When you come up to a hole with water invovled, what do you do? Do you reach for a back up and throw that or throw whatever disc you would normally throw?

I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both. I know when I go to a course with water, I make sure to have a backup for every single type of shot on the course where water is involved.

Advantages of using a back up...

1. Not gonna lose something in your bag
2. I feel I actually have more confidence simply because I'm thinking about the shot rather then don't throw this in the drink.

Disadvatages
1. Not as familar with the disc
2. Not as much focus b/c you don't care if you lose the disc


I know many people that say throw the disc you know on the shot. Here's my thoughts..

Advantages
1. Throwing what feels confortable
2. You have to be confident you are not going to throw it in the water

Disadvantages
1. One bad shot could result in you never seeing your favorite disc again.


What do ya'll do?

Well I used to throw discraft but not anymore. If it is a casual round and I am trying to clear a long shot I throw a backup but in tournaments I throw my good stuff. :D

Poke N Hope. If you cant depend on the disc in your hand who cares where it lands?

I throw the disc I own the most of.

With the exception of two discs in my bag, everything I throw is "new" or at least not beat up.

Throwing a disc I have a lot of extras of, such as 8 Z-Avengers or 9 Z-XL's I am not afraid of losing the disc because I know I have another one in the trunk, and even more back home. This allows me to focus on the shot I need to make, and I already know the disc well, so adapting or adjusting in not needed.

Depends on the hole. If it's like the par 4 hole 2 at Idlewild (long pin location) where you have to carry a pond on your second shot and traverse between or go over a few trees that are in the water to get a shot at a birdie, and i am still pretty far away -- thus making the shot a little risky -- i'll throw the disc i keep in my bag's side pocket for just such a shot.

that makes me looser and less likely to "oh no" it or to overcompensate and get across the water but way too far away for a good putting chance.

i usually carry a disc or two i am less worried about losing (but confident in) in the side pocket of my bag for risky water shots -- or sometimes i instead choose to play a safer angle of attack if i want to throw my cherished plastic. with my salary and experience with discs i really regretted losing -- i see no reason to make myself all tight by trying a higher risk shot with a disc i like too much to lose...

what's your strategy MTL?

I suck too much to even think about it.

totally depends on the shot. if its a relatively short righty hyser, i'll go to my trusty beat up stratus (being lefty and all). if its longer or needs more stretch, i'll go to an old beat up XS. both of which i plenty of reserve stock.

if its a more striaghtforward shot, one that would carry no risk at all except for the water, i go with my normal stuff and trust my shot. depending on the trees and obstacles, i might play a slightly safer line than if it had no water though.

bottom line - the goal is to put it in the basket, and sooner or later you need to make the shot that the others back away from. you dont start winning until you step up with your best shot.

Going by the only courses with water that I've played (Pickard and Lamoni) I always use a backup. My main drivers are a 2nd run CE Valk and an early # Tulsa Star Orc, not easy discs to replace. It trickles down from there to my favorite CE Eagle and various CFR's.

I don't really have the arm to get over Pickard so usually I end up having to work with a sh*tty drive anyway so I don't care if it's 50 short because a threw a beat DX Panther. At least my upshot will get me there. ;)

I'm pretty certain I'd be thinking shot selection first, then disc, to try and avoid the question altogether; but if it came down to the risk/reward part, I'd risk losing an 'alternate', and not 'my baby'.

I've taken to throwing the disc that I know. Unless it is a short shot... Ohio Northern University's course in Ada, Ohio is a good example... on Hole 5 it is a short straight shot. So I pull out the Dragon and just toss that floater on a slow hyzer over the pond and to the basket. If its short, I can throw most discs on a reliable line, so i'll just use a floater (JUST in case).

On a longer hole I'll pull out the wraith or the teebird... Pull out what I know can get where I want it to go.


-Chris.

I choose a back-up. In courses with water I will usually throw something that is flippy so that I can get it there without having to throw as hard. THat and the fact that most of my flippy stuff is X/pro or DX/D...

I really don't have any DX Drivers so I really have to throw something of decent value in that deparment, but I do have 1 x-avenger that I have thrown on turnovers and hyzeflips over water a few times.

I guess just a beat up disc i find in the car.

-Scott Lewis

In my opinion it's all about confidence. Take the water out of the equation. If you can reach the basket, throw what you would normally throw. It doesn't matter if you are throwing over water or an acre of pillows, the line is the same, teepad to the basket. Trust me, I have lost my share of discs in the water, but it was after letting myself get psyched out and throwing too hard because I thought I had to. The key is confidence in your skills and your discs. I.M.H.O.

