Student, U of Minnesota / Part time researcher in biology lab
HOT FINISHES:
5th, 2011 Pro World Championships
1st, 2011 Mad City Open
4th, 2009 Pro World Championships
5th, US Championships 2009
1st, Colorado States 2009
1st, Fall Open at Telemark 2009
1st, Flying Eye Open 2009
1st, 2008 DGTV Open
3-time Minnesota State Champion
3rd, 2007 Pro World Championships
2007 MSDGC champion
2007 Great Lakes Open NT champion
2006 High Plains Challenge champ
2006 Minnesota Majestic champ
MEMORABLE DISC GOLF MOMENT
My most memorable moment in disc golf would have to be winning the Minnesota Majestic in 2006. Not only because it was such a large tournament with a great payday, but because I had so much support and enthusiasm from the Minnesota crowd. I remember hitting a big putt on the third to last hole and hearing the crowd just erupt. It is something I will not forget.
After a third place finish at 2007 Worlds, and 2007 victories at DGLO and MSDGC, Minnesota's Cale Leiviska has become one the best players in the game. This fast-paced vid introduces you to Cale and his disc golf game. Length: 3 minutes.
For more info, see the cover story on Cale from the August 2006 edition of Disc Golf Magazine.
Watch Cale in this Long Distance Driving Pro Clinic
Cale's Disc Golf Tips
Try not to compare your own game to top pros... you'll only end up being disappointed if you can't live up to that. This game is all about having fun and improving through repetition and experience. Another mistake is practicing bad habits. When a player gets tired or frustrated, I often see a tough round go from bad to worse. At any time in a round, you can still gather yourself and finish strong (this is my most common mistake).
If you're trying to get better distance, throw some stable to understable plastic and concentrate on accuracy first. Also, if you get the chance, speak with Jon Drummond about your form because I have seen him add length to countless people's drives.
Always make sure that your body is loose before you start playing. Adequate hydration is an easy way to assure your body will hold up in a long round. Not being loose to start a round and tightening up physically and mentally at the end of the round are effects of not being limber and hydrated.
Many disc golfers believe that the bigger and stronger a person is will allow him/her to throw further. While this is true in some cases, flexibility and balance will ultimately allow for more consistent, yet still impressive distance. Obviously strength has a determining role in disc distance but trying to bulk up in the upper body will not help one to achieve distance unless they have good flexibility and core balance. I stretch and loosen up for at least twenty minutes before most tournament rounds in order to make sure I will stay loose for an entire round. Stretching often during the round also goes a long way towards keeping the arm and body fresh and can help prevent injuries that may come about from throwing with maximum distance. A stretch that is a favorite of mine is putting my arms out to the side and making circles in both directions with my arms. I then bend over at the waist letting my arms dangle down and sort of shake the tension out of my shoulders.
A huge wind putting tip that I can offer to spin putters in particular is feeling where the wind is coming from and adjust accordingly. The biggest problem I had with wind putting previously was side wind putts, particularly right to left wind. I used to try and throw flat and aim a little right, but the wind would always catch under the disc and send it sailing left. I noticed that if I released the putter with a slight anhyzer angle, the wind would just drop it similar to a tail wind putt. After practicing this more and more, I can now throw this putt very hard and have confidence that it will not sail on me. I now aim high, and straight at the pole and just let the wind drop it in for me. I am glad that I realized this, but it could have saved me many strokes if I would have figured this out earlier. I hope it works for you!
COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Minnesota's Cale Leiviska is a red hot young disc golfer who in 2007 took 3rd at Worlds and 1st at MSDGC. Keep your eye on him, because Cale is going places!
Course
Comments
Maple Hill Leicester, MA
Beautiful private land and very challenging
Red Hawk Crystal River, FL
Excellent challenge on ball golf course that will be missed.
Winthrop Gold Rock Hill, SC
Most challenging course I've played, both physically and mentally.
Fountain Hills Fountain Hills, AZ
Desert oasis around lake and surrounded by mountains.
Blue Ribbon Pines East Bethel, MN
Perfectly manicured and landscaped through giant pine trees and sod farm
This disc has completely changed my driving game. I used to try and turnover overstable plastic to get good distance but the Force allows me great distance by throwing flat and even hyzer shots.
My favorite and most thrown driver. Very overstable and consistent. I can throw as hard as I want and the Pred will not turn over. I keep two in my bag at all times. One new and one slightly beat in for a little more glide.
An overstable driver that will fly straighter for me than a Predator. I can still trust this driver with a lot of speed to still hyzer at the end of the flight.
Excellent for distance. The Flick is the fastest disc I have ever thrown and is another overstable bomber. For long open drives I can throw as hard as I can and give the disc a super fast, slight turnover angle that will always come back. A great disc for long hyzer shots and even longer forehand shots, and I use it for a flick roller to get out of trouble.
Another maximum velocity disc. The Crush is what I use for long straight shots and anhyzer shots because it is very easy to control. I carry a newer Crush for long straight to hyzer shots, and a beat one for perfect long turnover shots.
An unbelievable disc. Will hold any line that it is put on. I use it most for super straight shots from 400 feet and in and anhyzer shots because of its amazing accuracy.
I switched to putting the Magnet from the Challenger because it will fly so straight. I try to visualize just letting the Magnet fly directly at the chains instead of a slight hyzer putt with the Challenger.
