Online Interview

I am a college student in the University of Northern Iowa, and I am very interested in Disc Golf and conducting research on the topic. I would appreciate it if you could provide your insights regarding the following quesitions. Your responses to these questions will remain anonymous in the research. Also, if you wish to receive a copy of this research report, please indicate so in the last question, and you will receive a copy when the research is completed. Please send your response to my e-mail address at phatty@uni.edu by Fri, Nov 21, 2003. If you have any questions about this research, please feel free to contact my research advisor Dr. Sarina chen at sarina.chen@unil.edu. Thank you.

Sincerely,
nick schultz
pdga #23653
Dept. of Comm. Studies
Univ. of Northern Iowa

Sarina Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dept. of Comm. Studies
Univ. of Northern Iowa

1. When was the first time you played the game of disc golf? Did you like the sport instantly/or not?

2. What do you believe to be the hardest aspect of the game?

3. How does one develop more distance?

4. Is there a difference between the different brands of discs?

5. What is the most efficient way to learn about disc golf?

6. What advice can you give to a beginner in the sport?

1. The first time I played Disc Golf was with free AOL CD's. That same day my mom bought me 2 Innova Sharks. I was hooked instantly!

2. The majority of this game is mental, just like ball golf. If you get the wrong mindset your game is toast. The hardest part is keeping a positive mindset when your second to last on the charts.Getting aces is as easy as hitting a tree... an ace is just a drive that was stopped by an obstical.

3. The best way for someone to develope more distance is to break down their throw to the bare bones basics and gradually make it more technical. At the point where your distnace stops improving, go practice that throwing style. Many people could throw much further if they took the "clutter" out of their throw.

4. Each brand has its own unique molds(shapes) and plastics. Generally, each company has a less durrable(cheap) and more durrable (expensive) plastic for each mold. They may also have a special glow in the dark plastic. Each mold has its own name (ex. Aviar, X2, Demon, Rubber Putter). Every disc manufactured falls into 3 categories: Driver, midrange, putter. Companies like to hype up their discs by calling them Ultra Long, multi-purpose, maximum distance, super control. Drivers are generally flat with a thick rim. Midranges are thicker and have thinner rims. Putters are the tallest and usually have the thinnest rims.

5. To learn about the game of golf, I would go to your local course, ask the pros whatever you want to know. They are friendly to beginners so don't be afraid.

6. First and foremost, DO NOT THROW DRIVERS!! Watch your local pros' technique and ask to play a round with them. They can teach you valueable things that might open you up to new levels of golf. don't watch what discs they throw because almost every shot on the course can be preformed with a midrange disc (contrary to popular belief). Don't toss to impress...toss to improve. When your good you don't have to try to impress. Most of all, have fun!

Hey What's up!
Hope this helps.
Sarina Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dept. of Comm. Studies
Univ. of Northern Iowa

1. When was the first time you played the game of disc golf? Did you like the sport instantly/or not? After witnessing a Sunday event at BHM at Hoover Res. How could you not?

2. What do you believe to be the hardest aspect of the game?
Consistency, meanwhile approaching the edge of your game which ultimatley means more distance.

3. How does one develop more distance?
Throwing technique, develop an S-curve then find a disc that fit's the situation.

4. Is there a difference between the different brands of discs?
Mathematically there is a difference in every disc mold beyond that some brands are more durable than others.

5. What is the most efficient way to learn about disc golf?
Throw out your blarney stones... lol!

6. What advice can you give to a beginner in the sport?
Golf is a competition against yourself, have fun!

This is user_one out yo!
Thank you everybody for humoring me at my polls!
Don't forget to visit http://www.godiscgolf.com
"Home of the latest & greatest DG stuff..."

[Cdale600]

<font color="red">1. When was the first time you played the game of disc golf? Did you like the sport instantly/or not?</font>

I was playing Ultimate a lot in college (Texas A&M-whoop) and some of the guys I played with dragged me out to the Research Park course. When I discovered that I could throw sidearm instinctively (something I can't do with an Ultimate disc) way farther than any of the other newbies with us and saw that sweet flat, rising flight path with a slight fade right at the end I was hooked.

<font color="red">2. What do you believe to be the hardest aspect of the game?</font>

Recovering from bad drives. Nothing worse than try to save par from behind 3 or 4 trees, you know the ones with the tiny branches all over the place and thorns at the base where your disc lodged?

<font color="red">3. How does one develop more distance?</font>

After a three times chunking 15-20 discs in a row and then retrieving them at the soccer field I gained almost 50 feet.

<font color="red">4. Is there a difference between the different brands of discs?</font>

I have only tried Discraft and Innova, which I find quite similar, but there is a huge difference between the regular plastics and the CE/Z versions, in terms of durability and speed. Though I find they have a touch less glide.

<font color="red">5. What is the most efficient way to learn about disc golf?</font>

Play. Then go to the 'range'. Then play again. Repeat...

<font color="red">6. What advice can you give to a beginner in the sport? </font>

Relax and have fun. Play yourself against the course not anyone who is better than you who you are playing with.

