Disc Golf Pro Tour

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Effective Disc Golf Training: Neuroscience Tips Explained

July 8, 2025July 8, 2025 by frisbeebrain, posted in DGPT, disc golf, Disc Golf Pro Tour, Disc Golf Technique, Jack Tupp, The Science of Disc Golf

This post is the 2nd in a 4.5-part series applying widely accepted principles of neuroscience to disc golf training and execution. We will present 18 separate suggestions in total, explain why each works, and specify the brain systems involved. To read past posts go to The Blog. To get future posts, go to the blog and hit FOLLOW.

To realize your own full potential in disc golf, intelligent practice is as crucial as natural talent. “Getting reps in” in the field or with your stack of putters can’t be the only goal. We need to be more purpose-driven, and work as smart as we do hard.

Neuroscience offers a range of techniques that can make your practice sessions more effective, leading to faster skill acquisition and better retention. This section includes 10 total and therefore shall be broken into two posts (hence the “4.5 part series”)

My suggestion is to first try the ones that call out to you or address an issue that you know has proven particularly costly to your game. In other words don’t bother tackling them in order as they are not listed in any particular order.

This is one tip from the first installment of this series, boiled down to less than 60 seconds.

Mirror Neuron Training (Live Observation)

What it is: Watch players with excellent form in person, paying close attention to their movements, and then mimic them.

I’ve had clients who grasped a concept quickly after seeing me demonstrate. It probably helps that I am left-handed, so it’s a true mirror effect!

Why it works: This method taps into your mirror neurons, specialized brain cells that fire both when you perform an action and when you observe someone else performing the same action. This activation helps you to internalize proper technique simply by watching.

(I’m reminded of flinching along with Rocky every time he punched Clubber Lang.)

Brain system involved: The premotor cortex and parietal lobe are key brain regions where mirror neurons are found and activated during this type of observational learning.

A collage of four images capturing different angles of disc golfers in action, showcasing their throwing motion during a game, with spectators watching in the background. — *If you don’t have any world class top pros handy, pick someone at your local course who throws with smooth balance and timing, whose discs carry further than you think they will based on the effort.*

Shadow Throwing Immediately After Observation

What it is: Right after watching a player, mimic their throwing motion without a disc.

Why it works: This immediate, disc-free repetition reinforces the movement patterns you just observed, helping to solidify them in your motor memory.

Eliezra Midtlyng, a young pro with elite power who burst onto the DGPT scene at age 16 a couple of years ago, has mentioned in interviews that she learned disc golf by watching it on YouTube during the Pandemic and then mimicking what she saw, before even buying her first disc!

Brain system involved: This practice engages your motor cortex (for executing the movement) and proprioceptive circuits (which give you a sense of your body’s position and movement).

Open-Loop Practice (Feel Over Outcome)

What it is: Practice throwing without tracking the results of each shot. Instead, focus entirely on your form and the physical “feel” of the throw.

Of all the tips listed in this series on neuroscience and disc golf performance, this one strikes closest to School of Disc Golf’s guiding philosophy of Disc Golf in a Vacuum. I believe we can and should extend this practice into our rounds. Take your satisfaction from how well you assess and execute each shot rather than the results as measured by score.

Learning by Feel has also been covered here, and the two concepts are definitely connected.

Why it works: By removing the pressure of outcome, you can strengthen your kinesthetic memory—your body’s ability to recall movements and positions—without becoming dependent on immediate success or failure. In competition, this tip can help proactively. If the moment gets too big, bring your focus back to what proper execution feels like.

Brain system involved: This technique primarily engages the sensorimotor cortex and the cerebellum, both critical for processing sensory information from movement and coordinating motor actions.

disc golf book, disc golf lessons — *To learn more about Disc Golf in a Vacuum, check out the book!* *Signed copies are available on our website.*

Variable Repetition (Contextual Interference)

What it is: During practice, frequently mix up various aspects of your throws, such as lies, distances, and even the discs you choose.

Disc golf is not like darts, or bowling, or (egad) cornhole. No shot (unless it’s a re-throw) is the same as the shot before. Fieldwork should always include some type of variety.

Why it works: This variability forces your brain to constantly adapt to new situations, which in turn builds real-world flexibility and problem-solving skills on the course. This seemingly minor type might be the difference between you seeing or not seeing the best option for that tricky lie in the woods.

