Team Discraft: Mike Raley Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Michael Raley
	TEAM:	Elite Z
	HOMETOWN:	Ann Arbor, MI
	PDGA #:	7846
	2007 PDGA RATING:	1007
	BORN:	1963
	day gig:	I plan on getting a job this year. I think...
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	1989
	Disc cred:	1996 Pro Rookie of the Year 2007 SoCal Champion 2001 and 2004 Can Am Champ 1999 Michigan Overall Champ
	MEMORABLE DISC GOLF MOMENT:
	Getting a ace on the first hole of the shootout portion of the Kalamazoo Shootout. It was a Cyclone over the top, in front of about 50 people. No one else in the shootout even deuced the hole.

Pro Clinic: Forehand Drives
Spend a few minutes with the most informative forehand driving clinic ever produced. Mike joins Mark Ellis and 'Critter' Bill Themm. They'll will walk you through different forehand grips, styles, shot options and disc selection. Length: 12 minutes. Looking for more videos? Take a gander at the Discraft Video page.

Mike's Disc Golf Tips

Mechanics for the Non-Athlete
I was not a great athlete coming into disc golf, so I had to figure out how to do things in a completely mechanical manner. In my opinion you can only control the first line of your drive. Then you are counting on the spin, wind, type of disc, and angle of release to do the other parts of the flight correctly. Always run up on the line you want the disc to start. If you are round in any of your motion, your head has to tell your hand to do something at the last second. An athlete can do that. It has to do with good timing and a strong head game, neither of which I have. A quarter turn is the only way to have a straight pull through. If you turn your shoulders any more than that you end up with something being round. Your elbow cannot lock until the end of your pull. Don't get me wrong: you can throw well with your elbow locking early -- and probably further (to start) -- but as soon as it locks, things start to go round. So as long as you always aim your shoulders to the first part of your line (the outside of your first curve) you should at least get past that first tree.

The Upside-Down Putter Shot
When I have a low ceiling and grass that will grab the disc and need it to skip a little when it hits the ground I will throw my Challenger upside down like a regular backhand. There are lots of reasons to do this: 1) It will skip on the top of the disc and the rim won't catch the grass. 2) When upside-down, the disc has no lift. It will drop as soon as it leaves your hand. 3) It becomes the most overstable disc you have in your bag. The more beat the disc is the straighter the skip will be.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:		*Professional disc golfer Mike Raley has been a contributor to the television show Disc Golf Live.*
Course	Comments
Kensington Toboggan Milford, MI	Great elevation changes.
Hudson Mills Original Ann Arbor, MI	This is where I learned to play. Lots of differant shots.
La Mirada La Mirada, CA	The long course they set up for the US Masters and the Golden State Classic is an excellent for course management and accuracy skills.
Riverbends Troy, MI	They have some great holes there and it's one of the oldest courses in the state.
Kimball Pines Battle Creek, MI	A great new course with a couple of visually stunning holes.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
Z Talon (173 - 174)	If I go out with just a few discs... this is the one. It is great for my sidearm and throws well with the backhand.
ESP Surge (173 - 174)	This is my long distance driver. I am carrying two: one new, one a little beat. They go so far.
ESP Pulse (173 - 174)	For long distance hyzers. I used to carry a little beat talon for hyzers that needed to go a little father than my new Talon goes, but the Pulse works great when I need a hyzer to go a little further.
Z Avenger (173 - 174)	This has become my distance driver. I have one that turns and doesn't come back and one that flattens and hooks left at the end. Very long flier.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
Z Buzzz (176 - 177)	I love my Buzzz for anything between 220 and 300 feet. It has the straightest flight I have ever seen. I carry a pretty beat one too that holds a right turn very well.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
D Challenger (173-174)	I have been putting with these since 2003. A great, straight flight. Handles the wind well, beats up nice.

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