the best of my ability for their benefit. I just feel like that is the ultimate sign of respect. Don't give unsolicited advice. If you have a different opinion, or if you agree, please leave me a comment. (I am soliciting your feedback)
Friday, June 19, 2015
Unsolicited Advice. Is it just me?
PDGA finially backed me into a corner
Don't get the title twisted. I mean no negativity towards our governing body. I am just speaking of how after 26 years of playing, I actually caved in and joined the PDGA. I am number 76148. If I joined after I started, I would probably be number 6000 something and would have some cool bragging rights but it is what it is. When I started at 5, it was just something fun to do inbetween school, baseball, and basketball. I never thought I would still be playing at 31 years old. Not being a memeber has never prevented me from enjoying the game until now. There is a tournament scheduled in September that I have been preparing for for a month already. Now, tournaments have never been a high priority for me. I have only participated in 3 in my life. But this one happens to be an A tier event and the PDGA rules state that all NT and A tier events can only be attended by current PDGA members. Hence the problem. But I did it. I pulled the proverbial trigger and took the leap and I feel great about it. I am hoping it lights a fire under me and makes me want to play more tournaments. Plus seeing what my rating is would be nice to gauge my skill level verses others. Now that one hurdle has been passed, I can focus on my future with the game. My wish is that it will make me take this a little more serious and get my head into it more. Wish me luck!