One Toss at a Time

Discs, Dynamic Players, and Designs Day Four: Back-to-Back Disc Golf Pro Tour Champion Chris Dickerson Won Over by Prodigy’s Community

NOTE: The series takes a look at some of the top disc golf disc brands with interviews from some of their team members. Through these interviews and background research, I found what makes each brand and team special.

The order of the series is predicated on who responded to my requests and when; it is not meant to be a ranked list. There are some brands that are not included because its team members did not respond to email requests.

For previous posts in this series follow these links:

Day One: Nate Sexton with Innova

Day Two: Jessica Oleskie, Brandon Oleskie, and Sarah Hokom with MVP

Day Three: Hailey King and Austin Hannum with Discraft

Chris Dickerson has proven to be a valuable asset to the Prodigy Core Team. In 2019, he won the Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) for the second year in a row. Back in February of this year, he threw back-to-back aces during a match-up against the Baysingers Disc Golf Channel Joes.

Later in June, he extended his contract with Prodigy through 2023. He further proved his worth in the DGPT Championship this October, placing second behind teammate Kevin Jones.

With all that he brings to the team, Dickerson was first drawn to Prodigy by his friends and the discs.

“I had friends on the team, I liked their discs, and they gave me the best offer,” Dickerson said.

Founded by PDGA Hall of Fame Class 1995 member David Greenwell, Michael Sullivan, Lavaughn Wolfe, and Phil Arthur, Prodigy stands out from other disc brands mainly for its naming system. Whereas other companies have names such as Leopard, Buzzz, or Tesla that bare no resemblance to their technology, Prodigy uses a naming system that makes it easy to identify what type of disc you are getting.

For instance, a D1 is a distance driver, a H2 is a hybrid driver–its speed is between a distance driver and a fairway driver–a F5 is a fairway driver, a M4 is a midrange, a PA1 is a putt and approach, and an A4 is an approach disc. An X indicates an extra speed distance driver.

The number after the letter indicator tells you how over or understable the disc is. Numbers closer to 1 are more overstable while numbers closer to 7 are more understable. So, for a right hand back hand throw (RHBH) an understable disc will turn right, while an overstable disc for a RHBH throw will turn left.

The disc’s plastic is either to the left of the letter indicator or below it. Like the stability scale, the plastics range from more durable to less durable. The lower the number, the less durable; the higher the number, the more durable.

Like other pros with their own discs, Dickerson has worked with graphic designers over the years to create his own stamp for the FX2.

With a robot chicken front and center, a homage to Dickerson’s nickname, this disc is hard to miss.

Shop Chris Dickerson USDGC Champion Edition

Besides the Core Team that Dickerson is a part of, Prodigy has other teams centered around special issues. This includes their Battalion Team, Team ASL, and Protégé Team.

The Battalion Team is made up of active duty, reserve, and retired military members. The goal of this team is to bring the sport to the military, promoting members to run clinics at bases.

Team ASL is composed of deaf disc golfers that are encouraging others in their community to join the sport.

Like other junior teams, Prodigy’s Protégé Team welcomes the new generation of disc golf players. Prodigy will work with these kids to improve their skills and pave their way to success in disc golf.

Growth in these teams, in the technology, and the team as a whole is what makes Dickerson stick with Prodigy.

“The Prodigy community has always been really good to me,” Dickerson said. “We are seeing a lot of growth, have great leadership in place, and I am very excited for the future with Prodigy.”

Discs, Dynamic Players, and Designs Day Three: 2020 DGPT Champion Hailey King and Fellow Elite Team Member Austin Hannum Confident with Discraft and its Quality, Consistency

For previous posts in this series follow these links:

Day One: Nate Sexton with Innova

Day Two: Jessica Oleskie, Brandon Oleskie, and Sarah Hokom with MVP

Hailey King defeated teammate and friend Paige Pierce in a sudden death playoff at the Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship in October, earning the title and $20,000 at just 19 years old.

Sponsored by Discraft, King credited the brand and its discs as a reason for her success.

“Discraft provided me with the best equipment and support,” King said. “They made me feel comfortable and confident, that was a big contribution to my win.”

