Team Discraft: Liz Lopez Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Liz Lopez
	HOMETOWN:	San Antonio, TX
	PDGA #:	31162
	2011 PDGA RATING:	952
	BORN:	1985
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	2005
	Press:	Nov 2008 Interview
	day gig:	Pro disc golfer / student at U of North Texas
	All THAT GLITTERS:	2010 World ranking: #6 1st, 2010 Gentlemen's Club 1st, 2010 Canadian Championships 1st, 2010 Southern Nationals Pro Championships 1st, 2010 Fly Ink Open 1st, 2010 Glass Blown Open 2009 mixed doubles World Champ (w/ Eric McCabe) 09 Pro Rookie of the Year 4th, 2008 NT Points Most tourneys played by a woman in 2008

MEMORABLE DISC GOLF MOMENTs

Getting to win a World Mixed Doubles Title with EMac! It was such a great experience competing together against the best in the world. It was a huge win and we will never forget it. Also, winning the Vibram Open Doubles with my partner Des Reading was huge. She is one of my favorite ladies on tour so that was a special experience for sure. Winning Roscoe's Revenge was an incredible experience because it was the first big win of my career. I won in a playoff against Elaine King in front of a huge crowd and not to mention on the home course of Val Jenkins! Also, in Santa Cruz I was asked to compete alongside Val, Des, and Burl in a skins match. They had caddy bibs made for our caddies to wear, not to mention a huge gallery of followers and thousands on the line! I took home 4 skins and fun memories!

2009 World Mixed Doubles Champion Interview

Liz's Disc Golf Tips

Mental tricks for lowering scores: Some things that have helped me along the way are staying positive and being confident. If you have lingering doubts about making a putt or executing a shot than you most likely will miss. If you are committing to your shots and not playing timid it is almost impossible to have any regrets after a round. Bad shots and missed putts will happen. It is an inevitable truth, so the best you can shake them off and move forward, the better off you will be. Focusing on bad shots will only keep you razzled and frustrated and potentially cause your whole round to suffer. After a bad shot I like to think about how amazing it is to even be playing. I turn to the positive and I can look forward to a good shot.

If you're a newer player, ask someone to show you the cross step or teach yourself by watching some videos. It's really helpful with adding power and distance to your drive. If you're having problems with high releases, the cross step may help with that problem too.

The way you grip a disc has a lot to do with how far your disc will go. Determining the right grip with the right shot is very important as well. I would suggest playing around with different grips to see which one fits best for you.

Don't hesitate to experiment with new discs. I used to have such a closed mind about trying new discs because I felt like the ones I had were all I needed. Wrong!! Once I opened up my mind and started trying new discs I discovered a whole new player! Discs are being changed and upgraded for the future of disc golf and I think it is important that we take advantage of new technologies. How to add distance: When I was starting out on tour a few years ago, throwing far was definitely not my strong suit. Since then I have improved my distance so much just by doing a few simple things. First off I want to stress that flexibility is a very important factor in throwing far. I recommend stretching for at least 10 minutes before going out for a round, focusing on your shoulders, back, and arms. Remembering to reach further back with the disc before releasing can also help. Another thing to remember is the follow through, after you have released the disc make sure that your leg opposite your plant leg is swinging over in front of your body. This helps to shift all the momentum you are building up from your run up into your drive.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course	Comments
Milo McIver Estacada, OR	Beautiful course with fun elevation and lots of scenic views
Maple Hill Leicester, MA	Tough championship course with lots of elevation, water, and wooded holes
Blue Ribbon Pines East Bethel, MN	Challenging wooded course with ponds and well manicured fairways
Fountain Hills Fountain Hills, AZ	Water comes into play on almost every hole with a beautiful signature fountain set in the middle
DeLaveaga Santa Cruz, CA	Amazing course with pretty views and challenging shots

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP and Z Surge (172 - 174)	Hyzers! I absolutely LOVE the Surge! I use it for long, controlled hyzer shots. This is a bomber for sure! I also carry a lighter, flippier Surge that I throw for turnovers and 'S' shots.
Z Avenger SS (171 gm)	Anhyzers! I use this disc for most of my turnover shots. I trust it to hold the line I am throwing it on. It also makes a great straight flyer, just add a little hyzer to the shot and this baby will go. The Avenger SS also makes a great roller disc.
Z Nuke (172 - 174)	It is unbelievable to me the amount of distance I can get from this driver! I have been able to keep up with the bombers on tour with this baby. I just put a little turn on this bad boy and watch it sail! It is by far the fastest flying disc in my bag and has been a game changer this past season.
Z Stalker (max wt)	When this disc was released it was an immediate favorite. I love this disc because it is slightly overstable, feels like a midrange, but flies like a driver. This disc is great in the wind and easy to control for those shots where my Buzzz is just out of reach. I like to call it a Buzzz on steroids.
Z Surge SS (172 - 174)	Love this addition to my bag! The Surge is my trusted go to driver but for shots I need to stay straighter longer, I bust the SS out. It gives me a great advantage in the woods for those long tunnel shots.
Z and ESP Flash (174 g)	ESP Flash is definitely my number one distance driver. The first time I threw it instantly added at least 50-60 feet to my drive! I was way impressed. It is really good for backhand drives as well as turnover shots. The Z Flash has the same great effect as the ESP version, only a little more overstable. I love the way the Z plastic feels in my hand. I use it for backhand drives and 'S' shots.
Z XL (171 g)	The XL is great for tight shots! I bust this baby out whenever I am out playing a wooded course with tight gaps. I also love it as a turnover disc. It can hold its line a long time before coming out.
ESP Cyclone (174 g)	Being able to control a disc is really important. This disc works great for me on those shots that I can't risk making an error on. I trust this disc every time I pull it out because it is a slower driver I know I can put a lot on it without worrying about it turning over or blowing way past where I want to be. Great for beginners or anyone needing a little bit more control.
ESP Predator (173 g)	The name says it all, this disc is an animal! The most overstable disc in my bag. I use it for tight, controlled hyzers and skip shots. Also makes a great headwind disc.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
Z Buzzz (174 g)	No disc golfer is complete without one of these in the bag! The Buzzz is hands-down the best midrange disc out there. It's so controllable and holds any line you put it on. A great straight flyer that I pull out time and time again.
Z Buzzz SS (174 g)	Brings me the power of EMac! This disc has all the magic of a Buzzz but for me provides a little more glide. Buzzz SS gives me the confidence I need every time I look down and see Eric's signature. He has been a huge part of shaping the player I am so seeing that is a nice reminder of the support I have.
ESP Wasp (177 g)	Super consistent midrange. It is overstable and gives me that extra glide I need for longer upshots. The plastic feels good in my hands and I trust it in any wind.
Z Comet (177 g)	A midrange I can count on. I use it for straight shots as well as turnovers, mostly on wooded courses with tight fairways.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
D Challenger (174 g)	Love the way it slams chains! The D Challenger is what ties my game together. I use it for short up shots as well as my main putter. Feels great in my hand and gives me the confidence I need to put together a good round.
ESP Zone (175 g)	This disc is amazing! The first time I threw it I knew my game would not be the same. It's an overstable and fits in between a Wasp and a Drone. I think it is the perfect balance. I trust this disc in even the most severe of winds, and the ESP plastic gives the perfect grip.
Banger-GT (174 g)	Banger has been a stroke saver for me. I would say the weakest part of my game are those shots where a midrange is just too much for the shot at hand but my putter isn't enough. It is a great in between disc for me. I love the way it feels in my hand and the flight is just what I need to get under the basket.

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