You know the feeling …
When it’s not your day, it’s not your day.
The second you sense a pattern of poor play creeping into your casual round, you’re instantly down on your game and start in on the excuse-making. Everyone’s lucky breaks are blessings from the disc golf gods, while you’re clearly headed for outer darkness in the afterlife.
Been there?
Cancel the pity party.
Instead, get something out of it.
1. Get creative out there
Simon lines.
You know the type, right?
The “Simon lines” phrase refers to Simon Lizotte. He’s not as big on them as he used to be, but the basic premise is to completely disregard how a course designer wants you to play a hole and do things how you see best fit, even if it’s completely idiotic. You’re an amateur, so don’t expect near as much flash. Still, when the round goes south, get crafty with the way you attack a hole. Ill-advised rollers, flex lines, overhands and spike hyzers are guaranteed to make you smile.
Plus, you might just find a hidden-gem of a new strategy …
You won’t know unless you try.
2. Go with multiple off the tee
I don’t care how big of a mental giant you might think you are, pace of play affects performance. Though it be little more than a light-hearted walkabout with a few buddies, if your game’s in the gutter, bring things to a snail’s scoot. I can’t believe I’m typing this, but the best way to do this?
Toss multiple off the tee.
Generally speaking, I loathe the guy who does this with every fiber of my being. But seeing as how keeping score’s no longer an issue, it’s time to treat the round like a sexier, more fun version of field work. Which is clearly what your game needs, because don’t forget – it’s in the toilet.
Just let others play through …
Sans attitude.
3. Focus on a skill that’s lacking
I’ve been intentionally broad with this tip.
Think of those shots you go out of your way to avoid on the course. Now that you’re knee-deep in a throwaway round, look for excuses to throw those kinds of lines – over and over (and over) again. For me, it’s turnovers and backhand rollers that make my skin crawl. For you, it might be sidearms, hyzer-flips and straddle putts. Whatever it is, NOW is the time to put in the work.
Besides …
You’ve (literally) got nothing left to lose.
4. Throw the discs you rarely use
Oh, this is a good one …
It’s my belief you shouldn’t bag a disc unless you’re regularly using it – this goes for utility discs, too. Most amateur bags, however, are loaded with dust-collecting discs. The mammoth bag’s twenty-five discs strong, yet the same six or seven see all the action during a round.
Should your play prove shoddy, identify the ones that rarely see the light of day and make them earn their keep. As you learn more about them, you’ll either love them or lose them. Neither outcome is wrong. You just can’t afford for sidelined discs to take up precious real estate.
If discs don’t work, shed ‘em.
Plain and simple.
5. Commit to keeping a clear head
This one’s the grand-daddy of ‘em all, folks.
Disc golf-wise, when things aren’t going your way, it’s easy to flip a switch and become a total jerk – fight the urge to do this. Resit public pouting. Just because you’re playing below what you’re capable of doesn’t mean you should suck the life out of a round for everybody else.
Also, I know this is casual play …
But eventually, this will happen during a tournament. And when it does, you’ll want to have practiced bleeding strokes to start a round, only to later “hold the line” and live to compete the next day. This is just as much a skill as stringing together birdies – it’s mental fortitude.
* Honorable Mention: I’ve found bailing on a round for an impromptu Big Mac to be helpful.
Yes, disc golf beats working, but there’s no side-stepping the responsibilities of life for more time with the sport. As such, regardless of how well you’re playing, when you do carve out time for disc golf, you can’t waste it. You’ve got to make do with what you have – make it matter.
Remember: Even garbage rounds are worth saving.
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As hard as it is for me to say this I would add “taking advice”.
I was playing quite poorly with a friend (who is WAY better than me) the other day and he gave me some simple advice. As much as I didn’t want to take it, I did. I used a different disc for my line I was attempting and absolutely parked the hole the second time I used the disc he recommended, within 3 feet of the pin.
He and I have a friendship where we can share advice like that with each other so I wouldn’t make this a rule per say. But boy howdy did it help me.
Oh, that’s a good one …
Obviously, you have to consider the source.
But in the situation you’ve outlined, you’re right …
Put aside the ego – listen and learn.
Thanks for reading!
When I start having a bad one I usually try to work on what I call resets. That’s recognizing what I’m doing and knowing where to go in my form to try to correct it. Maybe I’ve started lunging and I need to stand up straighter. Usually I’m just trying to throw too hard and need to back off of the power. If all else fails I either switch to left hand or switch to all forehand instead of backhand just to work on something else. Throwing opposite for a while usually snaps me out of it
Woah …
Are you ambidextrous, Joseph?
I’ve learned to just play for par. I get overdressed looking for birdies on every hole.
If you make a wild and terrible shot laugh it off and throw a second shot.
One. Throw. At. A. Time.
You know how many crappy front 9s have been followed by the greatest back 9s of my life? All of them. We are hacks. Disc Golf is a walk in the park/forest/jungle ruined. We are only playing for our own ego 99% of the time.
Enjoy the thought process on every shot/disc selection and then look around to where you are. Mindset.
Poopy disc golf better than most aspects of daily life.
Right?
Put that on a t-shirt, Fletch:
“Poopy disc golf better than most of life.”
I’d buy it. Haha.
I hurt my elbow bowling last year and couldn’t use my right arm for a little while so I learned how to play left-handed. If you have played baseball in your past it’s really not as hard as it seems. The left hand follow through from a right-handed batting stance is in essence the same as a backhand left hand throw. Or perhaps I was just lucky I’m not sure but either way I can throw backhand with both arms. Left-handed forehand is impossible though
Gotta nab yourself a Rollo for that left-handed turnover …
We’re going to review the Rollo shortly, actually.
It’s currently in the mail 🙂