💌 Love your putt

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter that shatters at least one old disc this time of year.

Let’s get into it.

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UP YOUR GAME
Putt for Dough

Andrew Marwede is:

• A top-40 touring pro

• A cookie aficionado

• The only pro to hit >90% of putts in 2023

In other words, the guy is the best putter on the planet. This season Marwede only 3-putted once, missed 46 putts, and put on the best C1X performance (92.65%) in DGPT history.

We all have a love/hate relationship with putting. Like Marwede, James Proctor falls on the love side of the coin and came in at #2 this year.

On the Fish Golf Brah-dcast, Proctor and Fish spent an hour discussing the small nuances and mental battles surrounding putting. They concluded that it’s too “overpowered” in our game to not focus your energy on.

But unlike Proctor or Marwede, most of us don’t have our putt figured out. So thanks to Jaani Länsiö (DG Spin Doctor), we can learn from the best push putter of all time - Ricky Wysocki.

Several facets of his putt are fundamental to any style. If you have trouble generating distance, accuracy, or both, then go back to basics:

1. Push forward with the whole body (from back leg to front, then up)

2. Allow your arm to follow your body’s momentum

3. Minimize extra arm movement to prevent side-to-side misses

Don’t forget… Timing is key. Only a couple of practice putts before your round isn’t enough to figure out the timing that works for you.

NEWS
PDGA Rules Changes

As with every year, the PDGA has announced changes to its official rules for the sport we know and love. The process started 3 months ago with proposed drafts, public commentary, and now finalized revisions.

Ranging from major to who cares, there were 40 changes. These will go into effect in the new year.

Here’s a quick rundown of the ones you should know about:

803.01 Moving Obstacles

For the past 2 years, this rule only allowed the removal of sticks, rocks, etc. if it was within your “stance.” This was met with lots of disapproval.

Now, you can completely forget about it and continue as you are already doing. Besides touring pros, no one thought twice about this rule.

808 Scoring

For sanctioned events, every player must keep score for the card. It can be digitally or on paper for those whose phones are always about to die (portable battery sales 📈).

3.02 Pace of Play

Now, an entire card can be issued a time violation. If a TD or Tournament Official deems a group as causing “undue delay”, then they can be put on the clock.

This rule should only come into effect for the Nikko Locastro’s, Joel Freeman’s, and Gannon Buhr’s of the world. Your local TD probably won’t hit on this much.

3.03 Player Misconduct

You can now be immediately disqualified for use of alcohol or cannabis at any tournament. Before, this was in place for B-Tiers or higher.

But don’t worry, this rule doesn’t apply to leagues. If your local laws allow it, then do as you please (with cardmates’ consent).

3.06 Tour Player Media & Sponsor Relations

This change is for everyone who cringed at the instantaneous interviews after the winning tap-in. Now, the responsibility is on the player - not the media - to finalize scores before thanking their mom, SO, and sponsors.

As you can tell, a vast majority of the changes don’t impact actual play. Our sport is maturing, and drastic changes are becoming rarer.

But remember all these rules are only for sanctioned events. As always, you’re safe to do whatever you want during casual play with your buddies.

POWERED BY POWERGRIP USA
Fresh Plastic

👉 Powergrip’s Highlight: Kastaplast Kaxe Retool (6|5|0|2)
Dropping tomorrow (11/9) at 11 AM ET is the Swedish manufacturer’s retooled Kaxe.

Originally, this 6-speed came out 9.5 years ago and helped establish this brand as a cult favorite. Now, production has moved to Latitude 64’s factory, and the old molds had to be retired.

For those sad to see a favorite gone, here’s everything you need to know about the change:

• Old flight numbers (6|4|0|3) → New (6|5|0|2)

• Hand feel is nearly identical. The profile is similar, but the old Kaxe had slightly sharper edges

• New flight is straighter with easier glide/distance

With this release, the retooled Kaxe is available in K1, K1 Soft, & K3. Visit Powergrip USA today for some Kastaplast goodness!

TOUR COSTS & AIR BUD
Random Dubs

1️⃣ Have you ever wondered how much it costs to be a touring pro? Currently, there are 2 types on the grind.

Those who live out of their vans, and those who fly/drive while staying at shared rentals. Brodie Smith falls into the 2nd category.

And while he’s more “disc golf rich” than others, he still had much insight to share on the Tour Life podcast. Doing the math, he averaged about $1,217/event from flights, Airbnb/hotels, registration fees, and gas.

But as always, the real info comes from the comments.

Robinson went further to break down his average costs:

• $150/week on food

• $200/week on gas

• $25/month on Planet Fitness

• Miscellaneous

So there you have it… Some pros choose the life of luxury while others choose #vanlife. Interestingly enough, Robinson and his crew are ditching their vans for Airbnbs next season.

2️⃣ It’s no secret that the public opinion of the Lone Star Disc Ranger Team is at an all-time low. Many think of their “street team” as more of a cash grab than a sponsorship deal.

But it isn’t just that, it’s also extremely easy to join. Take Adam’s beloved dog Otto…

But you know how the saying goes… When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Lone Star’s taking it in stride with a new header image.

Meme of the Week

Thanks for reading today. Don’t give up on your favorite disc this week!

- Charlie