Lessons and know hows of throwing?

I am woundering if any one Can point me in the right direction/ right pearson in the PNW that would be willing to take me under there wing and mold me into a better player. My friend that has brought me into the sport no longer plays. So now I am looking for some one That wouls be willing to helpout and my goal is to be able to stand on my own two feet with the local pro's in my erea. Second I would like to be a pro in the next year. SO if any one can help me out it would be really apperciated.

 

         Thanks Y'all,

                Hill Billy Matt 

[Jeff Nichols]

I have been told that Tom Bontempo (owns and runs Mando's disc golf shop in Auburn) gives lessons. I have no idea what he charges.

[Daddy_Dragon]

Try looking up Pros in your area under the PDGA web site and go from there.

[Dookville]

Do you play tournaments now? Do you have a player rating?

If you can learn from watching, you can always offer to carry the bag for a day for someone in the division above yours.

 

AM3/Rec/Novice players are usually developing all the concepts of the game, Putting, Upshots, and Driving. They can benefit from watching Intermediates driving and upshot skils.

 

Am2/Intermediates are usually driving and hitting their upshots pretty well but lack great shot selection. Their putting is primarily what holds them back. They can benefit from watching Adv/Am1 players.

 

AM1/Advanced players drive, upshot, and putt really well. Shot selection and distance lines are the point that usually seperate them from being an Open player.

 

I am currently watching open players; either through filming them, or carrying the bag. I have learend that they really play high percentage shots and rarely take chances. They putt out of their minds good. They take lines that really play to their strengths, and don't really throw any further than I do. They have backhand and forehand skills. Their upshots are a bag of tricks that gives them lines I hadn't even thought of.

 

All this is to say, if you can learn while watching and carrying a bag, it will open up an avenue to get an offer from someone better to help you out with your game. Disc golfers tend to be a friendly bunch from my view point. I play with a much better group than when I strated just because I carried a bag one day and started getting invited to come out and play during the week with them.

 

Here is a vid from a tourney I filmed. I am learning my forehand shot from the guy in the David Becham jacket all because I filmed this round at at tourney he played in. It made him and the group feel like super stars and i have gotten all kinds of invites to play.

 

http://discgolfer.ning.com/video/2011-el-dorado-flight-disc

[Joshua Knutson]

I can't help you out with finding mentor types in the pnw region, but I can give you the following things to do on the interwebs, in the order you should do them in:

 

1 - read the info here carefully, make sure you learn all the terms that you don't know.  - http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/articles/distancesecrets.sh...

 

2 - Watch this video and put in your YouTube favorites list for future viewing -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28ABf6csQpM

 

3.  Using what you've learned from experience and the two links above, adding the information you'll learn in these two videos will SERIOUSLY elevate your game.  Be patient, they are both ten minutes long, and the guy in the videos is unfocused at times and boring, but the payoff outweighs the time unmeasurably.  The core concepts he explains are crucial. -

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGGYsSUGKXk

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhM6XMxlErk&feature=related

 

4.  Another YouTube Vid.  At this stage you'll have learned the bent elbow technique, power-grip, how to generate snap to get speed and spin - this vid introduces very basic concepts of footwork and puts a lot of the info together helpfully and in a simple way.  It also does a great job of visually demonstrating the accelaration that occurs at the end of a proper rhbh throw.  Don't go out thinking you can whip it like this right away, I did and I hurt like hell, just watch and notice how there's the reach back, the 'pulling the mower chain' motion, then the disc comes in close towards your lead pectoral, and as your hips and body begin to pivot and weight shifts, the force 'whips' your arm out and some people execute this process so well it looks both violent and beautiful at once. -

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nED7gcXobEo

 

I'm new to disc golf, playing between 2-3 months.  This is the info I've found to be most helpful.  I live in an area where not a lot of people are serious players and I've had to learn myself for the most part, these links I've given you have been invaluable to me.  I'd say do lots of open field throwing, get a basket if you can afford one and learn the ins-and-outs of flight ratings and the discs that are out there.  Innova's flight rating system is what most people are familiar with, and at discgolfcenter.com, you can look up discs by almost every disc company and they have applied Innova flight ratings to them.  Very helpful.

 

Also, you cannot go wrong with Latitude 64 Gold Line discs.

[AK Discer]

I'm not a pro, nor do I live where you're at, but the following has helped my game TREMENDOUSLY over the past two years.  Read, learn, apply, and achieve greatness.

 

http://discgolfreview.com/resources/articles.shtml

 

http://discgolfreview.com/resources/technique.shtml

 

http://discgolfreview.com/forums

[Joshua Knutson]

Thanks for the links man, I posted a link that's from dgr but wasn't aware of the other stuff, gonna be studyin for awhile today lol

[LEE CASTRO]

Look for the great players around you that are under the radar.There are alot of players out there of po caliber that dont tour or quit touring.They still play all the time and are generaly willing to play rounds with the newer players.I learned a whole different game by playing with Doug Smith while i was living in florida.He helped me understand its a game of stategy and not just throwing as hard and far as you can.As far as going pro i wish you the best of luck,work hard but keep it fun.

[ptld2001]

There are several pros in the PNW that give lessons.  They're usually pretty busy during the summer touring, but if there's a major in your area, then you might be able to get a lesson in either between rounds, or before or after the tournament. You might get more availability during the winter.  Check and see who other people recommend.  The best players aren't necessarily the best instructors, and vice-versa.  If you ask around, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone who can help you fine tune your game.  If there's a winter team golf league, I've heard people say that really helped them step up their game.  There's nothing like playing regularly in inclement weather to move up a level.

[Dookville]

ptlb makes a good point, and if you are trying to go pro in a year you obvously have really good natural talent. Based on that you should only be needing a few corrections to form here and there. The rest you should be, or have figured out on your own.

 

You should be playing just about everyday, with some of the days being field work, or rounds where you are working a spicific shot.

 

What is your player rating at this point, and how long have you been playing.

 

I have been playing 7 months and have put in about 200 rounds with field work on the side. I putt everyday and my player rating is at 932. I am 44 years old, so I may not be as young as you, which means it takes me a little longer to recover from long tourney weekends, thus losing practice time. I figure I will probably make Open class some time this fall or winter at this pace.

[Jeff Nichols]

You the MAN Dook. I am HOPING that once Both my kids are in school come September, I'll be able to head your route. Showoff. :)

[Hill Billy Matt]

I have no rating yet and I got my ass handed to me in my last turny it was my first one tho lol. I have played over 450 rounds so far. The main thing that I think  am having a problem with is just keeping the same run up. That is why I am trying to find a local pro to help me out. Plus all the pros make some amazing shots. But the shots are so basic its not even funny. Oyeah and my release changes with my run up. This is not all the time tho. 

[Jim Coonradt]

I suggest beer and definitely go for the microbrews.