A Couple Hours With Two of The Best
Just as I usually do, I found out about something very cool last minute and by accident.
Two of the best disc golfers in the world: Will Schusterick & Paige Pierce hosted a clinic at Oregon Park near Dallas, GA last night, and it was fantastic! The majority of their training wasn’t new to anyone there (grips, stances, etc.), but it was nice to ask true professionals questions that you can’t ask just anyone.
Will was able to help me with my up-shot wrist work with tremendous results. My wrist was too tight, and he fixed it. That’s something I could have not learned without a real face to face training session.
Paige was also able to help me and many correct their distant putting by focusing on follow-through. I was much more accurate at about 40 feet after Paige demonstrated techniques.
I think one of the best times of the evening is getting the Dogleg shirt signed!
Overall it was great to support the local disc golf scene and two of the best disc golfers out there. Will and Paige are truly great people with a lot of class. Make sure you root for them this weekend for The Hall of Fame Classic here in GA!
Our One Disc Challenge
The Intro:
A few weeks ago fellow Doglegger, Destin, casually mentioned that we should battle in a “one” disc round at one of the local parks sometime soon. I had heard of people playing rounds with one disc before, but just the thought of being limited to only one disc did not sound fun to me. Even though I don’t carry a plethora of discs, I do like having options for different shot types I encounter. I’m always up for a fun, friendly competition so I took Destin up on the challenge.
What disc should I actually choose?
I wouldn’t say that there’s one disc in my bag that I would truly consider my all-around go-to disc. I do have a few that I throw often for multiple shot types, but never considered them for every single shot. I figured I could at least choose from some of those as a starting point. I knew we had at least one normal full round before the challenge, so I would take that opportunity to test some of those discs out.
The Discs:
Some of the discs I tried out were my beat Innova Leopard, Discraft Zombee (2012 Ace Race disc), Discraft Buzzz, and my new MVP Vector. Here’s my little background history for each of the above mentioned discs:
Innova DX Leopard (weight = ~171g) – This is the oldest disc that I have. I’ve used this disc for several years now and have carried it in my bag ever since. If you guys have been following my posts, you know that I mention this disc a lot and actually putt with this thing instead of a true putter. From several years of throwing it, I seem to know its exact flight path for approach/putting. I’ll use it for anything under 150. It has become very understable over the years—especially at high speeds, so teeing off with this thing is out of the question. I also use this disc if I’m in the woods and need a good anhyzer disc to get around trees. This beat Leo has a wonderful, big s-curve at short distances when thrown at an anny.
Discraft Z-line Zombee (weight = 175-176g) – The first time playing with this disc was at my first Ace Race last summer. This 2012 Discraft Ace Race disc was recently named the Zombee. I immediately fell in love with this straight-gliding shooter with small fade at the end. It has a shallow rim and is cupped out making it easier to rest a finger on the outside of the grooved rim. This disc can really hold its line for me when thrown hard enough and finishes with a nice slight fade at the end. The longest approach/putt shot I’ve ever hit was made with this disc a few months ago at around ~125 ft. Still [knock on wood] no Ace to date, but the closest I’ve ever came to one was also with this disc from around ~180 ft that hit the center post and bounced back out of the front of the chains, AHH! During a normal round, this is my go-to midrange for shots 100-230 ft or so. I’ve never teed off with this disc on a hole further than 250, so not sure how well it flies at max potential/speed. I haven’t really found anything I dislike about this disc so far.
Discraft X Buzzz (weight = 175g) – I’ve heard and read rave reviews on Discraft’s line of Buzzzs, so I just had to get one and try it out. I got a great deal on one off eBay several months back. I’ve heard how well they hold their line and overall how great a midrange disc they are. I will break this disc out every once in awhile, but I’ll be honest and say that I still haven’t quite figured out its best characteristic. Maybe I should just use it more often to really give it a chance. I tend more to use this disc in practice or for ‘gimme’ shots when my game’s not on the line. But with having used that beat Leo and Zombee for most shots under 200, I haven’t found a good enough reason to switch to the Buzzz full-time yet. I am sure it really is a great disc though; I just need more practice with it. It does feel great in-hand and has that solid, sturdy feel to it.
MVP Vector (weight = 176g) – This is the newest disc in my arsenal and has already found a permanent spot in my bag. For a midrange, I can throw this bad boy further than any other midrange disc I own. I don’t know if you know, but MVP discs supposedly have GYRO™ technology which gives its flight path a more stable/balanced, accurate and consistent glide. The Vector is slightly overstable making it more wind resistance. I was surprised at the results the first day I took this disc to the course, for a midrange. If thrown at a little harder speed, it has a very long glide and little fade at the end. Depending on the type of terrain you’re playing, the Vector’s “grippy” rubber-like edge could prove beneficial. I find this disc to have less of a skip and more of a “magnetic” stop when it hits. It seems to grip better to the ground—great for approaches/putts.