Since starting in a garage in Westland, Michigan in 1979, Discraft has made a name for itself in not only disc golf but ultimate frisbee as well. Frustrated with the inconsistency of discs at the time, Discraft manufactured discs of the highest quality that would be more reliable.

Its oldest disc golf disc, the Sky Star was approved by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) on January 1, 1981. Since then, Discraft has come out with notable models such as the Buzzz in 2003, the Zone in 2008, the Nuke in 2009, the Roach in 2015, and the Luna and Zeus in 2018.

Discraft released the Force in 2008, and since then, Elite Team member Austin Hannum has created his own tour series Force.

“Having a tour series force is amazing,” Hannum said. “I like how it can start up conversations with fans and how much they enjoy throwing it and supporting me.”

Shop 2020 Austin Hannum Tour Series Z Force

Discs, Dynamic Players, and Designs Day Two: 2012 PDGA World Champion Sarah Hokom and Touring Couple Brandon and Jessica Oleskie praise MVP’s Future-Focused Technology

Today’s post is part two. Click here for part one.

In 2019, Hokom signed with MVP for the season, her fourth sponsor since she became a pro in 2009. In her first year as a pro, Hokom was sponsored by Discraft before signing with Prodigy in 2013. Two years later, Hokom again switched, this time to Legacy Discs, before signing with MVP where she remains today.

Photo provided by @sarahhokom
Photo provided by @sarahhokom

“Typically, switches have happened for me when I’ve been offered a better deal,” Hokom said. “Sometimes, the better deal happens because I’ve played well; sometimes it’s simply because of the needs of manufacturers and marketing teams. There are a lot of individual factors and historical and future considerations in contract signing and player-worth.”

As for MVP, Hokom felt that the brand and team were headed in the right direction.

“I switched because I felt I had exhausted my ability to help Legacy grow any further, and really liked MVPs progress and potential for the future,” Hokom said. “Also, they are science nerds, and so am I!”

Hokom’s teammates, Brandon and Jessica Oleskie who signed with MVP in 2018 and 2019 respectively, see this direction as guided by the brand’s plastic.

Graphics on a photo provided by Jessica Oleskie.

“The more I researched their plastic and GYRO Technology and tried their discs out, the more I saw the positive effects on my game as well as my body, as I did not have to force any throws with their discs,” Jessica said.

GYRO Technology is just one feature that makes MVP’s discs stand out from others.

MVP discs have a black rim around the core of the disc where most of its weight is concentrated. The extra weight increases the disc’s rotational inertia, or the disc’s flight. MVP’s page on this technology is a little bit confusing because it uses a bunch of physics jargon like linear momentum, angular momentum, and moment of inertia. The video below dumbs it down a bit using terms we are more familiar with like mass and radius.

Skip to 3:30 for a lesson on the disc.

The video says it would be harder to rotate the hoop compared to the disc, but remember, MVP discs still have weight in the core, just not as much as its outer rim. The disc will rotate and gain more momentum.

MVP’s Fission Microbubble Technology explains how the core of the disc can be so much lighter than the rim. Like other bubble technologies, such as Innova’s Blizzard Champion, Fission takes advantage of microscopic air bubbles but at a larger quantity. Plus, MVP’s bubbles are centered in the core, enhancing the gyroscopic effect.

Aside from the Fission plastic, MVP has eight others: Neutron, Cosmic Neutron, Proton, Plasma, Eclipse, Eclipse 2.0, Electron, and Cosmic Electron. The Neutron is like Innova’s DX in the sense that there are the widest selection of models in this plastic. The Cosmic Neutron’s only difference is the colorways. The Proton, Eclipse and Eclipse 2.0 are made for durability, but the Eclipse plastic comes specifically in glow colors. The Plasma is gummier and more flexible. The Electron and Cosmic Electron break in slowly but have great grip; the Cosmic Electron comes in cool, multi-tone colors.

When it comes to specific models, Brandon struggled to pinpoint just one, but he ultimately chose the Volt.

Photo taken by Jessica Oleskie
Photo taken by Alyssa Van Lanen.

“Since I started throwing MVP, I was immediately comfortable with my entire bag. It was a great fit for me overall. If I had to pick one that sticks out beyond the rest it would be my MVP Volt. I love this disc because it is my most controllable disc in my bag.”

