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Jack Tupp’s curated collection of disc golf news, takes, tips, and stuff for the week of April 14th, 2024

April 19, 2024April 23, 2024 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, disc reviews, FrisbeeGolf Friday

Hey there, it’s been a minute, but welcome back to FrisbeeGolf Friday!

Kristin Tattar, as usual, teed off in the final group in today’s DGPT event in Nashville. She isn’t in the lead after round 1, but that will probably change. Her events always have the feel of the fastest runner in a relay race who is behind when she is handed the baton and immediately begins steadily stalking the pack. A few moments of observation is enough to see the inevitability of it all.

I am a huge fan of Tattar because she focuses on playing disc golf at the highest level rather than the many ancillary opportunities that come with success on the course. Specifically, she is driven by the quest for lower scores rather than the need to constantly “produce content.”

*Kristin Tattar’s eyes are on the prize. Photo: DGPT.*

Our sport has a history of top players allowing these two elements to become imbalanced after achieving a level of success, along with others who use disc golf as a vehicle for their “platform” from the get-go. Brodie Smith leaps to mind as an example of the latter, but as I wrote back in 2020 to each their own. His sidekick Ezra actually came close to winning a week or two ago, so who says you can’t have it all, at least for a little while?

How cool is it, though, to watch an elite athlete practice their craft, dedicated to squeezing every drop from the massive reservoir of potential with which they were blessed?

Check out this recent interview of Tattar to see why I think she is unlikely to fall from her current level of play anytime soon. If her competitors want to see those steely eyes on the lead card less often they will need to come up to her. Barring injury, I see the Kristin Tattar disc golf machine continuing to roll along.

jack tupp disc photo

I love capturing disc golf in photos. This one of my pal A. seems to resemble a ball golf swing follow-through as he arcs his back to execute a technical turnover upshot using just the right mix of extra spin and angle.

jack tupp disc golf terminology

In case you missed it, my most recent instructional post explains “Arm Brain,” a term used here at School of Disc Golf. I made it up one day in a lesson as I was attempting to explain an athlete’s tendency to revert to old, flawed mechanics— and specifically what things trigger that mistake.

Most of my clients come to me using primarily their arms to throw, and we change that by focusing on improved timing, balance, and use of the largest muscles to supply most of the power. Arm Brain becomes a named adversary for us to resist and overcome by focusing on the action and effort rather than the intended result.

disc golf stuff report

I received a couple pretty exciting packages in the mail this week. First was a copy of the board game Birdie Pro! from Steve Dodge. I am lining up a good group of testers that will include disc golfers, board game junkies, and hopefully a non-disc golfer, if I can find one!

Expect a report on the experience soon.

Two days after receiving the box from New England, another arrived from thousands of miles away in the exact opposite direction— China. A new (to the U.S. market) company called X-Com sent me a selection of their lineup to try, in various plastic blends named for planetary bodies. Mars is premium and Earth is baseline, I believe, with more blends coming. I’m encouraged by the fact that their discs are quite affordable, and available in lighter weights, perfect for developing players. This starter set is a good example.

I’ll share some observations in a post soon, but you can already get your hands on ’em now at Infinite Discs. The molds seem to mostly be named for constellations and planets, but the stamp on this guy caught my eye. We’ll see how he flies!

In another recent post I shared pics of the new model of Idio Syncrasy disc golf shoes I’m testing right now. Yesterday’s round featured great weather, but the ground was still swollen with rainwater and it felt like walking on full sponges in many places. My feet remained completely dry again, which is great, but what I really noticed during this round was the traction and sure-footedness on a wild array of surfaces.

Wet teepads, wet, sloped rock, wet, turf . . . you get the idea. Like the first Idios I tried, these really do feel secure for the sport of disc golf. The difference is especially noticeable compared to a pair of shoes with worn outsoles, which was the case for me. If it’s that time for you, give these a try. They’re made for disc golf!

Watch for the second part of our series on getting the most out of TECHDISC coming soon. We’ll be sharing a couple client testimonials and exploring best practices using the smart disc and app with a net.

in the news

The Disc Golf Pro Tour is eagerly jumping through the necessary hoops to enable sports wagering on professional disc golf. Will this result in our stars being less accessible to the fans— or should it?

The inclusivity of disc golf is still a major selling point, in Missoula and elsewhere.

Amboy, Illinois, is finally getting a disc golf course. At Amboy!

And I’ll wrap up this edition of FrisbeeGolf Friday by saying thank you to Brooklyn O’Kafka, a 13-year old Canadian who will be promoting disc golf to her classmates along with free discs from sponsor Latitude64. Keep up the great work, Brooklyn!

Arm Brain: A Unique School of Disc Golf Term:

April 12, 2024April 12, 2024 by frisbeebrain, posted in backhand, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf driving, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Lessons, Jack Tupp

This post is one of a series that explains terminology unique to — or at least originated by — School of Disc Golf. Each term in the series was created by me, many spontaneously during a private lesson as I searched for a new way to explain something to a client.

Think Different

For the first one in the series, I picked a biggie. Those who are familiar with Three Paths to Better Disc Golf know one of those paths involves having a predetermined philosophical approach to the game. Broad concepts a player can use to guide smaller decisions and lead to their best chance to score well.

When I wrote that book I was thinking mainly of strategic concepts, but with thousands more hours of hands-on disc golf instruction under my belt since then, I realize it applies to technique and mechanics as well. Perhaps more so.

“Arm Brain” is a term I use to describe an incorrect mechanical approach most people instinctively take to backhand driving in disc golf. In the same way that early science before Copernicus thought the earth was the center of the universe, most players treat their arm as the core of their drive.

It isn’t, of course. I use other terms in my lessons, like Nucleus, Center Pole Position. Asymmetric Timing, and 180-to-Zero to explain the difference between throwing with the entire body vs. throwing with arm only— why the literal throwing arm plays a relatively minor role in determining whether a player has a figurative Big Arm.

