While the purest form of golf requires holing-the-ball every time on every Hole, match-play is still a ton of fun.
If you’re a member of a private-club or you’re a match-play fanatic in any capacity, you’ve probably played in a match-play setting more than once or twice. Unlike individual stroke-play, match-play is a format that pits you against another golfer. Inherently, this type of format is more personal than stroke-play; and it feels that way.
In a stroke-play tournament-environment, golfers ought to-be most concerned with playing the golf-course that’s in-front of them while paying-attention to whoever they’re playing with (or their competitors) minimally; or to such a limited-extent that each-player (in every group) knows when it’s time to-play (/their turn) and, also, knows (at least-) one of their playing-partner’s scores on a hole-by-hole basis for marking purposes.
Other than those exceptions, stroke-play demands a more self-centered mindset that is geared towards the individual/the-course; or one where you’re operating in your own little-world; playing your own game.
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Within match-play, there’s one-goal to-keep in mind, above all else, and that’s winning. You should be of the mindset that there’s always another hole until there isn’t. Furthermore, the consequences of our shots/actions can no longer be framed/thought-of as numbers/scores (of-) which are measured against par; as (making-) eagles/pars/birdies/bogeys (etc.-) are not of the utmost importance.
Rather than measuring ourselves against par, we should “grade” or judge ourselves (/our per-hole/scoreline/match-outcomes) using the only possible-outcomes that exist within match-play; and those are winning, losing, and halving.
In the more casual net match-play environments, you’re doing what you can in-relation to your handicap. In other words, let’s say that a 7-handicapper plays a match against a 15-handicapper within the club’s net club-championship formatted bracket. If the 15-handicapper, unofficially, “posts” an 82 (or lower), he’s probably going to mop-the-floor with his Opponent, virtually by default, nearly every time.
If handicap doesn’t exist or play a role of any kind in the match play tournament’s chosen-format, the stakes tend to go-up in your own head; given that you’re playing against someone who is more-or-less just as good as you are. When the match play playing-field is leveled; which means that giving/getting-strokes isn’t part of the equation, there’s often a lot more going on mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Here are some tips that; hopefully, help you improve your game in standard match-play and net match-play environments, with an emphasis on the former format.
The “Do’s” of Match Play
Play Your Own Game: In other words, refrain from veering off-course by playing/assessing-yourself in the context of your opponent. If your opponent smokes the golf ball, don’t swing hard in an effort to catch up to him.
If your opponent hits his 6-iron from the same-tee/distance that calls for your 4-iron, don’t try to “prove” anything about your game by pulling 5-iron. Accept that your version of you (or your good/best game) is good enough to beat him (or his).
Take Advantage of Having the Honor: While this (/the following example) should never happen, it does, and that’s failing to tee-off first when you’ve earned the right to exercise the honor on-the-tee. In match-play, momentum is real/more-tangible than it is in other formats. Moreover, it’s your job/goal to apply pressure onto your opponent as much as possible; and oftentimes that’s achieved by making sure that you play before he/she does.
Win the Battle On-The-Greens: The putting surface is where lots of matches are won and lost. Carry yourself with confidence and assertiveness on-them; and don’t be the guy who’s staring at his opponent with angst whilst approaching his 2.5 foot-putt.
Hold Onto Your Home-Course Advantage: On your home-track, you probably know every break on every green and all-else around the course. Unless your opponent inquires about specific-information regarding your course’s characteristics; such-as distances, the locations of hazards, and where a hole goes (or turns; like a dog-leg left/right), it’s not your job to inform them; although you don’t want to “withhold” key-info from your opponent, either, as this might be interpreted as questionable-sportsmanship depending on the situation/person.
If winning is the number-one priority above all else, then don’t feel compelled to open your mouth until/unless you’re asked to.
Play When It’s Your Turn: It’s true that it’s typically in your best interest to apply pressure (by playing first) from the tee-box. As we near the hole, however, it can be beneficial to watch your opponent play his/her shot before you play yours.
If your 1-v-1 match is all-square thru 17 holes and your opponent’s tee-shot comes to rest further-away from the hole than you are and he’s also electing to help the third-guy in your group find his ball that’s located somewhere near the out of bounds markers, then it’s probably in your best interest to wait for your opponent to play his approach-shot before you play yours.
Sure, it’s possible that your opponent ends-up stuffing his approach shot to within feet from the cup before you’ve had the chance to answer (-thusly applying pressure to you). At the same time, however, he may dump his approach into the green-side pond; which means that you can assume the prudent-strategy that applies to that particular situation and via taking the trouble out-of-play.
Take It One-Shot (and hole) at a Time: Like stroke-play, match-play rewards those who do what they can in-the-now; or in the present moment. If you’re 2-up standing on the tenth tee or 2-down, your strategy from off-the-tee remains unchanged.
