Gamesmanship, tips to deal with it?

[Oddsocks]

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.

This is my thoughts spot on

If it gets to much I'll ask why he breathes out at the top of the back swing

 

[chrisd]

This is my thoughts spot on

If it gets to much I'll ask why he breathes out at the top of the back swing

I think the " I've never seen you hit the driver so well" is a good one just as you walk on to the tee!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

When the Aussies first played against Tendulkar they would sledge him, along with everyone else. He completely blanked them, played his shots and would occasionally smile back after hitting a boundary. He never spoke. They soon gave up as it wore them out more than it affected him. Completely blanking or just smiling is a great way of dealing with gamesmanship.

 

[Norrin Radd]

sounds like you have lost this match already.he is in your mind and that is where he will stay ,no advice on here is going to change that.

 

[happyhacker]

Hand him a note on first tee saying you've lost your voice.

Peace and quiet for 18 holes (assuming he's not interested in talking to himself the whole round).

 

[Alex1975]

I think the " I've never seen you hit the driver so well" is a good one just as you walk on to the tee!

Yep, the compliment thing is always fun, it is gamesmanship too though.

 

[chrisd]

Yep, the compliment thing is always fun, it is gamesmanship too though.

Yeah, good innit!

 

[Alex1975]

Yeah, good innit!

A player with your tallent can make that shot....

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I just laugh at any gamesmanship or attempts to get under someone's skin

 

[Oddsocks]

I just laugh at any gamesmanship or attempts to get under someone's skin

I always have the past but last year I let this swing get to me.

The point of this thread wasn't that I'm struggling this year, more to see if others have struggled and how they have coped.

 

[UlyssesSky]

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

Something along that lines is the best way to let him know he's getting to you, imho.

 

[super hans]

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?

I find it strange no-one on this thread has picked up on this - are you serious that every time he plays you he talks you out of playing well?

now I don't know how many games constitute 'every time', but surely there must be some ability about the guy to have beaten you multiple times in the past - it cant be all down to mind games !!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

sounds like you have lost this match already.he is in your mind and that is where he will stay ,no advice on here is going to change that.

It does seem a bit like that. The OP clearly worried about the opponent will get up to. Focus on the golf and let him worry about your ability

 

[louise_a]

One of the things that can get to me is playing a silent opponent, so maybe try saying nothing all round.

 

[Ian_Bristol]

Big fluffy ear muffs and a sign on a stick saying "Shut the f##k up" should do the trick.:blah:

 

[Oddsocks]

I find it strange no-one on this thread has picked up on this - are you serious that every time he plays you he talks you out of playing well?

now I don't know how many games constitute 'every time', but surely there must be some ability about the guy to have beaten you multiple times in the past - it cant be all down to mind games !!

Ok I may have been harsh with that statement, but it's very well known at the club that he loves a bit of gamesmanship as part of any match he plays

On the plus the match is pairs and my partner is a right good bloke, so a conversation won't go a miss

 

[Norrin Radd]

does your nemesis know that you bottle it against him?
if he does then every time you play him he starts off with a winning attitude,there is a chap at my club who totally out of the blue said whilst we were sitting with half a dozen or more others that he felt i intimidated him on the course and as such felt he could never beat me. i never knew that and as we had only played eachother twice didnt really know why .so since that day i have never lost against him as i know he is bricking it against me for some reason. its really weird as we are good mates and i have never felt better than him in anything we have done.
he plays off ten and im off fourteen so its not h/cap related.
now maybe you have the same thing happening to you ,you dont know why it feels like it does ,but it does ,and if he knows it you are already beaten.just dont let your pp know you are feeling like you do as he dosent need to know he is carrying top weight.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Gamesmanship is part of the game and can be amusing to both watch and try out. Ultimately, if you have a good routine and decent internal dialogue with yourself (that internal voice caddying for yourself) there's not much that should affect you even from the most vocal of opponents. If they are going OTT, coughing on your backswing, jangling change etc. that's well over the line and should be stamped out there and then.

Have I used it? Yes. I generally don't bother with interclub stuff (these are my friends after all) unless I'm up against a known berk or bandit, but there's some pleasure to be gained from getting under the skin of a know-it-all or I'm-great-me aficionado.

 

[Bratty]

Want me to play in front or behind you guys?
He'll be so busy laughing at my swearing, he'll not have time for gamesmanship!

 

[Hendy]

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?

It's not easy I still don't claim to be fully over it. One person springs to mind a good friend but has/had a way of getting into my head. For example I would be leading him and playing well. Then I have say a point at two holes in a row he say that's me closing in gap now and still have two shots to get. Even writing this now it feels and sounds so silly to be put off so easily. But I don't know why he would every time it got me lol. On top if he was in the hole first for a par he pick he ball from the hole declaring thats a par. O how it still gets to me lol. Also if I hit a shot a little left or right. He shout get down that's away left/right. When really it's only at worst 20yards. Of course when he does it he's full of optimism. Saying o that's a little left but OK. I stand there thinking to myself here that's went more left than the shot you called me on two holes back lol

Anyways for me I found the best way to beat him was easy play the course working getting my own score and not worrying about him being x behind or in front. This of course goes against all match play advise. But for me I knew I was a better playing and can post a better score 8/10 times so I played like this season and beat him alot more. Last Season we played like 30 times I swear I must have lost 20 of them easy. This season there have not been as many games say about 20 and I have won I would say about 13/14 of them

That's my Penny's worth of advise on the matter lol gud luck