How arm brain came to be

One day during a 1-on-1 lesson, I noticed how my client was successfully achieving the timing and balance we wanted during drills, throwing with the right muscles from the right position, and achieving the results I promised would come. However, a trend developed where after a good throw he would often follow it up with one that were complete mis-throws.

*The author with a client in Santa Cruz, CA.*

After the pattern became clear, I asked him to describe his thoughts as he set up for the next throw after an especially successful effort. Each time, he described watching the good drive fly, feeling excited about the accomplishment, and wanting to see if he could throw the next drive even further.

Since Sports Psychology 101 is based on “Focus on what you’re trying to do, not what you’re wanting to accomplish” I figured his thoughts had triggered the muscle memory from thousands of Frisbee throws. To explain my thoughts, I mused that he had allowed Arm Brain to enter the realm, kind of like saying Beatlejuice one too many times.

The teaching point was this: It is always a good idea to focus on what’s right in front of you in sports, especially when you’re working on developing a new skill. Thinking about the new mechanics in particular helps prevent “Arm Brain” from jumping in and saying “I can do that!” when you think only of intended results.

Arm Brain can also rear his head at much later stages, as well, in times of mental and physical fatigue or wandering focus. Good driving form takes some work, and if you’re not focused on executing that work Arm Brain can jump in and say “Let me handle this one. It’ll be easier.”

predetermining factors of arm brain

Since that lesson when I made up the term, I broadened the use to describe a related group of reasons why some people have a hard time learning the unique mechanics that are key to throwing as far and accurately as one’s peers Here’s a quick run-down of those reasons:

Familiarity with tossing a Frisbee- Think of the stance you assume to play catch with a Frisbee. Your brain is likely very familiar with that stance and the action that follows, and comfortable with its ability to execute that action
The “Big Arm” label- This popular misnomer only reinforces the other reasons
Proximity to the hand- The hand is important because it holds the disc, right? Therefore focus should be on the thing connected to the hand— or so goes the logic.
Eyes on target- The same power-sapping position that is comfortable and familiar for a Frisbee toss is also the posture that provides a clear view of the target with both eyes before throwing— something that isn’t possible at the beginning of a proper full-power drive.

*Frisbee tossing involves the hand, wrist, and arm. Driving in disc golf starts with the body’s largest muscles.*

how to outsmart and outwit arm brain

You gotta know he’s lurking. You gotta know how to spot him. And you gotta know how to deflect and defeat him.

If you had to work to learn proper driving technique (or are still in the process) vs. it coming naturally right away (and sometimes even then), Arm Brain is lurking. Don’t doubt it.

If you catch yourself thinking about wants and needs rather than mechanics as you set up for shots, and your throws start to lack their normal explosiveness and carry, Arm Brain has likely infiltrated your camp. The best way to banish him is to purposefully focus on elements of your mechanics that most starkly contrast a Frisbee throw, things I focus on in sessions with my clients.

One of my favorite mantras to banish Arm Brain is “Aim with the Body, Throw with the Body,” another unique School of Disc Golf term phrase. Maybe we’ll cover that one next!

New disc golf shoes!

April 8, 2024April 8, 2024 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, disc golf gifts, disc golf product reviews, product reviews

Intro- I needed new dg shoes!
About Idio
About the changes
About my first trial (mention the difference, and what I learned about waiting too long)
Update coming, not real soon.
Links to past posts

A few days ago I received a package in the mail from Idio Sports. It contained a pair of shoes. Specifically, disc golf shoes.

My heart leaped! Both pairs of my current disc golf shoes have warranted replacing for two months, and it has rained nearly every time I tried to play in that period. I even strained a muscle slipping on the wet rocky slopes of DeLaveaga, not fully appreciating what the used-up soles of my old shoes would cost me.

Also, like any other disc golf junkie, the opportunity to use a new piece of equipment for the sport gets me excited. Especially when the products are breaking new ground, like TECHDISC, or in this case shoes designed from scratch for playing disc golf. We’re talking about specialized equipment, similar to soccer cleats or ballet slippers.

That is exactly what Idio is all about. They released their first such product, the Syncrasy, more than three years ago, and they are still blazing a lone trail to what should in time become a thriving sub-category of the athletic shoe market.

If you are not yet familiar with the numerous ways Syncrasy is designed differently than other shoes to specifically support disc golf play, here is a quick run-down. Go to the Idio website for more details.

A thick rubber toe cap to prevent disc golf-specific wear
A “Pivot Zone” built into the heel to assist plant foot pivoting on backhand drives
Strategically flexible soles tailored to disc golf situations and stances
Waterproof!
Lighter than hiking shoes or boots, tougher than trail runners
Minimal heel drop for optimal balance on all shots

I found that the first version of the Syncrasy delivered on all of those features, and just as importantly, mine held up great. I’ve posted some images below and will give a quick update to my original review at the end of this post. First, let’s see how the 2024 Syncrasy is different from the original version, and why IDIO says it is already a success.

The first version of Idio’s flagship shoe was a hit, especially when you consider it was conceived and executed from scratch. But I remember the CEO of Idio Sports, Craig Kitchens, telling me then that he expected the shoes would evolve based on customer feedback.

With a new model available now, it was time to put his promise to the test. Mr. Kitchens was ready when I reached out with the following list, and all items were the result of direct or indirect customer feedback.

