Team Discraft: Timmy Gill Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Timmy Gill
	HOMETOWN:	Richfield, MN
	PDGA #:	9293
	PDGA RATING:	988
	day gig:	Professional course designer and disc golf promoter. Par72discgolf.com
	BORN:	1975
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	1993
	disc cred:	2006 PDGA Sportsman of the Year 1995 Am World Champ 1996 PDGA Pro Rookie of the Year runner up 8th, 2004 Pro Worlds 1st, 2004 Memorial 2006 MN State Champion 11-time MN Tour Champion 1st, 2006 Standing Rocks 14th, 2006 USDGC 1st, 2007 DGTV Fall Open 50+ PDGA victories

Memorable Disc Golf Moments

Winning the Discraft Memorial has to be #1. Winning AM worlds a close #2. Designing Blue Ribbon Pines Disc Golf Club#3 and creating Castle Rock Disc Sports just may overtake all the above. 13 time Minnesota Summer Tour Champion. 70 other PDGA wins. Raising a teenage disc golfer is a moment in and of itself...

Timmy Gill Talks Disc Golf On ESPN

Timmy's Disc Golf Tips

Surround yourself with solid players and solid people. When you play with better players, you will learn to expect to play right there with them. It will become second nature to perform at a high level. Not just good players but good people. When trying to take your game to the next level, who you surround yourself with makes a big difference. If your buddies are just casual players who don't care about getting better, find some players that do. If you plan on traveling, it is very important to travel with people you can co-exist with. This has been a key to many players getting burned out on touring. If you are not having fun off the course, it will carry over to the course. Positive people create a positive atmosphere; a positive atmosphere will create a positive long disc golf career.

My favorite trick shot: I have a first run XS that is completely ruined. It is so understable that if I throw it hard it will do a full rotation. Why would I want a disc like this? For those situations when you are trapped and you don't have any room to get full arm motion. A quick snap of the wrist and this disc flies very far and saves a lot of pars. Great for overhead shots that need a unique flight. The reactions from the group are priceless as well.

Health Tip: How I fixed my elbow. I used to throw forehand 40% of the time for 8 years. I developed 'Stokelyitis' or tendonitis in my elbow. I virtually stopped throwing forehand shots for a few years until I heard from fellow teammate John Maiuro that a vitamin called Glucosamine helps. After 6 weeks of 1000 MG's per day, my elbow no longer hurt and my forehand was back to 100%. What a difference to have nearly half of my game back. Now I have to chose, forehand or a turnover Comet, great problem to have! Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, check with yours before taking anything!

Take practice seriously. The old saying applies here, 'you play how you practice'. Put some pressure on yourself. For instance, putting. Don't let yourself quit until you achieve a goal. 20 in a row from 20 feet or putt until you make 100. Make the putts mean something. Play putting games like 'P.I.G'. Don't just sit and rapid fire putt. Take your time to set up like you would during a round. After you make one, move to a different location and putt again. If you don't own a basket, you really need to. You can never practice putting too much, but only if you do it right.

The game is hard and frustrating at times. Don't give up... stick with it. Practice at a field rather than a course, you'll get a lot more done. For starters: (1) Learn the X (cross) Step (2) Turn your torso back and reach back. Don't fight your body, use your body. (3) Follow through with your opposite arm (4) Don't let go of the disc, pop it out. (takes lots of practice) (5) Have fun! Stay positive at all times. Make a bad shot, oh well, correct it next time.

Don't just reach for the latest and greatest disc out there. Just because your buddy throws a Surge 400 feet, does not mean that you automatically can. Start out throwing understable discs like the XS, SS Avenger, Cyclones. Then move up to the faster, wider rimmed discs.

Learn the 'hyzer flip'. It's a shot that not many new players even know about. Learn to throw the disc on a hyzer angle, let it flatten up and glide, then gently finish. This shot will make you a way better all around player. The Avenger SS is my hyzer flip disc of choice.

Learn the X step. The X step is what gets you set up in position to reach back where power is generated from, and is critical to achieving distance. To learn the X step, simply step with your (right handed players) right leg first, then your left goes behind your right, (where the reach back begins) then your right. Practice like a dance step, without throwing first. OVER and OVER until you are comfortable.

