Golf Tryouts Tomorrow - Need Advice!

[live4u120]

Well I'm extremely confident heading into tomorrow. I eliminated my pull-hook today, and I feel like I could bust my 7-iron 200 yards. (I can't obviously, but I was bang-on)

I don't wanna get ahead of myself, but I would love to hear some tips to keep myself calm and from getting nervous at tryouts. This is my first sport I've tried out for. Any tips would be helpful.

And I'd like to take the time to say thanks to this forum, for giving me tips and help when I needed it. If it wasn't for you guys, my swing probably would be disgusting. So thank you!

And these tips don't exactly need to be tips, they can just be helpful advice while I'm playing.

[kpaulhus]

I would stay hydrated and eat some pasta tonight. Get plenty of sleep. Based on your handicap, you shouldn't have too many issues. Just go out there and have fun. Fun=Low Scores

[Gioguy21]

wake up, have a good solid breakfast, banana and cereal...somethin substantial

[normdamarine]

Understand before you get to the 1st tee that you will make bogeys. At your handicap you will and that is OKAY! I play a lot of competitive golf and the hardest thing I have a problem with is staying in the game. I get really relaxed when I go a few under and then the next thing I know is I am back to even or 1 or 2 over and I am like what happened. SO stay in each shot, they are all very important.

Finally, this is the most important when you are trying to make a team. You may find yourself making a few bogeys in a row and you get nervous and start to think you are struggling and the other guys are playing great and will make the team. GUESS WHAT! THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING! Stay cool and you will be fine...

[uttexas]

I've seen your videos; your swing is excellent. You don't have anything to worry about regarding your swing/golf ability.

Agree with the have a good dinner/breakfast and get plenty of sleep.

Be a good listener, be attentive, and have good manners. Be positive and enthusiastic.

[jamo]

Understand before you get to the 1st tee that you will make bogeys. At your handicap you will and that is OKAY! I play a lot of competitive golf and the hardest thing I have a problem with is staying in the game.

This is the perfect advice. As someone who has tried out for and made my high school's golf team 4 times, all you need to try for is bogeys and pars. If you catch a perfect lie with the perfect club fromthe fairway, go for the birdie, but otherwise, just don't beat yourself up.

Good luck, you'll do great!

[Three Putt]

I would do whatever you normally do for sleep and for breakfast....eat what you normally eat for breakfast, don't change it up now! Same goes for sleep.

Advice for course....before every shot think to yourself...."This is going to be an awesome shot (or putt)...I wish the cameras were out here rolling tape!"

[natp0wers]

Just have fun, if you hit a bad shot, laugh and shake it off. Try and stick to the same pre-shot routine, if you have one. Stay hydrated.

[leezer99]

A lot of golf is built around routine so think about what you are doing here before your round... you are essentially breaking your routine. The day you shot your lowest round on the toughest course did you ask a group of people beforehand for advice? What about when you are just going out to practice, do you ask for advice? Most probably not... Stop thinking about your tryouts as anything more than just playing a round of golf and you will be fine. As for your daily routine, keep it exactly the same as any other day you'd go out and play. Your routine is what it is so don't try and change it now. Helpful advice for the first tee and throughout the round is just to have fun. Be confident that the time and effort you have put into practicing will lead you to where you want to be.

[murphmjm]

Just have fun, you're going to do excellent!!

[Ben]

Understand before you get to the 1st tee that you will make bogeys. At your handicap you will and that is OKAY! I play a lot of competitive golf and the hardest thing I have a problem with is staying in the game. I get really relaxed when I go a few under and then the next thing I know is I am back to even or 1 or 2 over and I am like what happened. SO stay in each shot, they are all very important.

wake up, have a good solid breakfast, banana and cereal...somethin substantial

Just have fun, if you hit a bad shot, laugh and shake it off. Try and stick to the same pre-shot routine, if you have one. Stay hydrated.

