Can you win tournaments averaging 375ft?

[TN Teebird]

This popped in my head the other day and me and my friend was talking about it. He keeps saying I need to play tournaments because I'm shooting Pro scores at our courses. One thing that keeps me from playing is my distance,because I know they will play me on the pro card,because of my experience.Ever since my injury I average about 375ft now. With a good rip i'm out to 390,but for accuracy in mind I average in the 375 range. Seein some of those guys throw 50ft or more past my drive is a little unsettling and leads me to ask this question. Can you win tournaments averaging 375ft?

I have a great Fairway,mid and putting game.When I need to throw forehand I can trust my disc and my shot.I know exactly how far all my discs will go and what to use. I'm great at putting and I can make some seriously crazy jump putts. My Midrange game is probably the strongest part of my game.

Once I got hurt and realized that my distance was gone I started working on accuracy more. Some shots I would have trouble with are a lot smoother for me now and I don't have that mindset that I'm gonna hit this tree up ahead.So thats a plus lol.

Even knowing in my head that i'm a pretty good player and even after lots of people and friends tell me how good I am I still let my distance get in the way of me entering tournaments.

What do you guys think? Should I go for it or just stick to playing with all my friends?

Gonna go play a quick round before the storm gets here.Lookin forward to reading your guys responses when I get back. :thmbup:

 

[Stardoggy]

Play Advanced instead of Open. See where you're at, then go from there.

 

[WhiteyBear]

Yes, if your can throw it exactly where you want, and you can one putt from anywhere in the circle.

Especially true in wooded courses.

 

[bradharris]

The simple answer is yes, 375 will keep you competitive in the pro division.

If you're really worried about it, play in the am division instead. No one can force you to play pro, no matter how experienced you are. I have a little less distance than you and I have 3 wins in the advanced division.

Tournaments can be a lot of fun, but you have to keep in mind that's it's a very different experience than playing with friends. It's a much longer day, and the atmosphere tends to be a bit more serious. If it's something that interests you, absolutely go for it.

 

[sisyphus]

He who has the most fun wins.

Distance does not always equate to tourney wins, but playing pro, and competing, would require really accurate upshots and deadly accurate putts to make up for those extra 50-100 feet that come up occasionally on longer holes. It can be done. You just have to play smart and sharp on any of the risky holes the big arms might not. They get their strokes on the bombers, & you make up ground in the woods. Heck, feel free to be selective on choosing courses you feel a mastery for, when registering for tournaments. (see first sentence again)

I'm not an open player, but am having some success (five first place finishes in six tourneys) this year in age-protected play (yep, small divisions, but still...), and at 54, I'll never throw consistently as far as you do now. Mix it up: play some tourneys at courses that 'even the playing field' for you, while playing casual fun rounds the rest of the week. Again, and again, refer to the first sentence, above.

 

[corin_brown]

One thing that keeps me from playing is my distance,because I know they will play me on the pro card,because of my experience.:

Huh? We're talking about PDGA events, yes? Who says you have to play Open? You can play whatever division you want until you get a rating. Depending on your age, there are many choices of divisions you can play in. Doesn't have to be Open.

That said, if you can put it within a 60' diameter from 375' consistently, you'll be in the mix in most Open fields, I reckon. But you asked if that was good enough to win an Open field. Not sure about that, having never played above MA3 myself.

I agree with the guy who suggested starting out playing MA1.

 

[UCF_Knight]

I think the biggest disadvantage will not be straight line distance but big hyzers. The bigger arms are going to be able to take some obstacles out of play that you will have no choice but to play around. BUT, if the other aspects of your game are solid and consistent you will be competitive.

Depending on what kind of courses you play I think 1000 rated rounds will be tough to come by with 375' but most local tournaments don't end up requiring you to average more than 970 to finish in the cash.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

Depends if Jussi was the course designer .... opcorn:



#FutureOfDiscGolf

 

[Broken Shoulder]

It probably depends on the courses used and your competition, and how sharp you are with the rest of your game during that particular tournament.

I've noticed this year, at the two tournaments I've played, that in some cases extra distance creates extra trouble when shots go wrong for some of these guys that throw way further than I do. Whether they're over-confident in their ability, or just reckless, I don't know, but I've been the shortest distance-wise on every card I've been on this year in Advanced. In my second year back now, I've got a top ten, and a top twenty finish in Advanced in 70+ player fields, mostly because I know my distance limitations and just try to stay in the fairway and take 3s. (I'm probably good for about 375' course distance, maybe slightly less.)

Now, that would not cut it in Open in the last tournament I played. No chance at all. But you don't have to play Open if you're a first time tourney player.

 

[MichaelWebster]

Think about it this way, if you were throwing 425 instead of 375, how many strokes would you subtract from your score each round? If that answer is honestly 2 or 3, then I wouldn't worry about the distance. If its a course that throwing 425 allows you to shoot 5 strokes better than throwing 375, then I would consider that a big disadvantage.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

Can you win tournaments averaging 375ft?

