Ever just light it up against a certain player?

[larrybud]

I have a buddy who is a great player, 1 index. Hits bullets off the tee. Anytime we play against each other I always seem to play well. We have a small money match ($3 Nassau) and playing against him, I always seems to stay focused, much more than against any other player. I bet if I could calculate my index using only the scores against him, I'd be 2-3 shots lower. But if I play with a bunch of guys, no bets, or if I'm giving just a ton of strokes, the focus isn't the same.

 

Ever see that in your own game?

[getitdaily]

Not anymore but I used to.

 

I remember a member-guest in 2011-ish. This was during my time where I generally stopped playing. Played maybe 4 or 5 times a year between 2005 and 2013. Managed to maintain a 3-4 handicap. 

 

Tournament was five 9 hole matches. 3rd group we played was a father/son duo...son was 50ish and was scratch. Super smooth swing. I struggled with tempo big time in those days. But watching his smooth tempo slowed me down.

 

Shot a cool 33 in that match. Don't think I was better than 38 in any of the others.

[JohnnyCashForever]

I see it in my golf league all the time.  A so-so player will be paired against a really good player and shoot their "low round of the year".  One guy shot a net 24 last season against a 2 handicap.  I don't think its sandbagging to win matches.  They're blasting the low-cappers out of the water by half a dozen strokes or more.  I think it's like what the OP said.  The guys just find their focus when they know they're playing a really good player.

[MountainKing]

I play better when there's money or something on the line, and I'm going up against guys who are better than me.  I unfortunately have a tough time turning that part of me on when it's just a fun day out with higher handicap golfers. 

[Kai Slater]

No, I have never lit it up against anyone.  I'm usually the one that gets lit up.

Edited August 1, 2023 by Kai Slater

[Jeri6gt]

I have had my best scores playing with better players.  I do not think I lit them up, but I play better with better players.

[LBB]

3 hours ago, JohnnyCashForever said:

I see it in my golf league all the time.  A so-so player will be paired against a really good player and shoot their "low round of the year".  One guy shot a net 24 last season against a 2 handicap.  I don't think its sandbagging to win matches.  They're blasting the low-cappers out of the water by half a dozen strokes or more.  I think it's like what the OP said.  The guys just find their focus when they know they're playing a really good player.

24 as in net 12 under par over 9 holes?  Or is this some type of 9 hole par 3 course league so net 3 under par over 9 holes?

 

If the norm is for high handicappers to beat any other golfer by 6 strokes or more...LOL...I'd find a new league to play in or make sure there was no money involved.

[Pepperturbo]

One friend really gets my juices flowing.  He so badly wants to beat me.  

 

Thing is, I am a competitive SOB.  Reason, I don't play any types of games with my closest friends or my wife, not even Monopoly or cards.  When I was younger, it was fine, but as I've aged, I've grown not to like that side of me.  Only when I tee it up with him, something makes me want to stomp on his neck, even after he says uncle. LOL   He gets 10 strokes and I still beat him.  Its so fun... 😛

 

[Long_Left]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

One friend really gets my juices flowing.  He so badly wants to beat me.  

 

Thing is, I am a competitive SOB.  Reason, I don't play any types of games with my closest friends or my wife, not even Monopoly or cards.  When I was younger, it was fine, but as I've aged, I've grown not to like that side of me.  Only when I tee it up with him, something makes me want to stomp on his neck, even after he says uncle. LOL   He gets 10 strokes and I still beat him.  Its so fun... 😛

 

I could have written every word of this... except he gets 5-6 off me.

[SBH9458]

Getting to play with an exceptional player definitely lifts my performance.  I think it has to do with tempo, both of the match and of the swing. 

[Pepperturbo]

4 hours ago, Jeri6gt said:

I have had my best scores playing with better players.  I do not think I lit them up, but I play better with better players.

Good. 👍

In my experience, if a person has a good head on their shoulders, they will naturally try harder next to better players.  When I was a 2 index, used to sign up for Championship flight, knowing it wasn't likely I could win.  The value that comes from being under the gun, we learn about ourselves and others.  In time, when the odds are tipped in your favor, you will step up and perform without hesitation.

Edited July 31, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[Kuuuch]

i always play really well with my father in law. hes probably the fastest player on the planet so im sure that has something to do with it lol 

[Ghostwedge]

22 hours ago, Kai Slater said:

No, I have never lit it up against anyone.  I'll usually the that got lit up.

I play golf with a bunch of scratch to + players. As a 3 I get it handed to me once in a while. Was a 10 cap when I joined up with these pirates, so you can see I have had a golf lesson every time I tee it up with  them. I watched, picked up little things over beers and improved , never going  to be a scratch because I don't practice anymore and that's alright. 

[SNIPERBBB]

Yep. Playing against better player tends to make many players play better, especially when you're playing against them...not so much when playing with them in team events.

 

Almost every scratch golfer sees higher handicaps playing much better against them than what those players do normally.

[Tfb003]

On 7/31/2023 at 11:10 AM, JohnnyCashForever said:

I see it in my golf league all the time.  A so-so player will be paired against a really good player and shoot their "low round of the year".  One guy shot a net 24 last season against a 2 handicap.  I don't think its sandbagging to win matches.  They're blasting the low-cappers out of the water by half a dozen strokes or more.  I think it's like what the OP said.  The guys just find their focus when they know they're playing a really good player.

This is absolutely sandbagging and part of the reason match play with handicaps should be played at ~50% of cap. If you go around casually playing hero shots and not focusing to get a high cap then play serious in competition that is against the spirit of a handicap. No one on earth should be shooting a net 24.

 

Not to mention there are many higher cap players which have the tendency to play 7 good holes per 9 and then blow up twice which is negated by match play.

 

 

[bazinky]

One guy at my club always seems to get my best stuff. I'm a 4ish handicap grinder that doesn't normally make a lot of birdies on my home course (I consider 2 a round excellent), but I don't think I've ever played a round against this guy where I made less than 3. First time I played him was in our clubs match play event where I closed him out on hole 11, making 5 birdies in the process. Still one of the best stretches of golf I've ever played.

 

It's a shame he has a regular foursome!