Brain system involved: The prefrontal cortex (for planning and adaptation) and the cerebellum (for coordinating complex movements) are heavily engaged in this adaptive learning.

Interleaved Practice (Rotating Skills)

What it is: Instead of practicing one skill for a long block, rotate between different skills like putting, driving, and upshots in alternating sets. You can also alternate discs and shot types while throwing from one spot to another, taking the time to think through the adjustments for each disc, disc type, shot shape, and/or throw type.

Why it works: This approach disrupts “autopilot” mode, requiring your brain to constantly retrieve different motor programs. This leads to deeper neural encoding and better long-term retention of skills.

Brain system involved: This method primarily strengthens procedural learning pathways, which are responsible for learning and automating complex motor skills.

In part 2.5 of this 4.5-part series we will cover the rest of the section on Neuroscience-Based Skill Learning and Efficient Practice in Disc Golf. After that we will cover emotional learning and mental recovery, and then conclude the series with Motivation, Consistency, and Growth.

Be sure to hit the FOLLOW button on our blog so you don’t miss them when they drop, and also please Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see the same concepts explained on video.

Stay tuned for much more, and as always feel free to comment and ask questions!

Discover Idio Sport’s Unique Specialized Features for Disc Golf

May 21, 2025May 21, 2025 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, Disc Golf Pro Tour, disc golf product reviews, product reviews

As disc golfer diehards, you and I have a pretty good idea of what makes a good disc golf shoe: For some durability in one particular place is essential. Others insist on good waterproofing, or all-day comfort, or good tread.

Idio Sports founder Craig Kitchens is a diehard disc golfer, too, but his background in design and time spent in Portland, Oregon (aka Shoe City) enabled his thoughts and eventually actions to go to an entirely different level.

For Kitchens, it wasn’t about determining which existing shoe type or brand was ideally suited to the sport of disc golf. In addition to the common “must-haves” that include those listed above, he began creating a list of disc golf-specific features that a shoe designed and built for disc golf should include— and it wasn’t a short list!

The Drag-On Toe, X-Flex Outsole, and Power-plant Pivot Zone are the three most obvious examples, but there are more with the 2024 model of Idio Syncrasy, and the just-released Syncrasy EVO advances the reality of a disc golf shoe even further.

Note: The remaining stock of 2024 Syncrasys are 50 percent off right now and the new model is in, making this an excellent time to try a pair yourself

I connected with Kitchens at the Champions Cup in Stockton for a great discussion about his journey designing and marketing the world’s only disc golf shoe from scratch. I encourage you to watch the video below so you get a feel for his passion and dedication. I think it’s clear that he is the right person to be taking on a task that will benefit all of us.

In addition to sharing Idio’s origin story, Kitchens went a bit deeper in explaining the unique challenge of being the first to create a type of specialized footwear.

“There was really no shoe or ideology around what made a good disc golf shoe,” said Kitchens in explaining the challenge of designing a purpose-built shoe from scratch.

After a couple of years of seeing his creation perform in the wild and listening to feedback from other disc golfers, he learned that while the disc golf-specific features were well-received, parts of the outsole wore too quickly for some players.

The reason for that quick wear was the use of a softer compound to achieve a grippy-ness valued by disc golfers, and Kitchens didn’t want to sacrifice that entirely. His solution? Creatively co-opt a manufacturing process that is normally used for cosmetic purposes to create an outsole with zones of harder (for durability) and softer (for grip) material. Brilliant! Watch the video for details— and please subscribe to the channel while you’re there. I’m trying to create meaningful content and new subscribers are the best encouragement.

great shoes, big challenges

I see two primary challenges Idio Sports faces on its road to making disc golf shoes a regular part of every competitive player’s equipment, and I personally find them both plain silly. They are the idea that to some, even with athletic shoes, the fashion/status statement made is as important as their function; and the enduring power of celebrity endorsement.

I initially tried out Idios because I was excited about the potential of a shoe designed for disc golf. I wasn’t crazy about how the very first model looked but that would never factor much into a buying decision for me, anyway. With the new model of Syncrasy EVO, looks should help the shoe sell, if anything. But for some, even good looks ain’t enough. It’s all about the brand or logo.

The new Syncrasy EVO by Idio Sports.

