Gamesmanship - what's your view?

[Bacardibatman]

Frankly it staggers me to see so many ppl thinking its perfectly ok to try and put someone else off their game

its a shame where once the game of golf was one played by gentlemen.... is now sadly just a game played by a large percentage of Complete c***s

at least the Minority (or so it seems so far ) know that whether they win or lose they played the game fairly and squarely

truly is disappointing to see a prevalence of replies in favour of it - such a shame

should be as TheClaw says

In sports such as golf, bowls, snooker, darts etc. you have no business trying to affect what your opponent does outside the rules/acceptable tactics of the game. You have your own equipment and time to play your shot, you and your opponents are purely using the same environment. They are also less aggressive sports, played at a slower pace where concentration is more of a factor.

Try letting your golf do the talking instead of yourself

 

[USER1999]

Lee Trevino used to talk to his opponent the whole way round to try to put him off (in stroke and match play). This sort of thing isn't new.

 

[sev112]

i always look forward to guys in matches or friendly matches on society days offering to have a cash bet.

I turn them down straight away; to my mind that's what they need to give themselves a bit more adremaline/focus/concentration. WHy shoudl i give them an advantage that helps them to play well, and then have to stump up afterwards.

 

[Ethan]

Depends what you mean by gamesmanship. Jiggling coins or commenting on tricky hazards when your opponent is on the tee is poor form, but giving a few putts early on then stopping giving them, or changing your pace of play a bit is fine, in my opinion.

 

[Alex1975]

This is a good post but it makes me laugh. All of you out there who are saying “not worth trying it on me, I am not susceptible” clearly don’t know what it is. This does not have to take the forum of banter, there are many ways to apply gamesmanship and suck your competitor’s spirit. I am in no way talking about cheating as some of you have hinted at, that is not what this is, it’s about mind games and not always verbal ones at that. It can take many forms and can even come hidden as a compliment.

Where I stand on it, I love it and I hate it but like tax is a fact of life, gamesmanship is a part of sport and always will be.

 

[Region3]

Anything which tries to put someone off while they're playing a shot is bang out of order.
Conceding/Not conceding putts is fine.
Trying to get into someone's head in a match is not something I'd stoop to, and doesn't bother me if they try it other than makes me want to win more.
Banter with mates is welcomed.

 

[Robobum]

Jiggling coins/ talking during your shot/ shuffling around in view etc is just being an arse and plain disrespectful.

Giving/ not giving putts, changing pace of play etc is all part of the game.

Commenting on someone's swing/ "do you breathe in or out during your swing?" and all that type of rubbish is gamesmanship and just makes you look like a prize tit.

 

[Pull]

I'm all for gamesmanship it's part of every sport.
Obviously there is boundaries which you shouldn't cross but the comments here and there that are unoffensive often are used to get into peoples head to gain that advantage.

I play cricket as well and a lot of gamesmanship goes on in that, it's not cheating as such it's just talking and comments which are acceptable when the main objective is just to try and put your opposition to the point where they lose concentration and then give you that upper hand.

 

[HRC99]

Frankly it staggers me to see so many ppl thinking its perfectly ok to try and put someone else off their game

its a shame where once the game of golf was one played by gentlemen.... is now sadly just a game played by a large percentage of Complete c***s

at least the Minority (or so it seems so far ) know that whether they win or lose they played the game fairly and squarely

truly is disappointing to see a prevalence of replies in favour of it - such a shame

should be as TheClaw says

In sports such as golf, bowls, snooker, darts etc. you have no business trying to affect what your opponent does outside the rules/acceptable tactics of the game. You have your own equipment and time to play your shot, you and your opponents are purely using the same environment. They are also less aggressive sports, played at a slower pace where concentration is more of a factor.

Try letting your golf do the talking instead of yourself

There is a massive difference between a bit of banter between opponents and jangling keys or trying actively to put your opponent off during their swing/stroke. One is part of competition and the other is cheating.

In a competitive environment where you are playing your opponent there will always be some kind of psychological battle being played out whether verbal or not. Concession of putts, body language, refusing to talk to your opponent, pace of play and, on tour, using the crowd.

Mind games have always been played in match play and always will be. Some of the best players ever to have played the game are known to play these games.

By your definition, Seve, Lee Trevino, Paul Azinger, Ian Poulter are all "complete c***ts" as you so eloquently and charmingly put it.

