Team Discraft: Neal Dambra Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Neal Dambra
	TEAM:	Masters
	HOMETOWN:	Missouri City, TX
	PDGA #:	200
	2007 PDGA RATING:	965
	BORN:	1954
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	1976
	day gig:	Art Director / Writer / Illustrator
	recent disc Cred:	6th, 2003 Worlds MPG 1st, 2003 Waco NT MPG 2nd, 2003 DGLO NT MPG 1st, 2005 Waco MPG 2nd, 2006 Skylands Classic MPG 2nd, 2005 Texas States MPM TD for various local events and Texas State Disc Golf Championships

memorable disc golf moments:

Playing disc golf at one of the Worlds Frisbee Championship Frisbee Rose Bowl events in the early 80's using an Ultimate disc and finishing in the top ten! Finding out how tough the Grandmasters's Division really is by not cashing in my 1st GM event. Winning my first NT as a GM.

Neal's Disc Golf Tips

To get a strong start to your disc golf skills, get a light disc and learn to throw it in the wind. Once you do that you will find throwing serious plastic much easier. Too many new players start out with discs that they are not ready for.

When you're ready to build more distance, think more of a low line drive with hyzer release that turns a little rather than the big anny overstable shot. That will come eventually, but it is not something that works on as many fairways as the line drive. Smooth release, be sure to turn the head with the shoulders and the back swing, don't overthrow...let the disc do some of the work.

Whenever you get a chance, always teach a new player how to grip a disc. Too many new players are not instructed about a proper grip until they have played a few months and someone finally notices they have their finger on the rim and their finger splayed underneath.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course	Comments
Keriakes Bowling Green, KY	Lots of variety. Very clean. Love the dual tee.
Warwick (Skylands) Warwick, NY	Feels like a park totally dedicated to disc golf. Both tee positions are fun.
Shawshank Huntsville, TX	You'll need every shot. Best private property course.
the LINKS at Quail Valley Missouri City, TX	Worked on the design with Don Wilchek and that's good enough reason for me. With 15 holes involving water, it's the most intense risk vs. reward course I've ever played.
Grandview Des Moines, IA	Great use of OB. Pretty park. To shoot 54 takes some concentration. Layout equalizes pro divisions to some extent.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
Z Spectra (168 gm)	My distance driver. Spectra competes among the best distance discs from any manufacturer. Goes far for me as I release it with a bit of hyzer waist high. I use it for straight distance with the wind or into an average breeze releasing a little lower with a touch more hyzer. I am able to keep it very straight with nice glide at the end and little fall final off to either direction. Gets some very cool uplift and carry and I Love that bead on the bottom... feels great in the hand and is a blast to watch fly.
Z Avenger (170 gm)	When in doubt I pull the Z Avenger out. Not overstable and definitely not understable, the Avenger is the disc I go to when I need to control a drive slightly R to L. Its pretty fast so I can regulate my arm speed with good results and distance. Glides nice even when the wind gets under the bottom... no big up lift or dive down. Usually I like throwing fresher plastic but I love my broken in Avengers, they age very well.
ESP Predator (175 gm)	The most dependable, overstable long distance driver I throw. In almost any wind I can get good low-to-the-ground distance with a guaranteed hyzer at the end. It is my go to disc when I must go right-to-left. I particularly remember a downhill shot at Keriakes in Bowling Green last year where the wind was blowing L to R but I did not want to go right at the basket because of woods left of the basket. I snapped the Predator on a line right of the basket with a little anny, which for many discs means right turn downhill, but the Predator, 15 feet off the ground the whole way got pin high and turned to the basket, perfect and predictable. Birdie!
Glide (165 gm)	I like throwing backhand for most control medium distance L to R shots and the Glide has that job in my bag. I can also snap it off low with a little hyzer and let it flatten out for shots in the woods. The Glide seems to be ready to go right out of the box while other manufactures understable midranges seem to need more breaking in and can get stable on you at inopportune times. Good for the big anny too if you don't need extreme distance but need to depend on the L top R thing happening. Fun to throw!
ESP Avenger SS (168 gm)	Right now this is my into the wind L to R driver... still getting used to this one too but I think it will end up as a staple in my bag. Gets great distance with and into the wind./td>

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
D Drone (max weight)	I'm a big fan of the Drone. The rim feels good and it is very dependable both as a short driver and approach disc. Excellent sidearm disc... because of its stability it is forgiving to those whose sidearm is not as skilled as it should be. It happens to be the only disc I use in Pro-D plastic, which attested to its inherent stable design. I consider the Drone for almost every upshot or any shot under 300 feet.
FLX Drone (175 gm)	Everyone needs a super stable midrange in their bag. For me it's the FLX Drone. This is a disc that you have to totally trust and it will repay you with some great shots that few other midranges can pull off. It is worth spending some time getting used to its flight characteristics and once you have mastered it you will be rewarded with an option in your bag that comes in handy in high wind and many tricky situations. Don't be afraid to tug on it... it's very overstable.
FLX Buzzz (170+ gm)	Just as advertised: a great midrange driver. It is turning into my bread and butter short straight hole driver. Little end flight action makes it good for narrow fairways where a full driver may dive into the woods. It usually gets lift and glide adding to the distance. Is stable enough for most conditions but also can be turned when necessary in a predicable way.
Z Wasp (170 gm)	When I feel its too windy for the Buzzz I like to keep the Wasp handy for long upshots and short drives. It is a very fast midrange for me so I can control my arm speed to hit my release point and still get good and predictable distance. One of the few discs I feel totally comfortable 'wristing' an 80 foot shot. Also my choice on windy day upshots when a R to L wind may want to 'help' my Drone too much or turn my Buzz over...I know I can lay the Wasp flat on the wind and it will carry in a uniform and controlled way R to L. It rarely gets away from me even if I misfire a little.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
CryZtal Challenger (174 gm)	As a former serious Ultimate player, I really enjoy the feeling of the wide, rounded rim on the Challenger. It is my 75-150 foot choice almost every time and in any wind condition. I am able to put an air bounce (old school) on it because of its rigidness and it does not distort from the downward motion. It is stable enough to be forgiving if I slightly misfire, and I also feel confident going for a long drop in knowing that I can leave it close to the basket on a miss. It is also my windy day putter. Great disc!
X Putt'r (max weight)	This is my low wind long putter and my get out of trouble sidearm roller disc. Has a similar rim feel to me as the Crystal Challenger, which I like... but its soft (but durable) plastic make it work for long putts with hard surface around the basket. I can go for it without too much fear of a giant skip away. And as sidearm roller I like its understable attributes as I can depend on it going smoothly R to L at very predictable distances. I have gotten out of more trouble with this disc than any other and have saved many a stroke with this particular 'trick' shot. I have practiced the shot with dozens of other discs and the X Putt'r is the best by far. Very useful also for low and gentle L to R 50-100 foot shots. Best used in low wind conditions.

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