Widdershins
Double Eagle Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2010
- Messages
- 1,155
Random draw doubles leagues and tournaments are common because they are fun and social. But like so many things in life there is an art to being successful in the process. Usually no one will tell you that the keys to having fun and playing well involve understanding and following the social and competitive interaction rules with your partner and group which could be called: the Unwritten Rules of Doubles.
Every player coming to the event has individual strengths and weaknesses, both in terms of skill in the game and skill (or value) in social interaction. In other words a player can be a benefit or a disadvantage to a team in terms of 2 very distinct considerations: scoring well and having fun.
Most of us have heard the phrase, the most fun wins. There is truth in this theory. I have won and not had much fun (though rare because winning by itself gives a measure of fun) and lost and had a great time.
Through the years and through hundreds of events I have been anywhere from the weakest to the strongest player present (in terms of skill or handicap ratings) and have drawn as a partner anywhere from the weakest to the strongest partners. Most experienced players have been in all the various roles from time to time.
A common situation is a top player draws one of the relatively weakest players in the field. It doesn't matter how good the top player is in terms of world rankings, just in terms of the players present. Usually the top player is more experienced in the game and better known socially in the group. At the draw the top player is at least somewhat disappointed (he could have drawn another top player) and the low player is excited or happy or scared (depending on their psyche).
Of course, both players have duties to make the team successful and the social duties fall on the top player as strongly as on the low player. Many top players don't understand this and get less help from their partners because of it. But lets start with the low player as they are often the ones who least understand their roles.
Rules for the Low Player:
Stay Positive
Don't Distract your own Partner
Help the Team a Little Bit
Figure out your Partner's Idiosyncrasies (individual weird tendencies)
Rules for the Top Player
Stay Positive
Figure out how to get a Little Bit of Help from your Partner
Carry the Team
When I draw the raw newbie (which is pretty easy to figure out, btw) I often tell them they only have two duties: Stay behind me when I am shooting and pick up the disc or mini if they shoot last. Many are incapable of doing these things, of course.
STAY POSITIVE Sometimes my partner is freaked out because they feel a lot of pressure to perform with a good partner. Some never recover from this the whole round. Some start out shaky and play great by the end. The Low Player should understand it is not their role to carry the team. If they only contribute a little bit it may the difference between cashing and not. Their job is to help the team and the first step to this is to stay positive. Keep trying. Don't give up. Don't look or act or talk to walk like you are giving up. Good competitors not only make good shots they look and act like winners. The first step in being a winner is looking like one. Adopt the posture and walk of confidence. Don't let a disappointing shot or series of shots change you outwardly.
DON'T DISTRACT YOUR OWN PARTNER Few Amateurs understand how different the custom of courtesy is between Amateurs and Pros. Not just Low Amateurs or Newbies, MOST Amateurs have poor courtesy by the standards of Pros who regularly play tournaments. I admit I am too sensitive to this but I am most upset BY MY OWN PARTNER who can't get out of the way and stop making noise while I am shooting. So a lower player reading this should at least understand that some top players may be crazily sensitive to noise and movement. Here is the simple rule: If someone is shooting make no noise or visible movement. Don't cough. Don't scratch. Don't slap a mosquito. As soon as someone steps up to a shot, especially your partner, stop everything until they release the shot.
Many players reading think this advice does not apply to them. I wish everyone could play a round with picky Pros to learn how exacting the Pros can be with courtesy. To be good at courtesy you have to pay attention and anticipate who is taking the next shot from where and move efficiently to be behind shooters or behind trees and learn how to be a statue. At bare minimum after you putt and miss, move behind the lie before your partner putts. Stay out of his sight line and keep quiet.
HELP OUT THE TEAM A LITTLE BIT If the team uses the Low Player's shots a few times in the round the Low Player did his job. If the Low Player throws safe shots in high danger situations (tight tunnel drives or risky putts with drop offs or upshots with close OB, etc.) this allows the Top Player to throw aggressively. You want the top player to throw aggressively. Even if a low player lacks great skill they can still play smart and be a great benefit. On how many holes would a drive which only goes 100 feet but stays in the middle of the fairway assure a par for the team? So rather than throw a hard but low percentage drive on a tight hole just lay it up and allow the Top Player to run it.
Don't try to copy the Top Player's lines if you don't have that kind of power or control. Play within yourself. It is the job of the Low Player to give the team a par. It is the job of the Top Player to give the team a birdie. Know your role. Do your job.
FIGURE OUT YOUR PARTNER'S IDIOSYNCRASIES We all are bit weird. Smart people are perceptive and learn to adapt quickly. The Low Player should try to figure out his partner and coax out the best shots from them.
