Kicking the Corpse: Disc Golf edition
Time to nudge the ol' zombie blog into a shambling shuffle.
It's been a fair summer. So much has happened, So much I don't feel like commenting on. What's the point of writing, you say? I dunno.
Well, let's start with something less intellectual: disc golf. I've kept playing just about as dilligently as I can, and have experienced only oh, so modest improvements. I'm generally getting in 1-2 front nines after work and 18-27 holes Sunday morning, with field practice at the elementary school when I can fit it in. I've been scrutinizing www.discgolfreview.com and trying to absorb all the insights contained therein. What a fabulous site! Don't miss the forum.
Following the webmaster Blake T's advice, I've filled my bag with slower discs and lower-grade plastics to learn on. My bag currently contains: 2 DX Gazelles, new 166 and 172; 2 DX Rocs, one multi-purpose-battered, one midrange-I think it's the new DX-slightly-beat, both 166; One Discraft EliteX Buzzz, slightly beat 173; One EliteX Challenger, newish 172; One EliteX Soft Challenger Slightly beat 173; One battered Discraft Pro-D Banger-GT, 173.
To follow the philosophy of Disc Minimalism, I should be dropping the Buzzz and the Banger. I can lose the Buzzz when I pick up another Roc, no problem(If I can find another Roc! Everyone's sold out- Go figure!). I'm torn on the Banger. The Pro-D plastic does wear too fast, but the Banger was the only disc I had that would turn over on a short touch anhyser and stay turned over all the way to the basket. I would hate to replace it only to discover my touch anhyser's lost due to a technique issue- They ain't cheap! Also, since it wears so quickly, what says it won't lose that flight characteristic inside of two months? I'll probably just continue to pick up Challengers in various weights and hardnesses and move the Banger out.
Technically, the Gazelles are too fast for me, since I don't have controllable power over 200', but it feels good to have a true stable driver at least for field work.
My longest throw: 350' DX Wraith
Average 180' with throws from 160' to 200' fairly common.
Best round: +18 on Castle Hayne par 64 (old holes)
Average Round: +30 on Castle Hayne par 63 (new holes)
Putting: Anything outside of 6' is 30% at best. (Oh the shame!)
I can do an X-step, but my throws tend to only be 20' longer when compared to a standing throw. I'm obviously not getting the strength and snap out of my step. I can feel the occasional pull off my index finger, but nothing like the fingers snapping off the discs into my palms.
Other than a slight improvement in putting, my main cause for hope has been the improvement of my forehand thow. I can now throw my Rocs 50 to 75 feet of controlled flight, which is a lot better than 35 feet ninety degrees off-target.
Disc Golf has been an absolutely great diversion this summer. I have the power to hang with the guy's I throw with, but I don't have their control, which accounts for the 15-20 strokes I lag behind them. It helps to know that Castle Hayne is one of the hardest courses in the country. Whenever my technique "clicks" I should be ready to take on the world. I hope to be throwing 250'+ this time next year, and putting over 50% from 30'.
So, the blog ball's rolling again. More later maybe.
It's been a fair summer. So much has happened, So much I don't feel like commenting on. What's the point of writing, you say? I dunno.
Well, let's start with something less intellectual: disc golf. I've kept playing just about as dilligently as I can, and have experienced only oh, so modest improvements. I'm generally getting in 1-2 front nines after work and 18-27 holes Sunday morning, with field practice at the elementary school when I can fit it in. I've been scrutinizing www.discgolfreview.com and trying to absorb all the insights contained therein. What a fabulous site! Don't miss the forum.
Following the webmaster Blake T's advice, I've filled my bag with slower discs and lower-grade plastics to learn on. My bag currently contains: 2 DX Gazelles, new 166 and 172; 2 DX Rocs, one multi-purpose-battered, one midrange-I think it's the new DX-slightly-beat, both 166; One Discraft EliteX Buzzz, slightly beat 173; One EliteX Challenger, newish 172; One EliteX Soft Challenger Slightly beat 173; One battered Discraft Pro-D Banger-GT, 173.
To follow the philosophy of Disc Minimalism, I should be dropping the Buzzz and the Banger. I can lose the Buzzz when I pick up another Roc, no problem(If I can find another Roc! Everyone's sold out- Go figure!). I'm torn on the Banger. The Pro-D plastic does wear too fast, but the Banger was the only disc I had that would turn over on a short touch anhyser and stay turned over all the way to the basket. I would hate to replace it only to discover my touch anhyser's lost due to a technique issue- They ain't cheap! Also, since it wears so quickly, what says it won't lose that flight characteristic inside of two months? I'll probably just continue to pick up Challengers in various weights and hardnesses and move the Banger out.
Technically, the Gazelles are too fast for me, since I don't have controllable power over 200', but it feels good to have a true stable driver at least for field work.
My longest throw: 350' DX Wraith
Average 180' with throws from 160' to 200' fairly common.
Best round: +18 on Castle Hayne par 64 (old holes)
Average Round: +30 on Castle Hayne par 63 (new holes)
Putting: Anything outside of 6' is 30% at best. (Oh the shame!)
I can do an X-step, but my throws tend to only be 20' longer when compared to a standing throw. I'm obviously not getting the strength and snap out of my step. I can feel the occasional pull off my index finger, but nothing like the fingers snapping off the discs into my palms.
Other than a slight improvement in putting, my main cause for hope has been the improvement of my forehand thow. I can now throw my Rocs 50 to 75 feet of controlled flight, which is a lot better than 35 feet ninety degrees off-target.
Disc Golf has been an absolutely great diversion this summer. I have the power to hang with the guy's I throw with, but I don't have their control, which accounts for the 15-20 strokes I lag behind them. It helps to know that Castle Hayne is one of the hardest courses in the country. Whenever my technique "clicks" I should be ready to take on the world. I hope to be throwing 250'+ this time next year, and putting over 50% from 30'.
So, the blog ball's rolling again. More later maybe.
posted by Doug Utton at Monday, September 25, 2006
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