Updated heel counter material for better adhesion of the midsole to the upper
Improved buffing and texturing of all bonding surfaces.
Improved gluing pressure, heat, and time to ensure proper bonding of components
Hardened outsole rubber to improve lifespan while not sacrificing grip.
Improved tongue gusseting to keep water from slipping in around the tongue area.
Improved bonding of all TPU printed surfaces such as logo and mudguard.
“Revised tongue material for finer feel of quality. “Although nothing was wrong with it before”

Many of the details listed above have to do with parts of the shoe staying together, and I do remember hearing from some people that that was an issue with the first Syncrasy shoes. I asked Craig about this and his answer deserves to be quoted verbatim:

“We had a great start with our shoes and made improvements across the board in order to address some minor warranty issues that we saw the first year. We maintained a warranty return rate of 3% which is right in line with the major brands, but now with the updates we sit at below 1% for the year. Proving that we are listening to the community and growing as a brand to always provide the best possible product for disc golfers.”
Craig Kitchens, CEO Idio Sports

Kitchens said all of the shoe improvements listed in those bullets above were the result of warranty issues that didn’t even occur at a higher-than-normal rate. That tells me two things: Users clearly validated the design of the shoes — their utility for the sport of disc golf — so Idio focused their upgrades on increased durability, comfort, and quality. I like that.

As you can see in the pictures of my first Syncrasy’s alongside a pair of Saucony Peregrine GTX’s, the Idio shoes didn’t break down in the most common disc golf-related areas for me and most disc golfers. Both shoes’ kept my feet dry until the end, but the soles and sides of the Saucony’s ended up in tatters.

The bottoms are even more telling. The lugs wore normally with use on both shoes, but the Saucony’s developed holes ultimately exposing the Goretex liner.

*IDIO Syncrasy on the left, Saucony Peregrine GTX on the right.*

Silver Lining to a Rainy Round

It didn’t take long for a chance to test my new black Syncrasy’s in the rain. This shot from the parking lot at DeLaveaga, past the Hole 27 basket to the Hole 1 teepad shows what most of the course looked like.

After that one round, here is what I can say for sure. They felt great, and despite the saturated ground with puddles everywhere and off and on rain and wind, no water got anywhere near my feet. I put it that way because on a day like that, even if the waterproof liner does its job moisture can get in from above. Not the case with these. The tongue looks like billboard vinyl! (I’m sure it’s not).

My other initial observation is, the difference in traction between that round, wet ground and all, and any round during the past two months, was shocking. The soles work great on and off the pad, but that’s not my point.

As mentioned at the start of this post, I recently sustained an injury that is going to sideline me for a while (playing, not coaching). It was an injury that didn’t have to happen!

I was waiting until my current disc golf shoes either fell apart or stopped being waterproof to replace them. I paid little heed to the worn-down lugs because, until the ground was wet enough to be dangerous, I didn’t feel the loss of traction. Even though it was there.

*The author trusting his plant foot during the 2023 Enduro Bowl.*

The moral of that little tangent is to check your disc golf shoes and make sure they are still adequate to safely play wherever and however you play. I play technical courses and tend to put myself in all kinds of weird throwing positions. The shoes make a huge difference.

Idio disc golf shoes seem made for every terrain except sand (and what shoe is?), and I suggest all disc golfers give them a try, but the main thing to remember is shoes are an important piece of disc golf equipment. Wear something that gives you good traction and support, and pay attention to signs that either is breaking down.

I’ll try to update this post down the road, but it’ll likely be awhile. We’re supposedly done with the rain for the most part here until after the summer. I’ll believe that when I see it!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.

Unlocking Your TECHDISC, Part 1

February 29, 2024April 8, 2024 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, disc golf product reviews, product review, product reviews, techdisc

As a coach, I am always on the lookout for better ways — sometimes just additional ways — to help clients understand key points. Being able to reliably measure the forces applied to a thrown disc is a seismic shift in this regard.

After working directly with dozens of clients using a TECHDISC—some in-person at our facility, others remotely, using a TECHDISC they purchased—I don’t hesitate to recommend the product and platform to everyone. I’ve witnessed the impact it can have within a single 2-hour introductory lesson. Remote coaching (video conferencing, chatting) instantly becomes 50 percent more effective when the client has a TECHDISC in their hands that produces data on my screen.

I have a disclaimer, though. My perspective is undoubtedly skewed. My experience with TECHDISC has thus far been through personal use, and as an instructor. As a user, I began with an advanced understanding of disc characteristics and throwing mechanics, and my clients, through working with me, have access to that “interpretative” knowledge as well. For others, unlocking the true benefits of TECHDISC might not be so automatic.

It reminds me of when I discovered creative apps like Photoshop or Garageband. In both cases I was excited at the potential to create art and music, only to discover that there would still be tons to learn about the products and the media upon which they were designed. I was daunted by the learning curve required just to get started.

Using a TECHDISC is simple. Download the app, connect via Bluetooth, throw the disc, and flight numbers appear. Using a TECHDISC to get better at disc golf, however, is not so different than an artist or musician learning to use the aforementioned apps from scratch.

This is the first of what will likely be a series of posts intended to help fellow disc golfers unlock TECHDISC. The plan, to avoid bogging down with lengthy technical discussions, is to touch on several different areas in each post, including:

Exploring the platform— Capturing and viewing throw data is only the tip of the iceberg
Understanding the numbers as interlocking components of disc flight
Applying that understanding to the confident creation of the ideal combination of disc, throw type, and throw-type details (the stuff measured by TECHDISC) —something that must be done in less than 30 seconds, again and again.
Going from “knowing what to do” to “How to do it” to “I’m doing it!”

If readers ask specific questions in the comments or by contacting me directly, I’ll do my best to address them in the next post.

Before starting, I want to draw special attention to the last bullet on that list. If you buy a TECHDISC, read the rest of this post and the others in the series, feel you’ve gotten a good handle on the first two bullet points, but still struggle with the 4th and maybe also the 3rd and therefore see no measurable difference on the course . . . don’t be discouraged.

