Making the transition from casual to serious

[Firios]

Hello,

My primary New Year's revolution this year is to get into the tournament scene of disc golf. It seems that the majority opinion of the forums is to select 6-7 molds and learn them very well. I understand and agree with this methodology, but I realized recently that I have no idea what molds I should start focusing on. To give you an idea of my abilities, I can shot-shape fairly well both RHBH and RHFH, and my max distance on a straight line is about 260/280/300 (putter -> midrange -> driver)

To give you an idea what I am currently carrying, my tourney bag looked like this;

Primary Putter (has since changed, but my putting form needs work... I am meeting with a pro player in a few weeks to learn his putting form, so I am not too concerned with this until after I meet up with him)

P&A
Primary Putter (has since changed, but my putting form needs work... I am meeting with a pro player in a few weeks to learn his putting form, so I am not too concerned with this until after I meet up with him)

Star Aviar Driver
DX Rhino (This overlaps with the Aviar, but I love the feel of this disc for forehand, and have been forehand approaching with it for over a year)


Midranges
DX Cobra (beat very flippy)
KC Pro Roc (beat to sort of flippy)
DX Roc (still overstable)

Drivers
Dx Leopard
Dx Eagle
Star FL

(I didn't need any max drivers for the course I was playing)



Any advice on some good discs to pick up and work with? The only mold solidly in my bag at the moment would be the Rancho Roc, I absolutely love this mold, and learned to throw a backhand with it.

Which drivers should I pick up and throw? Should I get some champion molds of stuff to maintain stability? Any good discraft recommendation?


Although I am not currently rated, in the tournament I competed in I placed 8/17 in the Intermediate division (lower 3/4 or so of the ams were in this division, 1/4 was in Advanced).



This thread is pretty much just for suggestions for pros on where to go from here in terms of mold selection to get me started on my quest for tournament success. Thanks!

 

[Mason65]

Your bag doesn't look bad, if you want to shave some molds then replace the Cobra and Leopard in favor of thrashed Rocs and Eagles if you can. Used sections in stores that sell DG are your friend here.

I would pick between the Star Aviar and Rhyno, whichever feels better to you. Putting is all about feel and confidence, and the more you commit to one mold putting the more confident you will be. If you carry both and hank a putt with one you will wish you had thrown the other.

If courses in your area warrant the distance, you may get some extra distance on wide open holes with a DX Valk in the mid 160's.

With those changes your bag looks like:

P&A
DX Rhyno (I use these personally, do whats right for you.)


Midranges
DX Roc (beat very flippy)
KC Pro Roc (beat to sort of flippy)
DX Roc (still overstable)

Drivers
Dx Eagle (Beat)
Dx Eagle
Star FL
Dx Valk

5 Molds, and similar to what I throw (this week at least :lol: .)

As for premium plastics, Champ Rhynos are pretty nice, don't bother with trying to get premium Rocs. If you're beating up Eagles quickly then a Star Eagle should be a good hyzer/flex disc. Those aren't necessary though, DX will fly farther and beat into a useful state more quickly.

Also, as far as tourneys go, just get out and play! Don't worry about having your form perfected by "pro" advice. You may see others throw and you may pick up some shots you like, but you will ultimately find a style you are comfortable with. There are many ways tho throw a disc, do whats right for you.

 

[IllustratorVir]

Alright, here comes my .02 on tournament golf. You play either play to have fun or you play to win. (Or you can do both). For your first few tournaments, relax, play in the recreation division and get used to the format of tournaments and learn the rules. Get a gist of how the tournament runs. Now, if you enjoy yourself and want to get to the competitive side, its more about your head then about whats in your bag.

What I mean is, you can have the perfectly balanced 7 mold bag with discs broken into perfect... but you still have to make that shot. You have to gain that tournament mindset, the focus. The more you do this, the more confidence you have. When you have confidence with a balanced bag and a decent form no one can touch you. Well... almost no one. I mean those 1000 rated guys are kinda good... been doing it longer... have a better mind then you, throw it further and with more accuracy.... but aside from them your golden!

