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Match play golf?

Curls said:
Love matchplay, if I'm to sum up what I've learned about it in 1 word it is...

Momentum.

It is all about momentum. Who has the upper hand, who is chasing? If you don't have it, you need to get it. If you have it, you need to keep it.

I definitely subscribe to the "if you're 3 up - get to 4 up" mentality.

I won our club matchplay a couple of years ago and had the same tactic every match. I'd get there early and play the first few holes, taking a few putts around the hole from different sides. Then go back to the start and putt and keep warm while my opponent, usually running to the course from work, would see me practising and say "let's go". The aim was always to win the 1st, then the 2nd, then the 3rd. I often did, having just played them and felt familiar, while my oppo was cold. That 2 or 3 hole advantage saw me through a few games. At no point was I working out how many holes I had left and how many I could half. I closed out one 6 & 4, kept on him long after he was done for. Otherwise I couldve ended up allowing a chink of light in and the momentum swings and the advantage is not with the player up, but with the attacking player.

Last couple of years I've not been allowed the luxury of time and been the guy turning up with 5 minutes to spare. And I got beat.

Get the upper hand and never leave the foot off the gas.

Regards team events, in foursomes it's important to recognise how many approach shots each player will make given the odds/evens tee allocation. Also never say sorry to each other, you will both make mistakes, don't say sorry time for recrimination is afterwards. Betterball make sure you keep both balls in play at all times. One in the cabbage leaves a two-against-one situation and that rarely results in a win. Be mindful of where your shots are and don't give away silly holes trying to ram home a bridie when a par will win it. Similarly don't ever think your oppo is out of it until theyve holed or conceeded, because just when you think "I've got this in the bag" and are counting how many up you are, they'll pitch it in from 50 yards and guess what they've now got?

Momentum.

Have fun, I freakin love matchplay.
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are you allowed to play the course before a matchplay game ?
as i dont think you are allowed to play a course before a stroke play comp.
 
The poacher said:
are you allowed to play the course before a matchplay game ?
as i dont think you are allowed to play a course before a stroke play comp.
Click to expand...

Correct, even a careless chip by the 18th green while you wait to tee off will DQ you in strokeplay (happened at ours), while in Matchplay you can play the whole course if you like.
 
I hate matchplay TBH. Well, that's a lie... I hate matchplay against 'strangers' at my club.

I am a high handicap player with the ability to play from the ridiculous to the sublime and whenever I am playing well I start to get it in my head that they probably think I am a bandit.. and because I have this internal weakness to always be liked I start to self sabotage. I am also quite uncompetitive and will happily give putts that are by no means a given. Only last weekend I played in the 1st round of our summer singles and managed to win 5&3, but felt pretty odd walking off the 8th after giving a 4 ft putt for the half and then proceeding to lose the 9th with a series of ridiculous duffs tops and poor shots.

Playing against my mates though I don't care and I'm very competitive, although sometimes a little less focused. I know, they know what I can occasionally do and I know they don't think I'm some sad little man protecting a handicap in order to win a prize.
 
I love match play as you know what you need to do hole by hole instead of wondering how others up ahead or behind are getting on, I've actually been in a few singles and foursome matches where I've been behind by a few half way through the front nine but like others have said you're never out of it and can sometimes play bad but regain yourself.

If I'm down a few its just a state of mind I always used to think I may be 3 or 4 down but I don't want to get thrashed 8 and 7 or something ridiculous so just try to pull a couple back and if I lose then I lose 3 and 1 and or something not so embarrassing and usually you quickly get a couple back which puts pressure on your opponent and you're still just thinking about damage limitation and most the times I've ended up coming back and winning by a few.

My best was a foursomes final we were 5 down and 5 holes and I said a similar thing to my partner, we ended up winning the final on the 2nd playoff hole, will never forget that day.
 
It's the opposite for me, I am much more focused in strokeplay. I'll play our winter league which is betterball as there isn't much else happening but the only summer knockout I play is the singles scratch, handicap knockouts do nothing for me. I don't entertain forenames at all.
 
Break90 said:
"I look into their eyes, shake their hand, pat their back, and wish them luck, but I am thinking, I am going to bury you......"
Click to expand...

Which is great for Seve, but for me it's more like...

"I look into their eyes, shake their hand, pat their back, and wish them luck, but I am thinking, I wonder which swing I have turned up with today"
 
OP...don't say 'doubles' as your opponents will have you down as an inexperienced beginner.

Good luck, relax, get stuck in and, most importantly, NEVER give up, fight to the bitter end.
And.......if you are 'holes up' think your opponent is going to win the next three holes.
And......think he/she will hole every shot from 50 yards in.
 
Stay in the now , don't get ahead of yourself , always assume he is going to make that putt or chip better to be pleased he missed than gutted he made a lucky one .

If a 6 will win you a par 3 don't be embarrassed or worried by making a 6 . Im a chatty golfer , but in matchplay I don't get into much chat too many idiots think they have the mental game to psyche you out ..


Don't be too generous with gimmes , if its that close sure they wont mind tapping it in ..

If you get on a run of winning holes then never ever back off , no matter how well ya know or like him , win as early as you can as others said momentum is massive

Good Luck
 
Carpfather1 said:
Ive entered the club summer knock outs in singles and doubles this year I don't normally bother with it all.but im enjoying the competitive side of the game at the moment so thought why not!?what have others found gives them the edge when playing match play?.
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Generally just play your normal game and see if it is good enough, but if you have 3 putts to win a hole then take them, and don't leave any putts for a half short. One of the problems with matchplay is that you can play really well and lose, if your opponent plays better than you, or really badly and win, if he plays even worse. You just have to accept the rough with the smooth. Don't allow yourself to get rattled by any strokes of outrageous good luck your opponent may get, or any gamesmanship he may try. I have assumed that your opponent is a he, but could be a her btw. :)
 
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I had my 1st round knockout yesterday, won 4&3.

It is my favourite format, play it each shot at a time, use your shots if you receive them and try and build some momentum early on.
 
I wouldn't want to play some of you fellas in a knock out, born winners the lot :confused:
I would obviously crumble in the face of such steely eyed, win at all costs, club golfers.

I may have to rethink my strategy of having a little potter though the woods & trying to hit some nice shots :o
 
Don't play the course like you would in a medal play, play the man instead.
If he duffs his 2nd shot to a par 4 don't go pin hunting with your 2nd, play to the heart of the green or favour one side of the green that has less danger and an easier chance of getting up and down.
 
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