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Tired of Losing Your Discs? |
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January 11, 2009 |
| Are you tired of losing your discs in the local creek or pond? Tired of wading out into the murky water to get that errant throw? Since there's a pretty good chance you're not going to stop throwing discs into the drink, there's something you can do to help get that disc back snug in your bag. Get yourself a handy little tool called a "Golden Retriever". I don't know how the thing got the name "Golden Retriever", but I'm pretty sure because it's worth it weight in gold! Sold for around $22, it will pay for itself in just a few uses. It's a small metal triangle that folds flat so it'll fit easily in your bag and comes with a one hundred foot cord attached. To use it simply unfold it into the shape of a triangle, hang on to one end of the cord and throw it out into the water just past your disc. As you pull it back to shore slide it over your disc and the retriever will capture the disc in the folds of the triangle! Once you've hooked your disc pull it in to shore, fold up the triangle, wind the string around it and toss the retriever back into your bag until you need to use it the next time. And there will be a next time! |
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It's More Than Just a Towel! |
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January 2, 2009 |
| It may seem like a simple thing, but having a couple good towels in your bag can come in handy. Get yourself a couple micro fibre towels and toss them in your bag. They cost next to nothing and can be purchased almost anywhere, but a good micro fibre towel will become your best friend on the course. The great thing about the micro fibre towel is that they still work when they get wet. Most towels are effective until they get a little damp and then just smear the water around. Not a micro fibre towel. Even when they get moisture in them, a decent micro fibre towel can still help wipe down a disc inadvertantly tossed into the creek or covered in the morning dew! It's the simple things that help you most on the course. |
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How Many Discs Should A New Player Carry? |
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November 16, 2008 |
| That's a question that could have as many answers as there are disc golfers, but here's my take on the issue. First, lets assume that you're just starting out and looking to learn and improve your game rather than just out having fun tossing a disc and going to get it (nothing wrong with that approach!). Many times you'll see guys out on the course with just one disc, or the flip side of that, you'll have a new player going out and buying one each of all the latest discs and ending up with twenty new discs in their bag. If you're really looking to improve your game my suggestion is don't carry more than three discs! First thing I suggest is go out and purchase a putter. So many times I see newer players putting with their driver and you're really missing out on probably the most important part of the game: putting. The old ball golf adage that you "drive for show and putt for dough" is very true in the game of disc golf as well. Next get yourself a nice midrange disc. There are many options to choose from but get something comparable to the "Roc" by Innova or a "QMS" by Millennium. Finally, look into a disc like a Leopard, again by Innova. The Leopard is a good disc for beginners because most new players cant throw a disc fast enough to keep it on line for much distance. The Leopards nature is to want to turn slightly to the right which will give the player more distance without having to "overthrow" the disc and possibly developing bad throwing technique or habits. Notice there isn't a true driver in this list? Personally if I were working with a new player I wouldn't have him even pick up a driver at this point and here's why. I feel that when I started learning the game I was in such a rush to learn how to throw a disc 400 feet that I didn't learn the true fundamentals of how to properly throw a disc and it made for many bad habits that I'm still trying to overcome five years later. Let me give you a little insight on why I chose the discs that I did. As a new player you wont have the proper fundamentals to throw long distances and at this point for long term success as well as the quickest improvement these discs will give you the best shot at learning to throw correctly. For the greatest success in this game my suggestion is to learn how to be ACCURATE before you learn how to throw a mile and these discs will help you do just that. Learn how to throw your discs to the spot you're aiming at, and be killer accurate within 250 feet. I have lost more rounds of disc golf not because I couldn't throw 450 feet, but because the guy next to me got closer to the basket from within that killer distance of 250 feet and beat me on that hole by a single stroke! |
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Overcoming Being a Slow Starter |
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November 9, 2008 |
| How many times have you walked up to the first tee at leagues or during a tournament and thrown your first shot into the ground in front of you or thirty feet into the woods? Maybe you get that first shot in the fairway just to shank your twenty foot putt at the basket. There just aren't enough holes in a round and the players you play with are too good to give away two or three holes at the start of every round. Maybe you too are a slow starter! Many factors can come into play to make you feel that you're a slow starter, but the main reason for it is that you're not prepared. There are some simple things you can do to help get ready to make that first tee shot or putt. The first thing is to do some simple stretches to get your muscles warmed up and ready for the shock of that first shot. This becomes especially important as the weather gets colder. Even the young pups need to stretch their muscles out and get the blood flowing before stepping up to that first tee. The older you get the longer it takes to prepare yourself to play so be sure to allow some extra time before your first round. Second, take the time to practice your putting. Start with short 15-20 foot shots and get yourself in the right frame of mind to set up for that first putt. My suggestion would be to keep your practice putts short and makeable. What you're trying to do is get yourself ready to see a putt go into the basket. Concentrate on getting the motions down and gaining the confidence of seeing the disc go into the basket! Next, work in a few midrange shots and a couple drives. Practice the types of shots you will face on the first couple holes. This way you are training your body to do what it will soon be facing. For your drives, try to make them from a tee so you can get accustomed to the same number of steps and room that you will need to make for your first "real" tee shot. Finally, if possible, play the first hole that you will see when your round starts. This will allow you to get a good feel for distances, footing and what it looks like at that time of day. Follow these simple steps consistently and you'll find your scores will improve on those first couple key holes next time out on the course! |
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