Jessica, on the other hand, chose the Wave. Both of them, however, go to the Pilot.

“A disc that we both utilize and are huge advocates for is the streamline putter from MVP, the Pilot,” Jessica said. “This putter we both utilize as a throwing putter in the neutron plastic; it has amazing glide and consistent fade for both arm speeds.”

Outside of the technology, the team and fan atmosphere is unmatched by MVP. As a couple, Brandon and Jessica get to tour together, thanks to MVP management.

“It is a dream come true,” Jessica said. “We met playing and our love for the sport can grow that much more since we get to do it together. Wouldn’t change it for the world. “

Hokom, too, feels the love and support from MVP. She credits the fans and team support as a reason for sticking around.

“MVPs fans are very loyal and encouraging,” Hokom said. “It’s been great to have that kind of support.”

Discs, Dynamic Players, and Designs Day One: 2017 USDGC Champion Nate Sexton talks about Innova Disc Golf’s Legacy and Tradition

Image provided by Nate Sexton @frisbeenate

Even from the start, Nate Sexton was destined for greatness. In 2003, he won the Junior World Championship under 19. The following year in the Amateur Worlds he placed fourth. In his first professional season, Sexton finished 32nd at the United States Disc Golf Championship.

Still early in his professional career, Sexton signed with Innova in 2006. He was drawn to the team and its brand for its legacy and popularity.

“I had a few offers from other manufacturers but my dream company was always Innova,” Sexton said. “I mostly threw Innova discs, and I had recently met Dave Feldberg and Avery Jenkins who were superstars for Innova at that time. I love their products, and they are the biggest name in disc golf, so it was a perfect fit for me.”

Sexton is part of a team with a long-standing tradition that dates back to 1983 when Dave Dunipace created the first disc designed specifically for the sport of disc golf, the Eagle. Defined by its distance and reliability, the Eagle broke barriers in disc golf.

Dave Dunipace photo provided by Derek Montieverdi.

Since then, Innova has been working to maintain its legacy. According to a survey conducted by Infinite Discs, almost half of the respondents would throw discs manufactured by Innova if they could choose only one brand.

This speaks to Innova’s selection, which includes 13 different plastics with a variety of different benefits. The Star, StarLite, and EchoStar are characterized by their durability and superior grip. For even more grip, check out the GStar or Driver Pro. The Champion, Metal Flake, and Blizzard Champion are known for their firmness and reliability. XT plastic is super tough. The KC Pro, R-Pro, and JK Pro plastics’ grip improves with each use, but the most popular plastic would be the DX; it offers the widest range of models and weights for the lowest price. Most discs at Walmart or other sports-based stores are going to be in the DX plastic.

Innova has a wide selection of models, too. For Sexton, who shares what he carries in his bag in his annual Bag Check videos, there are some that have stood the test of time.

“Lots of them have stayed for years and years,” Sexton said. “Firebird, Dart, Destroyer, Sidewinder, Orc, Xcal come to mind as discs that I have almost always carried during competition. They all have their own uses, but I carry them because they feel great in my hands, and I can always trust their performance to be what I expect on the course.”

The Firebird specifically, is one of Sexton’s favorites as he created his own in 2015.

“For me creating the Sexton Firebird was about asking for a disc that I really wanted in my bag,” Sexton said. “A softer firebird with a slightly more mellow flight path than the Champion Firebirds of that time. I wanted to have it made in color glow plastic because it was new at the time and felt really good to me being slightly more supple than normal Champion plastic.”

Since 2015, Sexton has worked with Innova manufacturers to create a Sexton Firebird Tour Series disc every year.

And we can expect more to come, as Sexton recently signed a contract extension with Innova that extends through 2023.

“I’ve never had another major sponsor,” Sexton said. “I know everybody at Innova, and I love the discs. They have always taken great care of me and I couldn’t imagine leaving.”

Review of Winnebago County Park in Oshkosh, Wisconsin: Intermediate Disc Golf Course with Multiple Baskets

Because my car needs its brakes fixed–don’t worry, they still work–I didn’t want to travel too far for this review. So, I found myself at Winnebago County Park despite some of the reviews on UDisc. The reviews had me thinking this course was rather difficult and that I would lose a disc on every other hole, but in reality it wasn’t that bad.

