Match Play

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Has anyone found that there is always one shot in a match thats turns it one way or the other have been playing in a inter club foursomes match play where we have won our first 2 rounds and in both games there has been one hole or shot that looking back was the changing of the match. The first one was a putt we were 1 up playing the 8th they had hit it to 8 feet we were 30 away we hole our putt and they miss theirs to put us 2 up instead of being all square we won the match 4&3, the second we were on up after the 9 playing the 10th a par 5 we were in the bunker off the tee both teams about 220 from the green the other team layed up i pulled out the utility and just missed the green we got up and down to win the hole and won the match 4&2. Havent really be on the end of a great shot that turned a hole but when it happens has anyone ever recovered to win the match?
Mike

 

[Smiffy]

We were one up against HTL and Homer on Sunday when they hit a purple patch. Homer got the first birdie to level things up, HTL got the next to go one up and then on the very next hole HTL hit a bunker shot that went straight in for birdie that with all due respect he could have stayed there all afternoon and not repeated.
It was like a dagger blow and we had gone from one up to two down in the space of three holes.
Kinda knocked the wind out of our sails and we couldn't recover.

 

[rgs]

Matchplay generally hinges on one hole. In our inter club games last year my partner and myself won 2 and lost 1 of our three games and all turned on one hole.
Our first V K Club away turned on a 60 ft putt made by my partner for a half on the 10th, if the ball missed it was well past the hole--you could see our opponents confidence drain after the putt.
Our second game at home hinge on our index 1 i hit cracking drive and 9 iron to three feet, sunk the putt to go two up, match finished 2 holes later.
Our loss also hinged on one hole--we were playing away and playing poorly but hanging on when we lost the 11th thanks to me missing a short putt to win the hole.
C'est la vie.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Rgs it was against your club on sunday in the barton, what team do u play on, in the other match there was a 12 year old playing could only hit it 150 off the tee but was brill from what i seen on his short game looks like one for the future i think he finished 12th at the world championship for his age group the guys in our club are getting some slagging getting beat by a 12 year old.
Mike

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think the thing with our match against Rob and his mate Norman on Sunday was that we were 2 up at the turn and even when they won a hole either HTL or I would play the next well to get a half at worse or restore the 2 up lead. We simply gelled as a team and even if one of us was out of a hole (normally me) the other was playing it well. I guess that's the secret as to why we have our unbeaten record - we play as a team.

I agree that most matches have a pivotal moment. On Sunday it would have to be HTL holing his bunker shot on 9. In most cases though it is normally a hole you lose from nowhere (usually ending in a defeat overall) or a hole you suddenly play well especially if you have been struggling that acts as a catalyst.

I have to say I'm better as a team player than an individual matchplayer. I seem to lack the killer instinct on my own but have a more relaxed approach in pairs (knowing HTL will bail me out again)

 

[birdieman]

Disagree.

If you accept that matches turn on one shot then you are preparing yourselves to give up psychologically. Matchplay is never over until that winning putt is in the hole.

Need to adjust your on course thinking.

Mr Woods would remain positive about winning even if he was six down with 7 left.

 

[ColinR]

I played in a match on Sunday in the club singles knockout against a guy of the same handicap. I was 2 down after 2 holes, then 2 up after 12, then 1 down after 17. The game went to the 19th hole where I made par, he didn't.

I never thought I was going to lose this match, even walking down the 18th being one down I felt very strong. I really enjoyed the feeling of confidence.

 

[GRAEMBO]

Dormi 2 down in a singles match last year, my opponent hit it into 2 feet at 17(par 3) from the tee, I holed mine! And won the next....got beat down the first though!!

 

[Herbie]

Hi,
Has anyone found that there is always one shot in a match thats turns it one way or the other have been playing in a inter club foursomes match play where we have won our first 2 rounds and in both games there has been one hole or shot that looking back was the changing of the match. The first one was a putt we were 1 up playing the 8th they had hit it to 8 feet we were 30 away we hole our putt and they miss theirs to put us 2 up instead of being all square we won the match 4&3, the second we were on up after the 9 playing the 10th a par 5 we were in the bunker off the tee both teams about 220 from the green the other team layed up i pulled out the utility and just missed the green we got up and down to win the hole and won the match 4&2. Havent really be on the end of a great shot that turned a hole but when it happens has anyone ever recovered to win the match?
Mike

Yes I have recovered to win on a number of occasions, but I never look at one shot being the make or break of the match unless it is the final winning shot.

 

[rgs]

Hi,
Rgs it was against your club on sunday in the barton, what team do u play on, in the other match there was a 12 year old playing could only hit it 150 off the tee but was brill from what i seen on his short game looks like one for the future i think he finished 12th at the world championship for his age group the guys in our club are getting some slagging getting beat by a 12 year old.
Mike

Play on the McDonald Cup team.

The young lad is a superb kid--good player not long but damm straight with a super short game--i have played with him a few times and he is a credit to his parents. His older brother plays off 6.