Being kept waiting

Being kept waiting is an unsettling tactic. It can be employed before or during a game with the purpose of frustrating you or breaking your rhythm.

You arrange a match with an opponent who doesn’t show up at the pre-arranged time. You begin to wonder if they have forgotten. Thoughts may enter your head of a walk-over, feelings of annoyance or whether you have the time or day wrong yourself, etc. Then with minutes to go your opponent appears. By this time it’s easy to have lost your focus. Stay calm and focussed, people do get delayed and it's your opponent who will suffer through lack of pre-match preparation.

During play an opponent might wander along at a frustratingly slow pace, keep you waiting to play your shot or disappear into the club at the turn. This could be a tactic to annoy you or to slow down the speed of play. (see Speed of Play). Do not get up tight. If you feel the need to have a word then do so, but don't get stressed.

In the event you are kept waiting, make sure you maintain match readiness by keeping calm. Continue to practice your pre-match or pre-shot mental and relaxation routines and stay in the zone. This will ensure you don’t let your focus slip.

It's essential you maintain your composure and stay calm. It's better to give your opponent the benefit of the doubt rather than getting stressed should you suspect gamesmanship. A cool head in such a situation will serve to frustrate a gamesman when no reaction is detected.