Read our reviews on the site or Google Maps and you’ll see a repeating theme beyond the generous compliments; people of widely varying skill levels and experience who only needed to work 1-on-1 with an expert who can tailor the lesson to their needs. If that is the last piece of the puzzle left to be able to throw to your potential, why not? Think about it, and in the meantime let’s begin our deep dive into TECHDISC.

when to use The App and when to use techdisc.com

A disc golf disc with a TD (short for TECHDISC) puck attached to it can interact with the TD platform in two different ways; by connecting it via Bluetooth to techdisc.com on a web browser, or to the iOS or Android apps. Don’t think of it as either/or; both methods have their uses.

Connecting your TECHDISC through a browser has the benefit of universality. Pretty much anything that can get an internet connection, has Bluetooth, and isn’t ancient can connect to your TECHDISC, if needed. But that’s not where the web interface shines, just a nice backup plan in case the app isn’t available.

*One person throws the TECHDISC while the other holds a smartphone with the app open.*

Logging in to your account at techdisc.com is where the research takes place, compared to the app and disc, which are used to collect specimens (throw data) out in the field. Whereas the app easily connects to the disc and clearly displays basic information (along with another killer feature), the ability to dig deeper, experiment, and search for patterns exists only on the web platform.

Digging Deeper

View the list of your throws at techdisc.com, then click on one of them. You’ll see one important stat (Advanced Ratio) that doesn’t appear on the app display. This number is a calculation of spin rate and speed, and a good indicator if you are achieving enough spin for your armspeed and disc choices. You’ll also see 3D mapping based on their computer model’s projection of the throw’s flight path. (Since there are numerous external factors their model can’t take into account, don’t get too hung up on what it looks like.)

Experiment

Regardless of whether you think the 3D graphic looked like your real throw or not, clicking on it opens the secret passageway to a virtual laboratory where you can play the What-If game two different ways: Change around the flight numbers of the disc to see how the flight of your disc changes when you use a slower, lighter, or less stable disc, for instance.

Change the actual measured Throw Details of the throw being displayed to see the various ways—and what would be required, effort-wise—to get the disc to move in the direction you desire. If a throw with your current driver’s flight numbers dumps to the left, up the spin rate until it flattens out for longer, or lower the launch angle, or both.

Searching for Patterns

The longer you work with TECHDISC, the more useful the collected data becomes. This is especially true if you proactively use the platform’s ability to add tags and a note to each throw. TECHDISC automatically assigns backhand/forehand and hyzer/flat/anhyzer designations, but you can add more info. For instance, #afteraround to see how fatigue affects your form, or #cold, or #windy, or various specific discs.

More data points + more throws over time = more potential revelations about how score better through improved insights.

The App

The iOS app has been out for some, but the Android version was released more recently. I mentioned one big feature of the app aside from its simple function and optimized display, and here it is: If you want to work with your TECHDISC and know the results of each throw without having to look back to a screen, you can! Simply set the app up to audibly read out the measured stats of your choice. This works great when you’re working on something specific and use the stats as instant confirmation of whether you’re on the right track.

Spin vs. Speed

I have had similar experiences lately with three of my clients who own their own TECHDISCs. In each case, I have for some time been stressing the importance of imparting enough spin on a disc to enable it to fly as intended. I’ve done my best to explain why throwing shots with more spin and less speed allows a player to gain additional precision when needed and achieve steep turnover shots that cover short distances.

They all listened. Each of them embraced the mechanical changes we made, stressing a crisp halt of the body on drives to increase snap. Somehow, though, it became clearer—and therefore more of a priority—through the use of TECHDISC.

Seeing the RPM (spin) number increase when you work on a mechanical change specifically intended to increase spin is for some a more concrete form of evidence than seeing the difference in flight because memories fade but numbers are forever. Or something like that.
As noted above, the Customizer can be used to see how increasing spin changes flight “in the lab.”
TECHDISC provides a calculated metric called Advanced Ratio which describes the ratio of speed to spin rate for any given throw. It is Speed divided by RPM multiplied by the circumference of the disc. For a typical throw, an optimal ADV ratio is in the mid-40s, and this provides a simple benchmark, regardless of speed or distance.

I believe that as with many things in a sport as complex as disc golf (they say it’s easy to learn and hard to master) half of learning new skills and tricks is gaining a deep enough understanding of that element of the game. As I explain in Three Paths to Better Disc Golf (and touch on in this blog post) there are six ways to manipulate the flight of a disc. Six knobs to adjust, if you will, to get the exact flight you want. Spin is one of those knobs.

If I have a low ceiling on a 200-foot shot and need a throw that turns over at the finish, I’m probably better throwing an understable disc with a hyzer nose angle and use extra spin to create the turn, rather than releasing with anhyzer, due to the low ceiling.

My clients seem to be grasping these concepts more clearly thanks to TECHDISC, and that has given them more motivation to work on spin-inducing drills. Whether you own one or not, you can still use the Customizer to see why spin is such a crucial component to getting the flight paths you need and the distance you crave.

Hit me up with questions and I’ll do my best to answer them, and might include some in the next TECHDISC post.

An Executive Summary of UDisc’s Just-released 2024 Disc Golf Growth Report

February 21, 2024February 21, 2024 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, udisc

Disc golf is continuing to grow in every direction and way, and UDisc is getting better and better at collecting and compiling salient and relative information. The producers of “The App for Disc Golf” just released its latest annual Disc Golf Growth report.

I always skim first for the number of disc golf courses in the U.S. vs the number of ball golf courses because of my prediction in the last chapter of my book, The Disc Golf Revolution. I wrote that they’d be close to equal by now, but I wasn’t surprised to see it’s still 15,000 to 10,000 in favor of the Judge Smales’. Where did I think I was living, Finland?! (see below)

Revenue is not mentioned. There are as yet no publicly traded disc golf companies, therefore, no public info. Potential investors in the sport can view statistics related to players (location, frequency of play) as a reflection of the sport’s growth in popularity, and stats relating to growth in the number of courses as a clear sign that decision makers believe in the sport’s value and lasting appeal.

