Disc golf: The dangers of the ‘one-disc-away’ mentality

Ever heard of this?

It’s a thing.

In disc golf, the “one-disc-away” mentality is the belief that a golfer’s game is merely ONE disc away from outright greatness – that every issue he has can be resolved with one mythical mold.

Here’s what’s crazy about this …

There’s a good chance you’ve fallen victim to it – and not even known.

The following are three signs you’ve bought into (literally) one-disc-away thinking …

• New discs are constantly arriving on your doorstep.
• The disc you consider your “workhorse” changes on a regular basis.
• You’re ultra-envious of well-known pro-frisbee pairings – think Tour Series discs.

Can you relate?

You can’t see me, but I’m sheepishly raising my hand above my keyboard.

Been there. Done that.

It sucks.

One-disc-away reasoning is detrimental to a disc golfer’s game. For starters, it’s a pass-the-buck methodology. Does your putting suck? Nab a new putter. What about your upshots? The latest overstable approach disc should do the trick. And your drives? Just opt for another beefy 12-speed. Bad play is bad play. It’s hard to admit, but discs aren’t to blame – you are.

Next, even subconsciously, the one-disc-away approach places WAY too much emphasis on gear. These days, with so many options at a buyer’s disposal, bag-building is practically an art form. Handing over money to an online retailer is easy – it’s field work that improves performance.

Back to gear for this final point: It’s hard to find consistency with an ever-changing bag. Discs that feel great tend to fly great. Especially for amateurs, however, that’s rarely the case right out of the box. Spend time with your discs. See what they can do. Odds are what you’ve got works.

I love sexy plastic just as much as the next guy. But at some point, you’ve got to buckle-down and make do with the hundreds of frisbees (ouch) you already own. Should you find yourself slipping, make a conscious commitment to steer clear of one-disc-away tendencies.

Your wallet will thank you.

Your better-half might, too.

Best of all, though?

Your game will grow.

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

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