Team Discraft: Adam Olsen Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Adam Olsen
	HOMETOWN:	Cedar Rapids, IA
	PDGA #:	26100
	2011 PDGA RATING:	998
	BORN:	1979
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	2001
	day gig:	Community Based Social Worker
	disc cred:	7th, 2010 World Championships 2010: won 10 of 30 events 1st, 2010 Legion of Doom 2010 IL State champ 2007 Greater Des Moines Challenge Champion 2007 Legion of Doom Champion Finalist, 2006 PDGA Pro Rookie of the Year 2006 DGTV Fall Open Champion 2005 United States Am Champion Turned pro in first year of PDGA membership, 2005

MEMORABLE DISC GOLF MOMENT

In 2008 I went on tour on the East Coast for 2 months. I had a great time and my goal for 2010 is to go on tour the entire season. In 2009 I plan to continue to work weekdays, save money, and travel to tournaments on the weekends. Some key moments:

1) Winning the United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship. It opened up a whole new world for me and I got to stay with FUN and AMAZING people.

2) Winning the DGTV Open. I love the events Timmy Gill runs and how he treats the players.

3) All the traveling I did in 2006, the people I met, and played disc golf with. I have a better understanding what type of player I want to be. I know who and how I want to mold my game and conduct myself after.

4) The Des Moines Challenge was a good time. Very tough course, as well as my 2nd A Tier win. I didn't play well the first round but made it up with a very strong performance at Ewing Park. The second day we started off at Big Creek and Cale Leiviska had an ace on his very first throw of the day. I later aced on hole 17 the same round. I thought that was great and had never seen two aces on the same card.

5) 2010 was a good year for me. I refocused and got back to playing the way I feel I should and can. 2010 World Championships was a top 5 disc golf moment for me. The entire tournament was like something I've never experienced.

Adam's Disc Golf Tips

Practice in the Wind
Try not to go out on just the nice sunny days. Practicing in windy conditions gives you a better idea how to putt and the different angles you need on your disc for each direction the wind is blowing. Practicing in the wind also gives you a chance to learn how your discs fly and also how to trust your discs. When the conditions are windy I try to 'club up'. For example: on a calm day with a straight 275-foot shot I would probably throw a Buzzz. But with a moderate to strong head wind and the exact same shot I would probably throw a Predator. In this situation I don't have to throw the disc as hard and I know that a Predator will fight through the wind, giving it a straight flight, and it is a very predictable disc.

Joys of the Jump Putt
I have really taken to jump putting. I think it is one of the strongest parts of my game and I am very confident with it. I developed the jump putt by watching several top pro's doing it. What works for me is, lining up, aim for a specific chain in the center, keep my feet close together, and take off some spin when I jump putt compared to when I putt in the circle and stand still. I like to keep my feet close together because I feel I am using less motion and can explode towards the basket.

Always Learn, Always Grow
Recently I have begun to throw forehand. This has never been a strong point for me but after seeing the advantages of throwing forehand I realized I had to learn it. I started by throwing touch shots and as I began feeling comfortable with that I completely stopped throwing backhand for a month or so to just practice. I started out with several grips and realized I like having two fingers under the rim and can get the most distance out of it. I think this part of my game still needs work but now when I am on the Tee pad I don't question whether I can execute the forehand throw if that's what I need to throw.

Play Positive, Play the Course
I see new players easily getting down on themselves and getting frustrated. This took me some time to learn and is still a learning process. Take the time to watch, read, and listen to other pro's and how they handle situations. Best advise I still have had is play the course not who your competitors. Don't worry about who you are playing against. Focus on what is in front of you and execute.

Learn from the Best
If you get a chance to shoot with them, here's some of the disc golfers I look up to and have enjoyed playing with in particular order. Brian Schweberger: fun and outgoing. Timmy Gill: positive and always seems in control. George Smith: very laid back and one of the most aggressive players I have seen. Bard Soleng: lot's of energy, focused, and positive. Does not let the game get the best of him when it is not going his way. Eric McCabe: impressed me the most this year. Cool, calm, and composed. If can play the way he finished the last half of this season he can be one of the best players in the world. Michael Johansen: played my first pro event with him in 2005. Michael was kind and insightful. I just enjoyed watching him play and how excited he was to be on a disc golf course. I have never seen so many jump putts made in one round.

This 'n That
For more distance, try a power grip. Try different discs, practice on a course and an open field. Practicing by yourself helps a lot because you can focus on your throw, you can throw multiple times, and you just spend more productive time focusing on yourself and your game. I learned a few years ago from some veteran players, when throwing up hill have your run up be from an angle. For example if you throw rhbh, run up to the disc from right to left rather than just straight on. This will help you generate more power, distance, and accuracy.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:		Adam Olsen jumped into disc golf in a big way. He joined the PDGA in 2005, the same year he earned the title of US Amateur Champion, and then turned pro and won a couple of other tournaments. He finished 7th at the 2010 Pro World Championships.
Course	Comments
Pickard Park Indianola, IA	Beautiful course with many par fours.
West Lake Park Davenport, IA	Biggest and most challenging in the Midwest.
Sioux Passage St. Louis, MO	Nice course. Mix of shots
Hornets Nest Charlotte, NC	Wicked.
Sugar Bush Warren, VT	A mountain course with one of the craziest DG holes I have seen.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
Z NUKE (max wt)	The fastest and longest disc in my bag. I carry two; one relatively stable and the other is understable.
ESP and Z Force (max wt)	The Force has been in my bag since 2008. It is reliable and a great high speed disc. It has a similar flight as a Predator being just as overstable but longer. I carry one Z which is way overstable, a new ESP which is stable and can handle some wind, and one old ESP which I use for flip hyzers and rollers.
Z Predator (max wt)	Great wind disc. Has control and can handle almost any wind. I carry two Preds: one super overstable and the other is less but can handle wind. Been in my bag since joining the team.
Z Avenger (max wt)	Avenger is a nice control disc. I use a new copy for stable shots and little wind. The other in the bag is used and flies straight. I've been throwing the Avenger since I joined the team.
Z Tracker (max wt)	I carry one new Tracker which is a little less stable then my Avenger. A seasoned copy is used for turnover shots and rollers.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
Z Buzzz (max wt)	My favorite disc of all time. I carry three Buzzz's plus an SS. A new one which is nice and stable, another that is straight stable, and one used copy that is getting beat in and starting to turn over. The Buzzz has been in my bag since it was first released.
Z Buzzz SS (max wt)	Buzzz SS is understable right out of the bag. A new one is just like always having a well seasoned Buzzz.
FLX Drone (max wt)	Drone is a work horse of a midrange that can take any kind of wind.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
D Challenger (max wt)	I throw three Challengers and putt with two of them. The ones I throw are anywhere from stable to understable. One putter is old that I use for long straight putts. The other putter which is my main putter is newer.
ESP Zone (max wt)	Can handle a headwind, is low profile, but is slower than the Drone.

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