🔓 Unlock your new distance

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter that plays in freezing temps for a good cause. It’s bowling season folks, specifically Ice Bowls.

Let’s get into it.

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UP YOUR GAME
Your Distance Plateau

We’re over a week into the new year. If you’ve already given up on your resolution, then it’s not too late to start another.

I found an old DG Course Review thread that could help you pass your current distance plateau. Cause let’s face it, you’re stuck and haven’t seen improvements ever for months.

While this info is from 2015, it’s tried and true. Let’s break down the possible issues holding you back:

The 300’ Wall

Red flags: Mids = ~250’, Fairways = 300’ max, Distance drivers = Mostly utility

Flaws:

• Nose-up flights and accidental stall-out hyzers

• Strong arming and minimal lower body use

• Early releases/grip locks due to mistiming

• Power pocket is nonexistent

• No “snap”

Fixes: 

• Learn good reach back by throwing putters/mids from a standstill

• Find your proper timing by dialing in short 150’ shots then increase

• Relax the arm/wrist and concentrate on finding the power pocket with standstills

The 350’ Wall (Majority of people)

Red flags: Mids = ~300’, Fairways = ~350’, Drivers = ~375’ (actually fly/glide)

Flaws:

• Bracing/weight transfer still needs work

• Falling past the front foot instead of planting

• Shoulder isn’t incorporated into throw

Fixes:

• Match your reach back and throw planes with no spine tilting in either direction

• Don’t drift your lean forward

• Use the shoulder to unwind the arm around the brace leg/axis after hitting the power pocket

Big Arm Stage (For amateurs)

Green flags: 

• Weight transfer begins while still reaching back

• Hips are engaged and everything unloads around brace axis from the ground up

• X-step feels like it actually adds power

So find your plateau and beat it. If you need more answers, then read through the 100+ comments on DGCR.

Now if only there were an easy way to get past putting plateaus…

NEWS
Contracts Watch

It was a quiet Monday morning… almost too quiet. Then the sound of an Eagle flying over the Flatirons could be heard across the disc golf world.

After 9 years including his 1st pro contract and 2 Major wins, the Big Bird made it officially official. But now that he’s left Discmania, where will McMahon land?

🚨 NEW 🚨

Team MVP

Like Innova, MVP rolled out their team (so far) in one go. Added to the known and loved GYROnauts were 2 young, rising stars.

• Paul Krans had a busy week. He won the PDGA Rookie of the Year, left Discmania, and joined MVP’s Premier Team all in 3 days. With his shiny new Tour Card, he’ll hit it full-time and accompany his fellow Massachusettsan and now teammate Lizotte

• Silva Saarinen - The DGPT Rookie of the Year had been in talks with MVP since the fall. The manufacturer signed her to their highest team and hopes to get them more exposure in Europe

Hanna Huynh (Westside → Discraft)

After her 2nd touring year, Huynh was looking for a change. It’s almost all but confirmed that her partner - Chris Clemons - will make the jump too.

Ali Smith (DGA → Thought Space Athletics/Infinite)

Chandler Fry (Discraft → TSA/Infinite)

Tristan Tanner (Latitude64 → DGA)

AWAITING ANNOUNCEMENT

Eagle McMahon (Left Discmania)

Free agent moves - especially the big ones - have been hush-hush this year. Sure, rumors and random posts found clues, but nothing was concrete.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And while there was a ton of it for McMahon, the fire is still hard to believe.

The proven smoke:

• Eagle stamps not available to retailers became available

• Discmania’s Vault - OOP runs were sold

• McMahon accidentally posted early and then deleted his departure video

And the latest smoke:

• The Hanging Loose Pod rumor: Innova gave an offer worth leaving → Lizotte went to MVP and told them to match → MVP may have taken out a loan to reunite the Crush Boys

• A Redditor discovered McMahon follows MVP’s social accounts while not following other notable manufacturers

As the news sinks in, it’s hard not to draw the similarities between this departure and Lizotte’s last year. “Bittersweet moment… A disservice if I were to turn the offer down… A new spark” - McMahon.

Like Lizotte’s announcement, we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out his new sponsor. MVP and Lizotte announced January 12, 2023.

Gannon Buhr & Alden Harris (Left Prodigy)

As one era ends, another can begin. Is Discmania trading McMahon and Anttila in exchange for the Vlog Squad: Buhr and Harris?

• Niklas Anttila (Left Discmania)

• Parker Welck (Left Prodigy)

• Sullivan Tipton (Left Discraft)

• Jake Hebenheimer (Left Latitude64)

• Lisa Fajkus, Candler Kramer (Left Lone Star)

POWERED BY POWERGRIP USA
Fresh Plastic

👉 Powergrip’s Highlight: Innova Alien (4|2|0|1)
Overshadowed by the Rollo last year, this unique mold deserves attention.

The Alien is a Sonic top combined with a midrange edge, and it will surprise you in many ways:

• Comfortable in the hand

• Handles torque well

• Doesn’t go long on touchy approaches

For me, it’s the go-to for a single-disc round. And it has easily helped me meet my New Year’s Resolution of having more fun on the course.

Pick one up for yourself at Powergrip USA! They’re available in Star, Nexus, and DX plastics.

QUICK HITS
Random Dubs

1️⃣ Something you don’t ever see are the words disc golf and homicide together in a headline: “Owners of property containing 3 private disc golf courses involved in a homicide over property dispute.”

This happened at the renowned Horning’s Hideout in North Plains, OR. If you’re unfamiliar, then here are its jaw-dropping features:

• 3 pay-to-play courses: easy, medium, and pro-level

• Hosts many state and national tournaments

• 3 expansive wedding venues

• On-site camping

• Fishing and boating ponds

• Hosts concerts and bluegrass festivals

• Reported to be valued at $1.7M

As of now, the future of this West Coast gem is cloudy. The courses are operating normally, but the story has been circulating among locals…

• With the mother (owner of the property) aging out, the family of 6 children is fighting over the property’s future

• One of the children - Bob Horning - has been the property manager for years. He’s a “person of interest” in the shooting and death of his brother Carl

• As of now, no crime has been charged, and speculation points to self-defense

The lesson: Estate disputes are no joke. 

2️⃣ Almost a month after the DGPT, the PDGA announced their 2023 Players of the Year. To no one’s surprise, the winners matched: Calvin Heimburg & Kristin Tattar.

But unlike the Tour, our governing body goes about these awards differently. There’s no voting or debates. It’s only based on finishes throughout the calendar year with higher tier events weighted heavier.

Now, the interesting tidbit comes from Josiah Zoodsma - a contributor and writer for Ultiworld & StatMando. He noticed that out of the top 20 FPO, there were only 2 players who didn’t win a single event in 2023: Eveliina Salonen & Henna Blomroos.

Last year, their combined streak of at least one win since 2012 came to an end. Salonen’s last win was in AUG 2022, while Blomroos’s was in SEP 2021.

The takeaway: These two Finnish friends are due. Let’s hope their off-season putting and mental practice pays off.

Meme of the Week

Thanks for reading today. Get out and stay dry this week!

- Charlie