Description:
There are good golfers, and there are good match-play golfers, and the two are not always the same. In match-play, each hole is its own mano-a-mano competition. The pressure can be enormous; just look at the tension that pervades Ryder Cup competition. But--and this is especially important for nonprofessionals--each hole is also a new start, meaning a slipup here or there will not haunt you through the entire round. Never Out of the Hole is an instructional geared to match-play and the fine line its tactics tread between polite good manners and cut-throat gamesmanship, like how to fairly and gently induce the opposition into hitting the wrong club. Much of it is, by nature, psychological, and Never Out is never afraid to be ruthless. How can you tell when your opponent's about to cave in? The first sign is "his lips look very dry and he's licking them alot (sic)." The second: "He continually looks at the ground between shots, and/or his shoulders are slumped." When you see this, it's time to go for the kill. Since not every opponent is likely to tip over easily, Never Out offers plenty of smart, long-haul tactics, from how best to stretch to get loose and comfortable before a match to when to concede--and not concede--the putts your opponent prefers thinking of as gimmes. To help you identify and build on the traits a golfer needs to succeed at this pressurized competition, the authors tee up example after example of how great match-players like Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Lee Trevino, and Ben Hogan succeeded (hint: they all had a knack for superb recovery shots to keep pressure on opponents). It also presents a good primer on specific match-play rules and gambling opportunities. --Jeff Silverman
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