The Fan Poll:
These four discs had their advantages and disadvantages on the course that day, so I was still unable to fully commit to any one disc right away. I thought to myself, Do I go with a driver that can get me further distances off the pad, but then suffer on putts because it’s overstable? or Do I go with a midrange and get less tee distance but comes with better chances of sinking approaches and putts? Ahh the decisions. So here’s what I did. I turned to our awesome fanbase (you guys) on both our @DoglegDiscGolf Twitter and Dogleg Facebook and posed the question, “If you had to play a full 18-hole round with only ONE disc, what type of disc would it be?” We received a lot of great response and I want to thank you guys for that! Here’s some of the responses…
Facebook Feedback:
Billy T. – Discraft XS
Trey P. – If the course is long a mid-range, Buzz. If the course is mostly shorter holes I’ve had success throwing my putter.
Manuel L. – A echo star boss
Dylan C. – Glow aviar putter!
Justin A. – MVP vector
Aaron M. – flat dx roc
Tommy J. – Valkyrie or a buzzz
Destin W. – Zombee!! (2012 Ace Race Disc)
Oscar J. – 173 medium neutron Ion – Yellow Green – my name and number on inside rim.
Alan M. – Boss 136g
Robert T. – i would use my trusty discraft buzz
Jeremiah B. – Definitely a Roc.
Twitter Feed:
@WolfPackDiscs – DX viper #innova #discgolf played many one disc challenges with it
@Restonification – Z Buzz. What else is there?
@MCW7979 – From what’s in my bag right now, my Star TeeBird.
@captain_jager – simple that would be a crisp wraith. You can do anything with that disc.
@BigAppleachia – My Lat64 AirSaint147. Its a driver w/glide does anything a mid can, and putts too! #discgolf
@Delt_Nikolas – Ti Buzzz. Buttery smooth.
Challenge Day:
The challenge day was finally here. This past Saturday, we met up at Oregon Park. It’s early afternoon and the temp’s barely breaking 40 (we live in the South now). Wind conditions looking less than favorable and peaking at 15-20+ mph wind gusts. Not exactly my ideal conditions for a first time, one-disc challenge. But lets do this!
After all the feedback from our followers, I decided to go with the one disc that received the most votes—the Buzzz. Heck I’ll give it a shot. My choice: 175g Discraft Buzzz, Destin’s choice: 169g Innova Star TL.
For this one-disc round, we moved up to the shorter pads to better our Ace chances with the unruly wind conditions. I think we both had a rough start getting use to just throwing one disc and unsuccessfully controlling its inconsistent flight paths in the wind. Hole #1 was a downhill shot, which was a great way to start any round. Those downhill shots build confidence in your throws when you can easily go yard off the pad. Once we got past the first three holes out in the open, the course takes a turn for the woods. Shielded by tree lines from the wind, I did much better with my drives from there on out. The likeability of the Buzzz was growing on me when the wind no longer became a major factor. I was finally figuring out how to hold it and throw it further and further with a few minor hand adjustments.
| Gotta love Georgia Pines…always making a mess and leaving tight shots. |  |
“Needle”ss to say, it was a tight race throughout the round. Destin was on a high for beating me for the first time ever earlier that morning in a normal round. We were neck and neck until he birdied one late in the round, going one up. Then it came down to the final hole. Uphill into the crosswind. All I needed was a birdie and I could have tied it up…or he bogey..or even double. Nope, he got the best of that wind on that last hole. We both layed up close to the basket leaving for a short par toss each. Well-played Destin, well-played. [Below] Destin acting estactic as he pulled off back-to-back wins that day on me. First for both haha. Besides the wind, had a great day overall. Fun times. I call rematch.
Feel free to comment below with your One-Disc Challenge experiences and/or your favorite all-around discs. Enjoy! —jt
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78-ft Ringer and a Gold Record
After more than a week absent from a disc golf course, Justin and I finally were able to hit the course. Our last few meet-ups at Oregon Park we started throwing from the back tees, the Golds. It’s definitely more of a challenge and allows you to really unleash some hella throws on those long Par 4s. Oregon Park’s Gold has a nice blend of long holes mixed with shorter technical holes.
Anyways, back to my story. I started off a little slow and bogeyed the first hole (standard). As the holes progressed I got on fire and lucked up on some long drives and approach shots. Starting off the back 9, I had my longest drive on Hole 10 yet. This drive left me a slightly obstructed birdie attempt from nearly 80 ft out. The only tree in my way was one about 5 ft to the left between me and the basket. Me being a lefty, yes it was in the way. So I took out my trusty Leopard, angled it towards me and released a high anhyzer shot. It sailed around the tree and turned over to the right as it started to descend. CaCHING. Walked it off, 78 ft.
