Matchplay

[Macster]

I know there are mixed opinions on Matchplay, but I'm really enjoying it these days, and won my main Club knockout 1st Rd last night, 3&1, and giving away 9 shots.
Even won one of our other Main events last year too.


After scraping through the qualifier Medal, I decided to just 'go play' without caring about the result, and.....Result !

But it got me thinking - what little strategies do good Matchplayers use when playing Matchplay ?
Not talking for periods when you're opponent is clearly a chatty person ?
Taking extra care/time over your Putts, when he plays quickly ?

You know, the little ways you can make your opponent start thinking a little more than he'd like, whilst not playing games as such ?

Any tips ?

 

[fundy]

Love matchplay but dont take it so seriously that Id go quiet on a chatty person or try and slow down a quick player ffs, its a game for enjoyment.

Probably the one change I do make is later on in a game I may try and ensure I get to hit my approach first but thats about it tactics wise apart from keeping the ball in play and making the oppo make the mistakes

 

[Oddsocks]

not sure on tactics as such, but i never pressure myself, that can have match wrecking results. Still relatively new to matchplay comps but in the few ive played ive picked up one bit tip, play your strengths.

generally im pretty good off the tee and off 14 i was playing a guy off 6 in a inter club comp. what he hated what i could match him distance wise off the tee and this meant he had to hit greens and two putt when i could miss with a shot, he hated this. i come back from 6 down (let pressure get to me and he's game phase me) to all square, i was 3 up at one point.

another older chap i was playing even though i was giving him 9 strokes said on the first tee " im going to struggle with you today if your driving is on form ". i knew he was worried about my long game and the ammount of time i hit long off the tee he would fall apart on he's second shot because he was worried before id even played mine.

Matchplay is definately a mind game, if you can find out what part of the game their scared of and then keep banging that in its easy. Last week i turned over a 9 hc who is one of if not the most consistent in our club. he hated the fact that i was 40 yards longer than him off the tee, i was winning holes with tee shots and it made it easy work

Sunday is the finals of our match play singles championship,.... watch it all go to pot now!

 

[Region3]

But it got me thinking - what little strategies do good Matchplayers use when playing Matchplay ?
Not talking for periods when you're opponent is clearly a chatty person ?
Taking extra care/time over your Putts, when he plays quickly ?

You know, the little ways you can make your opponent start thinking a little more than he'd like, whilst not playing games as such ?

None for me I'm afraid. I just (try to) play golf and if that's not good enough on the day then so be it.

Got my first match of our Summer KO tomorrow, and I'm getting 6 shots

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I love matchplay. It is good for me being a little erratic (at best) and so the odd bad drive isn't a card wrecker. I'm not hugely into tactics but will give a few putts early on and then see a few short ones later. Other than that I wouldn't change the pace of play etc to try and put someone off or anything like that. Just enjoy the challenge, the company and the golf

 

[RGDave]

What's terrific about matchplay is folks "going for it" when all seems lost on a hole.

Something truly wonderful always happens, be it one moment or 18 of them! I don't mind if it's my opponent (as long as I'm up )

Chip ins, crazy high tariff shots over bunkers, driver madness on short holes. Cracking.