Get Involved! Your local scene needs you. If you have a beef with anything, don't whine and complain, step up and make it right. The karma that comes along with stepping up carries over to your game big time. Run a tourney, teach a clinic, help a new player. Being a part of the growth of disc golf is far more gratifying than winning, the wins will come when you step up to the plate.

Visualization: I'm a huge field practice guy. I recommend it big time. If you do field practice, don't just rip and rip and rip. Visualize each shot. Shape each shot. Aim for a certain target. Reach that target with different shaped shots. Imagine the flight pattern and bank it in your mind.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:		Minnesota's Timmy Gill has been a member of Team Discraft since 1997. He is co-TD of the largest disc golf league in the world, the Sun Dog Tournament Series. Timmy also serves as TD for 13 events each year, conducts disc golf demos and designs courses, and operates Par72discgolf.com. In 2006 he launched an exciting initiative at discgolftv.com.
Course	Comments
Castle Rock National Castle Rock, MN	Not just long to be long, accuracy and shot placement a must. Mental toughness plays a huge part. What a venue! Must play!
Blue Ribbon Pines East Bethel, MN	If wooded disc golf is what you crave, BRP is it. Some short, some long. Par 3's, 4's and 5's. Pay to play done right! Hole #4 broke the course design mold.
Bryant Lake Eden Prairie, MN	If I want to simply have a 'fun' round of Disc, Bryant Lake is the place. Every shot in the bag needed, beautiful views, landscaped like no other course hands down, just FUN!
Elm Creek Maple Grove, MN	Perfect blend of long holes that are still fun. Throwing far helps, but not a must. Perfect mix of elevation and distance.
Water Works Kansas City, MO	Elevation heaven. Another simply 'FUN' course to play. Huge mature trees shape your shots very well. Great view of D-Town KC.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP NUKE (172 - 174)	Just what the Discraft ordered! The Z Force was my main driver last year and needed to be worked in for my release and power to achieve the incredible distance the Force offers. The NUKE flies like the worked in Force but with more glide and more speed. The NUKE made the starting lineup after just a few throws. I call it 'The Staple' in my bag.
Z Force (168 gm)	The Z Force for me is fairly overstable, so I throw a 168. This disc is sick fast yet still predictable. I can trust into a headwind and I never fear a crosswind with the Force. The Z plastic is so durable that I have yet to have to replace the first one.
ESP Surge (173 - 174)	I don't believe players always need to be throwing the latest and greatest fast driver to keep up, but I could not resist the Surge. It is the longest disc on the market, yet it is still controllable. After watching Nate Doss at the Worlds out drive the lead group time and time again, I took them out to the field. Boom, they made the starting lineup. Anyone can throw the Surge too, very versatile for all skill levels. I carry three of them, one mint, one slightly worked in and one beat pretty good.
Z Predator (173 - 174)	The Pred is the best all around driver made. It's easy to get swayed away with all the new discs out these days, but the rusty but TRUSTY Pred always dominates the bag. I carry three, One new for ANY headwind and hard hyzer shots, one worked in slightly to hold a straight line, and one beat in for utility shots thru trees and woods where I do not want to tweak my others. The Pred is not for beginners, it needs a lot of pop to make it go straight. Get one for your windy conditions and learn it, you will love it!
ESP Flash (173 - 174)	New to my bag, the Flash is a fast, reliable distance driver. The ESP grip feels great in the hand, which is very important. The Flash has a bit more dome to it, allowing it to glide on an anhyzer angle for a long flight. For me, the Flash seems to have a bit more of an end-of-flight skip than the Surge I've always like the Flash, and the new ESP version will make sure the Flash stays in the bag.
ESP Avenger SS (173 - 174)	ESP Avenger SS bumped the Z XS out of my bag. I can throw this disc at 60 percent and it still goes 350 feet. Thrown with a hyzer angle, this disc pops up flat, fades slightly right than slowly fades back left. I use it for long tunnel shots and long gradual turnover shots. Makes for a great roller disc. Also useful for getting out of trouble, it doesn't take much to get some distance. I carry two, one mint, one beat. One of the top sellers out of the pro shop.
