Preparing for tryouts

[right handed phil mickelson]

i say that the best thing to get ready for high school golf would be to check out some of the courses if you know where you are playing. Check out the greens, distances, and type of grass.

try to work out on the range what would happen during a round

for example: if you have played that course before and know a vertain hole on the course you can pretend to play that hole on the range while you are practicing. make a fairway for yourself.

if you can, try and play a practice round at the course. these things help tremendously with your game in tournaments. Last year on the team I never shot below a 100. Now, im shooting in the low 80's high 70's because of these things, and because of how much i pay attention to the factors that affect your play.

[GDWindowpane]

I think this is really a personal decision. I think there are some pros that don't do that much range time. Can't remember where I read that but I know I did.

My son is the same way. He hates range work and because of this, doesn't get much out of it. He would rather spend his time on the practice and chipping green. He works his full swing on the course.

We play a game of worst ball when we practice on the course. Hit two balls and play the worst ball. Hit two from there and play the worst, etc... Of course don't play this game when the course is crowded...

He started number 3 as a freshman. He's shooting for number 1 this year. Hopefully he'll make it...

Good luck and have fun...

[vthokies4life5]

  HotBite said:

Our varsity players (Every player on the squad) used to shoot 70-76 in tournaments...."lucky 36" is probably not accurate :)

This is the same for my high school. Our golf team won the state championship in 2003, 2004, 2005 and was runner up in 2006. But our team is losing a lot of seniors so there will be open spots and hopefully i can one

[Quinn07]

Another good thing to try and do, especially if you are a member at one course, is to try and rotate between the different tee boxes. I usually move from all the way back to all the way front. This will not only give you different looks at your own golf course, but it will also force you to play shots that you are otherwise not accustom to hitting.

[Teyber]

  vthokies4life5 said:

This is the same for my high school. Our golf team won the state championship in 2003, 2004, 2005 and was runner up in 2006. But our team is losing a lot of seniors so there will be open spots and hopefully i can one

haha my high schools team is awful now

[Doctorfro]

If I may....preparing for competitive golf requires productive practice and deliberate playing. Yes, you need a mix of both. Don't mindlessly beat balls on a range. You must spend time on the long swing. But after watching a high school match today, I am convinced more than ever that most young golfers do not spend enough time practicing their short games. Not many can hit effective bump and runs. Most of them want to use their most lofted wedges for all their short game shots. And most of them cannot use their 60° wedges worth a crap. Putting? Oh my gosh. I saw putting strokes today that were....indescribable. Now when it comes to playing, I think you need to make a game plan, do your best to execute that plan and learn to have a "Plan B" when you make mistakes. I see so many young players who, after making a bad swing, try to make up for it with a miraculous shot. Sometimes you simply have to take your medicine (and your bogey) and walk on to the next hole. But I see alot of very poor course managers every week. One of my biggest bits of advice is learn to put your driver away. Every one loves to hit the big stick but the percentage of drivers that hit the fairway as opposed to those hitting 3 wood or even hybrid is extremely low.

This may have sounded like a rant but I watch a lot of high school and junior tour golf and I see so many strokes left on the course. I've coached basketball and golf and I see many a player leave the playing field discouraged simply for making too many mental errors. Get smart, practice well, play hard. Learn something every time you're on the course or at the practice area. And most importantly, have fun (thanks mighty ducks, quack!)

[DKunks]

its tough to say... the only way to lower your handicap is to card a lot of low scores, but the only way to card low scores is to practice the shots that make it happen.

it depends on your level of satisfaction w/ your game. if you are happy being a 15, than just keep playing rounds, If not, you need to evaluate where your game needs work and practice so you can start shooting low 80s to get your handicap down.

what is the handicap of the #1 player on your HS team?

[vthokies4life5]

  DKunks said:

what is the handicap of the #1 player on your HS team?

Im not sure. Many of the players on the team are seniors so they will graduate. But I know one of the freshman will consistantly shoot low 70's.

I think in order for me to have a chance I will need to shoot upper 70's- low 80's

[Kcas77]

The best way to improve is to chart everything that happens when you play this includes fairways, putts, chips, pitches, and sand. This will allow you to see what you need to work on. For example if your hitting the fairway but not the green you need to work on your iron shots.

[Parker0065]

A lot of great advice for you in this thread.

Here's a basic routine that I used to reach scratch level in my younger years and I'm now applying it to my sons golf game.

1) Always get to the course in time to do a proper warm up. I know, I know everyone has excuses of why they can't make time to do it, and that's exceptable for old guy's like me that have a career, family, and other responsibilities. But if your a young player trying to make a team or develop a career in golf then there are no excuses for not going through a proper warm up. For me it's as simple as hitting 15-20 balls on the range, and chip, putt for 20 min.

2) Play every round like it's a match. Pretty much self explanatory, play by the rules.

3) After the round go back to the practice range/ putting green and practice. This is where you will really begin to improve. The key is to go practice the shots or clubs that caused you the most problems on the course. What makes it so productive is that your misses are fresh in your memory and when you narrow your misses of your worst shots your score will drop dramatically. It also has a very positive effect mentally because lets say you go play and hit terrible long irons that day, work on them after the round and fix your problem. You will leave the course feeling good about the round knowing you corrected a problem and will have more confidence in hitting your long irons the next time you play.

Good Luck!!

[abris33]

it depends on what your tryouts are like. if you play a round then yes i would play after school(most days) but like somebody said before if you have one flaw in your game that can be improved then i would also work on that. set out a schedule of playing and going to the range until you get the flaw fixed.One other question ,is the course you are getting the membership at the same one you're trying out on.if so i would play more rounds of golf to familiarize yourself w/ the course

[vthokies4life5]

  abris33 said:

One other question ,is the course you are getting the membership at the same one you're trying out on.

Maybe but probable not. Our school practices at a local country club so im guessing it will be there

[Iowa Hawkeye]

I played 9 regulation and the 9 par 3 course every week night, but we had no range close by... Spent time every night on the practice green as well. Par 3's really helped my irons.

[abris33]

i would also play on the course you will be trying out on(but i would make sure it is the one you think first.)