Master Your Discs, One At A Time?

Like most chuckers, your typical bag or cart is loaded up with an over abundant supply of plastic to tackle any shot on the course. Maybe even shots you won't see in that round. If I think of it in terms of math, my bag holds 18 discs and par for most courses is 54. If you shoot par, chances are you used your putter perhaps 24 times. That leaves you 30 more shots divided up between the remaining 17. If you are like me, you most likely use around 5-6 drivers per round, and maybe 1-2 mid-ranges to make up the last 30 shots. That leaves me about half of my bag feeling neglected.
This leaves me with a conundrum. Do I tighten my belt to carry just 10 discs, or do I try to diversify my disc selection to get each one into the round? I can't bring myself to do either, sort of. After viewing several videos of tour pros talking about what they carry into battle, I have noticed a common trend. Though they may carry in upwards of 25 discs, several of their selections are duplicates. They will have 8 to 10 drivers in their bags but they are only 3 different molds. Same goes for mid-range discs. 6 discs in 2 different molds. Putters are usually 3 of the same mold, and always one or two recovery discs to get them out of sticky situations.
It makes a lot of sense to narrow down your differant molds to a select few. I have found certain models that fit my style and I'm working on mastering them. That way they can be more interchangeable when they need to be replaced.
Another interesting "tip" I heard from a pro who really likes driving with his putters was, play an entire round with just a putter. It was an off the cuff joke and I laughed it off at first, but realized there is some validity to it. I want to now go out and play an entire round just to see how well I can shoot with just a putter. After that, I think I will try the same thing with one driver and so forth. When you reduce yourself to have one option, you find a way to adapt and figure out how versital that one disc can really be. I think it could help.

The Important Things In Life

Today I am in such a great mood. On a personal level, my daughter had her 6th surgery in 6 months and we are heading in a great direction for her health and peace of mind for Mom and Dad including our family and close friends. I haven't been able to get out to throw some plastic in about 10 days. Is it tough? Yes. But is it worth it? Without a doubt. I would give up my life for my daughter without question.
I miss having my disc golf buddy.  She goes on my disc journeys with a red wagon in tow, screaming for her Pink Disc to carry around for the round (my pink Star Wraith). I miss being able to throw it on our outings and even when she is absent, I make sure not to throw it when there is a possibility of losing it because I couldn't bear seeing her sad in seeing it was missing when we arrive at the first tee.
It took having a child to realize what is truly important in life. I spend my days working to ensure she is happy at all costs. Now when days off come, it turns into Daddy - Daughter adventures. I always try to remember my training. Remember my grip, make sure I am using a fluid motion, and follow through. But in the back of my mind, she always reigns as a first priority.
She is only two and can have the attention span of, well, a two year old. There has been moments of driving 30 minutes to a course and before we get to the 1st tee, having to retreat back to the car and go back home because she isn't in the mood. Then, there will be days where she will spend 20 minutes romping around in the woods helping me look for a ill-thrown drive. She runs the household and I wouldn't have it any other way.
For as long as I have been playing this great game, I always strive to be the best I can be. Always think about strategy and try to have as much fun as I can have. Now when my partner is in tow, I spend more time making sure she is having fun, or in the shade, and enjoying herself. I can honestly say I sacrifice 1-3 strokes a round, just by being preoccupied. I have had to take a break in several rounds because the lure of a playground in sight pulls her away. So be it. Her smile is worth it. So the next time you see someone with young ones in tow, give em a thumbs up or a positive word because they may not be at the most competitive level with them, but they are introducing the next generation to the sport, and they have their priorities in check. They may have the next Val Jenkins, Paige Pierce, Paul McBeth, or Ken Climo. Here is to all the parents that put their children above their own priorities.

Baggers vs. Carts

With the progression of our sport comes the ingenuity of players to identify a problem and find a solution, usually before a money making company figures it out. Years ago I thought we were so far ahead of the game when someone converted a golf ball retriever pole to a disc grabbing pole. The days of finding a long enough tree limb and ripping it down for one time use was out the window. Just like carrying your bulky bag on your shoulder turned into larger bags that were ergonomically correct to reduce fatigue. Now carrying a bag on your back for the common weekend warrior is as outdated as having your messenger bag filled with your DX plasitic arsenal along with your hackysac. You have all seen them, players pushing around their souped up baby strollers with every amenity you could think of to use during a 2 hour round. 20+ discs at your disposal, cooler with "drink" of choice, speakers attached to jam out to their tunes, bag of throwers chalk, plenty of towels, disc retrieval poles in tow, seat for down time, and even a GoPro camera attached to review and post their "wicked" round on YouTube later that day. I can't help but feel like that is just an albatross to have toting around in the woods for that long. As much as I can appreciate having every need at an arms length away, we are that much closer to requiring golf carts for a standard casual round. Even when I play ball golf I do not require some of the extensive gear these guys are carrying. But, knowing how the evolution of disc golf is, I am hip enough to see the area of opportunity. Even ball golfers got to a point where they realized they needed a caddy to tote around everything they need to play a round.
Sooooooo......will we see a higher influx of "baggers" converting to a "pimped out" stroller? Yes. Will there be a disc manufacturing company capitalizing on making a disc golf cart? Yes. Will I still be stubborn and carry my stuff on my back? For the time being yes, but because the pace of play has moved to a snails pace, eventually my back will require me to re-think it. It saddens me to say all this, but I ask you to disprove me. I am not blind to it.