Most statistics are gleaned from regular usage of UDisc’s app as well as a survey it invites all disc golfers to complete. This first one is taken from UDisc’s course directory. As not all of their listings are categorized this isn’t 100 percent accurate, but certainly enough to spot trends.

*Credit: UDisc 2024 Disc Golf Growth Report*

Of all the categories listed, churches (15 percent) and ski resorts (14) saw the strongest growth. Tied for last is public parks, at 8 percent. Not a huge difference, and also not a reason to think disc golf is about to level off. Nevertheless, why?

For the past several decades, course growth has been largely in the public land sector, driven by players who fell in love with the game yet had no courses nearby. They pushed, attended meetings, organized, raised funds . . . you name it. Whatever it took. Now parks seek to install courses rather than having to be cajoled into it, and private entities of all types see the incredible value (and then, when they play themselves, they understand the appeal).

With more than 15,000 courses worldwide, the odds of a person needing to plant the disc golf flag somewhere new just so they can have a course to play in their own town have gone down. But I believe this phenomenon happens in cycles.

Going back to the UDisc report, we see that there are now disc golf courses in 87 countries. Curacao, Cypress, Madagascar, Greenland, and Mongolia all received their first courses in 2023. Organizations like the Paul McBeth Foundation and Eagles Wings Disc Golf (which I mentioned in a recent post) have made the expansion of disc golf both a mission and a vehicle to support a higher mission. Either way, seeds are being planted in totally new places— places that will likely celebrate low cost, low maintenance recreation.

So what’s gonna happen next in those places? I’ll tell you, because I’ve seen it before.

The same thing that happened in Texas in the 90’s will happen in Mongolia in the years to come. Dzhambul will stumble across the course in Ulaanbaatar, thoroughly enjoy the experience, and upon his return to Darkhan realize he can’t live without it! He won’t rest until Darkhan has a course. And so, the cycle will continue.

Disc golf grows pretty much everywhere a seed is planted, but it has absolutely skyrocketed in one geographic area. That area includes Northern European nations surrounding the Baltic Sea. Disc golf courses in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania outnumber ball golf courses by 2.5 to 1, led of course by disc golf-crazy Finland.

Take 30 minutes to read the report for yourself; there are some nice anecdotal stories that underscore all the numbers. If you don’t have time, here are a few other tidbits that are highlighted:

33 U.S. states now have 100 courses or more, and Massachusetts and Maryland are almost there. With more than 500, Michigan has snagged second place from California.
89 percent of all courses are still completely free to play. I’m glad to see this stat holding firm.
New York City, with 8 million people, still doesn’t have a single course.
89 percent of UDisc’s survey respondents said they regularly share the sport with others

Team Infinite 2024— Jack Tupp is in, and in good company

January 19, 2024January 19, 2024 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf

The first year I represented Infinite Discs, things were quite different. The company had just come out with its first few Infinite-branded discs, no one had heard of COVID-19 yet, and the new Team Infinite was comprised of regional pros (mostly in and around the company’s Utah HQ) and disc golf community leaders. No touring pros.

Fast forward to 2024, and the team now includes 14 players who are either full-time tour players or names we know through the tour. James Proctor, who us NorCal players claim as our own, was all over Disc Golf Network coverage last year. Drew Gibson and Chandler Fry are characters of the game and recent DGPT event winners. This speaks to Infinite Disc’s success and growth, for sure, but I think it also reflects the growing appeal of not being tied down to throwing discs from one manufacturer.

Team Infinite also includes a carefully curated set of people who are first and foremost ambassadors of the sport, and I’m proud to once again be included in that group. I’ve won at least one PDGA event for several years in a row, so I like to think that has something to do with my inclusion as well. As the years go by, though, the weight of my goals in the sport are slowly shifting from mastering the craft and topping my competitors to simply helping others enjoy the game. To be recognized as an ambassador for the sport is an honor.

*Jack Tupp is a member of Team Infinite 2024*

In case you’re wondering, I throw a mega-mixed bag that includes way too many O-O-P (out of production) discs, but that’s another story. My bag also includes several Infinite molds. The Scarab is my primary putter, and the Tomb serves a specialty role in my bag, providing a stiffer option to my default soft Vibram Ridge for most approaches. I also love the Sphinx as it feels like a faster Roadrunner.

If I had to throw discs from one manufacturer, it would be a huge change and feel like a major constriction of my options. As a touring pro there would need to be significant compensation for that disruption and limitation. Kudos to Infinite Discs for letting their sponsored players throw whatever they feel helps them execute their shots— it actually makes sense for them, anyway.

As I wrap up my Team Infinite announcement and hail Infinite’s non-exclusive approach to sponsorship, allow me to also recognize a pioneer of this thinking (and other things in disc golf, like players creating their own disc companies). Steve Rico decided to throw a mixed bag back in THE 1990’s. At the time it meant going without a sponsor. Hopefully that kind of logical and independent decision making isn’t why this OG isn’t in the HOF.

Three Disc Golf ‘Holiday’ Letters

December 28, 2023December 28, 2023 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf

I was planning on using the term ‘Christmas Letter’ because I initially had the idea of mimicking those cringy annual missives certain families send off en masse to friends and family at the end of each year, listing their many great achievements. Change of plans! Christmas has come and gone, for one thing. Also, the idea of writing such a letter, even in jest, is as dreadful as reading one.

Although disc golf does have much to brag about, these letters should read more like annual reports. I want to look forward to the next year in addition to looking back on 2023.

Without any more preamble, a letter from Jack Tupp, a letter from School of Disc Golf, and a letter from disc golf itself.

a letter from the sport of disc golf

Disc golf continues to grow fast, in all directions, like the jungle vines in the old Jumanji that used to freak my daughter out so much. And after the previous few years’ growth which was largely about new “pandemic” players, 2023 and 2024 will be remembered (in my mind, anyway) for a better kind of growth: Infrastructure and worldwide geographic expansion.

