🩼 Are injuries on the rise?

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter that celebrates tree love with two annual events this weekend.

Let’s get into it.

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DISCUSSION
Tour 🤝 Player Injuries?

Now that I’ve got your attention, let’s talk about the conversation that bubbles up every season. Are injuries on the rise? 

Just Tuesday, Chris Dickerson revealed that he’s developed osteoarthritis in his hip as well as necrosis. He currently has minimal pain and it shouldn’t impact his play, but he’ll likely need a total hip replacement one day.

Dickerson’s hip issue became apparent after he slipped on a tee pad last October. He and his doctors haven’t figured out the root cause, but it’s no secret that he’s been grinding out events for years.

It’s unlikely that his hip is related to touring but who knows? Besides Dickerson, there’s a laundry list of players who experience overuse, burnout, and flare-ups.

So who or what is to blame? As a veteran, Paul Ulibarri has been outspoken that the Tour must protect its “assets” (the players), but others disagree in that it falls on themselves.

As the sport has grown, players are learning how to take care of themselves. Throwing right after a 10-hour drive is now replaced by warm-ups, rest days, and even skipping events (Wysocki is a prime example).

So yes, players are pro athletes and should act like it, but is the Tour doing enough? Let’s add context to Jen Allen’s shocking slip.

It was during a Jonesboro practice round. She notified the DGPT staff who immediately changed out the defective turf.

And in less than 24 hours, Music City Open will show off turf that will supposedly be the standard. This isn’t the debut of the specific material, but the news is.

Keep in mind that it’s only the standard when using turf. Nick Carl - Olympus Course Manager - clarified that they will be installing concrete for next year.

Either way, MCO’s turf and structures have already gotten pro feedback. Some love that they’re long and have a follow-through zone, while others find them to be bouncy with dangerous drop-offs.

I guess you can’t win them all, but hopefully, the Tour is trying to.

TOUR COVERAGE
Music City Open

PREVIEW (4/19-21)

Moving 300 miles east, the Tour is in the land of honky-tonks and bachelorette parties. For the 4th year, the temp Mill Ridge course will host all 3 rounds and crown the winners with a Gibson guitar.

Like Jonesboro, this is a cow-pasture-type property with rolling hills, old oak trees, and OB on every hole. Compared to last year’s layout, about a third of the holes underwent a complete redesign.

The changes have been met with a mix of reactions: some are happy while others are critical. A majority of the holes need a FH to get scorable looks.

And if there are typical winds, then stroke swings will come easy and often (no thanks to the DD Veteran baskets).

LAST YEAR RECAP

MPO/ It was a wet slogfest that caused several to DNF due to injury or fear (Callaway, Keither, Ulibarri, & Anttila). But there was no fear in Lizotte as he finished with 8 straight birdies to sneak past the lead card.

It was his 3rd event with MVP in the bag continuing his winning ways from 2022 and proving that it’s not the arrow it’s the archer.

FPO/ At the time, Tattar was fresh off a quick trip home and was only 1 win into the season. This victory broke FPO’s 6 unique winner streak and kickstarted her next 2 in a row.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The Young Bird is back! Eagle McMahon is repaired and ready to compete. He says he’s feeling good with no problems and is back to getting over 550’ of BH power.

Since his recovery, McMahon’s now leaning on jump putts and still holding off on full-power FHs. The Tour is about to get another threat back, and the Year of AB could find itself a challenger.

Never mind… The bird has a 50/50 chance of playing. Just yesterday, he posted that he tweaked his lower back and it hasn’t drastically improved yet.

As for his fellow GyBro, this will be Lizotte’s last event before the birth of his 2nd child. He can torch this course when on, but recently, he’s nursing a back injury and could still drop out.

In FPO, there’s a high chance for another Tattar blowout. Missy Gannon and Ohn Scoggins are skipping to prepare for the upcoming Major in IL.

POWERED BY INFINITE DISCS
March’s Top-Selling

Spring has sprung and with it disc sales. Here’s the Top 5 for March:

1. Axiom Signature Electron Soft Pixel

2. Discraft Signature Rubber Blend Kratos

3. Axiom Electron Firm Pixel

4. Axiom Electron Pixel

5. Innova Star Wraith

Drive for show, putt for dough is alive and well with these popular putter releases, and MVP/Axiom has a stronghold on them.

Grab the Kratos with its increased glide and stability or any of the other top sellers at Infinite Discs!

QUICK HITS
Random Dubs

1️⃣ Only on the Disc Golf Pro Tour will you ever encounter a story so wild as the one Jake Hebenheimer shared on Instagram on Tuesday.

Hebenheimer is a known nature lover who goes rockhounding, fishing, and snake-wrangling. However, that last hobby nearly got him a new roommate and pet.

Here’s the story:

• Found a 6’ black snake while driving to an agate spot

• Picked it up and took it with him to show Paul Oman

• Couldn’t hold it while driving, so he put it down and it disappeared

• At the rockhounding spot, he tore his van apart and couldn’t find it

• Afterward, he drove to Nashville. The snake crawled onto his lap, he tried to grab it, but it slipped away

• It found a home within the van paneling

• Tried to fish it out with a mouse but ended up feeding it

• A day later, it came out of hiding. He got it out but not without a kiss goodbye

Hebenheimer had a van snake for a day and a half. Like I said, only on the Disc Golf Pro Tour.

2️⃣ Monday is Earth Day (4/22). It’s the one day a year we’re designated to celebrate our planet, and as always, UDisc has teamed up with Trash Panda to extend it.

Saturday and Sunday are International Course Cleanup Weekend. Many of your local course ambassadors have already set up UDisc events here.

But if there aren’t any, it’s never too late to create your own or just get out there. It’s easy enough to bring a bag and pick up empties, wrappers, and other litter.

Show the planet some love this weekend.

Meme of the Week

Thanks for reading today. Get out and run it this weekend!

- Charlie