matchplay pressure...

[GOLFBALL_WHACKER_GUY]

...how do you handle it?

Just been drawn in our societies matchplay comp, against the organiser! The prize pot is over £500 so I really want to give it my all, but apart from asmall swindle ive never really played competetively, and I know he has a few mind games as fire power to pile the pressure on.
Im currently playing woefully off 26 having only playeda handful of times this year, where as he is playing off 17 so I get 9 shots on him on si holes1-9, but i always fall apart under pressure while playing.

Was sort of hoping for some cheeky hints on how to wind him up if i need them, im sure he will have a few jotted down on his wrist for me!

 

[duncan mackie]

Was sort of hoping for some cheeky hints on how to wind him up if i need them, im sure he will have a few jotted down on his wrist for me!

you need to win the golf, not the wind up stakes...

 

[GOLFBALL_WHACKER_GUY]

Dont get me wrong im not out for the wind up, more advice on how to cope with them, what to expect and some feed back on matchplay experiences. I played yesterday for thefirst time in four weeks, playing again tomorrow, going to try and get a twilight in during the week, but then its the match play on the following Sunday.

 

[duncan mackie]

Dont get me wrong im not out for the wind up, more advice on how to cope with them, what to expect and some feed back on matchplay experiences. I played yesterday for thefirst time in four weeks, playing again tomorrow, going to try and get a twilight in during the week, but then its the match play on the following Sunday.

my TIC observation was supposed to point out wind ups are only a factor if you let them ie just ignore all and any attempts and, if you can, feed off them positively eg think that he's doing that because he dosen't think he will win with his golf game alone etc

overall pressure is only brought to play by you, and only you. therefore the only person who can understand what needs to be done to deal with that pressure is you!

 

[drawboy]

Just beware of the obvious ones eg: "You are swinging well today". "You have a lovely grip"."Are you playing in the club championships, you are good enough to win it" and others that are designed to get you thinking about your tempo swing and your mechanics.
Once you start thinking about your game things will fall apart. I would shake hands on the first then keep the conversation to the minimum of nice shot and the like. You can chat after the game.

 

[Foxholer]

Relax and play your own game.

He's not that much better than you and giving you a stroke on half the holes. So there's more pressure on him thn you.

FORGET TRYING TO WIND HIM UP AND IGNORE ANYTHING YOU CONSIDER A WIND-UP! It's not the way to play and you will almost certainly, and justifiably imo, lose if you take that approach.

Play conservatively (bogey golf will be better than fine in your case!) only really going for the 'miracle shot' if it's absolutely the only way to halve the hole.

Could be worth trying to get in a 'matchplay practice' round before Sunday?

 

[Ian_S]

Just note how well he's knocking in those tricky putts. That normally breaks the concentration next 6 footer he's standing over

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Just play the game. Not a big fan of using wind up tactics and prefer to let my golf decide the outcome. All for playing around with concessions, giving a few and then making him putt a couple he might expect to be given.

 

[SaintHacker]

Give me matchplay over stroke any day of the week.
He is the better player, he will be expecting/expected to win, therefore the pressure is all on him. If he tries to wind you up, just smile. Use your shots, play conservatively. He will mess up at some point, and when he does be ready to pounce. If you want to engage in some mind games of your own and your confident with your short putts make him hole everything.