“Work smarter, not harder.”
There’s a t-shirt somewhere in Silicon Valley with this featured on it …
The saying works for entrepreneurial endeavors – it works for disc golf, too.
One such example of this is the PDGA’s (relatively) new “line-of-sight” or “sight-line” rule.
Before we sink our teeth into that, however, let’s review the regular, run-of-the-mill OB rule. Whether off the tee or from the fairway, when you throw a shot out of play, you’re allowed to mark your lie one meter in from the precise spot it went OB – with a penalty stroke, of course.
* Note: Americans, for all intents and purposes, a meter(-ish) is three heel-to-toe steps.
Additionally, it should be noted that, when your disc comes to rest within a meter of an OB line without crossing over into forbidden territory, if you’d like, you can take a perpendicular meter in from the OB line – this can improve your stance or even shorten your upcoming putt.
Take what fortune gives you.
Three other things worth mentioning:
- OB No. 1 – You can always rethrow from your previous lie with a penalty stroke.
- OB No. 2 – When the two-meter rule is in play, your mini goes under the disc.
- OB No. 3 – At some events, drop zones exist – head to ‘em after going OB.
And now for the line-of-sight relief …
Per the norm, mark your disc in one meter from where it went out of bounds.
Here’s where things get wild, though …
From there, move as FAR back from the basket as you like. The only requirements are that 1) your new throwing point forms a straight line between you, your mini and the pin, and 2) you’re not so far removed from your mini that you’re now throwing from out of bounds.
Distancing yourself from the basket might seem counterintuitive, but you try throwing over an OB fence from one meter away – hope that thumber’s in fine form. It’s not only fences, though. Trees, bushes, restrooms, tennis courts, playgrounds and baseball fields – they’re all problematic.
Oftentimes, getting the most favorable look at a line means moving backwards.
Here’s perhaps the best part, though …
It’s an easy competitive advantage.
For as well-known as this rule is, next to NOBODY at the amateur level takes advantage of it during tournament play. They know it’s there; they know it’s a thing – but they space on it.
Don’t let that be you …
Know your rights – exercise them.
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