11 Match Play Golf Tips to Dominate Your Opponent

Match play is one of the most thrilling formats in golf. Instead of grinding out every stroke against the entire field, you’re locked in a head-to-head duel—just you against your opponent. 

Every hole is its own contest, momentum shifts can swing in an instant, and the psychological battle is often just as important as your swing. As Seve Ballesteros once put it:

        “I look into their eyes, shake their hand, pat their back, and wish them luck. But I am thinking, I am              going to bury you.”

That’s the essence of match play—it’s golf at its most personal, strategic, and mentally demanding. A single hot stretch can flip the outcome, and one bad hole doesn’t mean your round is ruined.

To succeed, you need the right mindset, sharp strategy, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. Today, I’ll share 11 match play golf tips from my book, Wicked Smart Golf III: Tournament Golf Secrets to Perform Under Pressure. 

Match Play in Golf

While the rules of golf don’t change much between stroke play and match play, your approach absolutely should. Here’s why:

• One hole at a time: In stroke play, a blow-up hole can wreck your entire round. In match play, a triple bogey only costs you a single hole. That means you can bounce back quickly without letting mistakes snowball.
  
• Score doesn’t matter: It doesn’t matter if you shoot 72 or 92—you just need to win more holes than your opponent. Sometimes a bogey is good enough.
  
• Momentum matters: The psychological battle is real. A clutch par save or long putt can rattle your opponent and swing energy in your favor.
  
• Anyone can win: A player’s handicap or reputation means little in this format. You’re never safe, and you’re never out—every hole is a new opportunity.

Match play is less about “perfect golf” and more about mental toughness and strategy. That’s why the best way to approach it is with a clear plan and a resilient mindset.

1. Adjust Your Strategy After Their Tee Shot

One of the biggest differences in match play vs. stroke play is that you see everything that’s going on right in front of you. There’s no need to worry about the group behind or in front of you.

For example, if they blast one out of bounds or into the trees, it doesn’t always make sense to pull a driver and bring risk into play. Instead, take a safer club, keep it in play, and put the pressure squarely back on them.

On the flip side, if they hit one down the middle, don’t panic or over-swing trying to match them. Stick to your game plan. 

The key is staying flexible without abandoning your core strategy. Match play rewards smart decision-making as much as execution.

2. Play Your Game

It’s tempting to let your opponent’s choices influence you—especially when they get aggressive off the tee or go for a risky green in two. But one of the fastest ways to lose in match play is to start chasing their game instead of playing your own.

If you’re a steady fairways-and-greens player, lean on that. If your strength is short game wizardry, make sure you give yourself chances to show it off. 

The more you try to copy your opponent, the less trust and commitment you’ll have in your own shots. Confidence comes from sticking to what you do best, whether you're a scratch golfer or 20 handicap, play your game! 

3. Develop a Super Short-Term Memory

In stroke play, a double bogey or worse can derail your entire round. In match play, it just costs you one hole. That’s why the best match play golfers have what I call a super short-term memory.

Whether you hit one OB, miss a short putt, or lose a hole in brutal fashion—you must reset quickly. Walk to the next tee with strong body language and the belief that the match is still wide open.

Momentum swings fast in this format, and a quick bounce-back can turn the tide in your favor.

4. Expect Them to Pull Off the Impossible

One of the toughest parts of match play is watching your opponent drain a 30-footer or hit a miracle recovery shot when you thought the hole was yours.

Here’s the mindset shift: expect it.

If you’re mentally prepared for them to pull off something crazy, you won’t be rattled when it happens. Instead of thinking, “I can’t believe he made that!” you’ll nod, reset, and move on.

Expecting the unexpected keeps you steady and prevents momentum swings from shaking your confidence.

5. Don’t Hit Putts Too Hard (or Over-Adjust the Line)

In match play, you’ll often face must-make putts—whether to win a hole or extend it.

