Sledging - why is it frowned on ?

Almaviva

A well placed comment on an overlong back swing, an observation on a 4th missed short putt, or a suggestion that an someone is competing a little out of their league can be very effective to rattle an opponent and turn a game in your favour, particularly in match play. But some people dont think it should be part of the game and almost regard it as cheating. I am not talking about personal abuse or provocative questioning of parentage etc, as cricketers or fooballers do, but simply gentle sledging to tip an opponent already doubting himself over the edge while you close him out. Is it just the old guard that still tut tuts about sledging and has it become an standard part of golf these days ?

Corkblowin

It's gamesmanship & against the spirit of the game - thats why. Usually you're not actually competing against your direct playing partners but the course & a larger field so attempts to put them off is frowned upon.

In matchplay like the bruen/junior/senior cups we've all experienced the 'jostle' from our opponents, but I've actually found it's the old guard who are the worse culprits in that instance. I view it as them being worried.

I suppose it's just part of the wider etiquette of the game, but comments have never bothered me too much - holing a putt or rifling a long iron into a green usually does the talking for you.

Russman

Because, by and large, golf is still a game played by gentlemen (& ladies). It shouldn't go down the road of many other sports and end up with the lowest common denominator. It's about respect for your opponent and for
the game, if that goes we may as well all
play soccer.

Smyth

Corkblowin wrote: »

but I've actually found it's the old guard who are the worse culprits in that instance.
.

Haha. So true.

galwaylad1980

Corkblowin wrote: »

... but comments have never bothered me too much - holing a putt or rifling a long iron into a green usually does the talking for you.

Dead right, best way to sort it is to stick one close or nail one down the middle.

Personally I'm happy when the lad I'm playing starts with the mind games because then I know that he doesn't think he can beat me without them so it boost my confidence. I hear what he says, ignore it, smile... and then put him away

Milkers

Just because you step onto a golf course or some other pseudo-competitive arena doesn't grant you licence to be an arsehole. Giving it a name like sledging or whatever also doesn't change the fact that it is simply someone acting like an arsehole.

Corkblowin

Prime example this weekend - junior scratch matchplay qualifier - playing with someone I'd never met before. 2nd hole is a dangerous but drivable par 4.
I was up first and feeling confident enough pulled out the driver, but as I stood over the ball about to pull the trigger he comes out with 'you know there's out of bounds left right?' cue stare, growled yes, and tee shot going waaaay right.

Needless to say it was a frosty afternoon & he didn't get much help hunting his off line shots. Why do guys feel the need to go into this crap - particularly when there's a couple of hundred others to play against.

scrumpfrog

I have always found this "sledging" to be a disgrace. I agree that its the old guard who do it the most. I must say that being on the receiving end of this has given me some of the best results of my life. I had it in an junior cup match about 6 years ago on the first tee. the guy kept telling me about the out of bounds down the left, then commented on how peculiar my swing is, and finally had a dig at my weight. I birdied 1,2,3,5,7 and 9 to win 9 and 7. I had a 20 footer for birdie to win on ten. needless to say i informed him after where i got my motivation from!! Although I played well the sweetest part was that he had three shanks in the 11 holes!

dvemail

scrumpfrog wrote: »

I birdied 1,2,3,5,7 and 9 to win 9 and 7. I had a 20 footer for birdie to win on ten. !

Only pars on 4, 6 & 8 i suppose. Poor form.

scrumpfrog

Haha not exactly. What i forgot to mention was that two of his shanks allowed me to with the 6th with a double bogey!!

Curly7

So 6 birdies from your first 9 holes???

Were you playing this match on your Playstation by any chance?? :rolleyes:

scrumpfrog

Curly7 wrote: »

So 6 birdies from your first 9 holes???

Were you playing this match on your Playstation by any chance?? :rolleyes:

Haha no I wasnt! It was a once in a lifetime feat! Even as a 5 handicapper I have never made my share of birdies but the sledging just annoyed me so much that it happened for me.

Anyway bottom line is that I feel sledging should be completely discouraged from the game. I may be about to open a can of worms here but, I feel that I have seen a lot more sledging from people with a GAA and other sports background. I suppose it may be what they are used to but its not acceptable.

the anser

'Anyway bottom line is that I feel sledging should be completely discouraged from the game. I may be about to open a can of worms here but, I feel that I have seen a lot more sledging from people with a GAA and other sports background. I suppose it may be what they are used to but its not acceptable.'

I agree it's a despicable practice and usually comes from idiots with no appreciation of the game who think that the stunts they got away with on the soccer/GAA pitch can be carried on here.

BoardsMember

I always called is bustling, never heard of sledging until it came up in cricket. The problem with policing this in golf is that bustiling can seem like inocuous comments, or even praise, but are designed to put someone off.

Two things I remember: several years ago playing in Pierce Purcell foursomes matchplay qualifying, I had sunk several inside 10 feet over the first few holes, we were scrambling well and about 3 up on 12. When I sank another, one of the opposition started a conversation about how good I am at them, and how much I must like them. I was just mumbling reply/ignoring him, but he kpet at it. There was definitely added pressure/incentive when I stood over the next one, thankfully I sank it, so it backfired on him.

In the club singles matchplay, playing against a 4 handicap with a good rep for matchplay, I was off 11, coming down 17 he tells asks me if I realise that I'm only one over par. I put my approach on the green, two putt for match.

Anyhow, regarding bustling and the rules:

33-7/8 Meaning of "Serious Breach of Etiquette"
Q. In Rule 33-7, what is meant by a "serious breach of etiquette"?
A. A serious breach of etiquette is behavior by a player that shows a significant disregard for an aspect of the Etiquette Section, such as intentionally distracting another player or intentionally offending someone.
Although a Committee may disqualify a player under Rule 33-7 for a single act that it considers to be a serious breach of etiquette, in most cases it is recommended that such a penalty should be imposed only in the event of a further serious breach.
Ultimately, the application of a penalty for a serious breach of etiquette under Rule 33-7 is at the discretion of the Committee

Young_gunner

Corkblowin wrote: »

Prime example this weekend - junior scratch matchplay qualifier - playing with someone I'd never met before. 2nd hole is a dangerous but drivable par 4.
I was up first and feeling confident enough pulled out the driver, but as I stood over the ball about to pull the trigger he comes out with 'you know there's out of bounds left right?' cue stare, growled yes, and tee shot going waaaay right.

Needless to say it was a frosty afternoon & he didn't get much help hunting his off line shots. Why do guys feel the need to go into this crap - particularly when there's a couple of hundred others to play against.

i'd have told him straight out, "don't be an ar$ehole"