The McBeth Foundation, Eagles Wings Disc Golf, and others have broken ground on new courses in places where disc golf’s incredible, unparalleled accessibility (including, but not limited to, affordability) will have the biggest impact.

*The Paul McBeth Foundation’s second project, in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala, is on a ball golf course that charges a small fee— but kids play for free.*

And just imagine! Entire new peoples (many who live in places where weather-wise they can play year-round) having the opportunity to take up disc golf! I wrote about this in The Disc Golf Revolution, specifically the significance of disc golf knocking down the barriers that have kept those same people from ever experiencing golf, period.

The Paul McBeth Foundation in particular has put this expansion into overdrive. Check out all the projects they have ongoing or planned right now.

My comments on the professional competitive landscape are brief, as I like to leave the blow-by-blow to others. Kristen Tattar is one of my favorite players, even though she has for now squashed the parity we were about to finally see in that division. I like her because she seems single-minded about perfecting her disc golf craft, and everything else (at least professionally) comes in a distant second place.

I wrote when Brodie Smith first joined Discraft that he would quickly become good enough to be a legit tour competitor, but wouldn’t ever be a top player or win anything significant. Why? Because his primary business isn’t disc golf, it’s content creation. Which is fine. The reality is that the large majority of touring players do not make enough money from winnings and sponsorship alone to do much better than break even. Unless you are competing for the victory most weeks, a current common formula is to get and stay good enough to be a legit tour player (and earn a tour card), then look to content creation and the resulting revenue to make it all sustainable.

In 2024 and beyond watch for a continued negative correlation between the list of top finishers each week and the players releasing the most content on their own. As the talent pool deepens, it will be harder and harder to have a disc in one hand and a selfie stick in the other.

One interesting development in 2023 on the business side of the sport was a bit of consolidation, something not uncommon for an industry with disc golf’s profile (rapidly shifting from niche to early majority). A couple of private equity firms in Scandinavia partnered with Latitude 64 to create House of Discs, which then acquired three more established brands in Europe and another in the U.S., former Latitude 64 partner Dynamic Discs.

Will 2024 see more similar moves, by House of Discs or others? Who will be the first investor in the United States with no previous ties to disc golf to understand where the sport is headed and “get in early?”

2025 will see the Pro disc golf world championships held outside the United States for only the second time, and in Europe for the first time. This is fitting as the era of U.S. players dominating competitive play seems to be rapidly coming to a close. It has already pretty much happened on the FPO side at majors, with the repeated performances of Henna Blomroos, Eveliina Solonen, and others in addition to Tattar.

a letter from school of disc golf

Whether you are a customer, blog subscriber, or a disc golfer of any stripe, thank you! We could not even attempt to make this work without you. As the sport grows, so do our opportunities to make a living by introducing people to the game and helping others get better. Please keep telling others about us.

As with the sport of disc golf itself, 2023 was a year for School of Disc Golf to build infrastructure for future growth. We completed our private training facility, a 9-hole course in Santa Cruz where private lessons and teambuilding events take place. Having a controlled environment rather than shared public spaces has been a game-changer!

We also created a second website just for the e-commerce side of the business. The most important new feature is self-booking: the ability to browse available dates, and then reserve and pay for lessons and group events. It may still look funky in spots, but so far things are running smoothly so check it out when you get a chance. I’d love feedback. The site also has a few items of merch, and we plan to add more. Look for unique disc golf items to pop up there in 2024.

Much of our corporate business comes from big tech companies in nearby Silicon Valley, and in 2023 we felt the repercussions of the continued layoffs among them. Group social outings are obviously among the first cuts when things get tight. But another trend is providing hope.

*Engineers from Netflix get reacquainted during a disc golf teambuilding outing in early December.*

Those same companies are now also requiring remaining workers to return to the office. Netflix, Facebook and Google teams have found us to be an affordable (and of COURSE fun) way to get teams reacquainted with each other. Please think of us when you or someone you know needs an affordable option for an outdoor group experience.

Another new addition to School of Disc Golf in the past year has been incorporating TECHDISC technology into our lessons. We use it to establish benchmark metrics, measure improvement, illustrate the relationship between disc properties and throw metrics, and plenty more.

A couple of my remote clients have already bought their own, giving us yet another way to interact without getting together in person. Check out my initial review of TECHDISC if you haven’t seen it yet.

We’re also considering scheduling group classes for the first time, now that we have a controlled facility. Let me know if you’d be interested. Classes targeting beginners, youth, seniors, and women are all considerations as these are fast-rowing segments of the disc golf population.

a letter from jack tupp

(As you may or may not know, Jack Tupp is a disc golf persona I created first as a character name when I produced Discmasters TV in 2011, then used again as a pen name for my books. Given my industry and position, and the stereotypes about disc golf at the time, I felt the need to keep things separate online. Plus, no one can pronounce my real last name, anyway. So here’s Jack Tupp’s Christmas letter!)

I still love to play, and apparently NEED to compete, even if it’s mostly local. In that regard, I did not have a great 2023 when I measure my potential against my results. I only played four PDGA events and did manage to get my 10th PDGA victory in the Enduro Bowl, one of my favorites due to the ironman format and my success over the years. But my rating went down overall this year, so I’ll be looking for ways to coax more out of this old carcass.

*The long journey of Jack Tupp’s player rating. See that tiny sliver between the 2007 bar and the “1000” line? Yep, thaaat close.*

2023 has also been a year for assuming additional roles in the local disc golf community. Until almost the end of 2022, a treasured local course in a redwood forest had remained closed due to fires and the pandemic. I led a group that formed a new club and signed an agreement with the school district to reopen the course.

