Good ways to battle nerves?

[Kryptic]

I'm going into my sophomore year of high school and I'm going to be trying out for my high school golf team. Try outs are in 3 days and I'm really nervous about them, I don't want to go out there and tense up and just play bad. Do you guys/girls have any good tips to calm nerves?

[rustyredcab]

Others may have more successful tips. Here's mine:

You are going to be nervous. That is normal. The trick may not be "how to stop being nervous" but instead to learn to play while nervous. Lean into the nerves. Breath. Deep. Steady. Fell like you are slowing things down before your shots. Enjoy the tryouts. Those nerves are what you hope to have during the season when you make the team.

Let us know how it goes.

Good luck!

[barbm12thtee]

Others may have more successful tips. Here's mine: You are going to be nervous. That is normal. The trick may not be "how to stop being nervous" but instead to learn to play while nervous. Lean into the nerves. Breath. Deep. Steady. Fell like you are slowing things down before your shots. Enjoy the tryouts. Those nerves are what you hope to have during the season when you make the team. Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

That's good advice...for everyone.

[chdduncan]

Best advice to you is to have a great pre-shot routine. This is the determining factor that has made playing nervous a lot easier to deal with.

You got to practice your pre-shot routine on EVERY shot. No matter if your on the course or on the range. It develops confidence.

Hope this helps

[Motown88]

I can remember being in your shoes and you're going to be nervous. I found getting that first shot of the day in play and in good position helped calm me down. While a lot of other kids will take out the driver and try to kill their tee shot, take a club you're comftorable hitting and just put a ball in play. It may not be as far, it may not help you par the first hole, but it will get you off that tee box and get your round started the right way.

[Yukari]

Getting nervous is natural. Even Tiger Woods says he gets nervous on the first tee (from some of his tee shots on the first tee, that is obvious). I think it was Jack Niclaus who said he always teed off with a 3 wood on the first tee. That is a good advise. On the first tee, hit the club you trust the most-even if it is an iron. You want to hit a good shot right off the bat. That will get you relaxed and calm your nerve right away.