The first day I played the Green tees. Needless to say, it was not a good day for me. Let me tell you why.

After practicing my putting on hole 18 of the yellow tees, I started off hole one with a par. It wasn’t too far to the basket, only 289 feet. I didn’t hit a tree on my drive, surprisingly, and had a good up-shot with my Buzzz.

Hole two was fairly the same. I ended up in the middle of a pine tree, so I got a bogey. No big deal. Hole three is where my troubles began. I couldn’t sink a putt to save my life, and that carried over to the next hole.

After an impressive drive, I landed close enough to the basket that I thought I could use a putter. The range was a little outside my comfort zone–I don’t like throwing my Polecat very far because I can’t control it as well with its thick ridge–but I thought I’d challenge myself. Bad idea. I shanked the disc so bad that it landed on the pond.

The pond wasn’t frozen enough for me to walk on it, and there wasn’t a stick long enough in the area to get it either. I was sad, but it was my dad’s disc, really. He didn’t care, and it was only $10.

Hole five was an even riskier shot around the pond, similar to hole six at Adelaide Park. I didn’t want to lose another disc, so I aimed farther right than I normally would to avoid the pond. I would have landed safely on solid ground had my disc no skipped three or four times. Great. On the ice again, but this time with my Wraith, the disc I use on 95% of my drives. I wasn’t going to leave this one behind.

So, you bet I rolled up my pants, took off my socks and shoes and went to rescue the disc. I knew that I’d break through, so I just went as slow as possible, reaching with a stick each step to see how much farther I had to go. The whole time an old man watched me from the park, probably waiting to call 911, but I got it.

I had one redeeming moment when I birdied hole six–it was only 189 feet and I threw my Leopard–but after that it went all downhill. I blame it on the fact that I wasn’t fully dry and warm until hole 10. Plus, my attitude was horrible. When I went out the next day, I shot 10 strokes better. I should have remembered my lesson from Jack; just go out and have fun.

Aside from how bad I did, the course was actually set up nicely. Even though some of the signs were just a piece of laminated paper, it was clear to know where I was going. The only confusion I had was on hole 16. I saw a basket far away in the distance and thought, this can’t be it; it’s too far. After checking the distance to the basket on my app and the signage, I went for it. Turns out it was the basket for hole 18. It was the cherry on top of my struggle sundae.

I liked the yellow tees far more than the green; it’s set-up reminds me of Riggs Park. There are far less risky shots around the ponds and more in this tall-looking brush.

There are a set of baskets, eight through eleven, that play with elevation in much the same way that some of the baskets at Red Arrow Park do.

The only part that makes yellow more challenging than green is the fact that there are two holes that are par four. One totals 507 feet and the other 544 feet.

Hole 16 is 633 feet, but it’s still a par three. I think this is to encourage people to throw directly over the pond for a straighter path to the basket. I know I can’t throw that far, so I took the curved path around the pond. I learned from the day before to avoid rescuing discs from the pond.

Whether you play the yellow or green tees, this course requires a driver and putter that are brightly colored. I’d also suggest bringing some of your old discs out from retirement that you won’t care to lose in case they do end up on the pond and the ice still isn’t thick enough to cross.

The park as a whole is huge. As the picture above shows, there’s archery–quite close to hole 10 on green tees actually–softball and baseball diamonds, rugby, tennis courts, and, my favorite, a dog park. There so much to do here that, even if you don’t go to play disc golf, you’ll still have a fun-filled day.

Fee	N/A
Holes	2 sets of 18
Teepads	Concrete

Winnebago County Community Park

How to Become a Member of The PDGA and Win a Free Disc

Whether or not you actually plan to enter tournaments, joining the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) has a lot of benefits even for the recreational player. These are just some of the benefits:

UDisc Pro subscription
Discgolfer magazine subscription
a FREE disc
the official rule manual
mini marker

I signed up earlier this weekend, and it was super simple; it only took me five minutes.

I completed the process on a desktop, so I suggest doing so as well if you want to follow along with the screenshots below.

Log onto the PDGA website, pdga.com.
In the top, right-hand corner under the search bar there will be the option to Join & Renew, click the link.
You’ll be directed to a page that asks if you want to join or renew your membership. As a new member, you’ll want to select the green join now button.