 

[Bacardibatman]

Frankly it staggers me to see so many ppl thinking its perfectly ok to try and put someone else off their game

its a shame where once the game of golf was one played by gentlemen.... is now sadly just a game played by a large percentage of Complete c***s

at least the Minority (or so it seems so far ) know that whether they win or lose they played the game fairly and squarely

truly is disappointing to see a prevalence of replies in favour of it - such a shame

should be as TheClaw says

In sports such as golf, bowls, snooker, darts etc. you have no business trying to affect what your opponent does outside the rules/acceptable tactics of the game. You have your own equipment and time to play your shot, you and your opponents are purely using the same environment. They are also less aggressive sports, played at a slower pace where concentration is more of a factor.

Try letting your golf do the talking instead of yourself

There is a massive difference between a bit of banter between opponents and jangling keys or trying actively to put your opponent off during their swing/stroke. One is part of competition and the other is cheating.

In a competitive environment where you are playing your opponent there will always be some kind of psychological battle being played out whether verbal or not. Concession of putts, body language, refusing to talk to your opponent, pace of play and, on tour, using the crowd.

Mind games have always been played in match play and always will be. Some of the best players ever to have played the game are known to play these games.

By your definition, Seve, Lee Trevino, Paul Azinger, Ian Poulter are all "complete c***ts" as you so eloquently and charmingly put it.

well first of all you need to read what i actually posted. no T in what i "so eloquently and charmingly" put (obviously you filled that in, in your own mind) my *** = ock
(now setting straights over with,.... back to opinions )

secondly imho
driving it down the middle or sticking your shot 3 feet from the pin and putting pressure on your opponent that way is the only psychological pressure that should be put.

and ppl trying to justify what they do as ok by saying "There is a massive difference between a bit of banter between opponents and jangling keys or trying actively to put your opponent off during their swing/stroke. One is part of competition and the other is cheating." doesnt necessarily make it so

(im sure there are alot of ppl that thinking jangling keys on shots is ok) that doesnt make that right either


Tying to put an opponent off (whenever)is still trying to put them off!!

if behaviour like that becomes the norm whatever next?
everyone jangling keys or coughing or fiddling around in bag during opponents shots


Trying to irritate or externally influence ppls play isnt really in the spirit of the game now is it ?



"Concession of putts, body language, refusing to talk to your opponent, pace of play and,on tour, using the crowd."
not a prob with any of this



but if ppl dont mind being thought of like this

A bloke who I used to work with irritates everyone he plays,either messing about with his bag or re-arranging his clubshe just never stops,then he wonders why he gets a wide birth from all and sundry when he's in the bar,a true ar*e if ever there was one.

then carry on as they do and ppl will carry on thinking of them what they do

 

[Smiffy]

I was playing with some forum members once, stood on a par 3 and had, for me, what I thought was the "perfect" club in my hand.
My "opponent" waited until I was addressing the ball and said "you'll be way out the back with that".
That put me right off and I quit on the bloody shot.
I was a bit angry for a couple of holes, but have played many times with him since and he hasn't done it again............. have you Leftie?

 

[USER1999]

I was playing with some forum members once, stood on a par 3 and had, for me, what I thought was the "perfect" club in my hand.
My "opponent" waited until I was addressing the ball and said "you'll be way out the back with that".
That put me right off and I quit on the bloody shot.
I was a bit angry for a couple of holes, but have played many times with him since and he hasn't done it again............. have you Leftie?

But this was before he found out you only hit a 4i 27 yards. Now he'd keep quiet, knowing you're laying up.

 

[Alex1975]

@Bacardibatman


I have never played or seen anyone try and put anyone off there shot, that is not what this post is about, its not about cheating its about gamesmanship. I did try and explain this but here is an example.

Me and player X are in a comp together. I see he hits the ball a long way, I make a bit of a fuss about it and boost him up a little, he will try to hit the ball harder and harder. You going to call that cheating or that I am a ****?

 

[Leftie]

Sounds most unlike me Smiffy. I would have waited for your backswing.

Definitely don't remember that one. There again, at my age I can't be expected to remember all your duffed shots.

 

[Leftie]

But this was before he found out you only hit a 4i 27 yards. Now he'd keep quiet, knowing you're laying up.

Now that I do remember. One of his goto shots.

