Pro or enjoyment?

[Tfire25]

I have been practicing a lot lately and at the end of my round yesterday(in 100+ degree heat) I got to wondering why I was at it so hard. I enjoy the game very much but is it just for fun or am I trying to go somewhere with all of this? It was an "aha" moment for me. I realized I didn't want to just go have a good time, I want to get to a level that I can compete with the best in the world. I'm a realist and I know it is a stretch but it is my ultimate goal. What about you guys that aren't pros? Do you want to be, or is it just for fun?

 

[Stetz1010]

I doubt I'll ever be a "Pro" in the sense that I can compete with the best in the world, but I don't go out to the course to just be a chucker. I def. want to improve my game, at least to the point where I can compete with the top Advanced players around here. But I've always been competitive by nature. I played competitive sports growing up and once that stopped I used disc golf as a new outlet. That's not to say I don't have fun playing, or don't play casual rounds just to get out and throw, but being a realist myself I know my game isn't now, and probably never will be, good enough to compete with the best in the world. But by all means, if you have the passion and the discipline to put in the work then I hope the best for you, keep practising and keep pushing yourself as hard as you can and it should pay off.

 

[bradharris]

I have no aspirations to be pro, but I still take the game seriously and put in time and effort to practice and improve.

I'm a competitive person and have been involved in sports all my life. I never expected to go pro in any of them, but I always wanted to be competitive at whatever level I was competing at. So I enjoyed putting in the effort and then reaping the rewards during competition.

 

[BirdmanCR]

I play for fun thats why I dont take it as serious as most people do. Also if i were pro and had to tour id prob grow to hate the sport.

 

[dashiellx]

Since I didn't start until I was 39, I don't think I'd have a chance to go pro. I know Mark Ellis states he didn't start until he was 39, but not everyone can be Mark Ellis. I want to improve as I have more fun when I'm playing well.

 

[ian.]

I have no aspirations to be pro, but I still take the game seriously and put in time and effort to practice and improve.

I'm a competitive person and have been involved in sports all my life. I never expected to go pro in any of them, but I always wanted to be competitive at whatever level I was competing at. So I enjoyed putting in the effort and then reaping the rewards during competition.

well said :clap:

 

[Johnny Depth]

Pro for sure.

 

[MrFixIt]

At 47 years young, I have no aspirations of becoming pro.
I play mainly for the exercise and meeting folks.

I do practice to become better, but only because I enjoy beating up on the young'uns...

 

[rocktownedisc]

i will never be good enough to be a touring pro. but i would like to be good enough to be considered a local pro and cash here and there. maybe make a little money to pay for the trip? or half the trip.. heck just enough to pay for the beer!

 

[mjoyce]

I agree with everyone so far that's stated they want to be competitive. I'll also mention that I don't necessarily have the time to put in the practice it takes to become a pro. I want to play well every time out. But my main goal is to have fun. And I've learned that I play better when I don't let a bad shot get me into a funk. Or when I'm not really trying to DOMINATE.

If I want to be really intense about stuff I'll just go play hockey.

 

[brettricewku]

As of right now I would like to eventually play open, but not be top 10 in the world. If being a pro pays more in the future things may change but as of right now I want to be an open, 1000+ rated player two years from now.

 

[Chainchaser]

Being 51 i just like to get out an enjoy the game but don't get me wrong I take it seriously and try to improve every time I am out. Maybe in 20 years I will enter the worlds and take the senior division and become a world champion.!!!

 

[simpletwist]

Going pro might have been a goal if I had discovered this sport 30 years ago, but that's well past me. I just go out to have fun. And it doesn't matter what the format is. Casual, leagues, non-sanctioned, or PDGA events. My goal is the same to play the best I can and have a damn good time doing it.

But I do have goals. Once, just once I'd like to play a bogey free round. I'd like to consistently hit 350. I'd like to be a better putter. But even if I never hit any of my goals as long as I can go out and say I had a good time I'm a happy camper.

 

[McFer]

The two shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

If you're going all out to succeed at the highest levels but aren't having fun while doing it, why bother?

 

[Ricky_Rick]

I dont mind practicing like a pro so I can go out and enjoy every round I play. No big dreams here, just the simple things in life, like the look your buddies give you when you beat them.

 

[Grungedude42]

My goal is to get out, meet people, have a good time, and try to not embarass myself. I treat disc golf like a bar game like billiards or darts, or even video games. I want to be competent to the point where I'm not a pushover, but not interested in the time commitment to work on becoming pro, or playing tourneys every weekend if I even went pro. Rec/INT for life. Might be nice to build a good collection of discs, too.

 

[BIGHAFNER]

I thoroughly enjoy the game. I go play for fun almost everyday. But in all honesty, I see the guys that are playing pro, and I want to be that good. I want to beat those guys. So I play for both, I want to go pro, but I have fun doing it!

 

[prerube]

Pro for sure.

In what? Water polo?

My goal is to consistently play over 900, always beat jrawk, and to play 300 courses in 20 states

 

[Hampstead]

Pro athlete is on my bucket list.
It seems like disc golf has the quickest path to pro status.
Once I take it off the list I'll go back to playing for fun.

 

[Tfire25]

Pro for sure.

I think your pdga rating will forever be lower than my credit score. J/k

I am surprised by the poll. I realize I won't ever be that good but it isn't going to stop me from trying. One question I have is, how far do the top pros throw with accuracy?