When it comes to shoes I’m afraid most of us are extremely brand-conscious, or, brand-self-conscious, I should say. Maybe we’re worried about dropping money on something new and unknown, or maybe we’re more concerned about someone thinking “What’s he wearing on his feet? ‘Off-brand’ shoes?!”

Either way, I’d like to think disc golfers as a group are at least a little stronger than the norm when it comes to independent thinking, and I KNOW we are serious enough about our sport to want every advantage and comfort technology can provide.

As for celebrity endorsements, what can I say? It has been one of the most reliable marketing tools for centuries now. People buy stuff that other people who they admire tell them to buy. In disc golf, this method accounts for the lion’s share of nearly every disc and bag manufacturer’s marketing budget. These are all products designed for disc golf, though.

Don’t buy a shoe just because a top disc golf pro endorses it and tells you it is a disc golf shoe (it isn’t). Do a little digging and see if the brand is associated with disc golf in any way outside of an Instagram or DGN ad.

The sport of disc golf has specialized footwear now, thanks to Craig Kitchens. Try a pair. You might really, really like them.

On the scene: A Disc Golf Major, DGN Live Production, and the Difference Between a Marshall and an Official in Golf

May 13, 2025May 13, 2025 by frisbeebrain, posted in DGPT, disc golf, Disc Golf Pro Tour, MVP

What’s up, Disc Golf People?

A certain veteran disc golf writer/instructor/talking head had never attended a PDGA major (other than the three he played in, long ago), nor been on-site for a live Disc Golf Network production, until May 2025. That’s Jack Tupp!

My disc golf jobs require that I mostly stay local, but the Champions Cup taking place less than 2 hours away meant that I could card several birdies with one throw, so to speak. So I secured a media credential and made a plan to do three things: capture a variety of videos, images, and impressions for use in future blog and vlog content; meet with my marketing partners at Idio Sports and TECHDISC; and take in the whole experience as a fan.

A disc golfer in a white shirt throwing a disc while spectators watch from the background during a tournament. — *Ricky Wysocki throws a forehand approach in the 2025 PDGA Champions Cup*.

Mission accomplished, and then some! In addition to content for planned posts about the DGPT fan experience and backhand form, I recorded a few great interviews, including one with my old Discmasters co-star and Presidents Cup captain Avery Jenkins. I ran into Nate and Val, too, but they were both headed for their shifts calling the action at the time.

Expect more fresh posts from this trip in the weeks to come, but the thing I want to address right away is the controversy that resulted from a PDGA marshall’s decision to take the initiative in calling a foot fault penalty on Kristen Latt on the event’s third-from-final hole.

If you need the details about what happened and what other talking heads said about it, just search for “disc golf + PDGA + Kristen + marshall.” That ought to do it.

No one wants a repeat of what happened, so the PDGA needs to scrutinize both the incident and the flawed rule (and others like it) that enabled it to happen.

A disc golfer prepares to throw, with a large crowd of spectators watching from behind the tee area surrounded by trees. — *Paul McBeth, when in the running, still draws the biggest gallery, lead card or not.*

First the incident.

I agree with the frustration/outrage about the seemingly random (and rare, and nit-picky) application of a rule. At this point, it would seem that what’s going to be said has been said:

Video shows she likely barely, technically touched her marker with her toe while her disc was still touching her hand- barely
Such “infractions” do not provide any kind of advantage
Such infractions happen all the time
It’s not fair to have a few players scrutinized by an outside monitor while most are not

While I don’t disagree with any of the points above, the fact that I walked next to said marshall for a couple of hours for four straight days and have experience as a sports official qualifies me to have a fresh take.

Officials in sports are the umpires in baseball, the referees in football and basketball. They are judges who are there to know and apply rules and ensure fair play.

I did a little research (shocking, I know) because I was curious about the distinction between a marshall and an official in a golf tournament. Marshalls handle crowd control and safety issues, and assist with pace-of-play. But they are quite pointedly not authorized to make rulings. That is the job of . . . you guessed it . . . an official.

The person who on his own assessed Latt a penalty, even after the other players in her group told him they saw no infraction, has the title of Marshall. In the 4 rounds (two each following the MPO and FPO lead cards) where I used my press credential to observe the action — and the ballet dance of the DGN camera operators who capture it — he acted admirably in his role as a marshall. I witnessed him repeatedly guide spectators to the best areas for viewing the current or next hole.

