i have my first match play game on monday – do you guys have any tips to help me get the most out of it ?

Plan your play around what your partner does and not par on the scorecard…and always expect your openent to do the “unthinkable” (eg: chip it in etc) – then if they do – it wont be as big a shock to you !!

Good luck

As someone who has had reasonable success in matchplay (won my club’s singles matchplay title twice and doubles match play three times), my mind set is to keep the ball in play, and focus, focus, focus.

It’s also to recognise that I’m going to lose a few holes, even ones that I par. I cannot control my opponent’s golf, only my own. I expect my opponent to hit a good shot and try to match it, not hope for my opponent to make a mistake. As a general rule, play your game as you would normally play it, and don’t pay a lot of attention to what the other player does.

The only strategy to win is to play better than your opponent on the day! However, here’s a few thoughts:

• Keep your ball in play at all times. Play the percentages, not the high-risk shots (the exception being when your opponent has just done so successfully and you have to try a high-risk shot to stay in the hole).

• Always expect your opponent to make a shot. Nothing lowers your own confidence more than when they do it unexpectedly. If it’s a chip from off the green, expect it to go in. That way you’re never thrown off balance psychologically if it does happen.

• Play conservatively, at least early in the match, and particularly on holes where you get a stroke. Use your stroke to get close to the pin and provide pressure, not to chip out of the rough!

• More than anything, focus on the one shot you are playing now, not on the match or its status.

• If your opponent hits longer than you, this gives you first shot at the hole. This can be an advantage if you use it well. If you’re close it will put pressure on them to match your shot.

• If they are in the rough, focus on putting one conservatively down the middle. Don’t throw away your advantage with a low-percentage shot of your own. And it might pressure them into the “miracle” shot.

• If you’re unsure of a rule, ask. This is better than proceeding in a way that will get a penalty, often loss of hole.

• Forget the so-called “mind games”. Nothing psyches your opponent out more than good, consistent, straight golf.

• Never give up, even if you’re three down with three to play.

• If you have a disaster hole, take time to regroup. Look back at a hole you won to rebuild your confidence.

Generally, though, you don’t want to be taken out of your own game too much. As soon as you do that, you’re playing someone else’s game, not yours.

If you play your game, and just methodically continue to do so, it’ll put pressure on the other player. Play each hole the best you can,
ignoring as much as possible what your opponent is doing (other than rare things like the exception above), and you should do fine.

Good luck.

Have fun – totally different game which takes some getting used to. Don’t try any gamesmanship.

Yup, don’t listen to any of the mind game gurus.

You’ll probably find that your opponent will be a great person, and quite happy (as happy as you can be to get done) to lose to good golf. As you should be also.

Matchplay’s a great format, but the aim is still to get the ball in the hole with as little shots as you can.

thanks alot i’ll report back on monday arvo

I always tried to be even par (or just even with your handicap keeping a stableford type score) after 6 holes & then do the same over the next 6 & the last 6. If that is a bit beyond you try to do it in 3 hole corners.
Most of all have fun.
Cheers
Gez

Some mental toughness is always a key and also know all the rules of matchplay too (when someone loses a hole etc etc).

Take it one shot at a time as well. Don’t over think it and play percentages.

Never get lazy or cocky when in front and don’t get down and out when you are behind, golf is a funny game and one wrong stroke can change a game.

good luck and always enjoy!

and Never give up !!

...so how did you go?!

hey.. i won.. was 4 up with 3 to go..lucky as the guy had a shot each hole on me for the last 3.. played st michaels…. hey wheres my ball…err snake !

worst game i have had since some beer golf up the mountains with the soccer team end of year gig ha ha ha .. so i think i got lucky

Just goes to show . You don,t have to play well . You just have to play to win. Thats the attraction of Matchplay.

My match play tips

play % golf…its usally good enough to win…if it doesnt it means he would have won anyway no matter what you did

stick to what you do best. if Your oppnent is smashing his driver dont try and compete with him if your not a long hitter

thats about it really

Never give the opponent an easy hole. Always try to hang around and make him win the hole, don’t hand it to them.

Concentrate even harder on your putting early in the round. If you sink a couple of putts early you give your opponent the impression that the putts will go in and it will put more pressure on him standing over his own putts.

Don’t make him hole out every time. Give him a couple early when it won’t affect the result of the hole, but make him putt out the occassional 2 or 3 footer. This can put pressure on him that there is something more to the putt and can trick an inexperienced opponent into over reading the putt and missing.

Always try to play safe. Matchplay isn’t about shooting the lowest score you can, it’s about winning more holes than your opponent. If that means lagging a 10 foot birdie putt on a hole your opponent has bogeyed, that’s what you do.

