I really like the events hosted by the Chain Zombies in Auburn, Ca. They almost always start on time. The players meetings are no nonsense and concise. They have well organized side events like CTP’s and mini-disc-golf – though I don’t personally play them. They almost always provide lunch and this year the sandwiches were delicious and exactly what I needed. They had a couple beer options for breaks – I had one but kind of wish I hadn’t as I lost some focus and energy.

The only complaint I have is that they allowed in too many players and had two ghost groups.  I can’t recall the Zombies having this all too common problem before but it was a bit of a drag.  My worst hole was 16, round three, when I hit the earliest tree, careened off another tree, and got buried in thorny brambles. I had to take an unplayable lie and re-tee. I had waited at least 20 minutes to tee. There were at least 15 golfers and their caddies watching my fumble. I’m not saying the wait caused the fumble but having an audience at that moment was unpleasant.

The wait did give me a few moments to think about the topic of this blog and the opportunity to ask some of my fellow competitors what they thought about having or being a caddie. I had been thinking about this since the Master’s Cup a few weeks prior, largely because of a comment my buddy Armando made, “I’ve decided I just can’t play with a caddie.” Here are Armando’s Pros and Cons of having a caddie from the Master’s Cup Amateur Weekend in  Santa Cruz:

I’ve put off this post long enough; I’m slightly angry about my performance. I’m angry despite my round ratings(922,925,927) being equal to or better than my current rating of 922. I was obviously consistent – I was consistently passive, constantly afraid of the dangers, and persistently less than confident.

I have several reasons for not playing better. Mostly an injury I got the first night at my campsite. While unrolling my bed roll, I heard a loud pop from my right knee, the knee I had injured in high school and on which I had arthroscopic surgery. I was young, didn’t follow through with the physical therapy very well, and never recovered full flexibility.

There were a lot of other factors contributing to my score outside the knee: it was only my 2nd-4th rounds at the course, I played later in the afternoon than I am accustomed, I didn’t eat enough before my round, I didn’t bring enough food, I suck.

That was all B.S. I shot what I shot because that was how good I was that weekend. Sure, I have been better, but I have certainly been worse. I didn’t focus well enough. I don’t always need a reason why.  I could have been better. I will be better again, hopefully, this next weekend at the Auburn AM.

Click here to read the rest of my Master’s Cup review and why I think it is better to be a bit angry rather than a bit sorry.

Just like there are many things we can take from the financial and social success of ball golf, there are many things we can take from ball golf practice technique.  There are thousands of ball golf books and billions of dollars spent on the examination of ball golf technique.  There is enormous information and assistance we can glean from the mountains of research into the improvement of ball golfers.

While much of this book is not useful in a specific sense because the large difference in physical execution of the two games, there is much thematically or philosophically to be gained by using Pelz’s strategies.  Most importantly, Pelz suggests that you have a marathon putting session where you identify weakness, set benchmarks, and then set goals.  I’ve heard disc golfers say putting for more than half an hour is counter-productive.  I can putt longer but always stop when I start loosing focus and find myself putting way to fast.

Translation of terms.  Outside of putt and lay-up there are not very many specific similarities in the lingo of Disc Golf and Ball Golf.  There are however one to one correspondences in the goals, obstacles, and strategies employed in the book that work well with disc golf.  These distances are current for my needs but can be scaled up or down depending on what you determine to be a weakness:

• 3′ putts equivalent to 20 feet putts
• 6′ putts equivalent to 10 meter putts
• 10′-20′ putts equivalent to +50 feet putt/approach
• Breaking putts equivalent to windy putts

There are a few things that are harder to translate but can be integrated into many of the games Pelz suggests:

• Big Hyzer or AnHyzer putts
• Obstacle Avoidance
• Extreme high or low targets

Pelz’s Games adapted for Disc Golf.  There are three main games that translate very well to disc golf.  Each game can utilize objects to create Hyzer or AnHyzer putts and, unless you are indoors, will integrate wind.  I have a 10 meter rope with marks at 5′ intervals but you can always count off steps – just be consistent.  I also use both orange cones and minis depending on my location.  I use 10 putters for my practice, all Voodoos or Warlocks, because that is what I putt with in events.

