Match Play Mindset

[Marinemike]

Does anybody have tips for matchplay? Especially headwork?

The team at my unit plays a weekly matchplay tourney, and I got invited to play once and had the WORST round of my life. It was weird what was going through my head the whole time! They actually invited me back to play today, and I accepted, but I am really apprehensive.

One problem I think is that it's on a par 60 course. I think my mind relies on being able to get out a nice long club on most holes, and then switch over to short game. Here my mind doesn't get to switch around and I get all out of rhythm. Any tips out there?

[MiniMoe]

remember you are only playing one hole at a time. Do the best you can on that one hole. Win that hole or lose it, you can still only play one hole at a time. One more thing is to not be too aggressive. You want to play your game. Don't get sucked into gamesmanship. Just play golf and have fun.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Watch your opponents body language. If he looks frustrated or aggitated make him putt everything. If he looks overconfident, same thing. Chances are, he will get even more frustrated with you and it will effect his play in your favor. You're not tring to make a BFF, youre trying to win a match.

If the course is smaller, just think your mistakes will be smaller and you can recover from them more easy.

[David in FL]

Remember, it's not over until it's over.......

I had a tough day last Sunday. My buddy killed me on the front and had me dormie on the total with 6 to play. He finally ended up taking the total one up, but I won the back and almost pulled off the push on the total because he got a little too complacent.

[1par2win]

[QUOTE=MiniMoe;303698]remember you are only playing one hole at a time. Do the best you can on that one hole. Win that hole or lose it, you can still only play one hole at a time. One more thing is to not be too aggressive. You want to play your game. Don't get sucked into gamesmanship. Just play golf and have fun.[/ QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more. Gamesmanship is overrated. It can be fun at the right time with the right opponent but I have never lost to an opponent that used a lot of gamemanship during a match. I have lost to plenty of players that took care of their own business.

[bogeyhitter25]

If your opponent makes a good shot and puts the ball close, you have to attack the pin no matter where it's located.

If he makes an awful shot and will have trouble making bogey from where he is, hit the safer side, and two-putt.

[Rob]

I like to play as if it were stroke play,trying to make /do my best on each hole.If my opponent hits the woods,water,ect, I used to relax and the next thing I knew,my ass was beat because I lost focus. There ain`t no pictures on the scorecard,just numbers,and a hole is not over until it`s over,no matter how it seems after the tee shots! Focus,play hard,and you`ll do well.

[Jay-Bird]

LONG drives don't mean anything in a match. I'd much rather have the first shot to the green. Get it close and your opponent will feel the pressure.

[Marinemike]

All awesome advice. I'll definitely keep it since I'll probably be playing again in the next few weeks...even though I did lose by 3 holes today since my irons took a few (several) holes to warm up.

Some things I noticed...

1. Getting it close wrecks your opponent's game.
2. Definitely don't let up when he puts it in the woods. I lost more than one hole where he muffed his tee shot and then I 3 putted.