Gamesmanship, tips to deal with it?

[Oddsocks]

So the draw is out for the winter singles and as luck would have it I've been drawn against a friend who knocked me out of the semi finals of the summer singles last year.

Looking back at previous games he has never won on ability but more gamesmanship and mind games. I was talking to a few of the boys in our roll up and one commented how I've got two matches to play at the same time..... One golf on golf and one on gamesmanship.

Me I'm not into that, I want a laugh, a crack, good convo and a good match and the ability should win the game.... My question is how do others deal with this knowing your OP is going to be trying everything to get a rise?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Tricky as once he's in your mind it's hard to shift and how do you prevent that without losing the good conversation etc you refer to. He obviously knows he can get to you. If it were me, playing my mate, I'd put friendship to one side for a few hours and be single minded, perhaps not being so conversant etc. I'm sure others will have alternative and better ideas

 

[Hobbit]

As much as it might seem a bit irreverent, every time he starts just imagine him sat on the pot... a bit Leonard Rossitor-ish but I can't stop myself smiling every time Leonard used to think of his mum-in-law as a hippo... always works for me.

 

[JT77]

Switch off mate, use the time between shots to chat and if he doesn't want to, then leave it alone. If he tries with mind games just let it go, if you hit a good shot and he makes a cheeky quip just thank him, remember he is the one that needs the gamesmanship to win, not u. I always find that saying thank you, or sorry what was that, even when I clearly heard, annoys them more than me.
Just go out and do you best, talking or pocket rattling on shots, walk away from the ball, repeatedly if needed then have a word, then spank it down the middle

Good luck

 

[Oddsocks]

It's seems most have the same ideas, the thing I have now is the carefree attitude to fire it back. I'm actually thinking of just cutting it dead early on in the match with a short sharp comment along the lines of " I thought we were playing a golf match not mind games " this will wind him up more than me


I'm more interest to see if others have tips away from the obvious

 

[Hobbit]

To be honest, I actually love it. The more they concentrate on mind games, the less they are concentrating on their own game. Every time a comment is made I look to stuff the ball down the middle of the fairway or next to the pin, usually followed by "you'll have to try another line." This usually sees them trying to up the ante in the mind games dept, forgetting what they have to do with the ball. It laughable really... The skill is in your hands, not your head.

 

[Oddsocks]

To be honest, I actually love it. The more they concentrate on mind games, the less they are concentrating on their own game. Every time a comment is made I look to stuff the ball down the middle of the fairway or next to the pin, usually followed by "you'll have to try another line." This usually sees them trying to up the ante in the mind games dept, forgetting what they have to do with the ball. It laughable really... The skill is in your hands, not your head.

Seems we have a common attitude. I learnt from last years game, it won't happen this yeAr

 

[JT77]

I have to say I enjoy it to, I usually avoid the obvious retaliation as the I think that's what they want so I go play all humble, like, oh did I hit that to five feet, ah ok great, wow thanks, phew best I've hit in while

 

[duncan mackie]

You can't win with gamesmanship - but you can lose to it.

Simples.

Pretty much what Hobbit is saying from the other perspective.

 

[Region3]

It depends.

Are we talking about wisecracks between shots, that sort of thing, or actually trying to put you off when it's your turn?

 

[Oddsocks]

Constant flow of wisecracks I suppose, but when I say constant........

 

[Region3]

Constant flow of wisecracks I suppose, but when I say constant........

As long as they leave me alone when it's my go they can say what they want inbetween.

I'm good at not listening. I'm married.

 

[Region3]

Having said that, I don't understand why anyone would want to be responsible for another person playing badly.

Takes all sorts.

 

[ruff-driver]

I'd tell him on the first tee, any b.s and it's a 3 iron to the kneecap , simples

 

[Alex1975]

I like a bit of gamesmanship in match play. Your playing the man not the course. Both aimed at me and occasionally me pointing it.

I think it's important to have a bit of class about it though. Not too much, not too often and nothing untoward. It has to be friendly fun.

 

[virtuocity]

I'm far too rational for this stuff. Gamesmanship = opponent is concerned about you = I have the upper hand = self confidence.

 

[Guvnor2013]

I would see it as opportunity to deal with an aspect of my game that I need to improve i.e. the 'mental side' of things. If the thought of playing someone who is going to try and get into your head bothers you then it sounds like a weakness on your part (I agree that it is bad form on his part too but some people are like that). This is an opportunity to improve in that area. Maybe even get another one of your playing partners to have sly digs at you in a less pressurised environment (e.g. the next roll-up) for a bit of practice? (It won't be quite the same but might help)

I used to hate flop shots with a lob wedge over bunkers. Each time I get one now I see it as the shot I have been waiting for all day - the chance to hit the shot in a game situation rather than on the practice ground where anyone can get it right eventually. I suppose it's all about attitude / approach to this.

 

[the_coach]

would say, given the thread is here it's still pretty foremost in the mind so something that is needed to still be rinsed out of there

often times if folks are prone to operating this way it's due to their own lack of confidence
a nervousness that they feel they have to try to camouflage through a big bunch of bravado

main thing to consider even in matchplay the game is really all about playing the course & not the individual, play the course well the win follows
continually reacting to an opponents convo & also their game most often doesn't work out so well

only really react to an opponent if they make a real bad mistake that then maybes allows less risk to be taken off the tee box say changing down to a 3 metal, a hybrid if an opponent has crashed it ob
(or taking the risk if left with no other real option towards the last couple of holes in order to take it to extra holes)

at club matchplay levels majority of holes are given away by mistakes not won by spectacular golf
playing the course to near as par as possible will be enough pressure to capitalize on an opponents mistakes

play the course -don't listen- stay with the game plan the best strategy against the course that will make the opponent have to play real decent to take any hole away

if the pointed comments still going on the 9th - still stay quiet don't listen - but then could always quietly ask on the walk to the 10th 'had the little ways of an extra pause atop the swing been something having been worked on for some time or was it more recent"

Nicklaus never really listened to Trevino .......

 

[garyinderry]

Don't listen to any comments on your grip and you will be fine. :mmm:

 

[ScienceBoy]

Mental preparation is key, if you know his tactic then can you agree beforehand to not do it?