How to Prepare for Middle School Golf Tryouts

Middle school golf tryouts can feel intimidating because the player may not know what score is required, what the coach will evaluate, or how much experience the other golfers have.

The wrong approach is spending the final month making major swing changes and hitting driver after driver at the range.

A golf tryout normally tests more than the appearance of your swing. The coach needs to see whether you can advance the ball, manage the course, keep score, play at an acceptable pace, handle bad shots, and respond to coaching.

I coach high school golf and have helped lead our team to the state finals in back-to-back seasons. When I evaluate a developing golfer, I am interested in the complete player—not one perfect drive.

This 30-day plan will help a middle school golfer prepare the full game before tryouts.

Contact the Coach Before Building Your Plan

There is no universal score that guarantees a spot on a middle school golf team.

The number of available positions, size of the school, strength of the program, course difficulty, and number of students trying out can all affect the selection process.

Before beginning the 30-day plan, contact the coach or athletic department and ask:

What are the tryout dates and times?
Will tryouts include nine or 18 holes?
Which tees will players use?
Will there be a range, chipping, or putting evaluation?
How many days will tryouts last?
Does the player need an official handicap?
Are players expected to walk and carry their bags?
What forms or physical examinations are required?
Is there a particular dress code?
Are range balls and green fees included?
Will the team have varsity and junior varsity levels?

Do not ask the coach to predict whether your child will make the team. Ask for the information needed to prepare properly.

If the tryout includes nine holes, the golfer needs to spend part of the month playing nine holes. Range practice alone will not recreate the decisions, routines, penalties, uneven lies, and pressure of actual golf.

What Do Golf Coaches Look for at Tryouts?

Score matters because golf teams ultimately compete by counting scores. However, the scorecard does not tell the coach everything about a young player.

Here are several areas a coach may evaluate.

Consistent Contact

A developing player does not have to hit every green or drive the ball a long distance.

The golfer should be able to advance the ball with reasonable consistency. A shorter shot moving toward the target is usually more useful than alternating between one great shot and several tops, chunks, or penalty balls.

A Functional Short Game

Middle school golfers will miss greens. The ability to chip the ball onto the putting surface prevents one mistake from becoming several.

A player who can get most basic chips onto the green gives the coach something reliable to build upon.

Putting Speed Control

Young golfers do not need to make every long putt. They need to control the first putt well enough to reduce three-putts.

Distance control from 20 to 40 feet and confidence from three to five feet should be priorities during tryout preparation.

Course Management

The coach will notice whether the player understands where to aim and when to choose a safer shot.

A golfer who keeps the ball in play, aims away from major trouble, and takes a simple recovery shot can score better than someone who attempts a difficult hero shot every time trouble appears.

Pace of Play

The player should be ready when it is their turn, limit unnecessary practice swings, watch every shot, and walk with a purpose.

Golfers also need to know when to hit a provisional ball and how to conduct a reasonable ball search under the rules being used.

Honest Scorekeeping

Players should count penalty strokes and record the correct score even when the hole did not go well.

A coach needs to trust the scores submitted during tryouts and throughout the season.

Coachability and Behavior

Golf reveals how a player responds to frustration.

A coach will notice whether the golfer listens, treats playing partners respectfully, controls negative reactions, and stays engaged after a bad hole.

A mistake on one hole should not change the player’s attitude for the remainder of the round.

Begin With a Nine-Hole Baseline Round

The 30-day plan should begin on the golf course.

Play nine holes from the same or a similar tee distance expected during tryouts. Follow the rules, count every stroke, and do not take mulligans.

Track these five numbers:

Total score
Tee shots kept in play
Penalty strokes
Chips required around the greens
Total putts

The score establishes a baseline, but the other numbers help explain it.

For example, a player may discover that the swing is functional but five penalty strokes are ruining the round. Another golfer may keep every tee shot in play but require several chips and three-putt four greens.

Those players should not follow the same practice plan.

Use the baseline round to identify the two areas costing the most strokes.

Week 1: Establish Contact and a Routine

The first week is about creating predictable fundamentals.

Do not attempt to rebuild the entire swing one month before tryouts. Check the setup, identify the normal ball flight, and work toward a playable shot.

Full-Swing Practice

Choose a target lane between two range markers.

Hit three sets of 10 balls:

Set 1: Short or mid-iron
Set 2: Hybrid or fairway wood
Set 3: Driver or expected tee-shot club

Track how many shots start and finish inside the target lane.

The player does not need to hit every club perfectly. The goal is determining which clubs can be trusted during a round.

If driver produces too many penalty shots, a hybrid or fairway wood may be the smarter tryout club on narrow holes.

Build a Pre-Shot Routine

Use the same routine before each practice shot:

Stand behind the ball and select a target.
Choose an intermediate target a few feet in front of the ball.
Aim the clubface.
Set the feet and posture.
Look at the target.
Make the swing.

