🪶 Did Eagle fix his broken wing?

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter that has wings, chips, and DoubleG’s Craft Jerky at its Super Bowl party.

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If you missed last week, then I got you: Discraft’s Takeover

Let’s get into it.

THE CHALLENGE @ GOAT HILL (A-TIER)

PREVIEW (2/10-12)

This is the last off-season A-Tier getting the limelight before DGPT All-Stars in 9 days. Here’s what you need to know about this So Cal event:

• A west coast favorite for pros on this side of the country

• Will display beautiful, green hills from all the winter rain

• It’s a hike: 15k steps and 40 floors over 18 holes

• Being <2 miles from the ocean, wind is a factor on the undulating greens

• It’s the 1st opportunity for pros to earn an invite to the USDGC in October

• Working with the La Mirada Open & Wintertime Open, Allen Risley (TD) created a 3-event, pre-LVC feast for the pros

• Partnering with the DG Masters Tour for its 1st stop held in parallel - The Old Goats Challenge. Cale Leiviska will make his MP40 debut here

LAST YEAR RECAP

MPO/ 🥇Alden Harris (-31) 🥈Luke Samson (-30) 🥉Drew Gibson (-28)

FPO/ 🥇Ohn Scoggins (-19) 🥈Jen Allen (-16) 🥉Maria Oliva (-6)

Held in early May 2022, this event was an off-week elective for those needing an invite to USDGC. All but Harris are attending this year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

This is a thrower’s course, and making his 2023 debut is Eagle McMahon. The question that remains is whether he’ll bust out the power FH.

At Goat Hill Park, it’s common to watch +600’ bombs get showcased on several holes. But while McMahon had the capability on both sides of his body, his FH throw seemed lacking 3 weeks ago.

Tune in to CCDG for post-produced coverage and to see if McMahon even needs his “broken” FH. Hopefully, he’ll prove the skeptics wrong.

EMERGING SPORTS PROGRAMMING NETWORK (ESPN2)

Infinite Discs sponsored pros aren’t the only ones rocking mixed bags nowadays. This past Sunday (2/5), a 1hr recap of the 2022 season & DGPT Championship aired on ESPN2.

Like the 4 previous broadcasts, there was a lot of last-minute hype that was met with mixed reviews. The special was a re-cut version of DGN’s “On Tour” finale - mostly white backdrop player interviews and some gameplay sprinkled in.

Ultimately, this wasn’t our golden ticket to the future of ESPN broadcasts. It was another stepping stone to legitimizing our sport through flashes of Barbasol and L.L. Bean sponsorships.

Similarly, our emerging sports brethren - the Association of Pickleball Professionals - just struck a rights deal with ESPN. There will be eight, 1hr recap shows on ESPN2 and over 200hrs of 8 live events streamed on ESPN+.

Like the APP, the DGPT is continuing to plant seeds with ESPN and spread its brand awareness. Online streaming is the future, but does it necessarily include cable channels?

FRESH PLASTIC

Sponsored by Powergrip USA… A PRETTY GOOD disc golf shop.

👉 Powergrip’s Highlight: MVP’s January Releases
Just like Drew Gibson, we’re still chugging along on the MVP hype train.

This week features releases that were overshadowed just a wee bit by Simon’s Lizottl’. They’ve been in the wild for days now, so here are some insights:

• Neutron Zenith Twisty James (11|5|-0.5|2) - It’s the people’s Photon. Considered a beat-in version, the Zenith will kick your old Wraith out and feels comfortable for both BH & FH. It’s what you would get if a Wave and Photon had a baby

• Electron Terra SE/stock (8|5|-0.5|2.5) - Don’t let your experiences with baseline drivers from others scare you away. MVP’s Electron is grippy and won’t chunk after one throw. As expected, it’s straighter and glidier than Neutron

• Fission Envy SE/stock (3|3|0|2) - This run is like Eclipse runs: more stability than most Envy’s. It won’t dump like old Plasma runs, but has a nice forward-pushing fade. Grab a lightweight one and watch it go

Also new to Powergrip USA is the Trash Panda Inner Core (2|4|-0.5|0). Jesse and crew didn’t disappoint with the most sustainable disc in existence.

• 100% recycled plastic that holds up like other premium plastics

• Beadless and flat (similar hand-feel to an Aviar)

• The harder you throw it, the straighter it goes

• Easy to use for finesse approach shots

Buy the Inner Core, save the World.

RANDOM TRIPLES

1️⃣ G.T. Hancock is many things… The 2022 Veterans Park Open champ, a Texas boy, and a middling Tour Card player. He also has a very unique putting grip.

Known as The Claw or Spock grip 🖖, Hancock discovered it one day and stuck with it. He only practices 25-footers and runs everything. To him, it’s only important to find something comfortable that you can repeat over and over.

2️⃣ Apparently, there’s a chance we could see Natalie Ryan on a part of the Tour even though she’s been effectively banned as a transgender woman.

From The Upshot podcast & Ultiworld, Charlie Eisenhood had this to say.

3️⃣ The PDGA Global Masters Series is here. What is it?

• All members ages 40+ are automatically included in the competition

• Players choose as many age & class divisions as they are eligible for

• The player with the 8 highest-rated rounds at the end of the year will be a PDGA Global Masters Series Champion

• Tie goes to the player with the single highest-rated round

Everyone needs to feed their competitive spirit, especially Masters-aged players. Good luck trying to beat Cale “Dr. Smooth” Leiviska.

MEME OF THE WEEK

Thanks for reading today. Get out and Kram some Puss this weekend!

- Charlie

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