If you are signing up anywhere from January 1 to September 31, your membership will expire at the end of the year. So, if it is the end of September, I’d to sign up in October so your membership will extend through the next year.

Select your country of residence and membership type.

The website defaults to the United States, so, if you reside outside the U.S. make sure to change this. As a beginning to intermediate player I’d select an amateur membership. If you are under 18, however, it’s a non brainer; select a junior membership.

After you select your membership type, a dropdown menu will appear to select the length of your membership.

This selection is entirely up to you. As a college student in the middle of the Christmas season, I chose a one-year membership for $50. You can sign up for five years at a time for a total of $250.

There will be an option to join three different clubs for more benefits. If you please, select either the Birdie Club for $50, Ace Club for $100, Eagle Club for $2,000, or No Thanks.
Enter your Membership Information and Membership Address.

Congrats, you are now a member! If you already have the UDisc app, you can also link your number to your profile now.

Open the UDisc app to your profile, the third button on the ribbon at the bottom of the app.
Enter your PDGA number. This number was given to you in an email from the PDGA.
Open the confirmation email from UDisc, sent to the email that you registered with the PDGA.
Click the link to confirm your number.

Now that you are a member, enjoy your gifts. They will be in sent to your mailing address in 6-10 weeks. Until then, keep hitting the courses and getting better.

Review of Krape Park in Freeport, Illinois: Intermediate Disc Golf Course with Wooded Shots

I decided to venture out of Wisconsin for this course review. When choosing where to go, my mind wandered back to the days as a kid when I would go to Krape Park with my aunt, grandma, brother, and cousins; I played on the wooden playground, paddled on a ducky paddle boat down the Pec, rode the prettiest horse on the carousel, and beat my brother at mini golf. I wanted to relive a bit of my childhood, and I wasn’t disappointed.

First things first, if you follow the directions from the UDisc app, it will tell you to park down in the lower lot either next to the paddle boats or the softball and baseball fields. Do not make this mistake, or you will end up with a hike–literally–to the course. Follow the signs for Flagstaff Hill, and there will be some parking stalls up there right next to hole one.

I couldn’t get a good shot of my Dad until this one. He hates his picture taken, so give it some love, please.

This time around, my Dad came along with me, so there was plenty of smart-ass comments and banter back and forth on each hole. After landing in some brush on hole one and ending up with a double bogey, my Dad said “Oh come on, Nana, you’re better than that.”

Hole two I was able to regain my composure on a short 166′ shot. I threw my Leopard, but in hindsight, I shouldn’t have picked a driver of any sort, even if it was rather straight. This is a hole for a mid-range, maybe, or a putter, ideally. Dad birdied; I parred.

The next hole, three, I thought I outdrove the basket, but I was about ten feet short for a birdie shot. Dad had a bogey. Ha.

Hole four, though, was the first of a couple tough wooded shots.

Dad was able to get through the trees on his first throw, but I hit a tree and my disc landed in a ditch. No big deal, I just threw for two from the teepad . . . except I hit the same tree again. Again, my disc landed in the ditch. Whatever. Clearly, I was meant to throw from that spot. On my third throw I actually made it in the woods, into a cluster of trees. I tried a roller shot just to get in the clear, but it whacked a branch and rolled farther down the hill than where I started. That was stroke four. Stroke five, from the same spot as four, I tried a different approach and made it in the clear. For throw six I made a good upshot, missed the putt, and put the next one in for eight. Yeah . . . let’s not talk about that anymore.

The next wooded shot, hole five, wasn’t as bad. My drive landed a bit shorter than I wanted, but the next shot put me in a good spot. I made my own path through the trees for a bogey.

By the time I came to the wooded shot on hole 10, you could say I was practically a pro.

Both Dad and I joked that there was no way we wouldn’t smoke a tree on our drive. To make it more interesting, I placed a wager. If he could get to the basket without hitting a tree, I’d pay for an appetizer at lunch. It was a joke, I figured he couldn’t do it.

Dad threw and barely nicked a tree. So close.

“Okay, same for you,” Dad said.

I picked out my line, took a deep breath, and threw. NO TREES. My dad stood in disbelief. I’ll have you know, the onion rings at Big Apple Family Restaurant were delicious.