The most important thing is to know the course and your game. If there are questions whether or not you carry the water when you're prepping for the "big day", bring an extra, but if you come up to that hole and say, "there is no spoon... :D" then make it so.
I just put myself into a mental happy place that takes the hazzard out of play. If it takes 350' to carry, I tellmyself that I can CONFIDENTLY throw over a field for 350'+...what's the difference? Man (or woman) up.

I carry a DX Valk for just such shots. I know that disc and trust how it will fly, and if anything goes wrong they are cheap and easy to replace. I never worry about losing a DX Valk.

that's true. YOu can get them at any sporting goods store nowadays(*****, sports authority, etc). Don't see too many 11x Teebirds there though :)

-Scott Lewis

My home course has multiple water holes and I throw my regular shot, with my regular disc...No thought of losing my disc enters my mind.

Throw the disc that you know can make it over the water hazard!

If there is any doubt in your ability to make it happen, then you should be laying up!

Doubt equals splashdown!!!!!

Throw the disc that you know can make it over the water hazard!

If there is any doubt in your ability to make it happen, then you should be laying up!

Doubt equals splashdown!!!!!


Great advice there.

Throw the disc that you know can make it over the water hazard!

If there is any doubt in your ability to make it happen, then you should be laying up!

Doubt equals splashdown!!!!!



When I was faced with a waterhole I had never faced before, I layed up, then threw a drive across it. I ended up taking a 4, but still had all my discs which saved me 2-3 strokes over the rest of the round (was the 2nd hole on the course/round for me). When I face a water hazard of unknown size, I always pick a shot, then go a little longer and a little more on the hyzer side or a little longer and a little more at the basket, whichever is more likely to leave me on dry land. I've only taken 1 water hazard stroke in a round and it was in 25 mph winds and my disc carried across an 80 foot wide fairway on an anne to make it to the far water hazard. I'd rather take an honest 4 than a circle 4 any day.

If i am trying to carry a water hazard without obstacles that is one thing, but when i try to carry this hole's water hazard
(Idlewild par 4 hole 2 long pin = 526 feet):

tee:
http://www.cincinnatidiscgolf.com/images/CoursePics/Idlewild/Idlewild2.jpg

second shot: (disregard short pin to the right) http://www.cincinnatidiscgolf.com/images/CoursePics/Idlewild/Idlewild2a.jpg

shot of pond and long basket: http://www.cincinnatidiscgolf.com/images/CoursePics/Idlewild/Idlewild2b.jpg

I have learned to keep a disc in my bag's side pocket before 'going for' the birdie 3. i have donated too many discs to the drink. If i get a very good drive and the water shot/obstacles aren't as big an issue -- i throw my regular discs...

Dude...that is a pimp hole.

I hate cold weather...I want to go play now.

The whole Idlewild course is like that. For more pic.s see www.cincinnatidiscgolf.com (http://www.cincinnatidiscgolf.com) -> courses -> Idlewild

I just went through all the pic's...you guys ever hear of a fairway ;) **** for some tight shots.

We have 19 courses in the Cinci area. Idlewild is designed to challenge 1000 rated players :D
It is really hard to shoot well for all 18 holes, but when you do -- there is no high quite like it :D

Interesting question, MTL.

Personally, if I'm feeling my oats or if I think I can get the disc back anyhow I throw what I think is my best disc for the shot. If I have any doubts at all that I'm psychologically and physically ready for the shot, I eliminate from consideration as "my best disc for the shot" anything that I cannot easily replace. If I'm trying for something I really have no excuse thinking is better than a 65% chance...I throw an old driver I don't use anymore for anything else but keep in practice with for just such occasions.

I throw something easily replaced.

Of course nearly everything in my bag is easily replaced. Why come to depend on something you can't replace ?

Gnduke.. I have to agree with you about having everything easily replaceable, but sometimes you get stuck in a corner...

The 1st run buzzz's are completey different from all the other runs. So I would have had to either buy 4-5 to last me at once or try and pick them up now...
I heard the 1st run Champion Orcs were much different as well and many people are buying them up because of that..

Sometimes when a disc comes out you expect it to be the same for all the other runs... lately that's not the case...

What's in your bag dude??
i carry
Classic aviar, JK aviar,
1st run buzzz, cryztal buzzz,
STar SW, 11x TB, STB and a Champion Firebird.