Keep the routine simple enough to repeat on every shot.

Short-Game Baseline

Hit 10 chips from a basic fairway lie approximately 10 to 15 yards from the hole.

Record:

How many reach the green
How many finish within six feet
How many are chunked or bladed

Getting the ball safely onto the putting surface comes before trying to hole every chip.

Putting Baseline

Hit five putts from each of these distances:

Three feet
Five feet
20 feet
30 feet

For short putts, count makes. For long putts, count how many finish within three feet of the hole.

Week 2: Strengthen the Short Game

The short game is one of the fastest areas to improve during a limited preparation window.

A player may not completely change their full swing in 30 days, but they can become more dependable around the green.

Five-Ball Chipping Test

Choose a straightforward chip of approximately 10 to 15 yards.

Hit five balls and score one point for every ball that finishes on the green. Repeat the test from five different locations for 25 total shots.

The first goal is at least four out of five balls on the putting surface from a basic lie.

After accomplishing that, create a six-foot finishing zone around the hole and score how many finish inside it.

Landing-Spot Drill

Place a towel three to five yards onto the green.

Hit 10 chips and try to land the ball on the towel before it rolls toward the hole.

This teaches the player to focus on a landing location instead of staring only at the flag.

For additional ideas, use these short-game practice drills to train putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker play.

Lag-Putting Ladder

Place balls at 30, 35, and 40 feet.

Hit three putts from each distance with the goal of finishing inside three feet. The player must adjust the putter’s backstroke slightly as the distance changes.

Do not hit 10 putts from the same spot before changing distances. Golf requires the player to read a new putt and control a different speed on every green.

Short-Putt Pressure Drill

Place five balls around the hole from three feet.

The player must make all five to complete the drill. If they miss, restart the set.

Once they complete three feet, move to four feet.

If weather keeps the player away from the course, several of these skills can be trained using my at-home golf practice drills.

Week 3: Practice Playing Golf

The third week should make practice look more like the course.

The player must switch clubs, change targets, make decisions, and accept the result of one attempt.

Play Simulated Holes on the Range

Choose an imaginary hole.

For example:

Driver to a fairway target
Seven-iron to a green target
Wedge to a shorter target

Hit one shot with each club. Do not repeat a poor shot.

Based on the result, decide what the next shot would be. If the drive misses the imaginary fairway, play a controlled recovery shot rather than pretending it landed in a perfect position.

Simulate six to nine holes and change clubs after every shot.

Play Another Nine-Hole Round

Complete a second nine-hole round under tryout conditions:

No mulligans
Count penalty strokes
Use one ball whenever possible
Follow the pre-shot routine
Keep the scorecard
Play at an acceptable pace
Carry the bag if that will be required

Compare the results with the Week 1 baseline.

Look for fewer penalties, fewer wasted chips, improved putting, and better decisions—not only a lower total score.

Practice the Safe Recovery Shot

Place the ball in rough or near a tree line on the practice course.

Choose a club that can return the ball to a playable position. The goal is not to hit a miracle shot around or over every obstacle.

A simple recovery may cost one stroke. A failed hero shot can cost two or three.

Add Pressure to Practice

Finish each practice with one challenge that must be completed before leaving:

Make five three-foot putts in a row
Hit four out of five chips onto the green
Keep three consecutive tee shots inside the target lane
Two-putt three times from 30 feet
Hit five consecutive shots without a top or chunk

The player should learn how to breathe, reset, and perform when the outcome matters.

Week 4: Complete a Mock Tryout

The final week is not the time for a major swing overhaul.

It is time to rehearse the tryout.

Run a Practice Evaluation

Ask a parent, instructor, or playing partner to observe while the player completes:

10 iron shots
10 tee shots
10 chips
Five bunker shots if a bunker may be evaluated
Five putts from three feet
Five putts from 20 to 30 feet
Nine holes of scored golf

Record results without offering constant instruction during the test.

The player should experience being watched while still following the normal routine.

Use a Mock-Tryout Scorecard

During the nine-hole portion, track:

Score
Penalty strokes
Tee shots in play
Greens reached or missed
Successful chips onto the green
Total putts
Three-putts
Pace and routine
Response after poor shots

Afterward, identify one strength and one priority for the remaining practices.

Do not leave the mock tryout with six new swing thoughts.

Reduce Practice Before the Tryout

During the final two or three days, reduce the number of full swings.

Focus on:

Setup
Alignment
Tempo
Chipping contact
Putting speed
Short-putt confidence
The pre-shot routine

The player should arrive at tryouts feeling rested and prepared—not sore from hitting hundreds of balls the night before.

A 60-Minute Golf Tryout Practice

Use this session when the player only has one hour:

Minutes 0–10: Warm Up

Short chips
Small pitch shots
Half swings
Several balanced full swings

Minutes 10–30: Full-Swing Skills

Five short irons
Five mid-irons
Five hybrids or fairway woods
Five tee shots

Change the target regularly. Score how many shots stay inside the target area.