 

[Robobum]

......Me and player X are in a comp together. I see he hits the ball a long way, I make a bit of a fuss about it and boost him up a little, he will try to hit the ball harder and harder. You going to call that cheating or that I am a ****?

That would be a perfect example Alex, sorry to say it, but I'd look at you and think you were being a tit though

Just don't understand or see the need for it??

 

[Smiffy]

Definitely don't remember that one.

Edenbridge. That par 3 with the "island" type green. Can't remember what hole it is now.
Knob

 

[USER1999]

Edenbridge. I remember that one. You lost. Again.

 

[Smiffy]

Edenbridge. I remember that one. You lost. Again.

Correct.
But I didn't whinge about it

 

[HRC99]

Frankly it staggers me to see so many ppl thinking its perfectly ok to try and put someone else off their game

its a shame where once the game of golf was one played by gentlemen.... is now sadly just a game played by a large percentage of Complete c***s

at least the Minority (or so it seems so far ) know that whether they win or lose they played the game fairly and squarely

truly is disappointing to see a prevalence of replies in favour of it - such a shame

should be as TheClaw says

In sports such as golf, bowls, snooker, darts etc. you have no business trying to affect what your opponent does outside the rules/acceptable tactics of the game. You have your own equipment and time to play your shot, you and your opponents are purely using the same environment. They are also less aggressive sports, played at a slower pace where concentration is more of a factor.

Try letting your golf do the talking instead of yourself

There is a massive difference between a bit of banter between opponents and jangling keys or trying actively to put your opponent off during their swing/stroke. One is part of competition and the other is cheating.

In a competitive environment where you are playing your opponent there will always be some kind of psychological battle being played out whether verbal or not. Concession of putts, body language, refusing to talk to your opponent, pace of play and, on tour, using the crowd.

Mind games have always been played in match play and always will be. Some of the best players ever to have played the game are known to play these games.

By your definition, Seve, Lee Trevino, Paul Azinger, Ian Poulter are all "complete c***ts" as you so eloquently and charmingly put it.

well first of all you need to read what i actually posted. no T in what i "so eloquently and charmingly" put (obviously you filled that in, in your own mind) my *** = ock
(now setting straights over with,.... back to opinions )

secondly imho
driving it down the middle or sticking your shot 3 feet from the pin and putting pressure on your opponent that way is the only psychological pressure that should be put.

and ppl trying to justify what they do as ok by saying "There is a massive difference between a bit of banter between opponents and jangling keys or trying actively to put your opponent off during their swing/stroke. One is part of competition and the other is cheating." doesnt necessarily make it so

(im sure there are alot of ppl that thinking jangling keys on shots is ok) that doesnt make that right either


Tying to put an opponent off (whenever)is still trying to put them off!!

if behaviour like that becomes the norm whatever next?
everyone jangling keys or coughing or fiddling around in bag during opponents shots


Trying to irritate or externally influence ppls play isnt really in the spirit of the game now is it ?



"Concession of putts, body language, refusing to talk to your opponent, pace of play and,on tour, using the crowd."
not a prob with any of this



but if ppl dont mind being thought of like this

A bloke who I used to work with irritates everyone he plays,either messing about with his bag or re-arranging his clubshe just never stops,then he wonders why he gets a wide birth from all and sundry when he's in the bar,a true ar*e if ever there was one.

then carry on as they do and ppl will carry on thinking of them what they do

Firstly, apologies for the mis-quote. That'll teach me to speed read.

I still hold that there is a big difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and that the overwhelming majority of golfers know that difference - however hard it is to actually put that difference into words.

Playing slowly with a quick player and playing quickly with a slow player, refusing to talk to your opponent, using the crowd or giving a string of easy(ish) putts and then forcing your opponent to putt out a tricky tiddler is all

Trying to irritate or externally influence ppls

Surely? (Copied and pasted to make sure I got that quote right! )

Cases like the ostracised guy are few and far between and yet "gamesmanship" of some form or other will go on to an extent in most matchplay games.

One guy I play with from time to time will chuck in a few comments if things start to get tight: "Ouch, I don't fancy your putt much." "You really don't want to be missing this green right", "Don't forget its OOB down the left." or some similar stuff.

None of these bother me in the slightest other than to motivate me to concentrate harder but is that unacceptable?

For me, it just fires me up even more and I always enjoy our matches as he really really wants to win and I really really want to win.