 

[tigel]

Your bag is very important dont get me wrong, but I agree it's more of a mind game. My first few tournaments I played with 5 discs. a putter, a midrange, and drivers. I think I threw a wraith on every shot, even 250ft holes. I didn't do bad.

 

[Firios]

I understand bag selection is not the most important part of tournament play. Believe me, I am working on shot selection/mental game and all of that good stuff.

I am just trying to get opinions on what an optimal tournament bag should have in it, and what sort of molds will serve me well to start learning. So please, don't chastise me for over-prioritizing disc selection, because I am not. I am just looking for advise on discs to learn to add to my bag.

 

[mike]

I understand bag selection is not the most important part of tournament play. Believe me, I am working on shot selection/mental game and all of that good stuff.

I am just trying to get opinions on what an optimal tournament bag should have in it, and what sort of molds will serve me well to start learning. So please, don't chastise me for over-prioritizing disc selection, because I am not. I am just looking for advise on discs to learn to add to my bag.

depending on where you play....being able to hit 200-300 ft tunnels with low overhead and unforgiving rough are some great shots to have. I played a tournament last summer and being able to keep a disc straight for 200-300 is what helped me win the MA2 division that day.

 

[tigel]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to de-rail your thread

From what I've learned you need:

1. disc to putt with
2. disc for touch upshot lines
3. disc for control driving lines (a 'go to' disc)
4. disc for max distance lines
5. disc for wind*

Technically you don't need a wind disc (overstable disc). Some people can throw their normal drivers in any wind. I personally like to have something a bit more stable than my 'go to' discs. Either the same mold but different plastic, or a different mold all together.

I actually used one disc (wraith) for 3-5 when I started.

With the above you want:

6. midrange that will always fade left hard (RHBH)
7. disc for overhand lines (I recommend an overstable fairway disc)
8. disc for controlled turnover shots*
9. disc for max D turnover shots
10. Roller

A lot of these shots I can pull off with the same disc. I have one disc for my roller/wind/overhand shots. Also I'm not really liking the lines understable drivers have so an extreme anny wraith does the trick. Same with my fairways. I can over crank my beat teebird and it will turnover to my liking.

The key factors in your bag selection is having the disc for the right shots. That doesn't mean you need one type of every stability disc on the market. The beauty of disc golf is technically you could play competitive with one disc... Your bag looks good.

Just make sure you can achieve all the above lines. I'm a fan of minimalism, but don't not get a disc if it makes that line you want easier. Make sure you can achieve that line with form modification (grip/release/arm speed/line/etc) first.

Hope that helps. Other people on here can explain it better than me....

 

[mzoro]

i agree with the above. you could use the above like a check list to see if your bag or a new disc meet certain shot type requirements.

overall your bag looks good, try some premium plastic it'll take longer to beat in, so you'll be more familiar with the flight characteristics.

being a fellow leopard thrower myself; i highly recommend the PRO LEOPARD. its grippy and durable. cheaper then champ and star. for the $10 they cost, when they taco get a new one. they have amazing glide, more then the DX imo.

if your using the aviar big bead for approaches, try the wizard, it'll pull double duty for ya. i just made the switch myself. you'll love it.

 

[SkaBob]

7. disc for overhand lines (I recommend an overstable fairway disc)
9. disc for max D turnover shots
10. Roller

Someone early on in their competitive golfing career really shouldn't worry about these shots specifically when looking at disc selection. He's maxing out at 300 feet, so overhand and max D aren't a priority and probably won't be until at least a year from now (and overhand may never be a priority - I know about 100 golfers that do fine never throwing overhand). Rollers can be useful, but you can throw a roller with any disc... His Eagle would be a decent backhand roller once it's beat, and his FL will be a decent forehand roller...

Still, at 300 feet max D so far, roller isn't what he should be focusing on in terms of improving his game.

