First matchplay event

Got my first club comp on Sunday!

I know matchplay rules are slightly different and infringment costs the hole and not shots.

Are there any in particular I should look out for? Any little snippets or advice you care to share?

I'm up against the guy in the club who ends up at the top of all the lists So I'm just going out to enjoy the round and playing with someone new.

Good mornig, Matt, as you say, matchplay is indeed a different kettle of fish. A format that I enjoy very much.

The secret is to watch your opponent carefully and play him rather than  attempting to play the course.

Matt, John is quite correct about playing the player not the course.  Personally, as your opponent appears to win most of the competitions I'd start by telling him how easy he should be able to beat you, as this is your first etc.  Try to get him complacent.  If he's easily winning the first couple of holes give him some long range putts - the less practice he has on the greens the better and that may be crucial when it comes to the decisive 3 footer.   Remember, if he's won a hole and is striding confidently off the green you're allowed to practice your putts, disrupting his rhythm is also perfectly legitnmate.

However, if he's a good Matchplay player most of this won't work, but it's worth a try.  Good luck! 

Example:

If you are receiving a stroke on a difficult par 4, play conservatively and aim for a 5 rather than going all out to try to make par. The pressure is then on your opponent - he will have to make 4 to halve the hole and anything worse, he loses the hole.

my advice is be confident matt..i was off 20 last year and didnt see myself as the same level of the people i was playing off lesser handicaps...this was a mistake and cost me on many occassions..(though it didnt when i won a big major 2 months later )...id say be aware of your competition but be confident in yourself...youve played good shots before, youve sunk long putts..beleive all this can happen at each shot and prepare properly..try and hit a few balls and have a few putts before your round and get in a good mood...

also as the others say play the man...if he goes long and left dont fear going 5 iron off the tea and hitting straight...play percentages and with your handicap youll pick up a lot of opportunities....

off the "tea"...its been a long day...

Matt,

You need to play to your own strengths and if possible stop him playing to his.  My advice is: -

• Use the shots you have.  There's nothing more frustrating than getting a par against a bogey but only getting a half
• Don't worry about what score you take, it's irrelevant.  If you need a 6 to win the hole, don't try to get a 4 because that's the par for the hole
• Make him win holes, don't lose them (if that makes sense).  Make him have to work to win the match
• Disrupt him.  If he's a quick player, take your time.  If he's slow, be ready and waiting to play your shot so he feels rushed
• Give him false confidence so he gets cocky and makes mistakes.  On a driveable par 4 say something like "I expect you'll be going for this, you're driving well today"
• Be subtle or he will know what you are up to and blank it out

If you get the chance, have a round with John Pettit beforehand.  He's a master of the mind games

Matt, it's already been said, but play the man rather than the course.

You have shots on him so use them wisely.

Tim has already stated that if he's a decent player then he will know all the 'Tricks' and won't let him affect him.  There are no rules to say you cannot try some!

I played a player in my singles matchplay this year.  As the round went on he was nearly running to his ball.  Funny, but on that particular round I walked the slowest I've ever walked during a round of golf.

It worked, I won!

That is one thing you can do, if he plays fast, you play slow and vice versa.

You could take out your driver on the tee when he is to play first, then once he's hit his ball (hopefully into trouble!) you then put it away and take out an iron.

Concede his putts so that he doesn't get any practice, then when it really counts make him putt the three footer.  It's amazing how often this tactic works.

Nothing you should do should be 'Unsporting', walking slow when he's rushing isn't wrong, or even against the rules!

Seeing as he has a good record none of the above will work, but you want to make him work for his win so don't go blasting your driver out of bounds on a hole where you have a shot!

The one thing you will gain is experience, so learn from it and the next game you will be even better.

Good luck with your match.

Russ 

Matt , the pressure is all on him as he's expected to win, even playing well in matchplay it's possible to lose ( I knowhttp://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/angry_smile.gif" title="angry" width="20" />) . Your strategy is to find as many fairways and green sas you can  and hope your shots help. Matchplay is a series of battles to win a war and if you go down a couple keep plugging away it's amazing how the tide turns sometimes. Most of all enjoy ,watch and learn from the experience ,good luck.

I found out a lot of matchplay tricks from playing against Mr Ley, sneeky little Welsh ba...