Match play and strokes

[ThermalDan]

Our local group plays a double elimination match play every year.  Saturday is our 2023 Championship (never mind why it's being played 4 months into 2024....).  From the Blue tees, I'm getting 4 strokes.  If I play from the white and my opponent plays from the blue, we play even.  As the "better" player, which set up would you prefer?  As the "lesser" player which set up would you prefer?  Is one "more fair" than the other?

[azone]

I do this frequently.  Match play, its all about the putting.  from the forward tees, you will get many more chances at birdie or par putts.  You  will likely not get all four strokes if the last hole is the hardest.  Your par 3s will be much easier; take a look at demands of the longer  par 4s.  Par 5s should be cake.

 

[vtpachyderm]

If I’m the better player - I’m choosing playing even all the time. If I’m the lesser player, I want all the strokes I can get.

 

Matchplay in my opinion is where handicaps don’t really work IMO and more often than not gives the advantage to the lesser player. 

 

BUT - I love playing matchplay even if I’m the better player. You can play mind games with gimmies, rounds go quicker, you never feel like you’re out of it, and the fact that you can play games front, back and 18 keeps it interesting.

[bluedot]

I’d look hard at the holes where the strokes fall, as well as my opponent.  Do you need strokes on those particular holes, and/or does a stroke give you a really solid chance to win the hole?  
 

In stroke play, I’d tend to opt for the tees I play regularly; the approach shots are more familiar.  But in match play, vs a specific opponent and because the handicapping of individual holes is involved, it’s a little bit different.  

[Hawkeye77]

Interesting that there is the option.  When we had a match play tourney, players were required to play from the tees they played to establish their handicap, i.e., the tees they played in league play since it was an event for the various league players only. 

Edited April 5 by Hawkeye77

[naval2006]

In general, distance is always benefitial for the better player, even if they are not long hitters.  So from there you can do all the math.

[SNIPERBBB]

playing the same set of tees, with strokes is the only fair way to go. I hate mixed tees with a passion. your literally not playing the same course.

[ThermalDan]

53 minutes ago, SNIPERBBB said:

playing the same set of tees, with strokes is the only fair way to go. I hate mixed tees with a passion. your literally not playing the same course.

I'm not a fan of mixed tees either.  Why do you say playing the same tees is the only "fair" way though?  That's what I'm trying to figure out.  My opponent hits the ball 30+ yards further than me off the tee and probably hits every iron 1 club longer than I do.  We've never put a rule in place regarding tees, so the option is just something I'm bringing up as a thought experiment.

 

From my perspective, if we play from the same tees, he has the advantage on 14 holes, and I get the advantage on the 4 I get strokes on.  If I play from shorter tees, I'm getting an advantage on every hole. 

 

I had to battle through the losers bracket and beat him in our last match-up, so we have the rematch tomorrow.  

[ThermalDan]

20 hours ago, azone said:

I do this frequently.  Match play, its all about the putting.  from the forward tees, you will get many more chances at birdie or par putts.  You  will likely not get all four strokes if the last hole is the hardest.  Your par 3s will be much easier; take a look at demands of the longer  par 4s.  Par 5s should be cake.

 

I agree, its all about putting.  So maybe getting the 4 strokes is the way to go.

[vtpachyderm]

1 minute ago, ThermalDan said:

I agree, its all about putting.  So maybe getting the 4 strokes is the way to go.

Like I previously said, I would always take the strokes if it were an option.

 

Good luck tomorrow!

[SNIPERBBB]

1 hour ago, ThermalDan said:

I'm not a fan of mixed tees either.  Why do you say playing the same tees is the only "fair" way though?  That's what I'm trying to figure out.  My opponent hits the ball 30+ yards further than me off the tee and probably hits every iron 1 club longer than I do.  We've never put a rule in place regarding tees, so the option is just something I'm bringing up as a thought experiment.

 

From my perspective, if we play from the same tees, he has the advantage on 14 holes, and I get the advantage on the 4 I get strokes on.  If I play from shorter tees, I'm getting an advantage on every hole. 

 

I had to battle through the losers bracket and beat him in our last match-up, so we have the rematch tomorrow.  

He'll always have the advantage because he's the better player, on paper anyways. Now if the guy isn't used to playing the up or back tees, I'd put him there

[goaliedad30]

I would want to know where the four strokes will fall. For sake of argument, if they're on 1, 3, 10, and 12, I'd take the strokes for certain. If two of the four fall on 16 and 18, I'm taking the distance advantage, since it's very possible I would never see two of the four strokes ....

[getitdaily]

What distance gap are we talking about between the two tees?