2007 Full Throttle & Las Vegas Halloween Classic Masters Champion
Many top ten finishes in NT and A tier tournaments
three time qualifier USDGC
seven time qualifier World Championships
Milldog's Disc Golf Tips
Diversify Your Shots:
I see many new players only throwing forehand shots. To be good at this game and develop the skill sets required to be a champion, you'll need to have all the shots. Not only a backhand and a forehand, but a roller, thumber, and trick shots will boost your skill level and reduce your scores.
Milldog explains more about his targeting techniques in this Pro Clinic video
Mid and Long Range Targeting
As disc golf grows and becomes more and more like its cousin -- that game you play with sticks and balls -- course design is stretching holes into true par 4's and 5's. These long holes require the use of mid and long range targets. Rather than standing on the t-box and thinking, I have to rip this with everything I've got, the ability to pick a target either in the fairway or along a chosen flight path allows your throw to be more accurate because you've given your brain something to aim at. 'Golf, Not a Game of Perfect' is an excellent source of mind opening information to help one lower their scores by utilizing mid and long range targets.
Good Attitude = Good Putting
I am a firm believer that putting well starts with a good attitude. Everyone has that day that putts just seem to go in from everywhere. Those are the days that you seem not to be thinking and just doing. Wrong, if you notice your attitude is helping you perform at this unbelievable level. Your focused, your decisive, and your confident because you know that this is fun and your mind is rewarding you for it. Finding this happy place after a missed 20 footer for birdie is the hurdle most people can't overcome. Leaving the last hole behind and the ability to start fresh on the next shot is crucial to lowering scores in disc golf.
memorable disc golf moment
Playing a practice round with four buddies (including Phil Perkins, Jeff Knutson, Homeslice) at Shelley Sharp in Arizona. Hole 16 in the short is a 285 foot wide open shot with nothing but grass between the tee and the bucket. I step up and throw a hyzer bomb right in, you know one of those chain lifting slams that you think the bucket might fall over on. Well the high fives go around and just for the heck of it I say 'watch this, I'll skip one in now.' I freak'n did it. TWO ACES ON CONSECUTIVE THROWS.
COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course
Comments
Red Hawk Crystal River, FL
Challenging, risk vs. reward on every hole. Beautiful setting.
Winthrop Gold Rock Hill, SC
Need I say anymore.
Hudson Mills, Monster Ann Arbor, MI
Challenging mix of tight and open holes.
Solitude Mountain Solitude, UT
Moose on the fairway, it can't get any better
Codorus Park Hanover, PA
54 different holes in an afternoon and nine permanent mini holes. One of the best.
This is my boom'n driver. Our courses are being designed and redesigned more and more like ball golf. The Surge gives me the glide, speed, accuracy, and distance I need to stay ahead of the game. This driver races down the fairway whether I throw it at full or half strength.
This is the overstable driver I throw when the wind is taunting me to try and penetrate it without the disc turning over into the ground. The Z Predator was my go to disc at the 2006 Players Cup on hole 13, a mere 900 foot par 5 with OB in more than one strategic location. The Z Predator landed right where I wanted it and to walk away unscathed.
This is my control forehand disc and I like to use a moderately beat up one for long rolling. The Crush allows for a very smooth forehand release without any wobble and without having to overthrow the disc to get the distances I need. As a roller it has brought me birdies on the 580-foot hole 19 at Sunset Park in Las Vegas and the 18th hole at Codorus Park, Blue course.
I use the Tracker for long straight shots, usually on wooded courses or when I need a shot that is not going to tail off too much. I can throw the Tracker at half power with excellent control and accuracy.
When this disc is new I use it like the Tracker for straight shots or shots that require a driver at half power. I like the XL when it has really been tortured and I use it for a short range controlled roller. It's my disc of choice on 250 to 350 foot low ceiling shots that require a roller.
The Hawk is my all purpose midrange. I have at least two in my bag at all times. I like the (discontinued) Zs to drive, upshot, and even putt with in heavy wind. The Pro-D version is my turnover midrange. I can rely on it to hold the angle I throw it on. The Pro D Hawk has a great feel and grip, and is by far my most utilized disc in the rain.
This is my putter, and on occasion a driver or an upshot disc. Everyone should have at least 25 Magnets lying around in the backyard for putting practice, I do.
