A clever way to wear down your next match-play opponent

By: GOLF Editors July 14, 2025

Have a big match against a buddy who can also take a joke? Then boy do we have a trick for you.

On this week’s episode of Emergency 9, Subpar co-host Drew Stoltz shared an easy prank you can pull off on a buddy if you both happen to be walking the course during a match. Why? Because it will give you an advantage later in the round. And also because it’s pretty funny, and golf is about fun, right?

“The goal here is to make your opponent’s bag as heavy as possible,” Stoltz said, “thus decreasing their physical stamina as the round progresses, thus increasing the amount of their money in your pocket.”

Here’s what you do.

Either grab balls from your shag bag at home or pick up a dozen or two from the range when you get to the course (but make sure to return them!). Then, when you get time, slowly start unloading them into the top of your playing partner’s bag. (You do this because they won’t be able to see them; if you load them in their bag’s pockets they might eventually notice.)

Be warned, though: you can’t put all the balls in at once since the weight difference would be noticeable, but done gradually it can sneak under the radar.

“It’s as simple as that,” Stoltz said. “All it takes is a few compliments (to distract them and drop in the balls), a little slight of hand and all of a sudden your opponent will deteriorate down the stretch, thus resulting in more money in your pocket.

“And if your friends are anything like mine, the last thing they will do is admit to the bag being too heavy.”

For more from Stoltz, check out the full episode of this week’s Emergency 9 above.