🎒 Is now the time for caddies in disc golf?

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Let’s get into it.

CADDYSHACK

POP QUIZ: What do unicorns and full-time caddies have in common?
They don’t exist… Currently, you can count the number of paid, full-time caddies with 1 hand.

As the 1st Major of the season creeps up, touring pros are sharpening their skills to take down that next prestigious win. While most use practice rounds and gym sessions, there are a few employing a caddie.

Sure, there are friends or SOs that carry bags, but realistically they don’t talk you down from throwing OB for the win. The few that have strategic help include Paul Ulibarri (Brad Hammock, 5X Masters World Champ), Missy Gannon (Tom Szevin), Holyn Handley (Tyler Morgan), and now Drew Gibson…

Recently, Gibson hired Jefferson Kearby. He’s behind The Disc Golf World and JK Disc golf channels as well as a self-proclaimed digital marketer. But do pros, especially those at the very top, actually need a full-time caddie?

Having one in her partner has certainly paid off for “Big Money” Missy Gannon. On the Fish Brah-dcast, the couple shared what they believe creates success on the course:

• Having a 2nd brain that knows your bag inside out is a reliever in pressure situations

• A caddie can tell you exactly what to throw and how to throw it while knowing your angles and misses

• The player can focus more on execution instead of 2nd guessing a decision

• During a long round (every tournament), having someone to be a stress sponge or to talk non-disc golf stuff is invaluable

Those things sound great, but as with all things disc golf, money is the issue for nearly everyone. In an attempt to normalize it, the Pro Tour has given every player a personalized caddie bib that adds professionalism.

In reality, most of the field won’t employ a full-time caddie in the coming years. But one day when a stroke or two could mean >$10k, they’ll be out there in full force.

THE BEST BOARD GAME - BIRDIE PRO

This is the 4th and final week you’ll hear me talk about Birdie Pro. It’s currently over $16.5k funded with more than 225 backers.

If you haven’t already got into the best DG board game, it’ll be hard to convince you otherwise. BUT if you’re still on the fence, I guarantee this game’s mix of unique elements and good old DG karma will bring you endless enjoyment.

Support the Kickstarter today!

A-TIERS AROUND THE OFF-WEEK

While most touring pros were getting some R&R and driving to Nashville early, several reminded their local scene why they left for the Tour.

Throw Down the Mountain:
🥇Paul McBeth (-28)
🥈Sullivan Tipton (-24)
🥉Joseph Anderson (-23)

With his 5th title, McBeth not only owns the TDTM property but also the event. He demonstrated his vast expertise on the beautiful quarry property for the last time on its pre-McBeth/Cease layout.

City of Mobile Championships:
🥇Matthew Orum (-36)
🥈Parker Welck (-26)
🥉Joel Freeman & Clint Calvin (-25)

Speaking of hometown heroes, Matty O took down his home championship at his home course. In dominating fashion, he birdied more than 2/3s of the holes.

Daniel Boe Memorial: 
🥇Drew Gibson (-31)
🥈Andrew Miranda (-24)
🥉Max Nichols (-23)

On the other side of the country, Drew Gibson celebrated his 27th birthday by becoming a 2X D.Boe champ. He’ll continue his hiatus from Tour until the start of Champions Cup in 2 weeks.

FRESH PLASTIC

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

👉 Powergrip’s Highlight: Discmania C-Line MD1 (5|6|0|0)
They don’t call this the poor man’s Mind Bender for nothing…

Actually, no one calls it that. But if you never bought into the hype and have FOMO, then Discmania’s re-release of their 1st-ever disc is meant for you.

Dropping at 11AM ET tomorrow (4/5), the MD1 is beadless, comfortable, and laser-straight. This is the exact same mold as the Metal Flake C-Line Mind Benders from last year, except in a stiffer plastic.

The Italian blend does not disappoint by maintaining its grippiness even with added stiffness. For those moderately color blind, grab the white or orange ones as they are less translucent than the others.

Prepare for the hot summer months with a perfect-feeling MD1. Even if Simon no longer bags them, Colten Montgomery is out there proving these discs still fly 530ft dead-straight.

RANDOM DUBS

1️⃣ Disc golf’s favorite holiday - April Fool’s - had its fair share of funny and cringy jokes. While I was lucky to catch Sexton’s hand-drawn drop, my favorite post was DGA’s parody of PDGA’s 2015 commercial.

Who knew Austin Turner’s favorite pastime was laundering money? Unfortunately, the weekend also came with some not-so-funny news.

At least 69 tornadoes touched down across 8 states on Saturday, leaving devastation in their path including 3 beloved courses in Little Rock, AR - Reservoir Park, Burns Park, & Dupree Park.

All were challenging, wooded courses with deep-rooted histories. Burns was AR’s 1st official course and where the 1st state tournament occurred.

2️⃣ This past weekend, I played in a local tournament and didn’t have any trouble hitting trees. If you’re like me and your round’s soundtrack includes tree whacking, then try to fix your mentality on grip locking.

Overthrow DG wants you to grip lock off the tee, BUT you need to think about grip locking on time. It turns out your key to hitting trees is also your key to getting distance.

So remember, embrace the grip lock but stop your body in the proper brace location and grip lock earlier in your swing.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Thanks for reading today. Get out and play this week!

- Charlie