Beating the Summer Heat

[DavidSauls]

Also, I am usually playing courses with creeks or ponds, and I'll sometimes dip my hat in the water, and put it back on. This helps, too.

 

[DavidSauls]

Never tried this. Seems like it would be so, so hot.

I don't know if a soaking wet shirt is too much hotter. It's unpleasant, but I find the dri-fit even more unpleasant. (Personal choice, which as prior posts indicate, varies a lot from person to person).

When the humidity isn't quite so bad, and particular when there's a breeze, I prefer the dri-fit.

I wear lots of both.

 

[notroman]

There are so many different types of dri-fit material out there. Lots of the cheap stuff does feel very synthetic and gets even worse after you sweat some. I have been more careful about which blend of dri-fit material I buy. There are some blends that feel like very soft cotton but perform much better. I wish the material label gave more information, because there is at least one biking shirt I have that is absolutely perfect as far as moisture wicking and softness goes. Would love to find more shirts like it that aren't specific to biking.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

On summer road trips, the trick is to plan things so that you're playing during the cooler parts of the day, and driving during the hottest parts of the day.

I try to spend the night close to a course or two I plan to hit early in the day. I can usually get a couple of rounds in by 12-1PM or so. Spend the hottest part of the day (2PM - 6PM) driving to the next course. That still gives me about 3 hrs for a round, after temps have come down a bit. Then drive a few more hrs to the next destination after dark.

 

[PureAngus]

First off, I hate the heat and humidity. It just sucks the life out of you!

As for the cotton and dri-fit debate, Im dri-fit all the way. It seems to breathe well enough for me and even when its soaked it doesnt have that awful heavy feeling a cotton tee does. I always just drink a ton of water and take some extra breaks.

I could go on and on but I think I agree with just about everything Inverted said above. I sweat (and hydrate) constantly during the summer so I always have extra towels with me. If the weather is brutal I have no shame calling it a day after 9 holes.

 

[PMantle]

There are so many different types of dri-fit material out there. Lots of the cheap stuff does feel very synthetic and gets even worse after you sweat some. I have been more careful about which blend of dri-fit material I buy. There are some blends that feel like very soft cotton but perform much better. I wish the material label gave more information, because there is at least one biking shirt I have that is absolutely perfect as far as moisture wicking and softness goes. Would love to find more shirts like it that aren't specific to biking.

This is true even within the same brand. I have several UA shirts that are the same model, but were all made in different countries. One of them is far superior to the rest.

 

[dysmike]

Here in Phoenix, Arizona during the summer months, we just hydrate and play quickly. I've played in 117 degrees before. Today is supposed to be a high of 114 and a LOW of 93. It is very dry, but it is scorching hot. But playing in this heat is doable if you are smart and can finish your round in a reasonable amount of time. But the best part of living here is that we can play year round disc golf even if it's hot for six months of the year. We say that there are two types of weather in Phoenix...hot and very hot.

Well, this and glow. Lots of glow rounds in the summer.

 

[Bunsel]

Yeah. The ones I have don't breathe quite as well as I'd hoped, but I still use them occasionally. I like the option to cover up from the sun since I hate sunblock.

That is what I wear on a regular basis, especially since I have been under the knife for skin cancer. I have noticed though that the 100% polyester ones are cooler than the 100% nylon ones! One problem that I have with the high humidity is that the long sleeves become "clingy" and makes for a tough throwing motion since they are wet and stuck to my arms. I try to roll up the sleeves but they don't want to stay very well. Trying a new short-sleeve version for that one reason alone. I think it will work!

 

[Broken Shoulder]

Also, I am usually playing courses with creeks or ponds, and I'll sometimes dip my hat in the water, and put it back on. This helps, too.

This helps immensely.

 

[sisyphus]

I played one doubles tournament round yesterday, went through two dri-fit shirts, drank 5 quarts of fluids, wrung the sweat out of my shorts constantly, used towels and a rosin bag, and fought off the heat rash for the past 24 hours. Tag teamed with a buddy, who played the second round (it was a fundraiser & we cleared that with the TD beforehand). He had to take off dg today. At least we won our division.
Bottom line: for me, dri-fit or cotton doesn't matter. They both load up with my sweat, cling to me, weigh a ton & result in a rash if I continue to wear them wet. Grrrrr!

 

[joecoin]

Never tried this. Seems like it would be so, so hot.

Don't think he meant to wear cotton over top of dri-fit, think he means he prefers cotton. If that's what you were thinking?

 

[DavidSauls]

Don't think he meant to wear cotton over top of dri-fit, think he means he prefers cotton. If that's what you were thinking?

I didn't even catch that---my comment could have been worded better.

