Playing in a match play tomorrow

[slickpitt]

This will be my first ever individual competition. I don't think anything is really on the line as far as win/lose, but I'm kinda nervous. I've played in various 4 man scrambles over the years, but never competed when it was just me. Other than the standard make sure I have balls/tees/13 clubs/etc... anyone have any tips specific to match play? Or just in general? I know how match play works.... but other than that I'm pretty much going into this blind not really knowing what to expect.

[Eracer]

I love match play, if only because it's hard to score big numbers, and that's what gets me down when I'm playing stroke play.

I'm no expert, but to me, match play is all about perseverance, and making smart decisions. Knowing when to take a chance and apply pressure to your opponent. Knowing when to play safe and let him make the mistake.

Never quit, since a match is NEVER over until it's over.

And most of all, play with total confidence, and without mercy. Your goal is to beat your opponent as badly as possible. If you can win 10 and 8, then do so. Never let up. But don't be reckless. Know your game, and play to your strengths.

Remember than every hole must be completed, unless it is conceded. And the person who is away ALWAYS has the honors, regardless of whether they are putting or chipping. And honors are in force on the tee. Whoever won the last hole has honors. Sometimes that's easy to forget in this age of "ready-golf."

Gamesmanship is more common in match play. Jack Nicklaus was famous for conceding putts, until the end of the match neared, when he would make his opponent putt everything out. Suddenly, when faced with a "must-make" putt, his opponents would crumble, since they hadn't had the chance to practice those putts all day. If your opponent does that to you, use the rules to your advantage, which in match play allow you to practice putt on the green of a hole you've just completed. So set up that two-footer and bang it home before you go to the next tee.

Bring a rule book. Match play rules (and penalties) are different than in stroke play.

And have fun. Match play sharpens the mind. I find I pay much closer attention to my shots in match play. Stroke play is just a "day on the course." Match play is a knife fight.

[gwlee7]

I have played in a bunch of Club Match Play Championships. The best advice is still going to be play your game and make your opponent beat you to win. Think about it for a second, there is a difference between getting beat and losing. If my opponent has to make birdies to beat me, then I am being successful. If I lose the hole with a bogey, then I am not being successful.

Case in point, I recently lost in this year's in an early round of our match play championship to a coholder of my home course's record (64). Although he did beat me 4 & 3 and that sounds like a huge defeat, he had to make a bunch of birdies to do it. I knew going in that at a 5 handicap and being ranked #43 out of 64 golfers, my chances were pretty slim. I was only 1 or 2 over par for the round when he closed me out. He beat me, I didn't lose.

[eclark53520]

You should have been sandbagging for the last month to get the cap up there so you can get more shots/not give as many shots...

Slow and Steady wins the race my friend. Like it was said before, shoot for par and make him shoot birdie to win.

[gwlee7]

It was a scratch tournament. That is why I was ranked #43. No strokes..straight up.

[floggerrushmd]

Never concede the putt that beats you. It doesn't matter if it is one foot or one inch never give that putt. Match play is all about the mind games. The more often you can get your oponent to be thinking "I wonder what he is going to do here" the better. I always loved to give honors to my opponent off of the first tee. Select a club that is strange for the shot, and wait till he had teed off to pick the club I was really going to play. It is not much but it lets your opponent know that they will get no clues as to what you are going to do unless you are playing first.

On every par three, if you don't have the honors don't pull a club until you are stepping up to hit. And begin getting an idea of just how far your opponent hits the ball. I focused on trying to watch what club he hit when I was near him (looking in his bag to see what is missing is completely legal) and doing it can throw some people off of their games. That way when you see that from 150 he hits an 8 iron, and you step up to a par three measuring 145 and he hits an 8 iron short you know to take one more club.

Other than that you just really have to let go of your bad holes and mistakes. Each hole is a completely new match that is the beauty of this format.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by floggerrushmd

Never concede the putt that beats you. It doesn't matter if it is one foot or one inch never give that putt. Match play is all about the mind games. The more often you can get your oponent to be thinking "I wonder what he is going to do here" the better. I always loved to give honors to my opponent off of the first tee. Select a club that is strange for the shot, and wait till he had teed off to pick the club I was really going to play. It is not much but it lets your opponent know that they will get no clues as to what you are going to do unless you are playing first.

On every par three, if you don't have the honors don't pull a club until you are stepping up to hit. And begin getting an idea of just how far your opponent hits the ball. I focused on trying to watch what club he hit when I was near him (looking in his bag to see what is missing is completely legal) and doing it can throw some people off of their games. That way when you see that from 150 he hits an 8 iron, and you step up to a par three measuring 145 and he hits an 8 iron short you know to take one more club.

Other than that you just really have to let go of your bad holes and mistakes. Each hole is a completely new match that is the beauty of this format.

I love putting my iron headcovers one club off. My 8-iron headcover says "7" on it, etc.

[eclark53520]

I was refering that to the OP, but you got balls going into a scratch match tourny...thats like running with the bulls

[slickpitt]

Thanks for the comments folks!

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by eclark53520

I was refering that to the OP, but you got balls going into a scratch match tourny...thats like running with the bulls

I played a scratch skins game at the local muni once. Had to play from the back tees. I was in a group with guys putting for birdie on half the holes. I felt really out of place, but did achieve my personal goal of six pars. These guys were striping drives way, way down the middle of the fairway. I was honestly 40-60 yards back every time. Even then most of the par 4's were a stretch for me.

It was pretty humbling.

[The Salt Vampire]

Originally Posted by Eracer

I love putting my iron headcovers one club off. My 8-iron headcover says "7" on it, etc.

You can ask in match play what the opponent has hit and the opponent must give accurate info. Messing around with headcovers is legit, but you must answer truthfully is questioned or else it is loss of hole. Same if you ask how many shots the opponent has taken so far. Can't say 3, if its 2, etc....

The person that is farther from the hole is away, regardless of whether they are on the green or not. Had a little controversy in a close match on the 17th a few years ago. I was on the green about 40 feet away and my opponent (who is a close friend) was 30 feet, but in a bunker. I was further away and wanted to go, to hit a good putt and put pressure on him. He thought he was away because he was off the green. He got pissed, checked the rule afterwards, realized I was correct and apologized. I only remind him of it every four or five months.

I think you also said in the opening post "13 clubs". You can carry 14, including your putter.

I love match play, hope you do too. Good luck.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by The Salt Vampire

You can ask in match play what the opponent has hit and the opponent must give accurate info.

I did not know that. I thought it was against the rules to ask for advice.

8-1. Advice

During a

stipulated round, a player must not:
(a) give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the

course

other than his partner, or
(b) ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or
either of their caddies.

Penalty for Breach of Rule :
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.

[warbirdlover]

Boy, reading some of these "strategies" makes you guys sound mean and conniving.... I like that.

[The Salt Vampire]

Originally Posted by Eracer

I did not know that. I thought it was against the rules to ask for advice.

8-1. Advice

During a

stipulated round, a player must not:
(a) give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the

course

other than his partner, or
(b) ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or
either of their caddies.

Penalty for Breach of Rule :
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.

It is not advice. It is information in a match and covered under Rule 9. I did not know this one until recently either. It is covered under the "Decisions" section in the Rules of Golf. The Decisions section is bigger than the New York phonebook and I don't have time to find it right now.

b. Wrong Information
A player must not give wrong information to his opponent. If a
player gives wrong information, he loses the hole.

[mddubya]

Good luck Slick.