The rest of the course wasn’t as difficult, and I stepped up my game whereas my Dad fell apart. I finished only four strokes behind him.

Despite having to strip off my socks and shoes to retrieve a disc from the Pec, I had only two complaints for this course.

After hole 10 in the woods, we searched and searched for hole 11. I use the UDisc app, so finding the next hole is never an issue, but the location of the teepad we found as hole 11 didn’t match what was listed on the app. Plus, we couldn’t see the basket anywhere in sight, so we decided to skip it and go to hole 12. After looping back around, we found the basket for hole 11. The reason we couldn’t find it was because the teepad was facing the opposite direction.

I was too scared to get close to the geese so my Dad ran at them, and this was the resulting shot.

The only other warning I have fort his course is to wear a pair of shoes you don’t mind getting full of goose poop. The geese like to swim in the Pec and their poop litters the course from hole 12 to 15.

When you pack your bag for this course, you’ll want a driver and putter. Make sure these discs are brightly colored so you can find them in the woods, especially if you’re playing alone and don’t have someone to help you look.

Even if you don’t go to the park for disc golf, there is plenty to do; Krape Park was, and remains, one of my favorite parks.

Fee	N/A
Holes	18
Teepad	Concrete

Krape Park

The Top 5 Discs Every Beginning Disc Golfer Needs to Succeed

After figuring out what flight numbers on a disc mean, its time to select your first discs. Through browsing the internet, personal experience, and asking around the disc golf community, I came up with this list just for you.

Drivers

For beginning disc golfers, a low speed driver is going to work best. Your arm speed isn’t up to par yet, so look for a 9 or lower. Here are some options:

Innova Archangel 8-6-(-4)-1

My dad, who used to play league with a 12 speed Innova Destroyer or 14 speed Westside Discs King, finally took my advice and set his ego aside. He now throws this 8 speed Archangel.

“I like the Archangel because it flies straight for me,” he said. “I don’t have to throw it very hard and it will go a decent distance.”

On their website, Innova wrote that the Archangel is “a turnover driver that maximizes distance for less powerful players. One of our easiest drivers to throw.”

So, for those starting out, this disc is great for distance, even if you have a weaker arm, and it won’t get away from you because of a nasty fade.

Innova Leopard 6-5-(-2)-1

The Leopard was one of the firsts discs I bought when starting out, and to this day, it’s one of my go-to discs.

I use the Leopard when I have a longer shot but don’t want to use a distance driver. It has given me the most birdies to date.

I also gave it to my nine-year-old cousin to use when playing with my dad, brother, and I, and he got some good distance with it, too. I think I’ll get him one for Christmas.

Chris Sprague, winner of the Mid America Open Pro Masters 40+, also recommends this disc to beginners.

“The Leopard is a great all around control driver I always recommend to newer players,” Sprague said on Innova’s page. “Faster than a mid-range, but with a similar flight characteristic. I often use it in place of a mid-range disc on low canopy shots. The Leopard is also great for long turnovers and shots that need to finish straight.”

Mid-Range

The common thread with these suggestions is their flight path; both the Buzzz and Truth are straight, reliable mid-ranges.

Discraft Buzzz 5-4-(-1)-1

I found my Discraft Buzzz in the brush at Riggs Park and had no idea what a gem I stumbled upon.

I use this disc as a midrange and putter because I trust its flight path. If there is a longer putt I need to save par, I reach for this disc.

Discraft takes pride in the Buzzz as its best disc, hands down.

“More players agree: Buzzz™ is the best golf disc you can buy, period,” Discraft wrote. “It’s an ultra-dependable, straight flying midrange that you’ll reach for again and again. Throw it hard and versatile Buzzz™ will hold any line you put it on. Discraft’s 30-year reputation for consistency means that if you lose it, just pull out a new one and you’re back in business.”

Not only do people use this disc on the course, but many people also collect them.

Dynamic Discs Truth 5-5-(-1)-1

My brother, who normally forehand flicks his discs, loves the Truth. He struggles with his backhand, but this disc makes it look good.

“It’s always straight for me and doesn’t have a hard hook at the end like I’ve had with some other mid-ranges,” he said. “I use it for putting as well. I can throw it at a bunch of different ranges too.”