Always be aware of the state of play. Be sure of what your opponent is sitting before you decide on your next shot.

If you get your nose in front, play conservatively. Go for safe halves and put the pressure on him to make the big plays to win the hole. This is even more important at the back end of a match.

And most importantly, stay calm and always give your opponent the impression that your in control of your game, and will not choke.

if your a low marker and youre giving him 6 or 7 holes on handicap you have to attack the harder holes a bit because the higher marker will make halves (a win for him) on the 300 m par 4’s by simply parring the hole unless you make birdie and maybe the 450 m par 5’s if you have a couple

You need to play the 380-400 meter par 4’s well if your a lower marker

the opposite is true for the higher guy, you need to attack the 400 meter par 4 but you can still scarmble par on the 450 meter par 5 or 310 m par 4

It comes down to picking your moments when to attack and when to hold back

In addition to my earlier comments, Dave has raised the issue of giving/receiving shots. Using simple logic, if you get a shot on a hole that is a long par 4 play conservatively and try to be up somewhere near the green for two, putting him under pressure to knock his second on the green, and close enough to the hole to have a chance at birdie. If you are within up and down range after your second shot it will put alot of pressure on his second shot. And believe me, nothing gets to an opponent more than making a good score on a tough hole only to lose or halve the hole to someone getting a shot.

Alternatively if you have to give them a shot, the best option is attack as much as you can, but be happy to walk off with a half. Make par so your oppponent needs a par to win the hole.

yeah say on a par 5 trhat isnt long but has a dog leg in it…its rated number say 5 or 6 on the course…if your giving him a shot…..he makes 5 you have to make 4 to halve…you have to attack if he hits a good tee shot

its often a shot by shot decison….when youre on a hole that youre giving a shot away (if youre the lower marker)

this is tough….its why so many 10-15 handicappers win match plays at thier club champs…they can still play the game but if he gets 6 shots on the 6 toughest holes over say a 3 handicapper …the 3 handicapper has to really play out of his skin to win

I play off 11 and love playing low guys in match play…I might get 4 or 5 shots on the toughest holes….to me thats great

Know the rules and how they are applied, particularly in relief situations, one of the most misapplied is relief from staked trees and immoveable obstructions.
cheers peter

Alternatively if you have to give them a shot, the best option is attack as much as you can, but be happy to walk off with a half. Make par so your oppponent needs a par to win the hole.

There is a reason you give a stroke to a player and it is generally because they are not as good a player as you. Moving out of your comfort zone on the basis of the need to “attack” is not playing the percentages. It’s gambling.

For what its worth…..NEVER touch an opponents ball, NEVER concede a hole unless you mean it ( can’t take back a concession ) and NEVER pick up your own ball unless you are absolutely sure the opponent has conceded. Stick to these and at least you won’t give a hole away.
Baz

Publish,

I agree to an extent but also disagree with your last post to an extent. Are we talking about club matchplay when there are h’caps involved or interclub matchplay? Anyway, I walk talk about matchplay with no h’caps involved. When I used to play pennants, our team consisted of 11 guys ranging from handicaps of 5-9. I was the only player in the team who played off less than 5 (scratch). Why did I play at a club like this? I liked the blokes, all mates, good club but that is another story, etc. When we played other clubs, their teams all had players on h’caps of 5 or more. When it was my game, I went for broke from the first hole. It was to put fear into my opponent that I could hit it past him by 40, flush it, blade putts etc and it worked almost every single time bar a few as the other guy had the game of his life. That happens. If I was 3 up with 4 to play, I would want to nail him to be 4 up and win. That extra hole “win” helps at the end of the season.
Attacking or taking a risk is up to the individual but if you have doubt in your mind, do not do it. Risk can lead to failure at times but being smart is what it is all about.
The worst thing you can do is play the game you do not usually play. If you opponent see’s that you are trying to hold the game or indeed hold your score in strokeplay, he will sense this and lift on occasions. Well, thats just my 50 cents.Each to their own I suppose. Try attacking in your next matchplay game from the first tee and see if it works for you.

There was mention earlier about strategies for the harder holes as that is where shots may be given on handicap. I was under the impression though that while the stoke index is based on hole difficulty, the matchplay index is usually the same on all courses and is based more on the order in which the holes are played.

Can someone clarify this?

That is true at most courses. The club match committee does have the option to change the matchplay index of thier course . WE did so several years ago as when using the standard system the first three shots were to be given on 3 par threes. All we did was swap around the front & back nine indexes. Strangely enough since then the course has been redeveloped, The front nine & the back nine have been swapped & the matchplay index has reverted to the standerd system.