So I guess one question is, has the PDGA combined the tournament staff roles of marshall and official into one? And if so, did they do it in any official way?

A female disc golfer walks near a pond, carrying a disc golf bag, while another person with a camera stands nearby, capturing the scene. — *Kristin Latt carries her own bag in round 2 of the 2025 Champions Cup*.

Maybe there is internal documentation detailing the job description of PDGA marshall at an event, and maybe it officially includes duties normally associated with an official. But what if what happened to Kristin Latt was the result of a less formal arrangement, where the Marshall was told vaguely that he would have the power to make stance rulings?

The answer is important because a person does not wake up one day prepared to officiate a major professional sporting event. Anyone who has volunteered to officiate even kids’ baseball or soccer knows how overwhelming it can be when thrown into such an environment.

As someone with plenty of officiating experience in my past (baseball, back when it was OK to yell at the ump), my best guess is that the marshall saw Latt’s foot bump the disc, asked the other players, then, despite their answering in the negative, assessed a penalty anyway. He probably panicked and thought he had to, since he brought it up.

Maybe deep in his subconscious he wanted to be the center of attention and acted before thinking. Or he could be acting solely or with others to thwart Europeans from dominating the FPO division.

Nah.

If there is any action to be taken (as opposed to reaction, better known as “talking about it,” it would involve better defining the roles and use of marshalls (as opposed to officials) in disc golf, and better preparing individuals who are expected to act as lone judge and jury. Whatever we call them.

A disc golf player is preparing to throw in front of a large crowd, with spectators and camera operators observing the action. — *Anthony Barela executes a legal “step” putt in front of hundreds of onlookers.*

As for the flawed rule that set the stage for Champions Cup v. Kristin II, the flaw lies in the inability to clearly determine an infraction. After the marshall assessed his penalty, Latt asked him if he saw the disc leave her hand.

A disc golf player prepares to throw while standing on a course, holding two discs. Spectators can be seen in the background. — *Believe it or not, the disc leaves his hand before his left foot touches down on this putt.*

He said, quite honestly, “No. I can’t watch two things at once.” In baseball, the only way umpires make the call at first base is by watching the runner’s foot touch the base while listening for the sound of the ball smacking the fielder’s leather glove. Because their eyes can’t focus on two things at one time.

Another aspect of this rule that is even more controversial involves “step” putts where a player strides toward the target past their marker, releasing the disc just before a foot touches down illegally well past the lie. If it appears to happen simultaneously, what do we say? Tie goes against the thrower?

Barela clearly releases the disc before touching down here, but any closer than that and it’s anyone’s guess.

I showed two images and one video clip of a legal Anthony Barela putt above as an example of why the stance rules can’t and shouldn’t be enforced in any but the most egregious cases. Not by cardmates, not even by officials . . . . and by no means marshalls.

disc golf latvia latitude64, disc golf test, disc golf lessons

Improve Your Disc Golf Scores: Take the SAGA Test Now

April 2, 2025April 2, 2025 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Lessons, Disc Golf Pro Tour, disc golf psychology, Jack Tupp

free for a limited time!

Are you looking to take your disc golf game to the next level? The School of Disc Golf is excited to announce a new tool designed to help you do just that: the SAGA Test!

Here at School of Disc Golf, we believe in our motto: Discere Ludere Melius – Latin for “Learn to Play Better”. That’s why disc golf author and instructor Jack “Tupp” Trageser developed the Self-Administered Gap Analysis (SAGA) test. This innovative tool is designed to help disc golfers of all skill levels pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses. By identifying both the easiest and most impactful opportunities for improvement, the SAGA test can help you see real progress on the course.

The SAGA test was initially created to quickly cover all bases when coaching Latvian FPO player Sintija Klezberga remotely as she prepared for her first DGPT Elite events. It proved to be enormously helpful in establishing a foundation for her training, and since then, other School of Disc Golf clients have benefitted from it as well. Now, we’re excited to open it up to the public!

Keep in mind that the test and process for analyzing results are both still in Beta mode.

So, how can the SAGA test help you play better disc golf? By answering a wide-ranging list of questions about all aspects of your competitive disc golf play using a simple 1-5 rating system, you’ll gain clarity on the areas you need to address.