I'm out of time. In the next post I will deal with the Top Player's Rules and maybe tackle other dynamics.
Every player coming to the event has individual strengths and weaknesses, both in terms of skill in the game and skill (or value) in social interaction. In other words a player can be a benefit or a disadvantage to a team in terms of 2 very distinct considerations: scoring well and having fun.
Most of us have heard the phrase, the most fun wins. There is truth in this theory. I have won and not had much fun (though rare because winning by itself gives a measure of fun) and lost and had a great time.
Through the years and through hundreds of events I have been anywhere from the weakest to the strongest player present (in terms of skill or handicap ratings) and have drawn as a partner anywhere from the weakest to the strongest partners. Most experienced players have been in all the various roles from time to time.
A common situation is a top player draws one of the relatively weakest players in the field. It doesn't matter how good the top player is in terms of world rankings, just in terms of the players present. Usually the top player is more experienced in the game and better known socially in the group. At the draw the top player is at least somewhat disappointed (he could have drawn another top player) and the low player is excited or happy or scared (depending on their psyche).
Of course, both players have duties to make the team successful and the social duties fall on the top player as strongly as on the low player. Many top players don't understand this and get less help from their partners because of it. But lets start with the low player as they are often the ones who least understand their roles.
Rules for the Low Player:
Stay Positive
Don't Distract your own Partner
Help the Team a Little Bit
Figure out your Partner's Idiosyncrasies (individual weird tendencies)
Rules for the Top Player
Stay Positive
Figure out how to get a Little Bit of Help from your Partner
Carry the Team
When I draw the raw newbie (which is pretty easy to figure out, btw) I often tell them they only have two duties: Stay behind me when I am shooting and pick up the disc or mini if they shoot last. Many are incapable of doing these things, of course.
STAY POSITIVE Sometimes my partner is freaked out because they feel a lot of pressure to perform with a good partner. Some never recover from this the whole round. Some start out shaky and play great by the end. The Low Player should understand it is not their role to carry the team. If they only contribute a little bit it may the difference between cashing and not. Their job is to help the team and the first step to this is to stay positive. Keep trying. Don't give up. Don't look or act or talk to walk like you are giving up. Good competitors not only make good shots they look and act like winners. The first step in being a winner is looking like one. Adopt the posture and walk of confidence. Don't let a disappointing shot or series of shots change you outwardly.
DON'T DISTRACT YOUR OWN PARTNER Few Amateurs understand how different the custom of courtesy is between Amateurs and Pros. Not just Low Amateurs or Newbies, MOST Amateurs have poor courtesy by the standards of Pros who regularly play tournaments. I admit I am too sensitive to this but I am most upset BY MY OWN PARTNER who can't get out of the way and stop making noise while I am shooting. So a lower player reading this should at least understand that some top players may be crazily sensitive to noise and movement. Here is the simple rule: If someone is shooting make no noise or visible movement. Don't cough. Don't scratch. Don't slap a mosquito. As soon as someone steps up to a shot, especially your partner, stop everything until they release the shot.
Many players reading think this advice does not apply to them. I wish everyone could play a round with picky Pros to learn how exacting the Pros can be with courtesy. To be good at courtesy you have to pay attention and anticipate who is taking the next shot from where and move efficiently to be behind shooters or behind trees and learn how to be a statue. At bare minimum after you putt and miss, move behind the lie before your partner putts. Stay out of his sight line and keep quiet.
HELP OUT THE TEAM A LITTLE BIT If the team uses the Low Player's shots a few times in the round the Low Player did his job. If the Low Player throws safe shots in high danger situations (tight tunnel drives or risky putts with drop offs or upshots with close OB, etc.) this allows the Top Player to throw aggressively. You want the top player to throw aggressively. Even if a low player lacks great skill they can still play smart and be a great benefit. On how many holes would a drive which only goes 100 feet but stays in the middle of the fairway assure a par for the team? So rather than throw a hard but low percentage drive on a tight hole just lay it up and allow the Top Player to run it.
Don't try to copy the Top Player's lines if you don't have that kind of power or control. Play within yourself. It is the job of the Low Player to give the team a par. It is the job of the Top Player to give the team a birdie. Know your role. Do your job.
FIGURE OUT YOUR PARTNER'S IDIOSYNCRASIES We all are bit weird. Smart people are perceptive and learn to adapt quickly. The Low Player should try to figure out his partner and coax out the best shots from them.
I'm out of time. In the next post I will deal with the Top Player's Rules and maybe tackle other dynamics.