Secrets Of Being Great At Matchplay.................

[i_luv_golf_]

What do you guys do...talk little, talk a lot, aggressive play/conserv

Hey I just found out i'm drawn against a 12 handicapper in the Junior Matchplay at our club.
So I was just wondering what are your secrets Golfwrx'ers?

What do you do?

Do You:

Talk a lot
Talk Little
Play Fast
Play Slow

I played a practice match against a friend today whom i bet 2 up after 18.......

I found he pushed me to go first on the tee because ''i wouldn't reach them''

I realized I like to not talk at all unless they ask what did you have or if they ask you something.
I also like to walk really fast in between shots

Also what are your guys mental tips...

I think a very important one is not to go for shots you can't pull off 85% of the time or less, or else, basically if you can't pull it off 17/20 or more don't try it....I also think it is very important to find your own ''pul of %''.
And as well a great way to perform is ''routine, routine, routine''! :cheesy:

[bd8802]

Reguardless of the format ... i just play my game. If you are playing at a course you are familiar with, you will know where you can attack or where you have to play conservative. Now, there might be some times that what your opponent does is going to dictate your shot, but overall, I think you just need to play your game and battle.

 

My suggestion is to make a lot of pars, don't give holes away. Make them beat you with birdies.

 

Pace or play and how talkative you are really is a personal thing. Do whatever you are comfortable with.

[lidomkj]

My only tip.....Play your own game!!

 

Focus on your shot and forget about trying to throw them off their game. You need to keep tabs on your mental state a little bit more than in stroke play. It can give your opponent an edge by loosing your head. Being 2 up in a match has more of a mental impact than anything else you can do/say.

 

 

That being said, here are a few tips:

 

1) make them putt out everything to start, tell them 2-3 footers are good in the middle, and then start making them putt everything. Suprising how many short putts can be missed, especially if they were hoping to not hit.

 

2) Fast players hate slow players, slow players hate fast players. Control the pace and play at your usual speed.

 

3) Tee off with a 3wood or 2iron so that you can hit your approach shot first. You get one to stick close and then there is immediate pressure to match your shot.

 

4) Do not be over aggressive when it is not necessary. Make your opponent feel the pressure and go for it. Play a steady pace to your strengths. Eventually, they feel like they need to pull off some aggressive moves to beat you.

 

There are a ton of tips out there, but almost all of them state, just play your game.

[jeffy]

To be successful at match play at the club level, I think you need to be able to putt and to have the discipline to stay focused and never give up. Those two things will win a ton of matches.

 

Most club players are so-so putters and get worse in competition. Learn how to putt well enough so that competition pressure doesn't effect you. You will be amazed by how much this helps.

 

Almost as important is never give up and don't get complacent. That means try on every shot. Don't give in to the desire to quit on a hole if you hit a bad shot or get lazy if you are a couple of holes up. My experience is that most club players can't sustain good play for 18 holes. Stay focused, even if you lose the first few holes or win the first few. It is amazing how things can turn, even in an 18 hole match.

 

As far as the gamesmanship stuff goes, don't clutter your mind with that. Be relaxed and good natured, stoic when things go bad, humble when things go well. Just never let up. And learn how to putt!

[MAJYk]

Always remember that you when you have to give up shots it is usually on the par 4's. I am currently in the 4th round of my Club's mens handicap championship. I play to a +1 handicap and have to give up an absurd amount of shots everytime I tee it up. I always remember that its ok to lose par 4's because I know that I can reach the par 5's and that I can hit it close on the par 3's. In fact in my match I just finished 2 hours ago I played holes 9-13 (Par 4, Par 5, Par4, Par 3, Par4) at 4 under par (Birdie, Birdie, Birdie, Birdie, Par) and actually ended up losing 2 of those holes and winning only 1. Match Play is a crazy game and if you stick to your strengths you will usually fare well.

[i_luv_golf_]

Yeah actually you guys are all right....

 

I don't like to play that fast...i just play at a medium pace and don't try to put them off etc. that's not sportsmanship....

 

So first of all give 'em nothing.....

Tee off with a shorter club so the pressure's on them....

 

Oh.. I've got one, if they give you one make them finish out

[TNSooner]

Oh.. I've got one, if they give you one make them finish out

 

 

Nah, don't pull that crap...that's just downright unsportsmanlike.

 

Just play hard, play like par is your opponent and stay focused.

 

 

The focus part is the most important. You have to remember that if you make an 8 or a 10 or whatever huge number you might make (God Forbid) it will only cost you one hole. The key is to not play 2 or 3 bad holes in a row.

 

IMO, the key to winning at match play is to make your opponent beat you with birdies.

 

Look at Nick Faldo's last British Open win. He made 18 straight pars and let everyone else implode. You kind of have to do the same thing in match play. If you opponent beats you and you've made 18 pars, well, he played better and probably deserves to win.

 

Have fun and good luck.

[Sam-Tee-Time]

Great advice here. I play a lot of Match play, and would add this tidbit:

 

Near the END of the round - put the HAMMER DOWN. What I mean is.......I always tend to really shoot at pins, and make strong pars and birdies near the end of a round. Sort of like Tiger Woods - never let up, and win by the largest margin possible. I've put down a lot of match play opponents this way.

[adamgeurens]

hey, Well iv got a match play secret that has always worked for me. what i do is do not say anthing if he hits a good shot or bad shot and i do not watch him hit or pay attention to where his ball went. i dont know y but it seems to really piss them off. haha giv it a try hope it works for u as well as it has for me.

adam

[jportz]

It's sad that some of you are forced to result to childish measures. Here's my advice:

 

Be classy, courteous, friendly and show your opponent some respect. Let your game do the talking....there's nothing better than being super nice to a guy while you thrash him 6 and 5.

 

Then when your done, take off your hat, shake his hand, look him in the eye and thank him for the match.

 

Any time I play somebody who is obviously trying some "gamesmanship tactics" on me it only gives me confidence in knowing that he must be trying to make up for some weakness in his game. Then I just smile and try to over-do the niceness while I punish him with my steady game.