It’s not rocket science, just a simple Google Form.

But the SAGA test is more than just self-reflection. We encourage you to share the link with your playing buddies and ask them to complete the questionnaire about you. Their answers, especially the surprising ones, can reveal potential blind spots in your game that you might be overlooking. As we say, “If you give yourself a 4 on one question and your friends all give you 2’s and 1’s, that there is a red flag, my friend”.

Once you complete the test, your results will be e-mailed to you automatically, but to get a comparison of your self-assessment to your friends’ feedback — the potentially more impactful info — you’ll need to contact us and request it. We’re not that automated yet.

Ready to embrace the School of Disc Golf motto and learn to play better? Click here to complete the School of Disc Golf SAGA test and share the link with your friends!

Top Of The World View: Day Two of the Masters Cup brings Fun and Drama

June 1, 2021June 1, 2021 by frisbeebrain, posted in DDGC, DeLaveaga, DGPT, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf form, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Pro Tour, disc golf women, frisbee golf, Jack Tupp, Marty Hapner, Masters Cup, National Tour, Touring Pros

Talking Pod People and chatting with Hall of Famers

Good morning. As in, Sunday morning. Day two of the Santa Cruz Masters Cup is in the books and I had plenty of stuff to write about after wandering the course, following the women’s lead card for a long spell, and chatting with spectators, volunteers, Disc Golf Hall of Fame members and should-be member* and other old friends.

I also have a take on a bit of background drama going on this weekend. You might not think it’s a particularly bold take, but, whatever. “You do you,” as my two woke daughters like to say.

I did watch plenty of great golf Saturday, like this upshot on event hole 21 (DeLa hole 18). So you can properly appreciate the execution required here: In addition to the low branches directly in front of this guy, he has to take care of steep drop-offs all behind the basket, and a giant exposed root called “The Anaconda” crossing 20 feet in front of the basket. Photo: Jack Trageser

First, though, I would like to give you an inside look at the way the whole spectator thing has worked at the Masters Cup. Up until only a month or so ago the Delaveaga Disc Golf Club didn’t know if the county would allow spectators at all, or on what level. The final arrangement was a system of paid admission tickets that enabled patrons to either watch from one of three “pods” located around the course, or follow a particular lead card. I spent some time with both, and also talked with the volunteers tasked with maintaining order.

Given the fact that the PDGA and the club were giving a set of constraints in terms of how many spectators would be allowed into the event, I’d say things have run smoothly so far. The paying spectators I spoke with, most of whom seem to be very new to the sport, by the way — take note disc golf marketers — were enjoying themselves. They felt their tickets to be well worth the $35 to $75 they paid.

Didn’t get this player’s name, but she is throwing an upshot on event hole 4 from within a spectator pod (look for both lines of yellow rope). Photo: Jack Trageser

As I stood chatting with the Pod People of Pod no. 1, whose vantage point provides views of at least five different holes including “Top of the World,” a drive approached at speed from that very same famous tee pad. The Pod People all scuttled to the far end of their pen¹ as the disc thunked into the dirt where we had been standing. With my media badge I was on the other side of the rope; outside the pen, if you will. So I didn’t have to scuttle.

When the player came to play her shot the Pod People remained at the far end of Pod no. 1. Sorry, I didn’t get the player’s name. But she threw a fairly decent upshot and nailed her putt for par.

My interesting volunteer spotlight falls on three people who drove all the way from Fresno to help out with the tournament. They also feel like they got a great deal. They get to spend the day watching top-level disc golf up close, in 70 degree weather rather than the 90+ they left back home. But they definitely had to work for their suppers, so to speak.

Volunteers, Craig and Maya, standing on the slant of DeLa hole 26a’s right rough — tournament hole 3. Photo: Jack Trageser

Two of them were tasked with spotting on event hole number 3. This hole plays along the spine of a ridge that leads out to the tee pad for “Top of the World.” The fairway is narrow, and the terrain drops off sharply on both sides. Craig and Maya had to scurry up and down these slopes to spot discs all day. But that’s not all. They also had to enforce the park’s closure for all but disc golf, which meant telling walkers and bikers intent on finishing the climb and gazing out from “Top of the World” at the ocean that it wasn’t gonna happen.