Pick and choose your spots to play aggressively or conservatively in a committed fashion while also using common sense. In other words, exercise more caution than Mito Pereira did on the 72nd hole of the 2022 PGA Championship.
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On that fateful day, the Chilean golfer stepped onto the tee-box of the par-4 18th-hole needing a par to win the Wanamaker Trophy and a bogey to-force a playoff. With water running-down the entire right-hand side of Southern Hills’ finishing-hole and nothing-but golf-course (or rough) on the left, Mito assumed too much-risk when he aimed down the center of the fairway and, ultimately, pushed his tee-ball into the creek down the right-side.
The “Don’ts” of Match Play
Giving Your Opponent Missable Putts: Don’t concede any kind of short putt that you, yourself, might have trouble making.
Depending on who you’re playing, or if you don’t know your opponent’s game well, don’t assume that he’s comfortable making “straightforward” 2.5/3-footers on-the-greens. When it comes to identifying concessions, there are different strategies that you can implement to maximize your advantage on the greens. Sometimes, making your opponent putt-out his 2-footer (to halve the hole) on the first-or-second hole and not do so again until the 15th hole (or around there) is a sound-strategy that works well; for it can make your opponent feel uneasy about short-putts as the round progresses.
If he misses that shortie or if you know your opponent isn’t a great putter, then don’t hesitate to make him hole-the-ball from whatever length.
Think Before Accepting/Refuting a Good-Good Concession-Offer As Well As Offering Your Own: If your opponent’s par-putt is 3.5 feet above-the-hole and yours is resting pretty at 2.5 feet below-the-hole (closer and/or easier), then your opponent’s good-good offer should likely be rejected; as his offer comes from a place of doubt/fear.
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As a general rule of thumb, do your best to refrain from offering-up “good-good” concessions; as the offerer (of them) typically doesn’t trust his own putting. If you’re 6-up on the 12th green and you happen to-be a stronger player than your opponent is, then accepting a good-good offer from your opponent may be the wise move; as you may not want to be perceived as having no mercy.
Don’t Lose Your Poise: In a critical moment of your match, there’s nothing better than watching your opponent lose his mind/temper on the course as it gives you fuel to-finish ‘em off. Golf is a frustrating game even when the stakes are low, let alone when they’re raised/high, and showing negative-emotion is only going to make the game harder than it already is.
After you’ve struck/played a bad-shot/hole, hold your head high and accept, in your own head, that the next-shot is going to be a good-one. Getting down on yourself isn’t going to do you any favors in any kind of circumstance; and match-play doesn’t have time for competitors who fail to-manage their emotions well; and/or lose their competitive-edge.
In your next match, try to-be the guy who sets the tone-early by conceding nothing that you’d be uncomfortable holing-out yourself. If you have a bad-hole, commend your opponent on a well-played hole and begin walking to the next-tee whilst reminding yourself of how you’re planning on executing your game-plan from off of it; rather than dwelling on the past.
Although the scorecard in match-play is littered with dashes and check-marks that indicate won/lost/halved-holes and aren’t relevant to the numerical-scoring that’s inherent to stroke-play, both formats forms of play require golfers to-keep their emotions in check and to-take one-shot at a time. Upon losing your own head in match-play, your opponent is going to profit from your inability to exercise control over your demeanor (even more so than he otherwise might be in stroke-play); and he may profit to such an extent that it propels him to victory over you.
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Aside from those examples related-to how not to give your opponent the edge over you, be advised that you should never feel guilty for making your opponent putt-out any length of putt; unless it’s REALLY short (clearly inside 2-feet; and a 2-footer is extremely missable). If your opponent ends-up getting angry with you for making him finish-out a putt that he happened to make (or miss; this time!) from 2-2.5 feet, don’t respond to his attacks by feeling bad, because you’ve done nothing wrong; and accept that he’s the one who has the problem; not you.
In fact, his anger likely presents itself due to his own anxiety about putting the short-ones. If you’re of the belief that his putting-stroke is questionable/shaky, then don’t hesitate to double-down on not-offering a concession; and make him putt the short-ones all-day; or whenever the opportunity presents itself. Especially in match-play, the putting-surface can be an awfully revealing sight to-see.
Instead of being/appearing to-be vulnerable on-the-greens, never show any sort of outward negative-emotion in your opponent’s presence; and in the event that you feel that your next-putt is a gimme (and he makes you putt it anyway), go thru your own-routine whilst paying no-attention to your opponent and knock your putt in without a second-thought.
In order to get more-comfortable over the short-ones, you need to practice them in all sorts of settings. When you decide to-decline your opponent’s next good-good offer during your next-match and, then, you proceed to sink your putt while he also misses; you’re going to be happy you worked on your putting.
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