Gamesmanship - what's your view?

[Whereditgo]

The guy I play with most and we usually pair up in pairs comps, gets really wound up at the slightest hint of gamesmanship by the opposition, sometimes it has a positive effect but more often a detrimental effect on his game. I never even notice, well not until he points it out to me in the bar later, so it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

I have used gamesmanship in the past in other sports, especially when the result really means something, league and cup matches for example (not golf clearly lol), a win was worth around a 100 quid tax paid to each of us so it was serious enough back in the day!

My view then, and again I am not talking golf in this example, was if you are playing someone who is better than you in some way, why the hell would you just accept that and let them have an easy day!

So would you use gamesmanship to try to get an advantage in a match? Would it affect you if your opposition were trying it on?

Smiffy, Grumpyjock and Yufuin any replies will be noted for Woodhall Spa

 

[smange]

Its part of the game as long as its not over stepped.

Its amazing what effect a few well chosen words at an appropriate moment can do to someone and their game.

If you are clever with it, it can be worth a hole or two in matchplay and can really help swing the whole balance of a match.

For me its just part of competitive sport, whatever level and whatever sport.

 

[TheClaw]

Pretty low in my opinion. Whether it bothers your opponent or not, deliberately trying to put them off or wind them up is low.

 

[Swinger]

Don't hate the player, hate the game?

or

Hate the game and the player?


I have one or two people who have my number, they go out of their way to say things to try and get to me. Not bad out of the amount of people I play with and the amount of people who give it ago. Normally pretty good at getting to people who try it with me, but like the game itself you can't win everytime. I guess a little bit doesn't hurt but can often escalate and end up putting a dampner on the game.

 

[brendy]

I prefer to concentrate on my own game, Afterall, I can only hit own shots. I have had some guys try it on and the easiest way to dismiss them is to ask them jokingly if they really want to win that much, usually works.

 

[Smiffy]

JustOne is the king of gamesmanship......
You're standing over your ball ready to play your approach into the 18th green. One up and needing at least a half for the match it's great to hear him say "don't turn your hands over on this one" or "watch out for the big bunker left" or "there's loads of crap to the right of the green if you block it".


You simply answer this by rifling a superbly struck 5 wood to within about 8 feet of the pin..........and then 3 putt.

 

[Losttheplot]

don't mind friendly banter but if it was a comp I'd object. This is golf, a game of integrity and respect so I'd not be too happy. saying that... if I was getting it given to me in a comp I'd just give it back ten fold! that'll teach em!

 

[Losttheplot]

my last comment didn't make sense... if I was in a comp and was getting barracking from my opponent unnessesserily then I would tell him to pipe down but if he didn't stop I'd give it back. it's more of a 'I've warned you once and now your gonna have it back' attitude.

good natured banter is welcome all day long, just when it steps over the line I'd object.

 

[USER1999]

No place for it in stroke play.

Fine in match play, but I am pretty imune to banter. If it is deliberate slow play, or moving in your eye line, or key jangling then that's different. That isn't gamesmanship, it is cheating, and very annoying.

 

[surefire]

Not really into it myself, as I prefer to concentrate on myself winning, rather than making someone else lose. It's a bit more controllable!

Because it's not really my thing, it tends to not really bother me either as I can just blank out other people if I choose.
If someone was really going big with it though, I might eventually have to give some back, just so they can enjoy the taste of their own medicine.
Especially as I have found that of those who like to give it in large quantities, many are not very good at taking it when it comes their way!

 

[Robobum]

If it was in a friendly match, I'd laugh at you. If I thought you were trying to gain some advantage during a match then I'd just think that you were a complete pr**k.

 

[HRC99]

Not in strokeplay definitely, but in matchplay?

Bring it on!

I love it when the competitive juices start to flow. It's also a big mistake to try it on with me as I actually start concentrating properly - which is normally my downfall.

I won't actually start it but I'll definitely finish it.

 

[Stephen_McMaster]

Friendly banter with your mates is fine - they'll soon let you know if it goes too far (after all their supposed to be friends).

Gamesmanship is a fact of life - in all sports. When your opponent is in the zone then you need to try to break up their rhythm and perhaps create a little bit of self doubt.

How you do that is up to you - sadly the better players seem to be prepared to go that little bit further than most others - maybe that's why they win.

We'd all like to be able to say we never do it and it never puts us off - but how many of us can say that and win regularly?

For me there's a line that should not be crossed - accusing your opponent of cheating and using words beginning with F and C is going too far IMHO (especially when afterwards you admit there are no hard feelings and you were only trying to do it to win). The person that I know that adopts that approach has represented his country - I haven't, perhaps that's why!

 

[BROOKIE]

A bloke who I used to work with irritates everyone he plays,
either messing about with his bag or re-arranging his clubs
he 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.

 

[Oddsocks]

i think it makes you a stronger player if you can handle gamesmanship. There are a few guys within our swindle that love a bit of mind-game tactics and i think its good training. If you can play with the ability to block mind games out you will shoot better scores when playing with players you dont know who try it.

 

[Dodger]

I use it at any given opportunity in matchplay,you are playing the man after all.

 

[TheClaw]

The way I see it gamesmanship is acceptable in certain sports depending on their nature. Invasion sports, contact sports e.g. In football, rugby, basketball, american football etc it's not as bad since you are actively trying to stop your opponents from doing what they want to do. There are levels of aggression by players and fans in these sports to consider also.

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.

 

[USER1999]

But where do phrases such as 'wow, you're putting well today, haven't seen you miss one yet?' fit into it.

 

[BROOKIE]

Murph,never heard that phrase"putting well today"

 

[ScienceBoy]

Part of match play such as choosing when and when not to concede putts. As long as it does not break any rules or etiquette it is fine by me!

I used it a few times myself, usually when spoken to first, more subtle then! I am not a fan of exclaiming stuff outright but if someone talks to me first then I have free reign to say something back or better yet lead them to making conclusions or having thoughts, nothing wrong with bit of psycology!

But NOT part of stroke play in any form!