How to be a good Foursome partner

Wombatman

Was talking to a friend after his last practice round before his Pierce Purcell match.

He was saying that he is going to tell his partner, who is a bit vocal, not to offer advice unless he asks for it. The lads get on well but this was his position, mainly regarding club selection.

Then I was thinking how this might affect the big strategy decisions also.

For example, if their competitors hit their second, on a par four, into the water with the boys left to shoot, and they are facing tricky 180m water carry to the green, with a 150m layup option, 1 up with five to play, I think the options should be discussed.

Any tips on being a good Foursome partner and foursome match play strategy?

BigChap1759

I wouldn't want discussion on club selection unless it was agreeing go/no go for a par 5 or something but it definitely makes sense to discuss general tactics especially in relation to how your opponents are lying

GreeBo

Strategy selection doesn't have to be club selection.
Decide what you want to do as a team, let the player taking the shot decide how.

Kevinmarkham

Don't do this to your partner (aka my dad) and then expect him to listen to one word of advice!

Ben1977

Wombatman wrote: »

Was talking to a friend after his last practice round before his Pierce Purcell match.

He was saying that he is going to tell his partner, who is a bit vocal, not to offer advice unless he asks for it. The lads get on well but this was his position, mainly regarding club selection.

Then I was thinking how this might affect the big strategy decisions also.

For example, if their competitors hit their second, on a par four, into the water with the boys left to shoot, and they are facing tricky 180m water carry to the green, with a 150m layup option, 1 up with five to play, I think the options should be discussed.

Any tips on being a good Foursome partner and foursome match play strategy?

I find the best way is to only give advice if asked for. I've had a couple of different characters as partners. The player hitting the club has to be comfortable with it. I've changed clubs on advice from low HC before and hit **** shoots. Then again you are the only one who is best judge of your distance and flight of a club.
With a PP pairing the can easily put a 100yard shot in the drink as a 200yard shot

fullstop

Just ask if how he wants to play it at the start, or tell him to let you know if he wants advice. I've played a lot of barton shield over the years with a good few different people and the only two that have annoyed me have been the most vocal about telling me what to hit, where to hit it etc. One of them was a former international. We were all square playing 17 and our other match was 1 or 2 up and he tells me left is dead, which was obvious to anyone anyway. Snap hook

Macker1

Agree ground rules before starting and then only offer advice if asked. A good partnership should be based on trusting one another to do the right thing at the appropriate time. But if you a having a bit of indecision when over a shot ask you partner for his advice but in the end you have to be comfortable in the shot you are attempting to make.

Ronney

Agree from the start no "sorrys" for bad shots.

Positive thoughts and encourage each other

SnowDrifts

Playing in the Jimmy Bruen next weekend with a partner who I know uses Noodle golf balls. I neither like nor use them. Any foursomes events I have played in before have luckily always been with partners who use the same/similar balls to myself. What's normally done in these situations? Toss a coin?

m r c

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Playing in the Jimmy Bruen next weekend with a partner who I know uses Noodle golf balls. I neither like nor use them. Any foursomes events I have played in before have luckily always been with partners who use the same/similar balls to myself. What's normally done in these situations? Toss a coin?

If you are using pro v or similar this is going to be a pure cnut.

I'd ask him the question but if he was anyway inclined to use his own I'd go with that.
The last thing ye need is for it to be an issue.

And just accept that the noodle will go forever on a chip. And won't hold a green or two it's a bit **** really

SnowDrifts

m r c wrote: »

If you are using pro v or similar this is going to be a pure cnut.

I'd ask him the question but if he was anyway inclined to use his own I'd go with that.
The last thing ye need is for it to be an issue.

And just accept that the noodle will go forever on a chip. And won't hold a green or two it's a bit **** really

Yep... pro v's are what I play with. My short game is the strongest element of my game so tend to like to stick with what I know works.

I guess I will just have to see what happens. Won't be pretty if the greens are firm and I have to use a friggin Noodle

GreeBo

Im sure him using a ProV wont make much difference, especially if its your ProV!

SnowDrifts

GreeBo wrote: »

Im sure him using a ProV wont make much difference, especially if its your ProV!

Oh by all means - I have no issues of providing the goods.... it's just getting him to use them!

Played with him in a singles comp about a month ago and after me making a joke about him having nothing else in his bag to hit, he informs me that he only uses Noodle balls.

mags1962

I've found that even the most seasoned fella can get a bit nervous in a foursomes match and the key I feel is to keep things relaxed and upbeat.
Talk to each other, try and share a joke or two and put each other at ease, ask for opinions from each other, don't tell or offer anything unless asked.
I'd love to see two guys either at odds with each other or even better ignoring each other in a match, it's a team effort ffs, and on the saying sorry issue I will always ask my partner if he meant to do something that he needed to say sorry for? Nobody plays a poor shot on purpose so there is no need to say sorry.
Try to enjoy the challenge and you can only do that if you can play your normal relaxed everyday game.

BigChap1759

I would have thought it normal for whoever is driving to use their ball on that hole?

I guess the question you need to suss out is why he uses Noodles, is he just tight or does he genuinely think it suits his game best?

Johnny_Fontane

I've won a club championship with my foursomes partner. I'd be on great terms with them and we always discuss what each other would be hitting. If he thinks i have clubbed too much, I'd listen, have a quick chat about it and then both agree before hitting the shot, with the person hitting the shot making the final decision. sometimes it could be something simple like, if you hit that shot you bring the trouble into play, lets just get it on deck. simple stuff, but sometimes when the pressure is on, people dont see as clearly as they should and its can be hugely effective to have someone you trust working as your 'caddy'.

The minute you say something like not to offer advice, the group is bunched. Creates a problem which then will fester on bad days.

SnowDrifts

BigChap1759 wrote: »

I would have thought it normal for whoever is driving to use their ball on that hole?

I guess the question you need to suss out is why he uses Noodles, is he just tight or does he genuinely think it suits his game best?

He thinks they are good for his game and likes using them. Funny also that he is the lower partner of foursome.

There is no way I will alternate a pro v with a Noodle every second hole - it will either be one or the other and hopefully it will be the former.

BoardsMember

Re saying sorry, I'd be the type of person that would prefer to say sorry, it would help me put a bad shot behind me. I dont much care if someone else says sorry or not after putting me in the turd.

Rikand

I always have to say sorry and i always need to be forgiven for it by my playing partner otherwise mentally i cant move on from it. I tell my playing partners this in advance and they accept it. Its just who i am

Rikand

Also as regards the ball, i don't mind what i use, as long as i get 5 or 10 mins to putt with it first

Dtoffee

I think the key is confidence and knowing each others strenghts and weakness. I play with a guy who is ok out of the sand BUT hates chipping over a bunker ! so my job is to make sure I not leave him in that situation. Whereas I am crap with fairway woods and he knows my limits and accepts me hitting an iron short rather than duffing a wood. You have to trust your partner to do the right thing and be honest enough to work out your best strategy at each hole. TBH there are some players Id rather cut my arm off than play foursomes with, but as a game ... its a great test of patience and skill.