1. When was the first time you played the game of disc golf? Did you like the sport instantly/or not?

Spring/Summer '95

Instant Junkie

2. What do you believe to be the hardest aspect of the game?

Consitency and Putting.

3. How does one develop more distance?

practice and proper form.

4. Is there a difference between the different brands of discs?

branbds, not much, but there are multiple molds, that all fly different, as well as different plastics, that alter the flight characteristics as well...

5. What is the most efficient way to learn about disc golf?

Follow a group of pros and watch them, and get out there and play, play,play....

6. What advice can you give to a beginner in the sport?

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

And do not get discouraged, because you see someone throw 400' and your drives only go 100' and severely turn. You will get better with practice, and emulating better players.

1.first time playing in 96-played one round and i can honestly say that i wasnt impressed with the game...wanst until a year later when i tried it again and couldnt get enough of it.

2. the hardest part of the game was and still is the mental aspect.

3. the way i was able to develope more distance was to use my discs off the course, practice, mental notes of flight characteristics, technique, force vs. finesse and finding the right disc for the right conditions.

4.i think that the difference between brands is what you put into them...

5. the most efficient way to learn would be to practice on a field before going to the course...practice putting before starting your round...asking locals, pro's, or anyone that appears to be better than you if you could play a round with them...ask questions the whole way through the round...join tourneys whenever possible...be as open minded as you can to any advice given no matter if you think its good or bad.

6.my advice to a beginner would be to not spend your time with other sunday players...the once a week smoker/drinker is the reason I am here crowd...get involved, play with people better than you, practice, join a tournament, get other beginners into the sport, stick with just a few discs until you grasp the technique/fundamentals of the game...and most important HAVE FUN!!!

[MARKB]

1.
My friend introduced me to the sport in Fall of 2002. It was very frustrating at first, and I thought the whole idea was crazy. Along with the fact that I always associated disc golf with a bunch of younger drug abusers that frequently visited the course I started at. I admit I was hooked right away, however I hurt my arm and took 2 months off and almost decided to not play again. Now I started playing again in september and am planning on attending about 15-20 tournaments for the 2004 season.

2.
The mental aspect of the game challenged me early on, and it is not much of a problem for myself these days. Putt to win... putting is an aspect of ones game that is often overlooked in exchange for longer drives and other skills you dont need to develop as quickly as you would think. But still to most, the mental aspect of the game is the most challenging.


3. I have concluded that disctance is all about proper form, and improving a sound technique. It doesnt matter if you have lots of muscle or if you are skinny and lanky. I have seen players of both builds throw the same distance. Study the pros, study yourself, dont make a lot of big adjustments in your throw. There is not one trick that will get you that extra 100ft on your drives. When you find a good form, that alows you to throw far with minimal effort, build upon it.

4. Is there a Difference? Some may argue so. The differences come mostly in different molds that do different things for different people. There is no "one" magical disc that is going to turn you into the best player out there.

5. Find players better then you. Play with them, challenge yourself against them helps sometimes. I have found in the past months that playing more and more rounds of golf is not the best way to improve your game. Spend more time practicing shots then you do playing a round of golf; or play a round of golf and htrow multiple shots on every shot. Put in about 100 putts a day from different distances, make up a game to play. Go out to a course and throw a roller on every hole, throw sidearm on everyhole... etc etc Most players are always happy to help you learn if you ask them, I know I would be happy to help someone out.

6. Dont let the mental aspect get you down right away. It does take time to learn to play more consistantly. Sure you may only be able to throw 100+ ft off the bat but that will improve. PRACTICE... with any sport practice will improve your game faster than anything else you could possibly do.

[MARKB]

I just actually read this and noticed that this thread is like 3 months old resurrected by a newly registered member... bummer

[Cdale600]

That's really odd, I hadn't looked at the date. For some reason it showed up on the first page for me. Maybe I have my sorting options set wrong.

Sorry

Every time a thread has a new post it will show up on the first page for you.

[Cdale600]

I think it is that this board moves a little slower than I thought it did so item say 20 on the category list is 3 months old.

Still an interesting topic and I enjoyed reading the new responses. :)

[jmonny]

1. I first played at Kentwood and O.T. Sloan Parks near Raliegh in '95-'96, but did not compete regularly until '02 when we finally got a course in Wilmington. Totally hooked.
2. The hardest aspect of the game for me is finding that extra
distance when I feel like I'm throwing hard w/good technique. Getting that extra 50 ft with the same accuracy.
3. Developing distance is all about perfecting the technique that works for your body and engraving it into your muscle memory.
4. Of the major brands (Innova, Discraft, Millenium) you can find near interchangable discs from all. No major differences. It's what feel good to you.
5. Watch a video of some Pro championship or event, observe the different techniques and try some on an open field. Also, start playing monthlys early and ask questions about rules and how to make different shots.
6. Good advice for beginners is to start with 1-2 discs and get to know their flights very well before adding more. Practice shot making, not holes. Don't rely on just one kind of shot or flight path.