Team Discraft: Adam Olsen Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Adam Olsen
	TEAM:	Elite Z
	HOMETOWN:	Cedar Rapids, IA
	PDGA #:	26100
	2007 PDGA RATING:	1001
	BORN:	1979
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	2001
	day gig:	Community Based Social Worker
	disc cred:	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

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.

Adam's Disc Golf Tips

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.

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. Adam lives and plays in the explosive disc golf state of Iowa.
Course	Comments
Pickard Park Indianola, IA	Beautiful course with many par fours.
Hawk Hallow Spotsylvania, VA	In the country, difficult, elevation, and baskets placed by a creek that runs through the course.
Blue Valley Park Kansas City, MO	One of the biggest courses I've played on. Long drives with tough 2nd shots. Over 11,000 feet long.
Still Waters Farm Govan, SC	Another secluded gem. This course is fun, scenic, and challenging from the gold position.
Buckhorn Park Raleigh, NC	True North Carolina course. Tight woods, nice elevation, with some very difficult holes.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP Surge (max wt)	I carry four Surges all the time. One is brand new for distance into a slight headwind. Number two is slightly used: when I release it with hyzer and max power it flattens out and I get max distance. The third is pretty understable but if I throw with enough hyzer it goes along way. The last is older and beaten up: I like to throw roller shots with this and high, slow turning anhyzers.
Z and ESP Predator (max wt)	I carry one ESP and one Z Predator. The Z Pred is for strong headwind shots or big hyzers. The ESP does the same but goes farther. These are the most reliable discs in my bag.
X and Z Avenger (max wt)	I carry two Z Avengers and one super beat up Nate Doss X Avenger. My first Z Avenger is brand new and overstable. This disc is longer than the Predator but is not as overstable. My second Z Avenger is beat in perfectly and holds whatever line I throw it on, as long as there is no wind. If I throw it with hyzer it hyzers, thrown flat it goes straight, and thrown with anhyzer this disc goes right. I worry about losing this disc because I use it so much and it took me a long time to get it where it is at. My third is a beaten up X Avenger. Thrown with a lot of hyzer this disc is still very understable. If thrown low it is a roller and if throw it high it anhyzers quickly.
Z Extreme (max wt)	I use the Extreme for extremely windy days, spike hyzers, skip shots and forehand shots. The Extreme is the most overstable disc Discraft makes and it is incredibly reliable. Not a stock disc anymore, but look for it in specialty shops or Ebay.
Z XL (max wt)	This is my control disc. I use this disc for tunnels shots and straight shots. I love to use the disc in the woods and for turn over shots.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
Z, X and D Buzzz (max wt)	I carry 5 Buzzz's. I like to throw a new Z Buzzz for stability and another Z Buzzz that isn't as quite as stable. I carry a first run Buzzz that is very straight with little to no fade. My X Buzzz is understable and love it for tight fairway shots and anhyzers. The D Buzzz is smashed/warped and I think is about ready to crack. I can throw this on an extreme hyzer and it still flips and takes an anhyzer flight. I also like this disc for touch shots.
D Drone (max wt)	The Drone made it into my bag last year. Once I found out how overstable and reliable the Drone was I loved to throw it. I use the Drone for windy days, upshots, and hyzers. I also putt with the Drone on windy days as well as hyzer putts around trees. An ESP version is just about to be released!

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
LE CryZtal and D Challenger (max wt)	My D challenger is straight. I like the feel of D Challenger for upshots and straight short drives. I also carry a limited edition CryZtal Challenger, which is predictably overstable for upshots and strong throws off the tee.
X Challenger (max wt)	I only use this for putting in the circle. I have found that the Soft X plastic sticks well to the chains and I get less spit outs. If you like them, get one soon... it's been discontinued in favor of FLX.
D Soft Magnet (max wt)	I strictly use this putter for long putts and jump putts, that is it. This disc is straight out of the box and rarely spits out of the basket.

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