Let me tell you, Maya and Craig are tough cookies! Matt Beatty,² send them a gift basket! I didn’t come across any volunteers doing a better job enforcing rules. I did hear a little about non-paying spectators slipping onto the course, but the grumbling came from a volunteer rather than a paying spectator.

Paige Pierce, waiting through one of many backups on event hole 6. Photo: Jack Trageser

All in all I think the spectator side of things has gone well so far, and all of the ticket revenue has been added to the purse. So, yeah. Good. It’ll be interesting to see if this is the new norm, after Covid.

I mentioned in my previous entry to this series that I was looking forward to following the women’s lead card on Saturday. Well, I did, and they did not disappoint. And not just them, but the several cards ahead of them of which I caught glimpses. I love watching players who are world class in their execution but play lines I myself would play — because I can’t throw 600 feet.

With men’s lead cards I’ll get to see the seemingly superhuman shots, and that’s cool, too.The men also provide more stupid mistakes through hubris, which is good entertainment. But I just find it so much more engaging watching someone play the same shots I’d play, and executing at a very high level. And on this particular day, the foursome had it all! Paige Pierce and Catrina Allen, who I like to think of as arch rivals even if they don’t think of it that way themselves, the young phenom in Hailey King, and Juliana Korver, the legendary world champion and cagey veteran.

My point with all this is that if you aren’t watching the women with as much interest and investment as the men, you ought to consider my reasoning and give ‘em a try.

The 2-meter rule rears its head again, this time costing Paige Pierce a stroke on event hole 11. What the Frick! Photo: Jack Trageser.

Speaking with a PDGA person who is also a friend,³ I learned of some salvos being tossed back and forth on social media about the number of camera teams covering female lead cards vs. male lead cards. One player demanded the PDGA insist on equal coverage in this regard. Once you learn the facts you understand that that is not realistic since coverage is determined by market demand. But until the coverage is equal, we’re all missing out. We just need to address the issue by increasing demand, not by manipulating supply.

Hailey King displaying the kind of form that makes this disc golf coach smile. Photo: Jack Trageser

One more thing I love about the pro women, since I can’t seem to let it go quite yet: They make great form models that I frequently use as a disc golf coach. Some of our best players are small, like 5’ or 5’ 4” tall — and they can still crush drives 400 feet. To do this they must get every ounce of bodily leverage they can while maintaining proper timing and balance. Watch Catrina Allen do this time after time. It’s truly something to see.

Well, I need to head out there and see how this thing winds up. Paige Pierce has to stay ahead of Kona Panis, and on the MPO side the lead card should be full of dramatics.⁴ Don’t rule out Ricky Wysocki and Paul Mcbeth, eight strokes out. Just sayin’.

Before I sign off, here is a picture of another of DeLaveaga’s Hall of Famers, Marty Hapner, along with a guy whose induction is overdue in my opinion. Stevie Rico is part of the history of the sport, has (I think) the longest streak of years (20?!) winning at least one A-tier event, and is a hardworking SOB.

Steve Rico, left, and Marty Hapner, join me in a discussion about respect. Photo: Jack Trageser

Sorry, that’s just really what it looked like, and I thought it was funny. ↩
Tournament Director ↩
Off the record since I hadn’t informed them I was covering the event. ↩
All it’s missing is Nikko ↩

Disc Golf Pro Tour on ESPN2 tonight- what to expect, what it means, how to watch

November 24, 2020 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Pro Tour, frisbee golf

Tonight marks a fairly significant milestone for disc golf in a year that may be looked back upon as one of the turning points in the young sport’s history.

The milestone? Professional disc golf will air globally on ESPN2, during Prime Time on the eastern coast for the U.S. It’s not the first time disc golf has appeared on a cable television network, but it is the first instance of the sport airing in a non-paid production. In other words, ESPN believes disc golf can draw enough eyeballs to create advertising revenue.

Everything you need to know to check it out is covered in this run-down at Ultiworld Disc Golf. If you are not yet familiar with professional disc golf or the sport in general, I strongly recommend you check it out. It’s post-produced coverage of the Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship Finals, both male and female, and it should include some good drama and close finishes in addition to plenty of material geared toward viewers new to the sport.

The menu screen of the author’s Hulu on Roku live television schedule for November 24, 2020, proof that disc golf is airing on ESPN2 during Prime Time.