-Scott Lewis

What kind of distance are we talking about ? How far over water do you have to carry the flight ? Are there alligators , leaches , snakes in the water ? :eek:

I just went through all the pic's...you guys ever hear of a fairway ;) **** for some tight shots.


Try Willow Metropark up in Huron Michigan (I believe that's the location, if you search 43613 its within 30 miles of that for you to find). Now THAT'S a tight course. Tighter than a conservative's [I'm a potty-mouth!].

What's in your bag dude??
i carry
Classic aviar, JK aviar,
1st run buzzz, cryztal buzzz,
STar SW, 11x TB, STB and a Champion Firebird.



In Bag Order.
2 CH Firebirds,
2 1st Run Orcs (oops I just lost one in the lake at the NDGC),
2 Z Crushes,
2 CFR Starfires (not the L),
1 CH Viking
1 CH SideWinder
2 CFR Wraiths,
2 Orions,
2 CE JLSs,
1 CE Teebird
1 CE Eagle
1 CE Beast
1 DX Viper
1 Ontario ROC (still overstable)
1 DX ROC (slightly understable)
1 '02 CE ROC (basically stable)
2 Omega SS
2 Ace Club Minis (currently '03 & '04)

Throw your normal stuff. However, I don't think ppl should throw rare discs that they can't replace, it is really stupid. So all this talk about "first-run" this and "CE" that is ludicrous. If your main driver is an early CE valk or teebird or something it is eventually going to get really beat up or lost, then your confidence is shot because that disc that used to make you good is no longer there. And you don't feel comfortable throwing new runs of the same disc.

If you can't lose a disc and go and buy another one right away, and feel confident throwing the new one, you've got a problem.

I have a course that I play regularly that has water come into play on about 10 of the 18 holes. I sometimes screw around and end up shanking something into the water. No worries, I just go and grab a new disc out of my trunk and keep playing, rather than nearly having a nervous breakdown about losing a $+60 CE disc.

OK CE throwers, bring on the flames :p

Here's the course:
Bayside Disc Golf [OG] (http://baysideproductions.blogspot.com/2005/06/bayside-original.html)

i carry a beat CE Valk and will continue to do so until i lose it. it could always be replaced with a Champ. Sidewinder (flies like a broken in Champ. Valk.) or a Roadrunner (more like a beat Champ. Valk). just because the beat CE Valk will do special things for me doesn't mean i couldn't adjust and carry on if i lost it.

i find any disc i break in and really get to know does things i can't simply replace in a moment. if necessary, i can throw something else and try to adjust.

Orcs, Roadrunners, Coyotes, and Aviars (ORCAs) Rock! :D

I had a disk that I had found a few years ago at a course in Phoenix (Mesquite Grove). It had no discernable markings (no name or phone #), so I was never sure what it was - our best guess was an XL.

The next day we played at Fountain Hills - lots of distance, lots of water. I decided to use that disk for most of the shots over the water, since it carried well and I didn't want to lose any of the plastic I had shelled out hard earned bucks for. During that round that disc became known as the "over-the-water-disk."

It played that role for me for several months, until it didn't make it over the water one time.

Now I throw what I think will fly best based on the shot presented. That's what makes the most sense. You can't choose shots based too much on fear.

What water? I don't see any water.

Use something that floats if you are a wuss.

you can make shots based on whatever you want... you play your game and someone else will play theres..

-Scott Lewis

I'll clarify - focussing too much on the fear of putting a disc in the water may make it difficult to visualize the shot you want to make. If the fear is logical - let's say you have a 300 ft carry to clear the water and you have a max 310 ft arm - then fear should play a big part in your shot selection.

If, however, you can reasonably clear the water most of the time on the shot, you shouldn't choose to throw an inferior disc, and focussing on the fear of losing the disc may even cause you to blow the shot.

what if there are obstacles in the water (dead trees that grew before the area was dammed and flooded) and they make a tight route across depending on one's lie? In such instances, having already donated enough precious discs to the drink, i take out the disc i carry in my bag's side pocket. It is a disc i am less attached to, but one i can throw with confidence as a multi-purpose disc (it's a beat Ch. Cobra). Today i used it from a poor lie, got across said pond, and then sank a 40 footer for a birdie 3. had i not had that disc with me, i couldn't have thrown one of my normal discs with the necessary loose and free spirit i needed to make that second shot.

If there is a water hole. I look at the hole and determine the best route to the basket assuming it was all land and then I throw whatever that shot is. If I lose my disc I lose my disc. Sometimes the best route isnt over the water but most of the time the Risk is worth the Reward :D:D:D

All of my best discs, my favorits are in a pond some where!