“I’ve got disc golf riches, I’m a frisbee king.
Play anytime I want, barely costs me anything.
I can make magic happen, when nothing else in life goes right.
I can still control my frisbee flight.”
Jack Tupp and SPAM

More recently I was asked to join the board of directors of the DeLaveaga Disc Golf Club, and quickly accepted, honored to serve in that capacity.

The coming year is setting up nicely for School of Disc Golf, and I have also spoken to a couple of other disc golf business owners about partnering in various capacities. We’ll see what unfolds. Stay tuned!

Now, for those who have read this post to the very end, something only tangentially connected to disc golf. I used to be in a band, and about six months ago I was coaxed out of retirement by my old bandmate and friend Eric. He and a couple of other guys were tired of playing covers. I joined ’em, bringing my old originals with me, and have so far written seven new ones! So much fun.

The most recent one is the first song I’ve ever written about disc golf. In it I try to convey how great it is that a resource can be so desirable, beneficial, and available*— all at once! Think about it. Apply that triple standard to anything else. Usually one element precludes one or two of the others. Put another way, disc golf is as desirable as ice cream, as beneficial as kale, and as available as rice.

Keep in mind this is a live recording of a song that is not yet complete, with two musicians new to the band. It’s a work in progress, but I thought it’d be fun to share it with y’all.

Have a great next year. My wish for everyone is to find new, even deeper ways to enjoy our sport. Volunteer for your club. Take someone new out. Think deep about how to shave strokes. Have fun!

Our Curated Guide to Unique Disc Golf Gifts— and the Gift OF Disc Golf!

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf gifts, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Lessons

If you’re reading this, chances are you know someone who is obsessed with disc golf or love to play and share the sport yourself. In both cases we have you covered for unique gifts, and this guide makes it easy to get it exactly right!

Scroll down to see our options, and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or requests for personalized book inscriptions.

gifts for new and excited disc golfers

The sport of disc golf grew steadily somewhat underground from the mid-70s until 2020— then it roughly doubled during the pandemic. If you know an excited new disc golfer they are likely eager to learn more and get better.

The “Disc Golf Fanatic” gift bundle— $195
The “Disc Golfer” gift bundle— $65
Signed copy of “The Disc Golf Revolution” book $20
Signed copy of “Three Paths to Better Disc Golf” book— $20
School of Disc Golf t-shirt— $25

disc golf gifts, disc golf books — *School of Disc Golf owner Jack Tupp has written two acclaimed books on disc golf.*

why and how to give the gift of disc golf

The most rewarding part of my job is introducing new people to disc golf, and knowing that for some it will become a regular and very positive part of their lives from that day forward. If you love the game as I do, you know exactly what I mean.

Gift-giving occasions can be a great opportunity to turn someone on to disc golf. My book The Disc Golf Revolution is packed with info about disc golf’s past, present, and future, and a private introductory lesson is a great way to learn the essentials quickly.

The “Discover Disc Golf” gift bundle— $150
The “Disc Golfer” gift bundle— $65
Signed copy of “The Disc Golf Revolution” book— $20

techdisc, smart disc golf disc, disc golf training — TECHDISC measures speed, spin rate, angles, and much more!

gifts for experienced disc golfers

For those who don’t know, we disc golfers are VERY particular about our equipment. Discs are so specialized these days, forget about trying to pick one your friend will actually throw.

You can go the gift card route — if you do, you can’t do better than one from us or our partner Infinite Discs — but lots of folks enjoy the challenge of selecting perfect and unique gifts. In the world of disc golf, that’s where we come in!

The “Competitive Disc Golfer” gift bundle— $150
TECHDISC (for tech-loving disc golfers) — $299
Idio disc golf shoes— $129
The “Disc Golfer” gift bundle— $65
Signed copy of “Three Paths to Better Disc Golf” book— $20
School of Disc Golf t-shirt— $25

School of Disc Golf: now featuring the power of TECHDISC

October 16, 2023October 16, 2023 by frisbeebrain, posted in backhand, disc golf, disc golf driving, disc golf form, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Lessons, disc golf product reviews, frisbee golf, Jack Tupp, product reviews

Hello there, this is Jack Tupp, Owner and lead instructor at School of Disc Golf.

Part of my 2023 disc golf summer was spent familiarizing myself with an amazing piece of technology called TECHDISC. I’ve already used it with several clients and have now fully incorporated it into both types of lessons we offer; in-person and virtual.

Here is a brief summary of what TECHDISC is and what it does:

TECHDISC is the name of the company, as well as the company’s flagship (and only) product
The product, which sells for $299, is a piece of hardware; a small rubberized puck that is precisely and permanently attached to a disc at their factory. Customers can choose the disc type and weight.
The puck contains sensors that track the disc’s speed, spin rate, launch rate, hyzer angle, and wobble rate upon release
The data collected by the puck is transmitted via Bluetooth to the user’s phone, tablet, or laptop, where it is displayed numerically and graphically and also stored securely in the user’s account on TECHDISC servers
The software platform also enables users to label and sort throws to gain additional insights
So far, TECHDISC has been so popular they’ve gone through several cycles of preorders. In other words, they can’t make ’em fast enough!

I’m working on a more comprehensive review of TECHDISC to be posted soon, but after extensive use of the tool and platform over the last few months these are my impressions of how TECHDISC can be used to improve one’s disc golf game— and how we’ll be using it at School of Disc Golf moving forward.

techdisc in school of disc golf private lessons

Using TECHDISC with clients hasn’t changed what I teach in lessons, nor has it altered how I teach. At least not very much. But it has supercharged both in two ways I noticed right away.

A big part of my private lessons — especially with newer players — is explaining how to generate arm speed and spin, and how to control the direction and trajectory of the disc. In other words, how to throw further and “straighter.” Before TECHDISC, my methods produced consistent results, but quite often success is delayed, at least for a time, by the fact that adopting proper technique can feel strange.

