roaringforkdiscgolf.com

This article will be an ongoing list of tournament disc golf tips. Look for it to be updated and modified regularly.

Here are some brief tips to consider ...

• Make plans and register early
• Play the course BEFORE the tournament begins
• Lighten the load
• Food and water
• Dress right, and be prepared
• Play YOUR game
• Rest
• Evaluate your position and competitors
• Don't be hard on yourself
• Be a good sport win or loose
• Thank the Tournament Director and your fellow competitors
• Meet new friends, have fun, play games

March 24, 2009

Everyone says to have fun ... but believe me, they are playing tournaments to do well, i.e. win. It is competition, and competition can be fun if you're comfortable with your game and confident playing with guy/gals who are competitive. if you can have fun, and be competitive, you'll be OK.

Don't get into a division that's over your head in your first tournament. You can start as a rec player, move up to int, and be playing open in three weekends if you're feeling like it. Move up at a speed that you're comfortable with. Don't be surprised if some 10 yr old beats you. Try to have fun, play relaxed and have realistic expectations. That being said ... don't be lazy though! Push YOUR game and play the best you can. Stay focused.

No matter what division you play in ... someone is going to be trying to get a better score than you.

Enter a division that puts you with players your own age/ability — you'll probably feel more comfortable and play better.

Learn the rules. If you don't know them ... someones going to teach them to you during the tournament, and that is NOT fun. OK, some people are cool about how they try to help you learn during tourneys ... but more often than not, it's NOT fun. IMO you should learn the rules of disc golf as well as possible before you play in a tournament ... any tournament.
The more serious you are about the game the more you will want to know the "Official PDGA" rules, and the more you will try to enforce them, and be protected by them.

Tip: Play YOUR game. Don't try to copy shots from other players or do what they do. Do what you have learned and stay within your game. Sometimes I'll go into a tournament with one thing on my mind ... par every hole. That's it. If I have a chance for better than par, great ... if I get a boggy I forget about it and try to par the next hole. This helps keep my game mentality consistent. I don't TRY to catchup to par if I'm over par ... your odds of getting those strokes back are greater if you don't worry about them.

Tip: Don't practice at a tournament. This is not the place to practice throwing extra shots or your mini around. See "the rules".

Tip: Don't talk while people in your group are throwing ... or even thinking about throwing. Keep the chatter down.

Tip: Don't walk in front of anyone who is by their disc and getting ready to throw. In fact ... stay well behind them and out of their view if possible. Don't rush ahead of the group to your disc ... stay behind the disc that is furthest from the basket. Use common sense.

Tip: Be prepared. Bring plenty of food, water, pencil, discs, towel(s), chair ... what you need. New players who come to their first tourney not knowing they need this stuff with them is distracting to players who are prepared and they are not going to bring stuff for you. Not saying they won't help you out if you forget something ... just don't do it. Throw the umbrella and rain jacket in the car even if you may not need it.

Tip: Never leave your group without asking if it's OK. If you have to take a leak ... tell them where you're going. Don't be gone long.

Tip: Mark your discs. Put your name, phone #, PDGA number, etc on your discs.

Tip: Putting in a tournament is NOT like practice. Don't be surprised or mad if you're not hitting putts like you do at home or while your practicing. This is because you are THINKING about putting (or wondering what other people think about your putting) while your putting, and wondering if you're doing it right. Don't think ... just throw the putts and be happy if you make them or not. If you miss, putt out, and put it behind you.

Tip: Thank the tournament director and volunteers who help with the tournament. Shake their hands and get to know their names. You'll be glad you do.

Journal: I keep a journal after tournaments and make notes about the event. This helps me remember what I told myself before, during and after the event. A lot can be learned by keeping a journal, and notes.

As far as types of people ... it's all over the map. Some are serious, some are not very serious. Some will get on your nerves ... others will become friends for life. If you're prepared to play when you get there, you'll have a better time. You'll make more friends ... and have more fun!

I can think of a lot of other good tips but I'm out of time.