Ok, this year I'm playing in our clubs Match play championship and am now heading to the fourth round. I'll also play in the club championship for the first time. How do you guys prepare for this? Also, how to you prepare for match play? do you just play your game, or do you actually make decisions based on what your opponent does?
Tournament Play
- Thread starter Tball88
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probably the best approach is to not take it too seriously. sure it's important to you but sometimes to play your best you need to try less hard if that makes any sense. it's easy to get in your own way and play the first 9 holes overcome by nerves and feel like you're swinging with someone else's body. if you can keep it close to normal and not jump out of your skin you'll get the best out of it.
this may sound boring but if you really have too much energy leading up to events put that into your short game rather than tinkering with the swing too much.
this may sound boring but if you really have too much energy leading up to events put that into your short game rather than tinkering with the swing too much.
Match Play
For Match Play...
A lot of people will say 'play your own game' and don't change things because it's match play. I'm not really in that camp.
I think it's crucial not to give away holes in match play, which, for me, means sometimes keeping the driver in the bag and making sure the ball stays in play. It's also important to change your strategy on a hole when your opponent is in trouble: if he hits it in the water, don't follow him there. Finally, don't let being down a couple of holes make you think you are out of it: it's easy for the momentum to change, so just try to play yourself back into the match (but don't let being down push you out early on).
For Match Play...
A lot of people will say 'play your own game' and don't change things because it's match play. I'm not really in that camp.
I think it's crucial not to give away holes in match play, which, for me, means sometimes keeping the driver in the bag and making sure the ball stays in play. It's also important to change your strategy on a hole when your opponent is in trouble: if he hits it in the water, don't follow him there. Finally, don't let being down a couple of holes make you think you are out of it: it's easy for the momentum to change, so just try to play yourself back into the match (but don't let being down push you out early on).
Jim Kobylinski
Super Moderator
In match play, pars will make you go far. Bogies will absolutely kill you. If you are making pars, you are essentially FORCING the other guy to "beat you" by making birdies. And if he does, he does and he's just better than you.
Focus on making a lot of pars, however when you have the opportunity to make a birdie seize it, otherwise par is a good score. This isn't like stroke play where you can have two shot swings and make up shots easy.
Focus on making a lot of pars, however when you have the opportunity to make a birdie seize it, otherwise par is a good score. This isn't like stroke play where you can have two shot swings and make up shots easy.
Garth
New
As for tourney play in general; If you're nervous, let yourself be nervous! It's a good thing to have butterflies because it means you're ready. You have to turn it into something positive. Even Tiger feels it on the 1st tee and on that last putt. The difference is that he uses it in a good way and doesn't let it get him all jittery.
Match play depends a little on the situation to me. If you're giving up a ton of strokes then you need to be a little more agressive on some holes. Like if the guy is getting a stroke on the 3rd hole and hits a good drive, then you need to try and make birdie somehow. If you screw up and make bogey, so what? He was probably going to take the hole anyways.
Match play depends a little on the situation to me. If you're giving up a ton of strokes then you need to be a little more agressive on some holes. Like if the guy is getting a stroke on the 3rd hole and hits a good drive, then you need to try and make birdie somehow. If you screw up and make bogey, so what? He was probably going to take the hole anyways.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Gamesmanship Deluxe.
I was always sort of so-so at stroke play. I LOVE to play for a score, and I love competition, but I am not wired for stroke play.
Match Play is great for me, and over the years I am probably 5 times as good in this format.
I am probably about the 10,000th best golfer in the USA, but in the top 3,000 in Match Play. Maybe better, we'll never know.
Why?
Well, I can see my opponent, I can't ruin a round with a quad, etc.
But, not only all of that, I am WORLD-CLASS when it comes to gamesmanship. Heck, I do it everyday on this forum, that's why this site is ranked #1 of all sites of a named golf instructor. I out teach 'em, I out think 'em, I out video 'em, I out write 'em, but I use all the gamesmanship in the world as well.
