Worlds Pro Clinic
Posted by mleefry
On Tuesday night, more than 40 people attended the Pro Clinic featuring Ron Convers Jr., Jay “Yeti” Reading, and Robbie Olsen. The clinic’s general focus was on playing in the wind, as Kansas is famous for, but the tips given ranged from general disc physics to distance driving. Here are a few key tips from each of the pros for those of you who missed out!
Ron Convers Jr.
Look for visual wind clues
A common way to test the wind condition is to throw some grass or dirt into the air and observe the direction it blows before it lands. However, this only indicates the wind condition at the tee. Especially on longer holes, it’s important to look to the end of the hole for trees or other things that show the direction and speed of the wind. Your shot should be adapted to fit the wind throughout the duration of the hole and your disc’s flight.
Add field practice to your routine
When you’re just practicing on your home course(s), you tend to throw the same discs on the same lines over and over again. Ron suggests going to an empty soccer or football field and getting to know your discs better in this setting. You’ll have a better idea of what types of distance you’re capable of throwing. The monotony of throwing shot after shot will cause you to step out of your comfort zone and to put your discs on new lines. You’ll never know if your backup backhand driver should be your go-to flick disc!
“The best asset a disc golfer can have is a short-term memory”
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Every hole is a new hole. Don’t let a bogey or OB mess up your entire round.
Jay “Yeti” Reading
Play by the laws
The laws of physics, that is. There are four major forces that impact the flight of your disc. Of course, there’s gravity and lift. Then there’s momentum—everything in your throw should be utilized to increase momentum. When you’re doing a run-up, it will only add to your momentum if the elements of your standstill form are still intact! Lastly, the little scratches in your disc impact drag. Contrary to popular belief, blemishes on the outer edge of the disc are less important than those on the inner edge. Some of these can be smoothed out by rubbing the disc with a terrycloth towel.
Play to your strengths
When it comes to playing in the wind—or really any time—first consider throwing whatever style is most natural for you. If you throw right-handed backhand, you should always be on the lookout for a hyzer route, because chances are it’ll be the easiest for you to control.
Robbie Olsen
Distance is all in the hips
Just like a good golf or baseball swing, movement in the hips is key to any good disc golf shot. The hips are where the momentum begins, and using them properly will add distance to your throws.
Keep your core tight
In order for the momentum from the hips to travel to the arms, the energy has to travel through the core. By making sure your core is tight and is acting as a connection for your hips and upper body, you won’t need to pull back as far to still see an increase in your distance. As all of the pros at the clinic agreed, extra crunches or core-focused yoga can give your drives a boost!
Watch some of Robbie’s drives here: https://vine.co/v/h7Ivgl7F6pr/embed/simple
