do you approach strokeplay differently to stableford?

[HomerJSimpson]

I still think there is more onus on damage limitation in a medal than a stableford. In a medal I'll always look to get out the shortest route possible and minimise the potential for a seven or eight whereas in a stableford I may still take a longer and riskier recovery on.

I also think there is an inherent pressure on a medal card. You always know particularly when you are going well that one bad hole could wreck all that hard work whereas a bad stableford hole could be recovered with one birdie on a stroke hole

 

[splashtryagain]

S/ford encourages balls out shots as you can't lose anything (as in previous points) so much more likely to take on that difficult just past the bunker flag than in the everything counts medal round. It also depends on the usual winning scores for the course - at mine 39 s/ford points will probably win whereas in a medal par is a good score, this means in a medal round conservative is best whereas risks can be taken in s/ford. Never really feel pressure playing s/ford as a bad hole can be forgotten.

 

[Imurg]

I play them the same. Maybe I'll go conservative on a couple of tee shots but in general I'll try to play my normal game.
I don't think I'm good enough to genuinely be able to change the way I play.
I'll hit it, find it, hit it again until it's in the cup. Add 'em up at the end and take what's given.

 

[sweatysock41]

I can't for the life of me think why you would approach them differently. Surely the aim of both is to get the small white thing in the hole in the fewest number of shots.

 

[RGDave]

I can't for the life of me think why you would approach them differently. Surely the aim of both is to get the small white thing in the hole in the fewest number of shots.

You go for it!

Personally, if I've messed up and there's a tricky shot with low percentage on offer, I'll go for it 9/10 in stableford to scramble a point. If it's medal, forget it.
Same with any sort of pairs game. We raced a few putts past yesterday knowing we had something already in the bag.

 

[sweatysock41]

I tend to be a more conservative player both in Medal and Stableford, except at Beau Desert where I had a sudden attack of Machismo when stood over my 2nd on the 18th on both rounds. Outcome was the same both times in the Gorse - bloody sharp it was too.

 

[RGDave]

you and me are discussing this on two threads.

let me offer an example. 16th at mine requires a draw off the tee. I often push it straight into the trees and go sideways/forward to leave 100-140 ish, depending on severity of hack out!
So I'm hitting my 3rd......(from where the perfect tee shot would be)
There's a lake left, so bail-out is right. Right and short of pin leaves a lob/pitch over the bunker. In stableford, I'll play that shot for a hopeful up n down. a "6" is no use to me, no shot....
In medal, I'll pitch it onto the front portion of the green (taking out the bunker) and accept a two putt.

I've made a 5 one way (maybe) and a 6 t'other.
I'm not going to take on a lob with a lake the other side in a medal.

 

[SwingSlow]

I tend to play both the same as I record both scores anyway. Stableford does make it marginally easier to shake off a poor hole, but not a lot (self flagellation being a core competence - mentally speaking, of course).

I find that the scores in both tend to move together anyway, so it's only if you make a complete Na of a hole that they diverge materially.

 

[jammydodger]

Play both the same apart from the occasional raced putt past if its for a point. The format being played wouldnt make me change the choice of shot though. If I think I can play a shot i'll go for it , if i cant then i wont.

Thats what trusting your game is all about and playing the shot with no regard for the situation (that only applies pressure and will make you bottle the shot). How many threads do we see on here where people have bottled the last few holes after a good start. Its called pressure and you bring it on yourself by overthinking the position youre in. Just clear your mind and play the shot you know needs playing

 

[Robobum]

Play both the same apart from the occasional raced putt past if its for a point. The format being played wouldnt make me change the choice of shot though. If I think I can play a shot i'll go for it , if i cant then i wont.

Thats what trusting your game is all about and playing the shot with no regard for the situation (that only applies pressure and will make you bottle the shot). How many threads do we see on here where people have bottled the last few holes after a good start. Its called pressure and you bring it on yourself by overthinking the position youre in. Just clear your mind and play the shot you know needs playing

+1

 

[G1BB0]

had it on Sunday JD, 17 points after 8, thought get 1 and played 1st 9 to par.... BLOB!!! seen my arse and only got 10 on back 9

wont happen again until next week