Courses...They Are A Changin'

Par 54. Pretty standard in our sport.  The majority of existing courses are all par 3 and can be fairly interchangeable. It is hard to deny the joy I get from playing a new course but there can be a lack of variety.
If you have been following the pro tour of today, Open players combined with the technological advances in discs have made scores in the -15 range per round pretty average. These guys can drive it within the putting circle, slam the chains with their putt and make these holes look like childs play.  As in ball golf, the concept of "Tiger-proofing" disc golf courses are becoming natural. I am all for this.
I am lucky enough to live near Cypress Point Park in Tampa.  It is a par 66 course designed by "The Champ" Ken Climo. We have had this course for about a year now and slowly the additions have been making it a must play for anyone that come close to the area. All new signs have been installed, nice concrete tee pads, and paths that are finially getting "beat in" make it very easy for anyone to play it solo without getting lost. It is a great change of pace showing up and you have 8 par 3's, 8 par 4's, and 2 par 5's. If you just looked at the scorecard it could be a bit intimidating, but once you play it, you realize it isn't too difficult for even novice players to play it. There is only one water hole to play. It is a true test for your skill and your arsenal of plastic. You actually have to throw mid-range discs for up shots.
I truly hope this is the direction we will see with new courses being installed. With most courses being installed in public parks that share land with other park amenities along with many politicians uneducated in the sport, we have to take what little land we can get and just smile. What it will take is enough DGer's taking care of their courses and contributing to keep them clean and safe, along with growing the popularity of the sport. If there is enough of a demand from the tax payers for them, they will have enough pressure to install them. So, when your out playing, take time to pick up some trash. When the bewildered park users see us playing, take the time to promote the game and explain what we are doing. These are the steps we can take to get better opportunities for better courses.

Peaks, Valleys, and the High Watermark

Unlike most new players to the sport, I started playing at a young age. Because of such a young start, the progression of skill took a much slower track.  Being able to drive 150 feet at one point was an achievable goal in the course of time. Getting a par on a 250 foot hole was worth writting home about when you're 9 years old. Tracking my progress was a marathon not a sprint. When most people start as adults, gaining distance can develop in a matter of weeks not years. There are always high points of can't miss putting and monster drives, followed by the low lights of finding every tree on the fairway and slamming the cage on weak putts. It gets to the point when you find the high watermark where your game has pretty much maxed out and your new goal of improvement becomes working on consistancy. It is a bittersweet pill to swallow.  I know I won't be the greatest in the world. Probably not the greatest in my league either. But, you can be the best player that you can be. There is never a reason to neglect refining your game. Going to a field and learning what your discs will do will translate on the course. Practice putting will not only help your muscle memory but also your confidence. Learning a new style of throwing, like sidearm flicks, thumbers, turbo putts, rollers, etc, will make you more of a threat. All of these practice methods will result in higher confidence, fewer missed putts, and shaving strokes off your average. The new name of the game is consistancy, consistancy, consistancy. I still watch how to videos from tour pros, study how pros perform throws, and read tips on how to improve your game. The way I see it, your high watermark doesn't have to be an end of an era, but rather a opportunity of see how good you have become, and a benchmark of maintaining your consistency. Now next time you go out and play, casual or tournament, remember you can improve at something.

Old School Stubbornness

I wanted to have an outlet for my musing and ranting about the fun sport of disc golf. I have been playing off and on for about 26 years and will always play till my body won't let me anymore. I live in the Central Florida area and have played many courses in the state.
  For my first post I would like to discuss my stubbornness for old-school. Because I started in the late 80's we didn't have the biggest selection of plastic to choose from. Innova, DGA, Wham-O, and Lightning were the only brands on board to the new sport and finding them for sale as a 5 year old kid was next to impossible. I used to take huge "Ultimate" style frisbees until that day I found my first disc. It was an orange Discraft Eclipse (pre-PDGA approval stamp). I wish I still had it because there is a collectors market for them now. After figuring how to throw it, I got hooked.  At that young age, I would throw any brand, weight or color just because of availability. In time, I have narrowed down to my Innova and haven't looked back. From Sharks to Stingrays. Cobras to Scorpions. Rocs to my all time favorite, the Viper. A lot of these molds are still in production but definitely not in vogue for the next level players now.
  Not just the new molds, but evolution in plastic quality has gotten so much better.  It took me a long time to switch to Champion and Star plastics but I am glad I have. There was nothing more frustrating than getting that brand new DX plastic disc and on your first drive, crush a tree. I have "Taco'd" several and it was cry-worthy when you spent your hard earned lawn mowing money and thrash your over-stable driver on the first drive. Hey, at least you get a new roller disc after that. The new plastic has definitely helped in the durability and was a great advancement in the sport.
  With all of this said, the market of discs and related items are greater than ever. It is a positive sign to have that many manufacturers putting money into our great game, but as an old school guy it is overwhelming. I proudly throw my Innova discs with my Innova bag and will stick with it till someone pays me to throw something else. Funny thing is, with so many new brands out there, I feel like the outsider by not tossing the new Vibram or Prodigy, or Westside, etc.
  Ultimately, the additional competition in the market make the manufacturers step their game up and make everything better for everyone.  The overall goal is to grow the sport, but it doesn't mean I will evolve as fast.  I still carry a Shark, Cobra, and a Viper just to remember my roots, but I have began to try a few new molds from Innova and they have made my game even better.  Maybe one day I will jump into the new hip gear, but for now, I am keeping it old school baby.