I would explain mechanical changes and drills to a client, and together we’d assess their throws using my eyes and experience and the client’s feel. But trusting that new feel can take time. Having the quantification and scientific measurement of TECHDISC, however, is powerfully different. It provides an irrefutable level of confirmation — positive or negative — to both student and teacher. Numbers don’t lie, as they say.

Speaking of numbers, the other instant win using TECHDISC with new disc golfers involves explaining the differences between discs, flight numbers, and how to select the correct disc for each circumstance— and why that answer changes depending on a wide range of factors. TECHDISC includes a flight simulator that allows us to see how tweaking throw characteristics (and also disc characteristics) changes the flight of a disc.

*The Flight Simulator lets users adjust both disc and throw characteristics, then use the 3D Throw Viewer to see how each change affects the flight of the disc.*

Having a hands-on tool that lets someone change disc and throw numbers to create hyzer flip and forced flex shot lines that end up in the same place communicates important info in a much more memorable way.

using techdisc IN virtual lessons

We have developed an excellent methodology over the years to serve those who can’t make it to Santa Cruz, but as with everything else, communicating via Zoom and email and texts is a little less effective than being in the same location.

The most important thing for me in using it as a training tool is that it accurately reflects adjustments a client makes over the course of our work together. It does.

The concrete metrics of TECHDISC permit no message distortion— they are what they are. Clients know exactly where they stand in terms of speed and spin, and they gain a proper understanding of less intuitive factors like nose angle, hyzer angle, and launch angle. As an instructor, knowing the exact numbers for each throw I see on a video call makes an even bigger difference than when using it with an in-person client. I may misinterpret something I see, especially when it’s on a screen and the angle is bad, but I can trust the numbers.

I’ll go into more detail soon in a full review, but I’ve used my TECHDISC enough by now to know it is consistent from throw to throw. The most important thing for me in using it as a training tool is that it accurately reflects adjustments a client makes over the course of our work together. It does. When my clients own their own TECHDISC, they can share their throw data between sessions, and I can trust that data. It provides scientific data that confirms when they do X, the results are Y. Over time, even more patterns and trends will emerge, especially if they take full advantage of the tagging feature.

*TECHDISC automatically sorts throws by type and release angle, and lets you manually label and sort in numerous other ways.*

using techdisc on your own

You can of course use a TECHDISC on your own. At the very least you’ll have the coolest disc golf gadget around, one-upping the rangefinder crowd. If you expect the ability to capture and slice and dice all that data to translate into lower scores, though, that will largely depend on your ability to figure things out on your own. If you’ve had success in the past watching YouTube videos and implementing changes, and you understand technical disc golf terminology, TECHDISC should provide you with all the benefits described above.

If, however, you’re on the other end of the spectrum (many of my current clients tell me they found my website after trying and failing to watch videos and develop on their own), please remember that TECHDISC is a measurement tool combined with good database tools. It won’t tell you how to change those numbers. But, hey, that’s what me and my fellow disc golf instructors are for, right?

Contact us if you’d like to schedule a TECHDISC-powered lesson or have a question, or book online directly to reserve a date and time right now.

FrisbeeGolf Friday, May 26, 2023

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, frisbee golf, FrisbeeGolf Friday

Last week in the world of disc golf, I played in my club’s weekly bag-tag competition, early A.M. as usual. The “flex start” format allows groups to play throughout the day. Because we use Udisc for scoring, that enables players to keep an eye on the scores not just when they are playing but before and after, as well.

Club members who play in the afternoon can watch the scores to see how the course is playing that day— and make note of the current score to beat.

It works the other way for me and my Breakfast Club buddies. If I shoot at least a decent round I’ll check back occasionally on my phone to see how it holds up. If I shoot a really solid or great round I’ll watch to see how long it stays on top of the leaderboard or at least in the top 5.

This is a pretty great enhancement to casual competition, and thanks to Udisc it gets even better. Their live scoring features let us follow other groups’ scores hole-by-hole, so after playing a clean round (other than that roll-away triple bogey) on a very tough layout, I watched and waited. After moving up and down on this list as new players started and others finished, I ended up pretty much where I expected.

The early morning rounds are special anyway, regardless of the associated competition of bag-tags. Birds are chirping and the course is mostly empty. We’re out there together, three or four of us, eschewing our warm beds and embracing (on this day) a blanket of fog in the air and water dripping from every blade of grass. It’s more than disc golf. As my mom would say, “It’s an adventure!”

Speaking of adventures, a company called Humbo asked me to share their list of the best disc golf destinations in the world. Let me know if you agree. What did they miss? Which ones have you visited?

*Bag-tag Thursdays are about growth. One day my friend will emerge from his disc golf cocoon as a beautiful, 950-rated butterfly!*

Before I share a few “disc golf makes good” stories, as is my custom, I want to share why I do it. I’m hoping people pick up on the common themes that permeate these accounts of growth in our sport. More often than not they involve people volunteering, donating, and sharing their expertise because they appreciate disc golf so much they feel a kind of obligation to share it.

For instance, thanks Brad Silvers and others the town of Howland, OH has Tiger Town Disc Golf Course, while Trigg County, KY used restaurant tax money and a host of volunteers to build its new 18-hole course. And then there’s Alex Dowley, assistant tennis coach at Albion College in Michigan. He’s doing what he can to grow disc golf there, where will may someday be the HEAD disc golf coach!

For those who didn’t see the cool buy o’ the month, here it is again: The handy-dandy product that serves as a stylish car seat cover, disc golf practice target, and beach towel— just not all at once.

The grommets enable it to be hung up, and the regulation size basket for aiming will hopefully reduce the times someone asks why you’re launching Frisbees at a towel. Get one before they’re gone!

Finally, this week’s disc golf news from the Canadian Front. Moosejaw is getting another 18-hole disc golf course, because one is never enough. My friend Brett in Saskatoon will play them both and report back. Have a great holiday weekend. Let freedom, and disc golf chains ring! And remember those who made it possible.