I'd say it depends on:
1) What division you're playing.
2) How well you can place shots as you approach your distance limit of 375.
3) How much the course plays to your strengths/weaknesses relative to how well it matches up to your competitors.

 

[j0atz]

If you can place shots and make putts. Yes.

 

[tomdizzlefizzle]

Ask the yeti.

 

[eric40817]

For what my input here might be worth, which should not be worth much as I haven't played in tournaments before... I'm a 315' player. I started playing almost 4 years ago, broke my wrist two years ago. Since then I can't bend my hand back as far as my other hand. I still can't do pushups on a flat hand because of scar tissue and tight tendons/ligaments. Because of this I cant get the snap needed for high speed drivers. On a good day when my wrist feels good I can throw some 10 speed drivers a bit farther but inconsistently. Now, I play a couple guys who are 350' players all day, but our scores are always within 3 strokes up or down from me. I know distance is my weakness so i go for precision off the tee, and make up for it in my mid range and putting game. My mid range/approach game has always been a strength and capitalize on that by hitting different lines and various shot types that others might lack in. My point being, if you lack in one area of the game, make up for it somewhere else.

 

[ru4por]

I am not sure winning should be the determing factor on whether you are interested in playing tournaments. I promise you will not win them all....maybe none. If the different pace and tone of organized competition sounds fun, go for it. You should be trying to win each tournament you enter, you should not be playing tournaments only if you can win. The only advantage big arms have over you is the 400-450 foot holes. (perhaps the 800-900 foot holes) The guy that drives 425 can reach for birdies, but after 450 he is taking an upshot just like you. How many courses have wide open 400-425 holes? If there are some in the area with a bunch, avoid tournaments there. No reason to not play and age protected advanced am division....epecially to start.

 

[filobedo]

This popped in my head the other day and me and my friend was talking about it. He keeps saying I need to play tournaments because I'm shooting Pro scores at our courses. One thing that keeps me from playing is my distance,because I know they will play me on the pro card,because of my experience.Ever since my injury I average about 375ft now. With a good rip i'm out to 390,but for accuracy in mind I average in the 375 range. Seein some of those guys throw 50ft or more past my drive is a little unsettling and leads me to ask this question. Can you win tournaments averaging 375ft?

I have a great Fairway,mid and putting game.When I need to throw forehand I can trust my disc and my shot.I know exactly how far all my discs will go and what to use. I'm great at putting and I can make some seriously crazy jump putts. My Midrange game is probably the strongest part of my game.

Once I got hurt and realized that my distance was gone I started working on accuracy more. Some shots I would have trouble with are a lot smoother for me now and I don't have that mindset that I'm gonna hit this tree up ahead.So thats a plus lol.

Even knowing in my head that i'm a pretty good player and even after lots of people and friends tell me how good I am I still let my distance get in the way of me entering tournaments.

What do you guys think? Should I go for it or just stick to playing with all my friends?

Gonna go play a quick round before the storm gets here.Lookin forward to reading your guys responses when I get back. :thmbup:

Tournament golf is very different from casual rounds. As long as you are patient, know the rules and etiquette and keep your composure you should try playing MA1 first and see how it goes from there. Dealing with slow play and having to wait on tees seems to be one of the biggest reasons casual players do not have the patience or like tournament golf. Distance should not be an issue unless you are playing a 8000' + course in open conditions as long as the course allows for placement shots. If you can make putts within the circle - 50" 9/10 times you should be fine.

 

[Halcón]

Do you have any tourney experience? As mentioned, they are a completely different animal than playing a casual round with friends. The way you keep your game together during tourney play, under pressure, will be more of a factor than distance.

I say go for it. You never know how well you'll do until you try it.

Good luck!

 

[Mocheez]

You have nothing to lose, you will regret it later in life if you don't try. As others have said, you don't have to play the pro division. Sign up for a smaller tournament in MA1 and see how you do.

The Tennessee State Disc Golf Championship is this weekend and only an hour away from you. You could check it out as a spectator to get an idea of what level they are at. Will Schusterick will be there... I wouldn't worry about matching his level of play but the 2nd card should give you an idea of the level of play you would need to win a smaller C tier event.

Is your injury permanent? Will rehab help to gain back some of your distance?

 

[Shamis]

Depends on the course. A par 3 kinda course you could definitely win on. A monster distance course with lots of 600-1000 foot holes will cater to the big arms usually, unless it's very tightly wooded.

 

[Hampstead]

On a good day, maybe I'm hitting 400'. I've played with guys who were throwing 50-100' past me, but if they didn't park their drive, we were all putting for 3. Sure distance helps, but if you have solid control and a lights out short game, you'll be competitive.