That is all very solid advice. I can suggest the following. If you have played this course, make a gameplan for how you are going to play each hole tonight and think about it. Think about it while you are trying to go to bed (without any other distractions. No TV, no radio).Think about it when you are waking up. Think about it when you are driving to the course. Hole 1, I want to hit a drive up the right side. I want to hit my PW to the green. I want to make my putt. Hole 2, 3... When driving to the course, that's all I think about. Round after round after round. Burn the ideal round into your head before you play it. "Head stays down, putt goes it". Tell that to yourself while getting ready to putt. Try and stay light-hearted and calm and fresh. Golf is a game and it is fun to play.

[mn723]

Best of luck to you. I'm not sure what you are trying out for, but I'll assume it's a high school team or something like that. First of all, realize that at that level everyone is prone to posting a big # and don't get down on yourself if you do as well. I remember in high school that my coach told me to break the round up into 3 hole "mini-rounds" and have total score goals for those mini-rounds. Also, forget what happened in the last mini-round when you go onto the next. This will hopefully keep you from getting too high or down on yourself through the tryout/match. Shoot for the middle of the greens and not the pins, few players at that level have the game to pin-hunt under pressure. When pitching and chipping, a ball on the ground is much easier to control that one in the air. Point being, putt whenever you can off of the green and play low running shots instead of high lofted shots when you can.

Have fun

[Three Putt]

How did you do?

[live4u120]

Golf tryouts postponed due to rain. They will be held Thursday. Which is good and bad because one, I can get practice in on Wednesday, but bad because I have to wait even longer.

Although right now I'm confused on whether or not to go to the club tomorrow because I don't have a membership. But my friend says that appearantly, if You're with the Coach he'll let you go play 9 holes.

So I'm pretty confused right about now. Haha

[mn723]

Golf tryouts postponed due to rain. They will be held Thursday. Which is good and bad because one, I can get practice in on Wednesday, but bad because I have to wait even longer.

Go to the club and play with the coach, they'll most likely let you play. Clubs are always giving student golfers access to their course as long as you respect the opportunity, it's good PR and advertising for potential future members!!!

[live4u120]

Okay, thanks. I'll do that then!

And also, how do you guys feel about 44 as my goal? Last time I went up there I made a 43, and when the added nerves of tryouts, I think it'll be a little more difficult. (I don't know if I mentioned, but we're playing the front nine on the first day, and I think all 18 on the final cut of tryouts. 44 is my goal for front 9.

[mrt10x]

I know that pros often have a target goal score, however, this never works for me. Especially if I am getting close to it as the round draws to an end.. it simply increases the preassure over each shot. I would instead, concentrate on makeing every stroke count. Stay in the moment, concentrate on every shot and try to make it the best shot you can. This does not mean take risks, the best shot may be a lateral punch out to get back in the fairway. But dont lose your concentration on that shot.. dont be factoring it into that final target score... just keep your head down, execute the shot, and then figure out how the next shot will be as perfect as possible.

Finally, it has been my experience that your attitude, team spirit, and maturity will play a very important role. You may not have your best round ever, however, if the coach sees you handle it well, there still may be a spot on the team for you.

[kleraudio]

Keep your head behind the ball, one piece takeaway, "release" the club,dont set your wrists too early, lateral hip bump, keep the angle to create some lag, keep the right leg stiff, soft hands on chips, head down on putts, rhythm, tempo, concentration on each shot, rotate around your spine angle, start the downswing with your weight transfer, inside out swing path, full extension after impact, try and get your divot in front of the ball, fire your right side after impact, drop that right elbow on the downswing, keep right elbow connected in backswing, club in front of your chest on takeaway......

LOL Im just kidding man!

Relax out there, take it one shot at a time and put your absolute best effort into each and every shot. After the shot, dont think about it and accept the results. The only shot you should ever think about is the one your about to hit....

Youll do great!

Good luck!