I was proud. Finished out EVEN which would be my new course record from the Gold tees.
-8 at OP Update!
Well guys, you’re probably not going to believe this, but… Justin, Zack and I hit up OP (Oregon Park) last night and I had both my record round for that course and my all-time low score! Teeing off from the closest set of teepads, I managed to pick up 9 birds and only 1 bogey for the round. I birdied 6 of the last 9 holes to finish out at -8! Score! I couldn’t believe it. I’d say it’s time to move back to the gold teepads.
-jt
-8 at Oregon Park (Silver)
Last Week’s GA Recap
I was fortunate enough to beat the heat and make it out to a course two days straight last week. It had almost been a full week and I’d started to have major disc golf withdrawals. I need my DG fix at least ONCE a week. It keeps me sane I guess. JK, but really.
Part I—Sequoyah Park (Canton, GA).
Tuesday was the first day last week that Chad and I headed out to play. This time, to Sequoyah Park. I’d played there a few times before, but Chad had never been. Sequoyah’s a little longer drive from here than our ‘home’ course of Oregon Park, but to me it’s worth that extra 10 min. Reason being, there’s hardly a soul that plays Sequoyah late during the week—at least lately. Oregon Park sets in the front of a large park complex and next to a seemingly, sumptuous neighborhood. Which means it has lots of traffic and park enthusiasts that roam the newly renovated course’s green hills. Don’t get me wrong, I love the new layout, but it’s the frequent overcrowding and awaiting large groups ahead to play on that gets me. Oregon Park is a very popular course indeed. With two sets of teepads and baskets per hole, get ready to deal with the possibility of other groups playing your same hole from the other set of tees. Heads up, some back teepads may be blind to the front set. I tend to play fast and it burns me when you trail larger groups for several holes and they never bother to let you play through. Disc golf is a fun and relaxing sport, yes, but seriously. Have respect for those smaller groups and the “Speedy Gonzales” out there that may just want to play through. Sorry, I digress.
ANYWAYS, we arrive and hit the course immediately. No other groups in sight, score! I nailed much of the round until the last four holes… My best round here prior was +11. I was shooting only +3 after 14 holes! Then on #15, I proceeded to triple bogey, double, then bogey, bogey. WTH. I added another 7 strokes in the last 4 holes! I couldn’t believe it. Arhg this was not good, but I still managed to finish my best yet there at +10. Chad did a heck of a lot better on the back 9 than I did, finishing out at +17.
Let me tell you, Sequoyah is rough once the sun starts to set—mostly wooded holes, thick canopies and tall grass. We had several search parties that killed daylight playing time. I need more brightly colored discs for sure.
Part II—Oregon Park (Marietta, GA).
Wednesday rolls around and Chad and I take to the course again. This time back to our home course, with Justin. Justin and I play Oregon all the time, but this would be his first since its renovation. A fun, great round altogether, we all 3 stayed neck-to-neck for much of the round. I flubbed off deep into the ‘jungle brush’ on a wayward forehand shot on #5 which left me double-bogeying that debacle. Justin ching’d a few 25+ ft shots that helped put him in the lead towards the end. Justin and Chad ended up both finishing out at -2, while I finished E. Great game to both of them—Justin’s third consecutive round beating me Haha. Time to do work this week.
-jt
Little Ace-Hole
So its a Thursday evening, overcast, and getting darker by the minute due to cloud cover. I get home from work a little later than expected. My brother and I had already made plans to go play disc golf, so I couldn’t pass that up. We load up and head for Oregon Park which is about some odd 25 min away. We arrive around 8pm and barely find a decent parking spot—lots of people out playing!
Thanks to a nice group of guys ahead of us, they let us play through. I always play fast; therefore, I highly appreciate others that understand the game and are considerate of letting smaller, faster groups play through—as I do too. So thank you to those that do. Anyways, we get to Hole #4 and Chad (my brother) is up first. We’re playing from the short tees (Silver) this round and now about to tee off from behind a downed tree. While this course is still undergoing renovation, the tee signs are not yet up with the distances. We estimated it to be some 200-220 ft to the basket. OK, keep in mind that Chad’s played maybe ~15 rounds of disc golf in his entire life. Winds up with his signature style and releases one high and to the right. Right as the disc starts to turn over, he calls out “Ohhh it’s goinnnng in…”. The disc breaks back to the left, behind the trees and starts its decent. The white disc is slicing downward hard-left faster than Diemon Dave’s “Judi Chop”. It’s looking like it will be awfully close at that angle from here. Next thing you know, caCHING! …freakin’ ACED it! Chad, in much shock, turns around and stares at me like “No way that just happened”. Then a guy on a neighboring hole yells out “Great Shot!” I couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t either. It was ridiculous—yet very pretty.