If you love disc golf and want to see it grow even more, this is a great opportunity to share it with your circle of influence. Share this post or just say “ESPN2, 5 PM EST, you gotta check out the Pro Disc Golf Tour Finals!”

I like the fact that this broadcast is taking place in the evening on the doorstep of winter. Disc golf fans are also disc golfers, and given the choice between watching and playing they choose to play. Other factors provide hope for encouraging viewership ratings: We’re all stuck at home right now, and a quick perusal of other options during that 2-hour slot doesn’t yield much strong competition. And then there is the recent trend that likely opened the opportunity for the DGPT to partner with ESPN.

A large majority of businesses, municipalities, and individuals have suffered losses and setbacks due to the pandemic. In one sense disc golf is among them as competitions and course installations everywhere have been cancelled or postponed. But the sport has seen a boon as a recreational activity due to it’s social distancing-friendly nature, as confirmed by retailers and other disc golf businesses reporting record years. I can attest that the School of Disc Golf conducted more lessons in 2020 than at any time in it’s 10-year existence.

In my book, the Disc Golf Revolution, I predicted that disc golf would achieve broader popularity as a recreational activity, which would lead to greater opportunities as a spectator sport. I believe this recent sequence of events shows that to be the case. Whether the increase in casual disc golf players translates to a commercially viable viewing audience remains to be seen. As I mentioned, the type of person who has historically been drawn to play disc golf leans toward active vs. passive activities.

What this broadcast proves, though, is that people whose job it is to know about these things at least believe it’s possible. That is really the essence of this milestone.

On the pro tours, size DOESN’T matter. Basket size, that is.

May 11, 2019March 9, 2020 by frisbeebrain, posted in disc golf, disc golf book, Disc Golf Pro Tour

By Jack ‘Tupp’ Trageser

the debate about modifying targets to add more drama at top pro events misses a larger, more important point

Where do you stand on The Great Debate about basket size on the pro tour? The subject has been debated extensively- on YouTube in 2018 via a DGPT roundtable, more recently in a PDGA magazine article by course design guru John Houck, and in thousands of discussions among elite players and their fans.

I believe, for reasons listed below, that it is a pointless debate. Basket size and putting difficulty has nothing to do with the perceived lack of drama on the green in disc golf as a spectator sport. Read on and you’ll learn why I feel this way. First, though, a recap:

Those in favor of shrinking baskets think top pros are just too good at putting using the current disc entrapment devices. They believe this has two negative effects on disc golf as a spectator sport: scores that are so low to par that outside observers scoff at disc golf as a professional sport, and a lack of drama on the putting green. Putts inside the circle for touring pros almost always end up inside the basket.

Some pros are opposed to the change, for an understandably self-interested reason- Putting is not their strong suit and they don’t want that weakness to be further magnified. But others make more practical points. If targets are smaller, they contend, players will lay up from longer distances more often, robbing spectators of those twisting, floating, outside-Circle 2 gems that provide some of disc golf’s best spectacles.

Others question the practicality of retrofitting thousands of existing courses and the wisdom of having pros compete with markedly different equipment than the fans who would have, could have made that shot.

Good points on both sides of the argument, right? So what do YOU think?

I’ll tell you what I think. The issues that the Basket-Shrinkers raise are real, but smaller targets and less made putts won’t ‘solve’ them, if indeed they even require solving.

I wrote a book called The Disc Golf Revolution, and much of it involves comparing and contrasting disc golf and traditional (ball) golf. One of the first chapters, titled The Future of Golf, makes the point that disc golf features nearly all of ball golf’s appeal yet none of its numerous drawbacks. You know that list: Cost, time to play, difficulty, history and culture of elitism, environmental impact . . .

I bring this up now because at the end of that chapter, per my training as a journalist, I presented the other side of that argument in a ‘devil’s advocate’ section subtitled 7.5 Reasons Why Ball Golf is Better Than Disc Golf. One of those 7.5 reasons is the undeniable fact that disc golf does not – and cannot – replicate the incredible contrast featured in ball golf between the speed and distance of a powerful drive and the delicacy, the breath-holding drama of a long, slow, undulating putt.