The Make-able Putt Game.   In this game you will need up to 12 minis or cones.  The more you have the patience to set up, the more practice you get.  Choose 3 distances – the shortest distance you feel challenged by, a distance you make 75% of your putts, and a distance you make 30% of your putts.  Right now, for me, those distances are 20′, 25′, and 10 meters.  Note the wind direction and place 3 of your minis in a direct head wind at the chosen distances.  Next place three in a direct tailwind.  Finally, place the last six minis in between at any chosen angle.  If you identify that you struggle with putts with the wind right to left, situate the markers to make you practice those putts.

Find the other games adapted for disc golf here.  Happy golfing and good scoring to all.

Zeteter Disc Golf Canada’s new line up of Discs & Clothing, including the

new Biofuzion by Dynamic Discs which Zeteter Canada is the first to bring into Canada.

We also were the first to bring  Zeteter Disc Golf  Clothing to Canada.

Dynamic Disc, Gateway, Legacy, Discraft, Innova, Lattitude 64 are just some of

the companies we are carrying (There will be more we promise).

Along with our one of a kind clothing line up, disc and equipment selection, you will find other surprises exclusive only to Zeteter Canada in the months ahead.

We want to show players our service, support, and quality is the best in Canada.

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

We are giving away a FREE 160 x300 side bar ad for 30 days for you to Advertise or Say Anything Disc Golf related that wouldn’t embarrass your mother check that… our mothers.

• Promote your Disc Golf Website
• Give a shout out to your favorite Disc Golf Website
• Promote your DG Club or its upcoming Disc Golf Tourney
• Just TALK SMACK…

To enter… You have to Register for the site and must have a Comment below in this post.

Just login into the entry form where it says ENTER TO WIN with either your facebook login or your email. There are numerous ways to enter…

You’ll be entered into the Rafflecopter Randomizer and you can get Bonus entries in the contest for Likes and even Tweets (once per day) too…

Good Luck and as always, Throw Well!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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CLICK ON THE VIBRAM LOGO FOR WINNER AT REVIEWdg.com

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CLICK ON THE VIBRAM LOGO FOR DETAILS AT REVIEWdg.com

Here is a friendly tip regarding the contest – A review of the OBEX is worth 25 entries in the contest and there are two plastics to review = 50 points. Please make sure you have thrown it before you review it… Only meaningful reviews will be counted… Check out the front page of REVIEW for all of the specifics of the contest.

Thanks and Throw Well, trotter | TALKdg

Including the lastest, the MVP Neutron Volt

So head on over to REVIEWdg.com and give us your thoughts on this and other discs…  We’d sure love your help as we test our BETA version of a new Disc Review Site…  Thanks and Throw Well, trotter | TALKdg

We have now added the full DGA lineup over at REVIEWdg.com for your review…  Register and Log-in to rate and review at your leisure…

Including my favorite putter…

The D-Line Reef…  having tried about 20 or 30 different putters over the years…  I found these to be the most comfortable.  It doesn’t hurt that a lot of other people don’t give them a chance and I can get them as “throw-in” discs to even out trades every now and then…  Their loss.

So Tiger Tank did a live show down in St. Louis… it it was captured via an I-Phone from the audience.  Remember if you are a discgolfer and you have a band – we’d love to feature you here on TALKdg.

So take a listen to Paragon Disc Golf‘s, Miles Parkhill and the rest of the band, Tiger Tank.

You might recognize the “sound” of Tiger Tank as it is made up of past members of PARK.

Tiger Tank is based out of Springfield, IL – so it wasn’t much of a trek to get down to The Gramophone down in St. Louis.  We are hoping a couple of more live shows are planned…  Take a listen:

Tiger Tank live @ The Gramophone in St. Louis – “Boom Goes the Answer”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tiger Tank – studio version of “Boom Goes the Answer”

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can buy the EP here…

Plenty of ways to enter – Get extra entries for every Vibram Disc you review…

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember to log into the Rafflecopter widget above and record your activity to enter for your chances to win. Head on over to REVIEWdgand give us your opinion on some Vibram Discs for your chance to win a shirt, 2 Obex Prototypes, a mini and a Five-Finger key chain.  Thanks and Throw Well…

[Photos have been moved to after the break...]