I say his bag looks pretty good as-is, and he should work mostly on cleaning up his form (get a video posted in the critique section so people can offer suggestions).

That said, it won't be a surprise to the regulars here that I say he should pick up a Comet. Not necessarily to play with in tournaments (unless he finds he likes it), but for form development. It will force him to throw cleanly, which will be helpful beyond measure in working up in distance.

 

[DiscZombie]

dont do it.....

 

[chiggins]

Someone early on in their competitive golfing career really shouldn't worry about these shots specifically when looking at disc selection. He's maxing out at 300 feet, so overhand and max D aren't a priority and probably won't be until at least a year from now (and overhand may never be a priority - I know about 100 golfers that do fine never throwing overhand).

I sorta disagree on the overhand part. I agree in the sense that I wouldn't recommend a disc for overhand lines, but I'd definitely recommend developing either a passable tomahawk or thumber with something overstable. Becoming competent at a short, decent overhand is pretty easy, and it's useful for getting out of dire situations.

Same thing with a forehand, even if you can't throw a great flick drive, if you can throw one straight for 200 feet it can make life a little easier when getting out of jail.

(That said, if you're not at the point where you want to become really skilled at forehands, tomahawks, or thumbers, then any overstable fairway driver should handle the utility grade versions of those shots just fine. No sense in getting special discs for them.)

 

[RS39]

Very nice.

Consider a DX Viper as a fairway driver speed overstable disc. Chews big headwind for D, turns hard left or works aggressive lines when needed, speed requirement is similar to what you already have so there is minimal learning curve on your way to the inevitable Pred/FBird/___

 

[uNicedmeMan1]

Very nice.

Consider a DX Viper as a fairway driver speed overstable disc. Chews big headwind for D, turns hard left or works aggressive lines when needed, speed requirement is similar to what you already have so there is minimal learning curve on your way to the inevitable Pred/FBird/___

dx vipers are sweet.

 

[jsun3thousand]

You already have a dx rhyno, but you should try to stick with all base line putters. People always talk about their ability to "grab" the chains. I'm not sure if I buy that part of the argument, but a nicely beat base line putter is magical. Check out the putter porn thread and you will see almost everyone using baseline putters, some of them really beat-in, and a bunch of wizard cult members.

 

[Crimson75]

As you make your way into some lesser tourneys, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE GUYS THAT ARE BEATING YOU ARE THROWING!!!!!!!! Doesn't matter what the guy that is losing to you throws.This is one of the best ways to answer your question...I just happened upon a threesome on the second night I ever played in league night that consisted of an ex-touring pro and 2 advanced ams...I learned more in that 2 hours than I have since...I am still taking what they told me and I am trying to perfect it (don't jerk putts, keep the disc close, etc.) Be smart and keep your eyes open...Don't worry abouot the competition so much at first...JUST WATCH AS YOU PLAY

 

[Firios]

Thanks for the advice.

For those curious:

1. My overhand form is crap. That is pretty much all I want to say about it ...

2. My forehand is actually not horrible. I can crank out sidearm drives with decent accuracy to about... ~280 or so, and I am a shot shaping surgeon from within the 50-200 range (Almost ALL approach shots are thrown forehand)

 

[tigel]

1. My overhand form is crap. That is pretty much all I want to say about it ...

How I learned to throw overhands was I went to about 50ft away from an object. This could be a basket, a tree, a pole, anything that you can aim at. I threw every disc I had in my bag overhand. Putters included. Basically they were short, tomahawk/thumbers. Over time I learned how to aim my overhands by munipulating my release angle, arm speed, run up, etc etc. Once I was literally making or hitting a lot of baskets from 50-100ft out with my overhand practices I went to 150ft, then 200ft. All I was trying to do was make it land near that object. Now I can throw maybe 250ft with thumbers, and 300ft tomahawks. Nothing crazy, but it's nice to have another couple of lines in my bag of tricks.