Anyhoo,
I was going to write down all of my little tricks, but, nah, I may need 'em one day.
But, here is one tip: don't talk to the opponent too much. Eat powerbars if you have to. They are tough to chew.
I was always sort of so-so at stroke play. I LOVE to play for a score, and I love competition, but I am not wired for stroke play.
Match Play is great for me, and over the years I am probably 5 times as good in this format.
I am probably about the 10,000th best golfer in the USA, but in the top 3,000 in Match Play. Maybe better, we'll never know.
Why?
Well, I can see my opponent, I can't ruin a round with a quad, etc.
But, not only all of that, I am WORLD-CLASS when it comes to gamesmanship. Heck, I do it everyday on this forum, that's why this site is ranked #1 of all sites of a named golf instructor. I out teach 'em, I out think 'em, I out video 'em, I out write 'em, but I use all the gamesmanship in the world as well.
Anyhoo,
I was going to write down all of my little tricks, but, nah, I may need 'em one day.
But, here is one tip: don't talk to the opponent too much. Eat powerbars if you have to. They are tough to chew.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Lee Trevino was a noted talker on the course.
He talked ALL THE TIME, more because it helped him, then it hurt the other guy.
If you are talkative, I am as well, and you play better talking, go ahead. Whatever works.
But for me, icing the other guy with a little silence goes a long way.
Garth
New
At the first tee always walk up to your opponent and shake his hand and wish him good luck in a loud voice, before he does it to you......this unconciously shows confidence on your part, and give you an initial advantage, all things being equal..
Then of course, you have to drive it down the middle...
Then of course, you have to drive it down the middle...
welshdentist
New
Sure I read in a Golf Digest lately a guy who beat Trevino got him by talking about a couple of girls he "entertained" the night before. Trevino couldn't help himself asking all sorts of questions and he didn't play so good...
I think the guy said sex talk was how to beat Trevino
king cobra
New
Hi Guys and I look forward to being a member on this site.
With regard to this post, my opinion would be play your own game. Dont change anything about yourself or how you approach your shots. I played matchplay recently and was 2 up with three to play. I went into overdrive and attempted shots that I never really play. End result was I lost the match. Moral of the story for me was dont do what you dont do and play your natural game
With regard to this post, my opinion would be play your own game. Dont change anything about yourself or how you approach your shots. I played matchplay recently and was 2 up with three to play. I went into overdrive and attempted shots that I never really play. End result was I lost the match. Moral of the story for me was dont do what you dont do and play your natural game
thefuture37
Banned
where is the line where gamesmanship becomes bad sportsmanship? IMO if you are consciously making decisions about how you can influence your opponent's actions, you are not acting within the spirit of the game. Those techniques reveal that your best game probably can't beat your opponents best game.
...
maybe its just to cover those times when you don't play your best game (and still want to win..)
maybe its just to cover those times when you don't play your best game (and still want to win..
)Brian Manzella
Administrator
The Good Old Days.
Back when I played in money games with the best African-American players in New Orleans, they would always say on the first tee:
"Every man for himself, and God for us all."
As far as "your best game probably can't beat your opponents best game."
In the teaching game, you'd be wrong. VERY wrong.
In golf, it is NOT against the rules, and everyone from Walter Hagan to Walter Pryor have used it, Seve was the KING.
Back when I played in money games with the best African-American players in New Orleans, they would always say on the first tee:
"Every man for himself, and God for us all."
As far as "your best game probably can't beat your opponents best game."
In the teaching game, you'd be wrong. VERY wrong.
In golf, it is NOT against the rules, and everyone from Walter Hagan to Walter Pryor have used it, Seve was the KING.
curtisj76
New
Hell of a first post! Welcome and hope you enjoy the ride.
Jim Kobylinski
Super Moderator
I remember seeing an interview with Trevino...he told everyone the first time he played with that particular player something along the lines..."Hi I'm Lee Trevino and either we are going to talk a lot or you're gonna listen a lot."
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