A 30-foot putt in ball golf might last for 30 second as it rolls slowly across the green, while a 30-footer in disc golf is over two blinks after it leaves the player’s hand. Unless it ends in a roll-away, that is, which ironically makes for some of disc golf’s most dramatic moments. What do those slow, serpentine, excruciating rollers resemble? That’s right. Ball golf putts.

Disc golf putts inside the circle don’t lack drama because they go in too often, but rather because they go in too quickly.

Disc golf putts inside the circle don’t lack drama in pro events (compared to ball golf) because they go in too often, but rather because they go in – or don’t – too quickly. That is never going to change, no matter how small and challenging baskets are made to be. It is what it is, and really, that’s OK.

disc golf lessons, disc golf blog — Photo by Leah Jenkins.

Another point I make in my book is that disc golf’s greatest value is as something to DO. This is evidenced by the sport’s continued strong growth in new courses, players, and market size. As disc golf participation grows, the segment of the overall disc golfing population who choose to also be spectators and media consumers also grows. They’re watching in large part because they can relate to what they’re seeing. Disc golf may not feature the drawn-out drama of a ball golf putt, but disc golf spectators (nearly all of whom are also avid players) feel the anxiety of a 30-foot putt. As easy as they can appear, we know how easy those putts are to miss. We know the very real potential for anxiety, fatigue, or a momentary lapse of focus.

So now you know what I think. Give it a try if you want, PDGA and DGPT. Use smaller baskets for some top-tier pro events. You’ll get tougher-scoring courses, and putts inside the circle won’t be quite as much of a foregone conclusion. But it won’t change the real issue, which is the unalterable fact that disc golf putting – as something to watch – isn’t and will never be quite as dramatic as ball golf putting.

Personally I don’t think it’s a big deal. Those of us who play know there is plenty of drama and challenge when you’re the one doing the putting, and in my opinion that is what really matters.

What do you think? I hope you share your own take here by posting a comment, but don’t just say yea or nay on changing basket size. Let me know where you stand on my main assertion. Do disc golf putts lack drama for spectators, and, if so, is it because they go in too often, or because they go in too quickly?

Back to Bloggin’

December 21, 2018 by frisbeebrain, posted in DeLaveaga, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Pro Tour, frisbee golf, Jack Tupp, santa cruz, Touring Pro, Touring Pros

As George ‘Frolf’ Costanza once famously said, “I’m back baby, I’m back!”

Tell all your content-hungry disc golf pals who (in addition to playing and watching) read about the sport whenever they can that the School of Disc Golf is back to posting a mixture of disc golf content- not just the instructional stuff tied to our core business.

You’ll once again also be seeing current disc golf news from around the world, with a focus on stories about the sport’s growth around the world. Like this story from Bay County, MI. Check out this awesome quote from director of recreation and facilities Cristen Gignac:

“One of the big parts of this grant is we do public input,” she said, adding during the month of September they had a survey that went out to the community. “There was a lot of interest in disc golf, you’ll see that as a priority in a handful of different places.”

Stories like this are popping up everywhere, and I love to share them. Add in occasional commentary provided by yours truly, Jack Tupp (aka Frisbeebrain), and you’ll see a good mix of disc golf content- much of which you won’t get anywhere else. Use the ‘Subscribe’ link at right to make sure the good stuff hits your email inbox before the metaphorical ink is dry.

A little about the history of this blog:

Back in 2008, I decided to launch one of the sport’s first blogs, DeLa Blahg then went on to write (along with PDGA’s Steve Hill) for Rattling Chains, and after that All Things Disc Golf- both also excellent pioneering Disc Golf Blogs. Since then I launched the School of Disc Golf to offer lessons and teambuilding events and published two books. Three Paths to Better Disc Golf offers multiple tips to help you shoot lower scores, while The Disc Golf Revolution aims to help you share the sport – in all its important glory – with the outside world.

DeLaShermis13 — You’ll also see examples of my personal disc golf-themed smartphone captures, like this recent one from Hole 13 at my home course, DeLaveaga in Santa Cruz, CA.

Enough about me, right? Everyone is encouraged to post comments, and send me questions, ideas of topics to cover, and story links. If you want to peruse past posts for ideas, just use the search box. Let’s talk some disc golf!

Finally, a teaser for what’s up next: I’ll be sharing a completely fresh take on whether baskets should be smaller/more challenging on the pro tour. Stay tuned!