So he goes 2 under right away and continues to hold the lead the remaining of the round. Like I mentioned in the previous post, he finished -1 and I finished out Even. For those of you that know me, you know how much I praise the Innova Leopards. What did he just ace this with? You guessed it, DX Leopard. Great round. Still in shock. Now I’m trying to get him to join the blog. —jt
Chad's Ace on #4 Oregon Park (Click to Zoom)
The 36-Fix
That’s right, 36. One of my favorite local courses (also my home course), Oregon Park, has now been upgraded to 36 holes! This newly renovated course is much longer than the previous, less crowded, and now has two sets of teepads and baskets per hole. Awesome! Right now its a mix between concrete and dirt pads. Talked to one of the locals the other day and he said they’re still working on getting the signs made up for each hole. I’m pretty pumped about the new course layout. This will give me many more reasons to go play there this summer. I’d played the old course for so long it was getting a little too easy for me. Not that it was necessarily an easy course to start with, it just wasn’t much of a challenge anymore—even from the back blue tees.
The new Oregon Park course has quite a few dogleg holes that play to right-hander’s advantage. Me, being the lefty that I am, will make it much more challenging and will require me to bring back the flickin’. Always up for the challenge, I love this course again already! Another interesting part about this new setup—I don’t know if it was intentional in design or not—is the easier ability to play thru. By this I mean, with the two sets of tee pads separated a good distance apart to the side, you can play thru slower groups quicker and easier by throwing from the other set. I saw this happen a few times the other day. Seems like it could be a good idea…until someone gets clocked in the temple from an unruly tomahawk toss from out of the brush.
Holes #1-4, 7, and 9-15 are all new. #5 Silver is the old #1, #5 Gold crosses the old #17. #6 is part of the old #2. #8 is the old #5 going uphill. #16 is the old #9. #17 is the old #10, and the old #11 is now #18.
I went this past Tuesday with some friends and ended up finishing +1 on the Silver tees (closest set). I hope to make it back this eve to play from the Gold (back) tees. You guys need to make it up one weekend this summer. There’s so many here to hit up!
-jt
*UPDATE: My brother and I hit up Oregon Park again tonight. He actually took the cake with -1 and I finished Even. We ended up playing the Silver (close) tees again. Great story ahead. Look for next post coming within next 24 hrs.
2 Weeks Without Play
Finally got a chance this past Wednesday—after 2 long and busy weeks—to get in a full round after work. Not knowing how my outcome of the round would soon be, I didn’t care; I was too pumped! With very little traffic there, I made it to Oregon Park just shy of 20 minutes (Normally with rush hour traffic it’s closer to half hour). Already in a good mood, I was pleasantly surprised at how deserted the disc golf course was as I pulled up. Must have been the heat, and that I can attest to. Leaving straight from work, I was left to play in what I currently had on. With the sun still high, 94° heat, humidity, double tshirts on, tight fitting jeans and no water supply…it was almost too much to handle. But whatever, I’ll survive an hour right?
| Dripping sweat by Hole #2, I knew it was going to be an interesting round with this heat. I looked like one of those rotating sprinkler heads as I wound up and threw—sweat slinging off at every angle. Awesome, I’m watering the course as I play. Hole #7, to me, is by far the hardest. It’s probably around 200ft, but it’s a long straight-away with a very narrow flight path. I think I’ve only achieved par on this hole once in the some odd 30 times I’ve played this course. The sunset pic to the right is for my bogey shot on #7. Of course this is after my drive careened off course after hitting three trees like some trick shot in bumper pool. Indeed I did end up bogeying a few, but those were later complimented with several birdies—especially #17 and 18. I finished out +1. Not bad for two weeks off! |  Oregon Park #7 |
Justin on Oregon Park #13
Then had the chance to play again yesterday, heck yea! We took to the course for a round of Oregon Park fun. Fun times as always, Justin did end up taking the win with 3 strokes ahead. I slipped and finished +6—much what I was expecting to score the prior day. We did rock our new Dogleg Tees as well! The pic on the left is Justin on the teebox of #13 with his Dogleg tee. I love how the shirts turned out and a great way to get the name out there. We even had a few people yesterday ask us about it, sweet!
—jt
Dropped 4 and Still Ended in Best
I just had my record round from the Blue Tees at Oregon Park tonight–finishing -1! It was pretty packed when we got there, so we played the back 9 first. OK so get this, I was -5 going into the last two holes…and freakin’ blew it! I tripled, then bogeyed the last two holes which brought me up to -1. It could’ve been a really awesome round, but hey, I’m not complaining. Just wanted to punch a few trees, that’s all. Ha but no, pleased with the round.
-JT
Oregon Park (old course) – Blue Tees
[One] Under the Sunset
Finished my best round ever at the old Oregon Park course. I was -2 going into #18 then flubbed it through the trees. Finished out -1 from the back Blues. Great weather, minus the snake in the creek.
-JT
Dogleg Disc Golf 