Tee shot strategy

The goal in matchplay is to be aggressive, but not overly so.

The correct strategy can change from one hole to the next, depending on what your opponent has done. The key is to have an adaptable approach to every shot. Amateurs can sometimes get over-aggressive and think they’ve got to do something extra special to beat their opponent. Often, if they just play their normal game, hit the middle of the green and give themselves chances, they’ll wear their opponent down. Remember that par will often be good enough.

When to play safe:

Aggression is important to get on top, but remember to look at the holes you receive shots on and perhaps play them slightly more conservatively. Use the extra shot and make sure you hit the fairway and the green.

Risk and reward:

You know your opponent has got to be more aggressive on holes that only you receive a shot to get something out of the hole. That means they’ll take more risks and are therefore more likely to get into trouble.

Keep a firm right knee:

The key to building power in the backswing is to start from the ground up. You can do this by keeping the right knee firm in the backswing. Amateurs tend to sway or their knee collapses in the backswing, which means they lose power. This move helps to create width with the club tracking back more on the outside, rather than taking it away on the inside which can lead to compensations in the downswing and wayward shots.