Z Flick (173 - 174)	I love how flat and streamlined the Flick is. It just feels mean. Great for any headwind or hard left shot. If you need a skip, throw the Flick! My go to forehand disc as well. Stable enough to hold up to the forehand tug yet fast enough to get out there 350. I carry 3 of these, one mint, one medium, one beat. Great for overhead thumbers.
X XS (173 - 174)	First one I ever got, this thing is ruined. It is so beat up it, I get laughed at when I pull this thing out. It is so understable, I can throw it and have it do a full rotation. Why would I carry such a disc??? To get out of trouble. If I'm in the shule and have a very awkward stance, I can simply flick my wrist and it will go up to 200 feet. I can throw overhead/tomahawks/thumbers that will turn so quick that it will start to hyzer. In my opinion, every player should have a disc like this.
Z Crush (173 - 174)	Great all around driver. When I need a little more distance than my Preds, but not as much as my Surge, the Crush comes out. Once beat in, great long distance roller disc... ROLLS AND ROLLS and ROLLS!!!!
Z Xtreme (173 - 174)	Spike hyzer is the shot for the Xtreme, which was discontinued a while back. They simply do not want to fly... they just hook and drop. I use it for my forehands under 300 feet. I still use the first one I ever got, and it still is crazy overstable.
D Cyclone (max wt)	There is something to be said about an old school chalky Cyclone. Call it a long range driver, call it a driver, call it a mid to long range driver, I call it the Cyclone. Whenever in doubt, throw a Cyclone and the results will be positive more than negative. So versatile, so predictable.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
Z Buzzz (178 gm)	The Buzzz is the perfect all around midrange disc. The combo of perfect speed and stability make this disc a true shot maker. I've racked up more birdies with my Buzzz than any other disc in my bag. I carry three, one mint first run, one slightly beat first run and a beat in first run. I throw the first runs because I am a creature of habit. Why change what's not broke. I do replace my first runs during the winter with standard stock and I don't miss a beat. But once the snow is gone, the sweeties come back out.
FLX Drone (175 gm)	The FLX Drone has cometh!!! When the winds pick up, the Drone comes out. The most consistent midrange in the wind. Now in the grippy FLX plastic that will take a beating, look out as the Drone is a staple in many of the Team members bags. So stable, so predictable, the Drone can be counted on. Not a very beginner friendly disc, but once you figure it out, you'll be a Drone lover.
D Drone (175 - 176)	Best windy weather approach disc made. Fear no wind with a Drone. Takes quite a few throws to learn one, once you do it will be a staple in your bag. Great for skip shots. Teammate Cale Leiviska is the best Drone thrower I have ever seen!
Z Comet (177 g)	My forehand is 100% healthy now so the Comet doesn't come out as much. But when I need a sweet slow turnover to just keep gliding to the right, the Comet sets itself apart from all other midrange discs. Basically I throw it when I don't want my forehand shot to skip. The Comet just slides right in. Great beginner disc too!

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
D Soft Magnet (174 - 175)	The Magnet feels the best in my hand, that is why I use it. I prefer the soft style when its not above 90 degrees, then I switch to hard. Flies very straight and the soft plastic seems to grab the chains like no other. Number one selling putter out of my pro shop, times 2!
D Magnet (174 - 175)	I use the hard Magnet for shorter drives and approaches. The Magnet flies anyway you want it to. Easy to turn over, easy to hyzer and very easy to throw straight. I carry three: one mint for windy approaches, one slightly worn for dead straight shots and a beat in one for hyzer flip approaches and turnovers.
D Zone (173 - 174)	Move over Drone, your little brother just smacked you in the grill! Flat yet beefy, the Zone is an overstable, slow flying beauty! Consistency is what this disc is all about. You know it's going to hyzer, so trusting the flight is never in doubt. Great for skip approaches, spike hyzers and also makes for a great forehand approach disc.

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