DON O'CONNELL
BIGGEST WIN: Advanced Masters at the 2008 Disc-N-Dat's Bluegrass Open A-Tier my 2nd year playing
MAX DRIVING DISTANCE: 300 if I'm lucky
BIGGEST STRENGTH: Upshots and course management
AVERAGE NUMBER OF ROUNDS PER WEEK: 1-2
IF YOU HAD TO PLAY WITH ONE DISC, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Wasp
IF YOU HAD TO PLAY WITH THREE DISCS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Katana, Buzzz, and Wizard
IN THE BAG:
|
• Max |
• Avenger SS |
|
• Boss |
• Whippet |
|
• Destroyer |
• Buzzz |
|
• Katana |
• Wasp |
|
• Wraith |
• Drone |
|
• TL |
• Stingray |
|
• Teebird |
• Wizard |
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A TOURNAMENT?
I'll focus on putting and course management. When I'm playing practice rounds on the tournament course or another course, I'll make sure and focus on key shots that I know I'll typically face.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE TOURNAMENTS?
1. Dynamic Discs Lewisville Open
2. Dynamic Discs Towne Lake
3. Disc-N-Dat's Bluegrass Open
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 FAVORITE COURSES?
1. Mt. Airy Forest - OH
2. Idlewild - KY
3. Towne Lake - TX
PERSONAL DISC GOLF GOALS: Just to improve every year.
ADVICE: New players should get 3 discs such as the Buzzz, Katana and Wizard and hit the course. Get used to throwing the Katana off the tee on the long holes and the Buzzz on all the upshots and short holes. And, of course, the Wizard for all the short shots into the basket. When you have some free time, hit a field and throw each disc on as many different lines as possible to get used to how they fly and how to control them. A trick I use is to take my discs out of the bag and just drop the bag down and walk a couple of hundred feet away and throw each disc at the bag. The first time around I'll try all flat left to right shots, 2nd time all right to left shots. Then I'll repeat that throwing all high shots. And after that I just try throwing any other kind of shot or line I can think of, seeing what kinds of lines I can force the disc into. Then I find an empty basket and put circles around the basket start at about 10' hitting all the different wind angles and them move out in about 3' increments until I hit 20'. Then go play a round and use as many of the new shots as I can to fit the holes I'm playing. All of this just helps you to learn your discs and be prepared for that tournament situation that might call for the new shot you now have in the bag!!
