Gamesmanship Revisited

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Within hours of my post yesterday about gamesmanship, I got a phone call and e-mail from my mom. She was quick to point out that the definition for the word “gamesmanship” according to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition indicates that it is a synonym for “cheat” or “trick”. She added, “It would appear that when you emphatically imply that you never cheat but suggest that you use verbal trickery under the ruse of gamesmanship they are not the same thing. Aren’t you very close to crossing the line?” I’d say that gamesmanship does come close to the line, but does not cross it.

I sent my mom an interesting article at golfonline.com about gamesmanship. The author, Eamon Lynch says, “Let’s be clear: Gamesmanship isn’t cheating.” Lynch then goes on to quote Dr. Richard Coop, Golf Magazine’s mental game guru who says, “It doesn’t violate the rules but may violate the intent of the game, which is sportsmanship.” She explicitly pointed that blurb out to me. Mom makes a good point there.

From there, I turned to one of my favorite players in the world. Tiger Woods has an interesting section in his book, How I Play Golf, concerning gamesmanship.

He says, “If you can get into your opponent’s head and throw him off his game, that might be the edge you need to close a game or match.” He goes on to say, “I love mind games. They’re part of the fun of golf.” He then lists his top five favorites (probably where I got some of my own):

• Really lean on a drive, then react as if you mis-hit it.
• On your way to a drive that you nutted, take a quick look at your opponent’s ball as you walk by, hesitate for a moment as if you think it’s yours, then proceed to your drive.
• Concede two or three short putts then make your opponent putt a kick-in.
• Make your opponent putt several gimmes, then concede a questionable two-footer.
• After you’ve out driven an opponent on a day marred by swirling winds, take a club you have no intention of hitting on your opponents approach shot and make a few practice swings. If he’s stealing your club selection, you might get him to guess wrong.

He discusses more about tempering the mental game. I recommend picking up the book for a look into the mind of a player that should eventually go down in history as the greatest of all time.

I think the key to the sportsmanship concern is determined by what you’re playing for. If you’re playing for fun with someone you just hooked up with at the course, then these things are probably bad form. But if it’s against someone in a match that you’re committed to win, then you’re not doing everything you can if you don’t employ a little psychology. There are obviously limits, like if you’re already pounding your opponent into the dirt. There’s no need to step on his back on your way to the awards presentation.

I don’t condone breaches of etiquette like coughing or moving during someone’s swing. But I think mind games between shots are in play. Once you reach a certain level of skill, the game becomes very mental (at least more so than when you’re a weekend duffer). If you haven’t tempered your mental game, then you’ve left yourself with a weakness that can and will be exploited, no different than if you don’t work on your sand play or long approaches or any other aspect of your physical game.

Make no mistake: if you and I are in a serious match then I’m in it to win it. I’m going to do what I can to win. I won’t break the rules, and I’ll do my best not to commit any intentional breaches of etiquette like moving or making noise during your swing and the like. I’ll be cordial, respectful, and friendly. However, if you show up and aren’t mentally prepared, then I’m going to use it to my advantage. If I manage to topple you for the win, I’m going to reach down, help you get up and dust yourself off. I’ll offer to buy you a soda. I’ll smile and genuinely mean it when I wish you the best. But I won’t for one second regret employing psychology to win.