Matchplay tips.

Oddsocks

Oddsocks

Ryder Cup Winner
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
17,309
Location
Croydon, Surrey
Visit site
Without getting into the gamesmanship tactics saturday i have to play an inter club match in match play format. Its just balls so me vs their other player straight out and no partner to rely on, the biggest advantage i have on my side is we are playing at home.

Because our weekly swindle is stableford, and I rarely play match play games unless their bounce games, does any one out there have any good tips on staying strong through match play. As a tester we played a 4 ball matchplay at the weekend and me and my partner managed to throw away a 2 up lead on the after 9 to finish all square. Im not sure if i relaxed too much but can look back at some silly shots dropped. Everyone was taking shots from me which i think added to the pressure.


Any help appreciated as this is my first matchplay come for the club and im trying not to be the weak link. Ill be hitting the range tonoight and thursday, with 9 holes on saturday on our 9 hole course before the match saturday afternoon.
 
Never take anything for granted. Always expect the other guy to hole putts. Always know how many shots he's had - don't forget to take into account any shots given/received.

After that I'd say play your own game. Don't try to change things. Play holes the way you would normally play them - unless he's gone OB then you can play safer - but make sure you keep the ball in play.
It's 18 separate games in one. Even if you're 4 down you can still win with 5 holes to play, keep going and never give up.
Actual scores don't matter - just take 1 less than him.
 
Cheers Imurg, The saving grace is ive played this course every week since christmas so know how its playing pretty well. Things seem to be going well at the moment and the new rossa behaved well on sunday with only 32 putts so all good on the putting front too.

The only downside at the moment is for the last 4 months ive been using Mycaddiepro app on the iphone which is not allowed to be used in this comp. So its back to working out my distances unless i can borrow a GPS from one of the other players in our club.
 
Certainly never ever give up. If you go 3 down after 3, what's important is not going 4 down on the next. Never let your head drop, match play can turn with one shot.

I don't think you can ever say you threw away a 2 shot lead after 9. That's only half way. On the other hand, if you are a couple up, don't think the hard work is done and you can go into cruise control.

Played 4BBB yesterday. Was 4 up after 7, and then they got it back to level after 13. We didn't throw it, they just went on a birdie and eagle fest. We had some birdies too, but not enough, and the eagle was hard to better. There was a patch in the middle where 7 holes in a row were won, halved or lost in birdies. We nicked a win for a half on the last, and were happy to escape with a draw from being 4 up.
 
I see ya point murph, 4 up after 7 would have had me on cruise control and there may have been my fault. If im honest i walked off 9 thinking it was a sure win (WRONG) my partner hadnt played since october so i was basically playing for both of us in a better word, i then proceeded to half the next 5 holes but shots meant that walking off the 14 all square. thats when the pressure piled on. and that was my head gone. played a pretty clean and well played 16/17/18 but if it wasnt for my birdie on par 5 18 i would have been screwed.
 
As the others said, never give up and never take anything for granted.

We have handicaps because we screw up now and then and nothing feels worse than losing or halving a hole you thought you were going to win. The answer is don't think you're going to win or lose a hole ever, until the ball is in the hole.
 
I love playing match play and always tell myself to expect the unexpected as at some point it will happen.

There is nothing more frustrating than if you think you have got the hole in the bag and then wham they chip in or hole a 20+ footer putt.

It also works in your favour from time to time :D :D :D
 
As others have said. Don't get over confident if you are holes up. Don't feel sorry for him and ease up. You need to concentrate on closing the match as soon as possible.

Always expect your opponent to sink that long putt or hole that chip. Never assume that you are going to half/win the hole when you are 2ft from the pin and he is off the green having taken the same number of shots. It's sod's law that he will hole his chip and you will miss the putt.

If you are holes down, keep playing your own game. Until the match is over, you can still win it.

Above all else, enjoy it. It is "only" a game after all.
 
oddsocks

Having played 2 Winter Knockout matches over the last two weeks i can confirm ALL of the above, including the 4 up (after 8) and being dragged back to all square by the 13th.
I also sunk a 25 foot putt for a halve, and missed another from 3 feet to lose the hole.

We also halved one par 3 hole in SIX, we both 3 putted from less than 20 feet, the shots before include water, trees, bushes, dont ask, only to say I had a putt for a birdie at the same hole yesterday and missed it by an inch.

A couple of things i would suggest, know exactly when you have/give shots, your at home so it will be easier. And check out his short range putting before you start giving putts, he will be nervous to.
 
Oddsocks,
No help on the matchplay side of things but wondered how serious a comp is it? the reason I ask is that you mention playing your course the morning before the actual comp, is this allowed or frowned upon? I know in our majors(board)comps you cannot even use the practice ground, only the practice putting area. I do not know our rules for inter club games. Woul dnot want you to be in trouble before you tee off...lol
 
Oddsocks,
No help on the matchplay side of things but wondered how serious a comp is it? the reason I ask is that you mention playing your course the morning before the actual comp, is this allowed or frowned upon? I know in our majors(board)comps you cannot even use the practice ground, only the practice putting area. I do not know our rules for inter club games. Woul dnot want you to be in trouble before you tee off...lol
Click to expand...


If its matchplay you can play the course as much as you want beforehand. You cant in a strokeplay comp and that is probably what your "majors" are played as.

Cant understand you not being able to use the practice ground unless its integeral to/and part of the course. Even then I believe it's generally ok if covered by a local rule

Chris
 
Lots of good advice, to which I can't add much, but I would say that singles match play, just you vs him, when it gets close down the stretch, is one of the best types of golf there is. Enjoy.
 
If its matchplay you can play the course as much as you want beforehand. You cant in a strokeplay comp and that is probably what your "majors" are played as.

Cant understand you not being able to use the practice ground unless its integeral to/and part of the course. Even then I believe it's generally ok if covered by a local rule

Chris

[/QUOTE]

Many Thanks. Will follow that one up at the weekend...
 
Just remember one bad hole is just that. It isn't like medal where a lost ball etc is usually the end of a challenging score. Here it is just a case of losing one hole. Keep plugging away on each hole. It is amazing how many times a holes can be halved or even won with a bogey or double even when the opponent has looked in the box seat. It only takes a duffed chip or a three putt.

I usually keep a rule book handy for inter-club matches as they can get (overly)competitive and sometimes you just get the odd guy who wants to win at all cost

Other than that, expect your opponent to make everything and enjoy and relish the challenge of one on one golfing battle
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Arthur Wedge
  • Poll Poll
Do you play in a swindle/roll up
2 3 4
Replies
68
Views
3K
fat80b
F
Pants
Shots in matchplay
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
sunshine
S
S
The mental health benefits of golf
2
Replies
38
Views
1K
Tashyboy
Tashyboy
P
9 Hole cards
Replies
19
Views
1K
Orikoru
Orikoru
sjw
Walking in a putt - poor etiquette?!
2 3 4
Replies
62
Views
3K
Mandofred
Mandofred
Top