Do you consider disc golf a Sport or Game of Skill? (Poll)

[BogeyNoMore]

It's a sport that requires some amount of skill...

Name a sport that doesn't involve skill.

Games of skill don't require any physical activity beyond normal bodily functions and can be played on a computer or where somoene else can perform the activity for you based on what you communicate. Examples:
chess
backgammon
any card game
checkers

In a broad sense, games of skill that require some degree of athletic ability or physical activity (where someone performing the physical activity for you means they're are playing rather than you) can be consisdered sports.

No one else can throw a disc, dart or ball for me. No one else can perform a triple axle or flair for me. No one else can hook a fish and reel it in or aim a rifle for me. No one else can run a race for me or shoot hit a ball with a stick for me, but someone can move game pieces, cards and chips for me and I'm still playing.

Obviously, not all sports require the same nearly the same degree of physical or athletic ability, but if it's can be done competitievley, and requires participants to be physically engaged themselves I'd say it qualifies as sport.

I'd even argue that football and baseball, are only sport as far as the players are concerned. For coaches, they are games of skill - no different that playing poker or chess... they're just strategizing, reading/reacting to opponents, and moving game pieces. Sports involve competition (perhaps even just competing against yourself) and physical activty.

 

[pmorgan1214]

its a sport but just like every game you require skill. so it is both.

 

[bradharris]

I'd even argue that football and baseball, are only sport as far as the players are concerned. For coaches, they are games of skill - no different that playing poker or chess... they're just strategizing, reading/reacting to opponents, and moving game pieces. Sports involve competition (perhaps even just competing against yourself) and physical activty.

This to me is part of what makes football such an intriguing sport: the duality of the mental game between the two coaching staffs along with the athletic performance of the players on the field.

 

[bradharris]

In a broad sense, games of skill that require some degree of athletic ability or physical activity (where someone performing the physical activity for you means they're are playing rather than you) can be consisdered sports.

Or how about this. If playing it as a video game is vastly different from playing it in real life, it's probably a sport.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

Or how about this. If playing it as a video game is vastly different from playing it in real life, it's probably a sport.

I think we're getting there. How about: "If the outcome of the contest depends on the execution of one's physical performance, it's a sport."

Might one even be able to argue that video game competitions, to the degree they depend on one's manual dexterity and coordination, if it can trained to improve that, could be arguablly placed in to the sports category?

 

[Lewis]

I think we're getting there. How about: "If the outcome of the contest depends on the execution of one's physical performance, it's a sport."

Might one even be able to argue that video game competitions, to the degree they depend on one's manual dexterity and coordination, if it can trained to improve that, could be arguably placed in to the sports category?

I'm on board with the definition of a sport as "depending on the execution of one's physical performance," but I don't think it's easy to define the border clearly, as the video game example illustrates. I might modify the definition to say "the outcome of a sport depends primarily on athletic performance," and describe "athletic" performance rather generously, to include feats of coordination, feats of manual dexterity, and marksmanship, rather than limit the definition of athleticism to feats of strength, endurance, power, and agility. Then I'd be happy to allow a fuzzy line at the boundary between sport and other kinds of competition.

 

[bradharris]

Might one even be able to argue that video game competitions, to the degree they depend on one's manual dexterity and coordination, if it can trained to improve that, could be arguablly placed in to the sports category?

I'm not saying that video games themselves aren't sport. I'm merely pointing out that turning a game into a video game illustrates the difference. Take Chess for example, playing the game on a virtual board really offers no different experience compared to playing on a real board. The same could be said for most card games.

However, to play virtual disc golf is a completely different experience compared to being on the course throwing plastic.

It's really the difference between a mental vs physical.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

I'm not saying that video games themselves aren't sport. I'm merely pointing out that turning a game into a video game illustrates the difference. Take Chess for example, playing the game on a virtual board really offers no different experience compared to playing on a real board. The same could be said for most card games.

However, to play virtual disc golf is a completely different experience compared to being on the course throwing plastic.

It's really the difference between a mental vs physical.

I agree completely. But up until I thought about it in responding to this thread, I never would have considered how playing any video game could remotely be called a sport, but I'll stand behind what I said: to the extent that one's dexterity and physical performance impacts the competition, I guess video games can be considered a sport. Physical ability (or the lack thereof) don't have any impact on the outcome of games like chess, poker, backgammon, dominoes, etc... all games of skill.

Back to the OP, some people throw discs better than others ever will, are better able to control their bodies to achieve the desired outcome, have (or develop) better muscle memory than others or are notice subtle things about their kinesthetics than others, which allows them adjustments to their throw better than others, similar to pitching a baseball, or countless other athletic endeavors.

Given that, I don't see how anyone can argue that disc golf isn't a sport, regardless of what level of athletic ability it takes relative to other sports.

 

[bogeyfreetilinfinity]

Gentleman's sport

I lump disc golf into a category of sports I like to call gentlemen sports. These can loosely be defined as sports that can be actively participated in while drinking and smoking. Other fine gentlemen sports are baseball and softball, curling, golf, fishing, badminton, horseshoes and of course, bowling.

 

[Mike C]

Just to throw fuel into the fire, there are videogames that require physical endurance to play. I can think of a few off the top of my head, DDR and Starcraft at the upper tiers of competition.

 

[tbird888]

I lump disc golf into a category of sports I like to call gentlemen sports. These can loosely be defined as sports that can be actively participated in while drinking and smoking. Other fine gentlemen sports are baseball and softball, curling, golf, fishing, badminton, horseshoes and of course, bowling.

No darts, croquet, or bocce? For shame!

 

[treehorn]

Who cares..... :wall:

 

[KniceZ]

I see several different levels:
- competitive games of skill that don't require physical ability : chess, poker, etc
- activity that requires physical ability : hiking, canoeing, figure skating, etc (note: I hate watching olympic "sports" where some judge decides the winner.
- activity that requires physical ability in which you compete against someone else and the outcome is precisely measurable : Darts, track & field, DG, etc
- activity that requires physical ability in which you compete against someone else and their actions impact your performance : football, soccer, basketball, etc

 

[KniceZ]

OR -- Ernest Hemingway — 'There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.

 

[lbond]

Just to throw fuel into the fire, there are videogames that require physical endurance to play. I can think of a few off the top of my head, DDR and Starcraft at the upper tiers of competition.

I've actually had friends quit while playing ESPN Track & Field for the Dreamcast due to it being too physically demanding.

 

[Monkeypaws]

It's a game where athletic ability can help you dominate.

 

[GLong]

It's a game where athletic ability can help you dominate.

good response, this is how i've tried to explain it to various people.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

Yep. Strategy comes into play more than overall athleticism but skill is involved to execute at a high level. Disc golf can be a job, hobby, sport, recreational activity etc.. Shooodontmattaaaa

 

[DiscJunkie]

Yes.
Both, either.
Who cares?
We take ourselves waaaayy to seriously.

game/gām/
noun
1.a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.

sport/spôrt/
noun
1.an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

 

[mball1684]

Sport