Best Matchplay advice!

[lukeysafc100]

Hey all!

Thought I'd gather peoples thoughts regarding the best advice they've received for Matchplay golf!
Thought it would be interesting to hear people different view points.

For example - I'm generally quite good off the tee with a decent length driver but in matchplay I'd rather be the person going for the green first - which means me taking a wood or iron from most tees.

 

[SaintHacker]

Give them a few putts early on then when the match is getting near the end make them hole a few

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I love this debate! Some say play the man, some say play the course and others say play your own game.

Only 1 option in my opinion and that is play the man. Doesn't matter if you win a hole with a bogey, double or even triple. A win is a win. Pointless playing for a par if your oppo has stiffed it for a tap in birdie!

 

[lukeysafc100]

I like that!

 

[anotherdouble]

If they are a bigger hitter than you, don't try and match them.

 

[Region3]

I don't believe in any of the popular 'tactics' in matchplay.

If you lay back off the tee you're just making the game harder for yourself, and unless you're very good with your irons you're going to miss more than half of the greens anyway.

If someone gives me a load of slightly iffy putts that's fine with me because I might have missed a couple anyway. More than makes up for the couple they'll make me hit near the end of the round. Plus I'm going to putt the gimmies anyway.

The only way I let their shot/position affect my game is when my opponents score is almost stone cold certain, ie just stuffed an approach close or hit a drive OOB.

People make birdies from the crap and doubles from the middle of the fairway.

My best advice is don't project results before the hole is over. You'll be emotionally up and down so often it'll grind you down.

 

[Norrin Radd]

my take is give nothing and expect nothing .
play the man not the course.
if its still possible to get a half ,then keep playing even if it looks a lost cause ,make them win the hole ,dont give it.

 

[Dasit]

If they go for driver and hit it OOB. Is it bad etiquette to put driver back in the bag and pull out hybrid/iron?

 

[AmandaJR]

If they go for driver and hit it OOB. Is it bad etiquette to put driver back in the bag and pull out hybrid/iron?

Nope but I never unsheath my weapon of choice (ooer) until necessary so they're left guessing...

 

[FairwayDodger]

Depends very much on the level of your opponent. Generally I'd say even when your opponent looks favourite to win a hole don't play yourself out of it trying a miracle shot. Handicap golfers are always liable to throw in a bad shot and let you back in. Stay in the hole as long as you can, make that par, bogey or double bogey... whatever. Force them to hole out for the win, nothing worse than conceding before you reach the green!

 

[patricks148]

Yes, never play against someone that turns up on the first tee wearing a trilby and speaking with an Irish accent, esp if you are having to give them 12 shots:rofl:

 

[duncan mackie]

90% play your own game; playing within your capabilities reinforces confidence which fuels competence. Going for it and failing costs you twice - that time and the next.
5% or less of the time the relevant opportunity to do something different based on your opponents actions will occur - recognise it when it happens and take appropriate action.
1% or less think about gamesmanship/tactics - it's working against you the second you start, and the more obvious it is the more it's actually working against you! Fastest way to build confidence in an opponent is to do something clearly designed to gain an advantage other than just playing the game 'so you don't think you can beat me without little games eh?' is a huge boost to most!

Q - Which is more effective as a tactic; going first and putting it on the green or going second and putting it closer? Silly concept.

Same with putting. The most important putting element is leaving uncertainty if you can, or put the other way gaining certainty is a benefit. It's proven to be easier to hole a putt for a half than a win (in the same way as one for a point is easier than for 2 or 3 etc) so concede tap in putts that leave you needing to sink yours for a half (this completely focuses your brain on what you need to do rather than considering the once in 1000 possibility that something will cause you opponent to miss) and consider the disadvantage he (or she) creates if they don't concede yours, rather than feeling miffed ie turn everything around to your advantage and stay positive.

 

[Crow]

I don't believe in any of the popular 'tactics' in matchplay.

If you lay back off the tee you're just making the game harder for yourself, and unless you're very good with your irons you're going to miss more than half of the greens anyway.

If someone gives me a load of slightly iffy putts that's fine with me because I might have missed a couple anyway. More than makes up for the couple they'll make me hit near the end of the round. Plus I'm going to putt the gimmies anyway.

The only way I let their shot/position affect my game is when my opponents score is almost stone cold certain, ie just stuffed an approach close or hit a drive OOB.

People make birdies from the crap and doubles from the middle of the fairway.

My best advice is don't project results before the hole is over. You'll be emotionally up and down so often it'll grind you down.

I'll roll with that, you've got to.

 

[richart]

Nope but I never unsheath my weapon of choice (ooer) until necessary so they're left guessing...

or you could get your driver out, make sure the opponent sees it, and push them into hitting driver. When they smack it in the rubbish, put driver back in the bag and get the hybrid out.

 

[Hosel Fade]

Give them a few putts early on then when the match is getting near the end make them hole a few

I find this complete nonsense and have no idea how it ever gained popularity, why would you ever give someone something remotely missable?

 

[Hosel Fade]

If they go for driver and hit it OOB. Is it bad etiquette to put driver back in the bag and pull out hybrid/iron?

Not at all, however pulling out driver on a really tight hole and swishing it around with intent when you don't have the honour (while all the while fully intending to hit 4 iron, just to bait the opponent into hitting driver) might be construed as such.

Not by me mind

 

[richart]

I find this complete nonsense and have no idea how it ever gained popularity, why would you ever give someone something remotely missable?

Hale Irwin missed a two inch putt, that cost him a play off for the Open. Depends on what you call remotely missable.

I like to give two foot putts, in the hope that opponent does the same to me. I take the quality of the player into account when conceding putts, and also the green. Straight two footer on flat green, 'pick it up'. Two footer on a big sloping green, 'you had better mark that one'

One thing that bugs me is when opponent just walks off when you have putted up close. You need to concede a putt.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Take one less than your opponent

 

[Spear-Chucker]

I don't believe in any of the popular 'tactics' in matchplay.

If you lay back off the tee you're just making the game harder for yourself, and unless you're very good with your irons you're going to miss more than half of the greens anyway.

If someone gives me a load of slightly iffy putts that's fine with me because I might have missed a couple anyway. More than makes up for the couple they'll make me hit near the end of the round. Plus I'm going to putt the gimmies anyway.

The only way I let their shot/position affect my game is when my opponents score is almost stone cold certain, ie just stuffed an approach close or hit a drive OOB.

People make birdies from the crap and doubles from the middle of the fairway.

My best advice is don't project results before the hole is over. You'll be emotionally up and down so often it'll grind you down.

So very important this point. Expect your opponent to hole anything so just play your shots as best you can given the circumstances.

I'm very much of the opinion that you need to play to your strengths regardless of what your opponent is doing - I seem to come unstuck trying hero shots or thinking I've got to do something dramatic to make up ground. Play your own game and grind em' down. You must find a way to put pressure on them.

I do like changing the tempo of the match if someone is playing well, more practice swings/change of routine or speeding up play to throw unsettle them a tad.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I think people try to make Matchplay much more different from stroke play or stableford. In reality it's hardly different at all.

I love match play but not for anything more than it's scoring system of holes instead of shots.

It fits casual rounds much better than other scoring formats.

People then try to add on all this other stuff to what is a simple modification of a scoring format.