Minutes 30–45: Short Game

Five basic chips
Five rough chips
Five pitch shots or bunker shots

The goal is to get every ball onto the green before trying to finish close to the hole.

Minutes 45–60: Putting

Five putts from three feet
Five putts from five feet
Three putts from 20 feet
Three putts from 30 feet
Finish with five consecutive three-foot makes

A structured session is more useful than hitting an entire bucket with the same club. The Foy Golf Academy Beginner Practice Plan includes 50 guided sessions covering contact, chipping, putting, course management, fitness, and the mental game.

Course Strategy for Golf Tryouts

A tryout is not the time to prove that you can attempt the hardest shot on the course.

Use these decision rules:

Keep the Tee Shot in Play

Use the club that gives you a playable second shot. Driver is not automatically required on every par 4.

Aim Toward the Center of the Green

Do not attack every flag. A ball on the putting surface usually creates a better scoring opportunity than a short-sided miss in a bunker or thick rough.

Respect Penalty Areas

When water or out-of-bounds is located on one side, select a target that gives the shot more room away from the danger.

Take Enough Club

Middle school golfers often choose a club based on the farthest they have ever hit it. Use a club that can reach the target with a normal, balanced swing.

Get the Ball Back in Play

From trees or deep rough, choose the simplest shot that creates a playable next position.

Prioritize Putting Speed

On long or downhill putts, focus on leaving the ball close to the hole. An aggressive attempt that races several feet past creates unnecessary three-putts.

How Parents Can Help Before Tryouts

Parents can support the preparation without becoming a second swing coach.

Help with:

Scheduling practice
Arranging course time
Checking equipment
Tracking practice scores
Finding the tryout information
Encouraging good sleep and hydration
Asking the player what they learned
Keeping the experience in perspective

Avoid reacting negatively to every poor shot or turning the ride home into another lesson.

If the golfer already works with an instructor, reinforce the instructor’s main focus. Do not add several different swing theories during the final week.

Golf Tryout Equipment Checklist

Prepare the bag before tryout morning:

Golf clubs
Golf balls with an identification mark
Tees
Ball marker
Divot tool
Golf glove
Towel
Water
Healthy snack
Rain gear when needed
Sunscreen
Pencil
Appropriate golf shoes
Required forms or confirmation information

Clean the clubfaces and check the grips. Make sure the player knows how to organize and carry the bag.

Do not introduce a new driver, putter, or golf ball the day before the tryout.

What to Do on Tryout Day

Arrive early enough to check in and warm up without rushing.

A simple warmup might include:

Several chips and pitch shots
Short putts
Long putts for speed
Wedge swings
Short and mid-irons
A few hybrids or woods
Several tee shots

The warmup is not a practice session. It is not the time to repair the swing.

Pay attention to balance, tempo, contact, and ball flight. Then take the shot pattern available that day onto the course.

During the tryout:

Introduce yourself to the coach
Listen when instructions are given
Confirm the format before starting
Keep an accurate score
Respect playing partners
Remain ready to play
Avoid emotional reactions
Move on after mistakes
Thank the coach afterward

One bad hole does not end the tryout. The player’s response to the hole is part of what the coach will see.

What If You Do Not Make the Team?

Not making the team does not mean the player cannot become a good golfer.

Politely ask the coach which areas need the most improvement. The answer may be scoring, contact, short game, course experience, pace, or simply that the program had more players than available positions.

Use that feedback to create the next practice plan.

Continue playing, consider a junior program, take lessons when helpful, and prepare for the next opportunity. A tryout provides information about the player’s current game. It does not set a permanent limit on their potential.

Final Thoughts on Middle School Golf Tryouts

The best preparation combines practice-area skills with actual golf.

During the final 30 days:

Establish a nine-hole baseline
Improve playable contact
Strengthen chipping and putting
Practice switching clubs and targets
Learn safer course decisions
Complete a mock tryout
Develop a repeatable routine
Arrive prepared and rested

Do not spend the entire month chasing a perfect swing.

Build a golfer who can keep the ball moving, recover from mistakes, manage the course, treat others properly, and accept coaching. Those abilities will help during middle school tryouts and prepare the player for high school golf later.

Golf Practice Plan – What to Do & Not To Do

Wonder why you’re not getting better as fast as you want to be? Here’s your proven system to follow step by step that hundreds of golfers like you are following each month. Our students send us emails frequently praising these practice plans and how much they’ve improved at golf.

Get access to our Practice Plans built for all 3 skill levels (Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Golfers).

You’ll learn what to do at the golf course to improve your score and skills and what not to do. Just follow these plans step by step. It’s made easy for you. Plus see our videos, worksheets, and training aid recommendations.

Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor