The 5 things that improved your game the most....

Matt Aubin · Post by **Matt Aubin** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:50 pm

Doesn't have to be a disc, although it could... list a top 5. I think it would be good to see what others have used to get to the next stage of their game.

Things to try and mention: non-disc things, like shoes, diet stuff, whatever.

Things to avoid: Honeymoon reviews. (ie, the Mako/katana/Nuke changed my life... it's a month old c'mon.)

Mine:

1. Home practice basket. Easily number 1. My putting and upshots have improved dramatically in the last year. If I had to buy one again, I'd get a better one because I use it every day.

2. the Comet. showed me how bad my form was and is slowly fixing it.

3. Goretex. Waterproof shoes are awesome.

4. Under Armour. Warm and toasty, and I can still move!

5. Cyclone. Straight and true all purpose old school.

Honorable mention: panthorn, team challenge matches, playing with local pros, Ditter scorecards.

Eric Kevorkian · Post by **Eric Kevorkian** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:05 pm

1) Mach Lite

2) TL

3) Quad-shocks

4) Jason Southwick

5) Mike Dussault

Erik Siersdale · Post by **Erik Siersdale** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:15 pm

A stool

Matt Aubin · Post by **Matt Aubin** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:18 pm

Esiersdale wrote:A stool

really? i tried one for 1/2 a round, couldn't remember it half the time.

Mike Zorovich · Post by **Mike Zorovich** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:26 pm

cool thread 8-)

1. definitely the practice basket. significantly lowered my scores. great investment.

2. the people i've meet that have helped improve my game and constantly remind me why i enjoy the game: Aubin, lICk, ditter, mchale, TRB, team panthorn, schadt, lane, Sox, all the teams and people i've meet in the "b" pool challenges this year, just to many people to mention...you know what i mean.

3. discraft z surge ss and pro leopards. for me these are the two best drivers. instantly improved my game using them. the surge ss has got to be the most underrated disc for intermediates. who wouldn't want a straighter wraith with less fade?

4. waterproof shoes!!!

5. PANTHORN disc golf course. yeah its my home course, yeah its wet and muddy, but this course humbles you. it can be your best friend one day and bitch slap you the next. disc selection, shot selection are critical. mid control a must. panthorn makes me appreciate the manicured, picturesque field holes at CT's more glamorous courses.

Chris Bolton · Post by **Chris Bolton** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:43 pm

mzoro wrote:
4. waterproof shoes!!!

5. PANTHORN disc golf course. yeah its my home course, yeah its wet and muddy, but this course humbles you. it can be your best friend one day and bitch slap you the next. disc selection, shot selection are critical. mid control a must. panthorn makes me appreciate the manicured, picturesque field holes at CT's more glamorous courses.

these two kinda go hand and hand

but i agree with you that all the work at panthorn and having a team for panthorn has made all of us better players....the thorn has helped me work on my mental game a lot....i hope a lot of people have noticed that my mental game has gotten much better....not as many outburts....i still have the few but not as much....playing at panthorn has helped that

Jeff Wiechowski · Post by **Jeff Wiechowski** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:59 pm

In no particular order........

Innova Comp. bag. w/Quads. The round Wall City bag did NOT work with the hilly NE terrain.

The people of NEFA that I've competed with/against these past few years. You know who you are !

THREE PDGA/NEFA wins in one season. 2010 Kisco IB win proved to me that they wern't a fluke. Breaking the 900 mark also helped.

DisCap. Being a part of the creation of a club where there was none. Being the TD for J-Park Dubs, Ace Races & Ice Bowls are a BIG part of this.

...........And for the future, the disc golf EXPLOSION in the Albany area. J-Park expands to 27 in 2009, Schenecatdy and Niskayuna in 2010.

(awesome post idea!!!!)

Mark Verrochi · Post by **Mark Verrochi** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:09 pm

My top 5 in 2009 to 2010:

1. Mach Lite

2. Straddle Putting

3. Newton Hill

4. Motivation of being sponsored by DGA

5. Tsunamis and JK Aviars

Dennis Parslow · Post by **Dennis Parslow** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:24 pm

and there it is...

Abel Rodrigues · Post by **Abel Rodrigues** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:10 am

1. Mach lite

2. DGR

3. Cran, Wick, and the thorn

4. Comet

5. Everyone better than me (so they won't be for long)

Tim_Griskus · Post by **Tim_Griskus** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:40 am

1. Practice basket.
2. A Teebird.
3. A JK Aviar
4. All the people whomever helped me, answered my questions or gave me advice and still do so.
5. Wick, Thorn, Tolland, Crane Hill...The list goes on and on...

Jim Bobka · Post by **Jim Bobka** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:58 am

1) Playing Devens: Learning to throw downhill and uphill (although downhill is easier on the body), around boulders, through more trees than Barre has to offer, etc. Hiking while playing has increased my leg strength and cardio, which I need desperately to get back to.

2) Practice baskets. I've got three homemade, and one Discatcher sport which I leave indoors for basement putting.

3) Match play. Increased my focus dramatically.

4) Putting with my dog next to the basket, waiting to steal a disc that didn't quite make it in. Try that with your favorite putter, makes your putting game that much better.

5) Last but never the least, the people I've gotten to know and play with/learn from over the last couple of years. You know who you are, thank you and thanks again. --jimbob

Mike Dussault · Post by **Mike Dussault** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:51 am

1. Practice basket, and actually using it often.

2. Less disc molds. Less is more sometimes. Keep it simple.

3. Playing new courses always improves my game.

4. Field practice. I have not done enough lately and it shows when out on the course.

5. Jason Southwick(many year ago)Nothing will motivate you more than second place, time and time again. Many other players, to many to name. Newer players playing well motivates me to keep getting better. Old rivalries keep me wanting to compete at a high level.

Bonus: Mind State You need a steady one, especially for tournament play. Playing pissed off golf for some of a tournament, and then finding out you missed cash by one stroke is one of the best learning experiences. EVERY SHOT IS SACRED!

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:14 am

1. Gear/equipment it's gotta be the practice basket in the back yard.
2. Figuring out what discs work for me and sticking with them.

Jeff Conant · Post by **Jeff Conant** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:58 am

1. Playin with better players at many different courses
2. field/putting practice
3. four finger grip
4. disc golf forums
5a. "thru it not to it" when putting
5b. "smooth makes straight"

Mark Valis · Post by **Mark Valis** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:13 pm

Four Finger Grip
Slowing it down to a walk up not a run up
QB Muff ( no gloves needed)
Traction Control for the shoes
Fade Weather Guard Quads to keep everything dry.

Jeff Zipkin · Post by **Jeff Zipkin** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:12 pm

Jim Bobka wrote:
4) Putting with my dog next to the basket, waiting to steal a disc that didn't quite make it in. Try that with your favorite putter, makes your putting game that much better.

HA! I've got a disc hungry Rottweiller waiting for all my errant putts. Talk about incentive not to miss.

Jeff Wiechowski · Post by **Jeff Wiechowski** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:19 pm

jzip wrote:
Jim Bobka wrote:
4) Putting with my dog next to the basket, waiting to steal a disc that didn't quite make it in. Try that with your favorite putter, makes your putting game that much better.

HA! I've got a disc hungry Rottweiller waiting for all my errant putts. Talk about incentive not to miss.

Zip, your dogs would probably eat the basket ! :shock:

Chris Webb · Post by **Chris Webb** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 3:08 pm

Teebird.

Wasp.

Panther.

Playing one disc at Ted C's.

-Webb

Bill Dunne · Post by **Bill Dunne** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:10 pm

CWebb wrote:Playing one disc at Ted C's.

Sure would be nice...

Dennis Parslow · Post by **Dennis Parslow** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:33 pm

1. Slowing down enough to see the target you picked out, and stay balanced all the way through the release. If you can't keep your head balanced enough to refind the target area after coming around you're probably throwing too hard and are going to be inconsistent. Granted, you don't actually see it until after release, but in trying to you become much more accurate and confident in the trees.

2. Jason - some may find it annoying that someone would critic your form while you're playing them. For me it was gold.

3. KC Aviar - solved all my indecision and inaccuracies on approaches. More than anything that has lowered my score. You can mis-throw a little and it still goes near the basket.

4. Maple Hill - and playing with Mike D. and Greg before Vibram last year. They taught me lines I never thought of and how to save par, and throw in the wind. Play with better people than you!

5. 3PUTT and UP and DOWN - a couple of games I made up to shore up the weakest links in my game after I lost about 10 strokes per round from 200' in at GHDGO last year.

Alan MacLean · Post by **Alan MacLean** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:55 pm

Agree w/ Bobka.

1) Playing @ Devens. Want to learn elevation? Want to learn tight shots? Want to see you disc roll from a 20' lay-up to a 200' comebacker? Risk/Reward? Devens!

2) That Ice Storm of 2008 (?). That gave me an excuse to cut down a bunch of trees that were technically on town land but bordering my property. Gave me a place to put...

3) Practice Baskets. Got two DB-5s and a homemade set up as a 3-hole home course. Changed the putting game.

4) The Buzzz. Used to use a driver @ 200'+. Enough said.

5) Changing from a small Innova bag to the Fade Lite Tourney Bag. Finally could hold all those discs I wanted to use @ Maple Hill. Then adding the Quadshocks was icing on the cake.

LeftyhasRights · Post by **LeftyhasRights** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:19 pm

A soccer field near my home.

Jeff Conant · Post by **Jeff Conant** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:28 am

Matt Arminio · Post by **Matt Arminio** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:18 am

1. Living in Santa Cruz for a year and playing DeLaveaga everyday

2. Scott Stokley Distance Driving video

3. League night

4. Practice basket

5. 4 finger power grip

Scott Selders · Post by **Scott Selders** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:27 pm

This topic needs a NEW title.

The 5 Pieces of Gear that improved your game the Most-

1. The NEBULA-2008 Ace Race Disc. I brought a couple of these discs to work last year-I work at a Ski Resort-I play Object Golf B4 the crowds show up. In years past I bring Discs that I like to throw, but don't mind losing etc.
I had no idea that I would fall in love with the Nebula for Right Hand Fore Hand Mid Range Drives, Upshots, Hyzer flicks, and Anhyzer flicks. This Disc gives me the confidence to Flick upshots, as opposed to throwing Back hand.

2. Chainstar (With Wheel)-Felt like I needed a Pro Course basket to practice on-I have other baskets, but none as good as the Chainstar. Practicing on this basket was as close to practicing putting on a course. Found the Sweet spot for me.

3. Tearing the rotator cuff in my right shoulder-I mainly throw Right Hand Forehand-This forced me to work on my Left Hand Back Hand Drives, and Left Hand Flicks. I play with both hands, but my Right Hand Forehand is my most used throw. My weakest shot was the Left Hand BH Anyhyzer-I practiced this throw more than any other last summer, now I love throwing Lefty BH Anhyzers.- I wound up playing many rounds using only my left hand. I learned New Grips, and started studying BH techniques. My Max distance b4 was 260', now I can reach 320'. During this time I was exercising my Right arm etc, when I was fully healed 2 months later, I had more strength in in my right arm. Now I"ll drive LHBH 25-50% of the time during a round, depending on the course.

Daniel Marcus · Post by **Daniel Marcus** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:09 pm

5 things, not necessarily gear, and not necessarily recent:

Divorce = Time to play and new priorities. And I thought I used to love this game? Gotta really work at it, and it's all about time for putting...

Devens = Physical conditioning, fun holes and tricky fast greens. I bet even the youngsters are huffing and puffing out there.

Destroyers = I can still get there. Putts are easier from inside 30'. Nuff said...

Playing catch = The ONLY way to ever really get good. Coleman is good and still can't beat me, but it sure is fun to really punch one 350 and have him just smooth it right back...

Keen Targhees + Goretex socks = My feet don't hurt anymore, ever. You never know when you're going to need to stand in the water on hole 6 at Pyramids to hit that putt...

Really... play catch with one of the similarly obsessed... priceless.

Matt Aubin · Post by **Matt Aubin** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:38 pm

title edited for awesomeness.

David Gipson · Post by **David Gipson** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:50 pm

1 Basket ot the practice type m-14 with added chains
2.Indoor at B.A.P. in the winter
3. Learning the Roc
4. Going back to KC Pro Aviars
5. Playing with better Players

Jeff Zipkin · Post by **Jeff Zipkin** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:13 am

Marminio wrote:1. Living in Santa Cruz for a year and playing DeLaveaga everyday

DeLa was my first course ever (lived in the Cruz from 92-97 - started playing DG in 95)...and I never learned how to play there, cause I was playing with other newbies who also had no idea what they were doing. It wasn't till I started playing with better players in Oregon and now the Northeast that I began improving. Now, I wanna go chuck DeLa again.