Match Play Pressure

Get to the course early. Play the first few holes as a warm up, get a feel for the slope around the hole.

When you do tee up, play to win the first. If you win the first, win the second. If you don't win the first. Win the second.

And so on, if youre 5 up win the next. If God-forbid youre 4 down with 4 to play you can still level it. I guess what Im getting at is dont think about the end result as much as winning the hole in front of you - completely regardless of what the score is. Thats the trick that works for me!

Chin up, its tough losing, but you used to love it cos its great when you win a tough contest, so get out there and remind yourself of that
 
Yea used to do it with ease almost lost it the time before the above result was playing at home was 2 down after 5 just lucky I got my head right and won 3&2.

I know I can do but then the nerves creep in and I start backing out of shots etc. Drives me mad
 
Relax - it's a game we are playing for fun and without the need to earn living on it

No need to put yourself under any pressure
 
Never just give a hole away. Nothing to wind you up more than letting an opponent win a hole with a bogey, play every hole to completion like you can still win it. Everybody is capable of chunking a chip then 3-putting, so make them win the hole.

i find the best way sometimes to relieve pressure is to get your FC worried by hitting fairways. If I'm giving a shot away and going 1st I take whatever is needed to hit the fairway, even if it means leaving a 5i in instead of a 9i. Hit the fairway first and have first hit at the green, make him need the shot and he might just cock it up. Not loosing a shot hole is always a nice pick me up.
 
As above, make them earn every hole they win. If they make a birdie/nett birdie etc there isn't much you can do so accept this will happen at some point and don't get down on it when it does. We all have good holes and bad holes, accept their good ones and be safe in the knowledge that their bad ones will come along at some point. Concentrate on playing the best, most sensible shot you can in the situation the hole is in and be ready to take advantage when their bad shots do come. Putts are obviously a real pressure area but again accept that you will miss some from 4/5/6 feet. Look at these as opportunities (no more) that you will either take or not. Just concentrate on leaving more of them.
 
Liverpoolphil said:
Relax - it's a game we are playing for fun and without the need to earn living on it

No need to put yourself under any pressure
Click to expand...

Good reply. I was going to bin it the beginning of this year. The pro grabbed me and said exactly that. Gone down 4 shots this year and visited some of the best golf courses in the SW and enjoyed every moment of my golf this year.
 
Curls said:
Get to the course early. Play the first few holes as a warm up, get a feel for the slope around the hole.

When you do tee up, play to win the first. If you win the first, win the second. If you don't win the first. Win the second.

And so on, if youre 5 up win the next. If God-forbid youre 4 down with 4 to play you can still level it. I guess what Im getting at is dont think about the end result as much as winning the hole in front of you - completely regardless of what the score is. Thats the trick that works for me!

Chin up, its tough losing, but you used to love it cos its great when you win a tough contest, so get out there and remind yourself of that
Click to expand...


Probably a very basic question but are you allowed to play the first set of holes as a warm up. I know you can't at our place before a medal or stableford round (including the par 3 course) and had just assumed the same applied to matchplay (even though I've played the odd match when someone has played earlier in the day).
 
Sports_Fanatic said:
Probably a very basic question but are you allowed to play the first set of holes as a warm up. I know you can't at our place before a medal or stableford round (including the par 3 course) and had just assumed the same applied to matchplay (even though I've played the odd match when someone has played earlier in the day).
Click to expand...

Just an honest question. Do golf ears no longer read rules books anymore and just hope someone else will point them in the right direction.

Its an honest question and not wanting to question your post.
 
Liverbirdie said:
If you cant win the hole, don't give it away easily, make them earn it.
Click to expand...

Big time, played my semi final tie last night and was 4 up at the turn against an 8 HC, he had to shoot under par on the back 9 to force a half match for me to lose it on the second extra hole. A very good tight match and a match I should have won to be fair as I had a 4 footer on the last to win and missed it.

Not disappointed to lose it as the guy played very well to beat me when I was at my best, 6 over gross last night. A really enjoyable tie to be part of regardless of how it ended.
 
Old Skier said:
Just an honest question. Do golf ears no longer read rules books anymore and just hope someone else will point them in the right direction.

Its an honest question and not wanting to question your post.
Click to expand...

It's a fairly irrelevant one for me to check as normally don't have time to do that as a warm up, and would just putt or hit a couple of looseners in the net, likewise I have no issue with someone being out beforehand when they mentioned they've played in the morning. So rather than get the rulebook out my bag which is at home, I thought I'd get it confirmed as I'm assuming the answer is it's fine.
 
My thinking is that I have not been beaten until there are not enough holes left. Anything can happen - and often does. So I just keep going - trying to stay in the hole and getting my ball heading towards the green, If I can get on or around the green and still within a couple of shots of my opponent I know I can still half or win the hole.

I won our club winter knockout last year. In each of quarter final, semi and final my medal score would have been in the mid-90s. Overall I played really pretty awful - but every time I had a chance to win a hole I did. And so I won each match - and came away with the silverware and my name on the comp board :)
 
Last edited:
Play the course and not your opponent. Always assume your playing partners next shot will be decent and don't rely on them making mistakes.
Only when you really have to do something special due to your competitors play on a hole should you potentially play a safer/more aggressive shot.
 
drive4show said:
Wrong!

What is the point in playing for a par when your opponent has stiffed it to 6 inches for a birdie? :eek:
Click to expand...

Hence the second line

Only when you really have to do something special due to your competitors play on a hole should you potentially play a safer/more aggressive shot.
 
drive4show said:
Wrong!

What is the point in playing for a par when your opponent has stiffed it to 6 inches for a birdie? :eek:
Click to expand...

I see what you're saying but think maybe he meant play your game not your opponents i.e don't let oppo dictate your shots/game plan/strategy etc

I could be wrong of course
 
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