Inspired by the Buzzz, this disc combines reliability and versatility.

“The best midrange disc in the game,” Dynamic Discs wrote. “The Roc and the Buzzz showed us how versatile and trusted a midrange can be. We took the best of all worlds and the Truth has been revealed. Hyzer, straight, anhyzer, distance, approach, low ceiling power shots, high floating drop shots, all have been accomplished with the Truth. Beginners and World Champions love this disc and lower their scores with it and you will, too.”

Putters

Putting is key to the game; you can either add or subtract strokes based on your skill level. Find a disc that gets you there.

Innova Aviar 2-3-0-1

As one of the most recommended putters in the disc golf community, the Aviar is a no-brainer for this list.

Part of the Innova Disc Golf Starter Set, the Aviar is Innova’s most popular disc for its dependability.

Matt LaCourte Jr., winner of the Lost Valley Open Preview for Pro Masters 40+, praises this disc.

“Hands down the best disc produced,” LaCourte Jr. said on Innova’s page. “Dependable and a sure grip will lead to many birdies.”

As you can tell from the list, I’m a bit biased toward Innova. If you find a disc that works better for you that’s not on this list, that’s okay! Each person has their own preferences and should feel comfortable with whatever disc they are throwing.

Got any other discs you feel should make the list? Let me know in the comments.

2015 PDGA Rookie of the Year Sara Sinclair and PDGA 2019 Amateur Disc Golf World Champion Laura Nagtegaal Discuss #respectHERgame

Women in sports experience plenty of objectification and sexism, and disc golf is no exception. Just as Basketball Queensland has their #WomenWillWin campaign and the Time’s Up movement teamed up with the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team, the #respectHERgame movement sprouted from unequal treatment of women in the sport.

Personally, I’ve never felt intimidated or harassed by any men on the course–in fact, they’ve all been very encouraging and helpful–but I know it happens.

2015 PDGA Rookie of the Year Sara Sinclair, one of the founding members of the #respectHERgame movement, shared the need for this development.

“Since the advent of disc golf media, mostly videos, women have been harassed, bullied, objectified and sexualized online,” Sinclair said. “I know from experience and from hearing countless stories from other women that this is also an issue at disc golf courses, during tournaments, at leagues, etc.”

Information gathered and pie chart created courtesy of Sara Sinclair for respecthergame.org

Following a dispute between amateur disc golfer Sara Krieg and a prominent disc golf media company regarding its inaction against sexist comments on one of its videos, 2014 World Champion Catrina Allen approached Sinclair and 2018 Pro Tour Champion Sara Hokom to start this movement. Team MVP member Jessica Okleskie and 2011 FPO Oregon Disc Golf Champion Emma Rose Hanley also joined the cause.

“As touring professionals and world champions, Catrina and Sarah bring name recognition and validation to this movement,” Sinclair said. “Emma and Jessica are professional players as well but do not tour full time. Emma has a special talent for creative writing and . . . [Jessica] brings a very caring and empathic perspective to the table as well. Each member of this group brings something unique to the table, and without them, this movement wouldn’t have come to fruition. “

On October 6, 2020 the movement launched on Instagram and Facebook with an outpouring of photos and videos with #respectHERgame.

Since then, its website, respecthergame.org, has been published, stating the issues it wishes to combat, its mission, and its vision.

The Issues

Sexism: prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.

Objectification: The action of degrading someone to the status of a mere object.

Sexual harassment: Behavior characterized by the making of unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances in a workplace or other professional or social situation.

Bullying: The use of force, coercion, or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate.

A disc golf page asked to provide advice to new female disc golfers.

PDGA 2019 Amateur Disc Golf World Champion Laura Nagtegaal is no stranger to these issues. Nagtegaal came out as transgender to the disc golf community in May 2017, but her greatest struggles came after winning her title in 2019. She has experienced tranny chasing, cyberbullying, and harassment.

A comment Nagtegaal received from Facebook. Screenshot provided by Nagtegaal.

“I expected some trolls and keyboard warriors to show up,” Nagtegaal shared on her blog. “Some. Maybe even a few more. And, oh, was I wrong. So wrong. I did not expect . . . relentless bullying, online abuse and harassment, thousands of intentionally hurtful and hateful comments and reactions aimed at me, and all the other transgender people by association.”

