What area produces the best disc golfers?

[New013]

This is one of those philosophical discussions that can be based on fact or opinion. The premise is basically what area of the world do you think produces the best disc golfers and what about the style of golf and the scene has to do with a certain area having a leg up on the rest?

We've probably had this discussion before but I couldn't find it so we're going to have it again. I got this on my mind after seeing Wysocki has become the highest rated player ever and I was looking at the ratings and rankings page.

Now you can break it down by state, region, country however you want I just want to know what people think. However first here are some facts.

Looking at the Top 50 in the PDGA Rankings it breaks down like this by state/country.

NC - 7, Finland - 6, CA - 5, Sweden - 5, GA - 3, TN - 3, FL - 3

or by region...

SE - 18, Europe - 16, West - 5, SW - 4, MW - 4, NE - 1, Asia - 1

Now here's a breakdown of pure PDGA Ratings by state/country in the top 50 ...

CA - 10, NC - 5, FL - 4, TX - 3, OR - 3, Sweden - 3

then by region again...

SE - 15, West - 15, Europe - 7, SW - 7, MW - 4, NE - 1, Asia - 1

Now the only two observations I'm going to make at first is that there is quite a desparity between the players who have a high rating in the west and where they rank. The other is that despite the midwest and northeast having it's fair share of courses, especially the midwest, they seem to not produce many high level players.

Thoughts?

 

[chrishysell]

The East Prodigies

 

[_MTL_]

These stats can be a bit misleading. For example, Barry Schultz lives in NC, but didn't hone his skills here.

Overall, though, it does showcase where the talent is.

 

[New013]

True we did gain one player but we lost another in Grant

 

[sugarnot]

I would just like to point out that they arent exactly accurate being that neither 1 or 3 equal 50...something may be off with the PDGA groupings

 

[New013]

I would just like to point out that they arent exactly accurate being that neither 1 or 3 equal 50...something may be off with the PDGA groupings

.... clearly i didn't add in every state that had one or two players listed, what's the point. if you want to go back and do that be my guest.

 

[sugarnot]

.... clearly i didn't add in every state that had one or two players listed, what's the point. if you want to go back and do that be my guest.

no thats ok, I didn't know exactly how you did it. Thats why I was blaming something wrong with the PDGA stats and not you.

 

[bradharris]

Ignoring the Scandanavian players for a moment, the majority of the talent in the US is coming from warm weather regions. New England has a lot of quality players, but I think development gets slowed by the fact that we have to adjust to constantly changing weather conditions.

 

[chrishysell]

I imagine that at some point the small southeast asian country Flailand will dominate disc golf just like the Korean women dominate women's ball golf.

Sorry, I can't help myself.

There are just so many ways to look at statistics to make them prove the point you are trying to express. Here is one example. At any given time 4 out of 5 humans suffer from diarrhea. Does that mean that at any given time 1 out of 5 people actually enjoys diarrhea?

 

[New013]

so you're saying that 80% of the time somebody is suffering from diarrhea? sound bogus.

 

[DiscinFiend]

I think the U.S.A has the best disc golfers n general (obviously they're are good foreign players also) & the fact that the Midwest doesn't appear to create great players is misleading. If you look at players from states like Cali all year round it is warmer than the states in the Midwest & the Midwest has more variation in weather. So while all the Cali natives are wearing shorts in December disc golfing on a beach the Midwest players are wearing their winter jackets & freezing their asses off(having to take off they're glove every time they have to throw). I'd post better scores in tournaments in February to if I lived in a state like Cali. So b/c of this I think (in general) players from areas with drastic weather changes have to deal with worse weather which lowers scores but also makes them have more experienced & more equipped players (experience is everything). Bring a player with the same skill as me from a warm state to play in the snow/pouring rain and I'll smoke em like a cigarette.

 

[_MTL_]

True we did gain one player but we lost another in Grant

But he wouldn't count either - he came to NC 1000 rated.

 

[New013]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if midwest players in bad conditions are playing against other midwest players in bad conditions wouldnt the ratings level out? I'm sure you guys could post better scores in better weather but you're not being compared against guys in better weather.

 

[bradharris]

I think the U.S.A has the best disc golfers n general (obviously they're are good foreign players also) & the fact that the Midwest doesn't appear to create great players is misleading. If you look at players from states like Cali all year round it is warmer than the states in the Midwest & the Midwest has more variation weather. So while all the Cali natives are wearing shorts in December discing on a beach the Midwest players are wearing their winter jackets & freezing their asses (having to take off they're glove every time they have to throw). I'd post better scores in tournaments in February to if I lived in a state like Cali. So b/c of this I think (in general) players from areas with drastic weather changes have to deal with worse weather which lowers scores but also makes them have more experienced & more equipped players (experiences everything). Bring a player with the same skill as me from a warm state to play in the snow/pouring rain and I'll smoke em like a cigarette.

Lower scores doesn't necessarily equate to higher ratings since it's a relative calculation. Everyone in the midwest playing in the snow is going to experience the same struggles. So SSA for those rounds will be higher simply because of the conditions.

 

[DiscinFiend]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if midwest players in bad conditions are playing against other midwest players in bad conditions wouldnt the ratings level out? I'm sure you guys could post better scores in better weather but you're not being compared against guys in better weather.

That does make sense, so you are most likely correct. But my main point was that the people from places with bad weather conditions should (in theory) beat players who haven't experienced as drastic of weather changes.

 

[nrihan]

Wysocki is a native midwesterner right? As well as the Jenkins'.

 

[bradharris]

Wysocki is a native midwesterner right? As well as the Jenkins'.

The Jenkins' grew up in Ohio, but now live in Cali. I believe Wysocki is from AL.

 

[nrihan]

I recall Wysocki playing in Ohio a lot. He was young but a beast. Saw him on my home course at least a couple times.. (I am from Ohio originally)

 

[Ben Wilson]

The Jenkins' grew up in Ohio, but now live in Cali. I believe Wysocki is from AL.

Wysocki and the Jenkins' are originally from Medina, OH. Roscoe Ewing!

 

[New013]

the fact that some guys have moved and didn't learn the game where they currently reside is a very valid argument.

though look at it from the other way, what about the areas where top disc golfers are moving to is so intriguing? is the scene in NC or Cali so much more appealing that guys want to move there?