Yes, I meant, given a vote between cotton and dri-fit, on a very humid day I'd choose cotton.

Cotton over dri-fit (layered) would be hot. And sort of defeat the purpose of the dri-fit.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

I just embrace it and sweat out the poison being we are stuck inside half the year up here anyway.

Yeah materials matter some what but when it is hot it is hot. I won't go shirtless style being dad died of skin cancer and now really some good mixed blend stuff out to dry quick and absorb sweat these days.

 

[PMantle]

I didn't even catch that---my comment could have been worded better.

Yes, I meant, given a vote between cotton and dri-fit, on a very humid day I'd choose cotton.

Cotton over dri-fit (layered) would be hot. And sort of defeat the purpose of the dri-fit.

Ohhhhhhhh….yeah, no. Done with cotton. I would soak it by hole 3.

 

[Blobfish]

I'm torn between dri-fit t-shirt vs loose cotton or linen button down. No joke. I use one of the latter at the beach and at hot courses in SC in the mid afternoon. I am a fan of the Discraft tournament bag because it holds my big water bottle:

40 oz bottle that keeps water ice cold throughout. It was fairly cheap (like 13 bucks) at Wal-Mart but super important for me regarding "beating the summer heat"

 

[art_vandelay]

I got sort of stuck on a course this year because of heat. It was 95 degrees and high humidity and I tried to play Ozark Trails in Branson Mo. with a zuca cart and a dog. I did it because I was there and had planned to play with nothing else planned. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After 7 holes I was dying. The 8th hole played up an incredibly steep hill and I knew I was not going to make it through the round. First time ever.


I decided to quit but then I realized I was as far away from hole 1 as I could be on the course. I was thinking I'd end up where I started after nine but that is not how that course is set up.


I had to walk back up several incredibly large hills. I collapsed on a tee pad after the first big hill and had to call the owner for help. I was so embarrassed but I knew I was in big trouble. But he was an hour away. The scary thing is that you just can't cool off even when you stop moving. And I was running out of water.


I eventually made it back but me and my dog were covered in ticks and I was miserable for a week afterwards.



Moral of the story is don't do stupid things like me. But I learned a valuable lesson because I didn't think I was going to make it back for a hot second.

 

[Noill]

Holy...thank god I've never had heat exhaustion or been overly dehydrated.

The hotter it gets, the slower I walk... I start to slow down everything and only push it on the throw... I take breaks...prefer to go out of my way for shade...

Mostly just walking slowly.

 

[DiscFifty]

Here in Texas, I can play in the heat....if I keep moving...but if I stop moving...instant heat + sweat. I have to drink a ton of fluids as well. Sip constantly...don't guzzle, etc. But then $%^& I get excited about a good throw and forget to drink for a while. lol..Sugar...SO important on these hot days we well, otherwise your brain gets all funky....and you start blaming throws on the disc. lol..

 

[Dthunderchicken]

What I've found is that it's best not to get overheated in the first place. I work outdoors in MO and I wear long sleeves. (Fire retardant clothing is heavy and hot.) When I can start to feel my heart pounding in my head, it's time for a break and cool water. I try to stay out of air conditioning till all the work for the day is done.

One thing nice about becoming acclimatized in this way is that a 100+ heat index day on a course in shorts and a tee feels great.

 

[DavidSauls]

I got sort of stuck on a course this year because of heat. It was 95 degrees and high humidity and I tried to play Ozark Trails in Branson Mo. with a zuca cart and a dog. I did it because I was there and had planned to play with nothing else planned. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After 7 holes I was dying. The 8th hole played up an incredibly steep hill and I knew I was not going to make it through the round. First time ever.


I decided to quit but then I realized I was as far away from hole 1 as I could be on the course. I was thinking I'd end up where I started after nine but that is not how that course is set up.


I had to walk back up several incredibly large hills. I collapsed on a tee pad after the first big hill and had to call the owner for help. I was so embarrassed but I knew I was in big trouble. But he was an hour away. The scary thing is that you just can't cool off even when you stop moving. And I was running out of water.


I eventually made it back but me and my dog were covered in ticks and I was miserable for a week afterwards.



Moral of the story is don't do stupid things like me. But I learned a valuable lesson because I didn't think I was going to make it back for a hot second.

Very scary. Glad you made it back.

As I posted earlier, I've suffered heat exhaustion twice. And nearly a 3rd time, when I started a tournament without my water and figured I could make it through the front 9 and get it when I passed my car. I almost didn't.

But don't be embarrassed---I've had a few people succumb at Stoney Hill, mostly from cooler climates, and had to rescue one. At least you were still aware enough to call for help.