Talk is'nt Cheap

just thought i had to share this....

i was playing in a team fourball/betterball match at the w/end. i was'nt paired with my usual partner, but with a guy who, lets say as slightyly more years in the game than me with a steady 14hcp.

we got off to a flyer..not.. 2down after 2 . this soon became 4down after 4..

we stopped the rot at 5. with a half....it stayed that way 'til 14 when, the afore mentioned partner 'opened his mouth'... it was a stroke of genius... he got to the opposition..

he was not nasty or anything like that, but he kept talking to them. things like "youve got this in the bag", "you 2 are on for 'biggest win' today" and the best was "you can drive this one" on what is a drivable par 4 for most......we laid up..they both went for it... 2 OB's later we are 1 down with 1 to play.... then a 2footer on 18 for an all important halve...

now i know this wasnt a record came back, but it was a great example of the mind games that can come with matchplay.. some may say its gamesmanship but like i said there was no malice, dont get me wrong my partner knew what he was doing, but no malice...

matchplay beats strokeplay everytime for me....debate?

All is fair, in love, war and matchplay.

It's all part of the pyschology of matchplay.  I would never condone unsportsmanlike or ungentlemanly behaviour, but the head games are sometimes what gives some players an edge over much better opponents - even more so when it comes to pairs.  I've sauntered down fairways with my partner in order to disrupt their ryhthm, given 4 foot putts to stop them getting the feel of a green (generally only works with less experienced  opponents) and even heard of people stepping up with drivers on short par 4's to unnerve the pair with the honour (yes, I'm looking at you Mr Ley).

It's all part and parcel of the format.