Although she thought she could rise above the hate, Nagtegaal’s confidence took a hit as the comments just kept pouring in.

“I had started sliding down, and my game confidence and self image along with it,” Nagtegaal said. “Or actually, I should say nosedive from a plane without a parachute straight towards the deepest of lows. Not because I had lost my skills. No. I had been broken, my spirit had been broken. . . . my soul was being crushed by the weight of this.”

It got so bad that Nagtegaal had suicidal thoughts.

“The darkest of dark thoughts ‘maybe it would be better if I simply stopped existing,’ had started dancing around and inside of me like an evil spirit doing a ritual dance,” Nagtegaal shared. “That scared me. A lot.”

Read Nagtegaal’s Full Story

These are the exact feelings that the movement wants to eliminate. Through its mission to bring awareness, educate, empower, and advocate, #respectHERgame hopes to create a more welcoming environment.

As a player, whether you are male or female, you can help foster this environment in your everyday actions online and on the course. You can welcome women to the course with open arms, stand up to those that have sexist comments, and avoid ending compliments with the disclaimer, for a girl.

“On a personal level, I hope #respectHERgame can help bring more women into the sport,” Sinclair said. “I believe it not only takes grassroots efforts but also ensuring that the community is safe, warm and welcoming. Spreading awareness of the issues we are combating with the #respectHERgame movement will hopefully create a community more women are eager to enter into. “

More Ways to Help

Review of Adelaide Park in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin: Avoid this Disc Golf Course During High Winds and After Rain

I chose an unfortunate day to play at Adelaide Park in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. I tried to get out before it rained later that day, so it was super windy and chilly. Plus, it had rained earlier in the week, leaving standing puddles, as the park is a watershed to its pond.

As I am writing this almost a week later, UDisc has updated the course conditions, saying that holes seven, nine, and ten are unplayable.

Additionally, this course had some challenging shots around the pond where it was easy to lose a disc, particularly hole six. The ideal flight path of the disc ran along the edge of the pond with the basket sitting just to the left. I threw my Innova Wraith, and its 3 fade saved me from landing in the pond. The couple behind me, however, weren’t so lucky.

I watched from hole eight as both the man and woman’s discs zoomed into the weeds. I offered to help look, but they didn’t seem to want it. When I was on hole nine, I could see them on hole seven. The woman’s disc landed just ahead of where mine did, but the man must have launched it because I saw them looking in the weeds again. I watched from hole 11 as they gave up, and walked off the course.

Pond: 3; Couple: 0.

The more I played in the wind, the more I had to change my normal style of play.

Instead of driving with my Champion Destroyer in the Blizzard plastic, my lightest disc at 154g, I threw my Wraith at 170g. Normally, I look for distance on my drives, so a lighter disc will help, but in wind, a light disc will get carried away.

Even when putting, I chose a heavy disc, my heaviest in fact at 175g. All of my other putters seemed too light with to much glide for the heavy winds. I didn’t go for the basket either; I just wanted a good upshot, so I could practically drop the disc in the basket. A putt from nearly any distance spelled trouble.

Additionally, when throwing at a hole close to the pond, I played more conservatively. For example, on hole 12, with the basket in front of the pond, I threw my Leopard, a fairway driver, instead of a distance driver. I didn’t want to overthrow the basket and lose a disc in the pond.

Despite the poor weather conditions, the course had a lot of hometown culture.

The course’s practice basket honors founder and creator of the course, Phil Hullin, who passed away in 2011. A bench near hole 13 is dedicated to dedicated player Adam R. Breitrick who lost his battle to addiction in 2017. Plus, under the basket on holes one and two, I found painted rocks. Since the pandemic, people can find these rocks all over parks; a scavenger hunt that hopes to bring positivity and happiness during tough times.

If you decide to play this course any time during the fall or winter yet, I’d make sure to bring heavy discs and ones that you wouldn’t mind losing. This is a course requires controlled shots around the pond, so beginners be wary.

If I were you, I’d visit this course again in the summer when conditions are better, I know I will.

Fee	N/A
Holes	18
Teepad	Concrete

Adelaide Park