First time playing Match Play, tips?

Hey all,

I entered in my city tournament for the first time this year and made the cut for the championship flight in a 36 hole stroke play qualifier this past weekend, and the tournament continues in match play this weekend.  I played my first round of match play this week against my high school golf coach and I did pretty awful.  I'm hoping to do a little better this weekend.  I absolutely hate playing head games with people, it is my belief that you should beat someone simply by being the better player, not because you can make them angry or upset.  I also hate it when this is done to me, but I'm usually pretty good at dealing with it.  I'm just looking for some tips on match play, I am almost clueless on strategy and how to think during it.  I also don't know proper etiquette, like when to give people putts and such.  My old coach gave me grief a few times because I didn't give him a putt, and it was mostly just because I'm not used to being able to do that.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks :)

Match play is a lot of head games. Which I like. Give 'em some short putts in the beginning then as the match goes on make 'em start putting them out. Also if they say "good? good?" and you feel confident in your putt don't agree to it. I've found when people say that they're typically not feeling too great about the 3-4 footer they have left. Also realize it doesn't matter whether you make 4 or 40 on a hole; it's just a loss of hole and you move on. Just keeping making pars and eventually they'll break.

The head games aren't really that big of a part of it but I'd follow  what xman said about giving a few putts early. Regardless of the head games the person playing better generally will win so just play your game.

I really don't like doing that kind of thing though.  I guess I have to though.  I wish there still weren't gimmies in match play, that would make it easier for me.  I may try to find someone to play against for practice again tomorrow.  I need to try this stuff.  Oh, also I forgot to mention something.  I really need to do well in this tournament because this is the course that the college team I want to play for plays on.  The coach told me to play in this tournament specifically.

I'm going to go contrarian here.  Ignore all of the gamesmanship stuff in either direction and just play your game,  Bobby Jones, a pretty fair match play player, said that he got good at match play once he started ignoring his opponent and concentrated on beating Old Man Par.  If that is good enough for Bobby . . .

I've played a fair amount of match play.  You could try the head game stuff, give putts early, etc., but it's never really worked for me.  I have better success when I just play my own ball and focus on my shots.  When I start being too concerned where his ball is, always walking up the fairway guessing what his score is going to be for the hole, yada, yada, yada, it just takes me out of my game and I usually play bad.  Worse, when your assuming he's going to make a bogey or whatever, and he doesn't, it just gets in your head.

With stroke play your playing the field and, to me at least, it's easier to stay focused.  In match play your competition is just the guy you're playing with, and it's easy to spend too much time worrying or thinking about his/her play.

I've done much better when I've just put blinders on and just kept making pars......you'd be surprised how far that usually goes.

Obviously towards the latter holes you may have to alter your playing depending on the status of the match.

Also wouldn't hurt to take a look at Rule 2 Match play, and the match play sections in Rules 9, 10, 18, 19.  Especially 9.....could win you a hole.

Edit:  What turtleback said.

Well, I listened to what you guys said and just played my game.  I didn't try to play head games whatsoever.  I gave him putts if they were ones I thought he would obviously make, and other than that I just let him putt.  I was 7 up through 9 and tied him on the next 3 holes, 7&6.  Played some of the best golf I think I've ever played.  I'm playing a guy who is 38 years older than me tomorrow and is very good, but if I play like I did today he doesn't stand a chance.

Thanks for the help!

Be careful with this statement because although you breezed the first match an experienced match play player will grind.

I think had I been playing him today I would've been about 5 up through 9, but I get what you're saying.  If he had been playing against me that could've been completely different.  I was -2 through the first 9 holes on a very difficult Pete Dye course.  I'm actually a little bit nervous to be playing him, he is a straight down the middle player who putts very well.  We are polar opposites.  I can blast the ball 70 yards past him on occasion off the tee, but his short game is better than mine.  Also he's an obnoxiously slow golfer.  I think it will end up being a very close match, REALLY hoping I come out on top.

This can be tough for a fast player.  I'm fast and have found myself getting very fidgety waiting for a slow opponent to play.  You know you're having a problem if he's circling his putt and you can't stand still on the green.  Consciously slow down your walking, try to relax.  Take big breaths and breath slow.  While he's throwing up grass for the third time over a 30 yard pitch....try thinking about something unrelated to the match....something relaxing.

Good luck!

And BTW, going 2 under thru 9 works wonders as well.

Wear jogging pants and give yourself a raging boner and call him gay if he looks at it.  Seriously though just play your game and try to avoid the dumb bogies and make a few birdies and you should be fine.

Good luck from all us 38 years older guys.....is his slow play a deliberate tactic to p*ss you off ? As other posters said play YOUR game not his.

" is his slow play a deliberate tactic to p*ss you off ?" The person he was playing against today told me he's always like that, so at least I know he isn't doing it to make me angry :P

I think I'll be fine with his speed, I mean, I played with him today and did well, although not against him.

I actually play 36 tomorrow if I win, two matches.  But I'm just going to worry about the first one for now.

Thanks for the good luck wishes, I honestly just want to play well and if he beats me then he does, but I don't think he can keep up if I do.

Play your game but you seem to have the right frame of mind for this type of match especially with the description you give of him. You just have to know that he is going to make pars to possibly win or tie holes when you think you have the advantage. The game plan should remain the same in the fact that you play your game and don't get frustrated by him sinking a putt or chip that allows him to win or tie a hole.

Good for you.  Keep it up.  Good luck!!

Well, I lost :(  I didn't play nearly as well today.. we were even through 11 holes then he won 3 of the next 4 just because I made stupid mistakes.  I didn't play horribly, but I knew I would have to play well to win.  He beat an 18 year old (me) and a 19 year old in the same day, both 3&2, and is now in the semi-finals.   There aren't many sports out there where a 56 year old can do that, haha.

Make more birdies :)

Commiserations Unforgiven...this was your first and probably his fiftieth so experience was on his side. As the saying goes "live and learn" and next time be like Clint in Unforgiven and beat the sh*t out of them in your next match.