The mistake most golfers make is hitting them too firm or second-guessing their line. When you hit it too hard, you shrink the effective hole size and risk blowing it past.

Instead, trust your read and give the ball a chance to drop. Commit to the putt without overcompensating for pressure.

Match play rewards steady, committed putting far more than “smash it and hope.”

6. Make Them Putt

One of the biggest strategic levers in match play is deciding when to concede putts. While it’s fine to give early tap-ins to keep the pace friendly, don’t fall into the habit of giving away too much.

Even a three-footer looks different when the match is on the line. Nerves kick in, the putter feels heavier, and mistakes happen.

By making your opponent putt those little testers, you keep subtle pressure on them all day long—and you might just get a free win here and there.

7. Practice After the Hole Is Over

One of the sneaky advantages in match play is using downtime wisely. If you miss a short putt or misjudge a chip, don’t just walk to the next tee frustrated—drop another ball and hit the shot again (as long as the pace of play allows).

This builds a better image in your mind for the next time you face that situation. Match play is as much about confidence as skill, and rehearsing shots after the hole ends keeps your mental picture positive instead of dwelling on the mistake.

8. Use Mind Games (the Right Way)

Match play is a psychological duel, and little things can plant doubt in your opponent’s mind. 

For example:

• If you putt before them on a similar line and miss, act like you misread it.
• Pull a driver as a decoy, then switch to an iron after they’ve chosen their club.
• Adjust your pace—chat more with an introvert or go quiet with an extrovert.
  

The key is subtlety. These mind games aren’t about being disrespectful; they’re about tilting the mental balance in your favor while still honoring the spirit of competition. Check out my guide with 50 mental golf tips here to learn more now. 

9. Tell Better Stories (Momentum vs. the Match)

Golfers live and die by the stories they tell themselves. In stroke play, the story is usually about your total score. 

In match play, the story is about momentum.

If you lose a hole, don’t frame it as, “I’m 2 down and in trouble.” Instead, tell yourself, “I just need one spark to flip momentum.” Conversely, if you’re winning, remind yourself that closing is hard, and you need to keep applying pressure until the very last putt drops.

By reframing the story, you stay locked into the moment and give yourself the mental fuel to fight all the way through.

10. Keep Checking In With Yourself

In the heat of match play, it’s easy to get so focused on your opponent that you forget about yourself. That’s when bad decisions creep in—rushed pre-shot routines, sloppy targets, or emotional swings after a lost hole.

The solution? Pause and check in with yourself. Ask:

• Am I sticking to my routine?
• Am I committing to my targets?
• Am I letting their shots influence my mindset?
  

These quick mental audits help you stay grounded and prevent your opponent from dictating your game.

11. Stay in the Fight Until the Very End

Closing out a match is one of the hardest things in golf. 

Even with a big lead, opponents can rattle off birdies or get lucky bounces that flip momentum in a heartbeat. That’s why your mindset has to be simple: stay in the fight until the very last putt drops.

If you’re ahead, don’t coast—keep pressure on with smart, steady play. If you’re behind, keep pressing. I’ve been six down in a match before and still fought back to the 18th hole. 

You never know what can happen in match play, and that’s exactly what makes it so exciting.

Closing Thoughts on Match Play

Match play is golf’s ultimate mental test. 

It’s not about who hits the prettiest shots or who has the lowest handicap—it’s about who can stay steady, think strategically, and fight until the finish. 

Remember: one hole doesn’t define the match, momentum can swing at any moment, and winning is never easy. But that’s exactly what makes match play so fun—you’re not just playing golf, you’re playing your opponent.

If you want even more proven strategies to sharpen your mental game and handle the pressure of competition, check out my book Wicked Smart Golf III: Tournament Golf Secrets to Perform Under Pressure.

Inside, I dive deep into match play tactics, pre-round routines, scoring strategies, and how to stay mentally tough when everything is on the line.

Because when you combine smart strategy with the right mindset, you’ll be unstoppable in any format.