The Disc Golf Off-Season
Winter is here and unfortunately for many parts of the country that means bitter cold and snow which makes playing disc golf feel more like a chore than a leisure. For some, there is no such thing as a disc golf off-season and they continue to play casual rounds and tournaments from January through December. For others, winter time is a time to focus on their physical/mental health, their family or work, hitting the gym, and less time focusing on disc golf.
Even the best player in the world is known to step away from the game for some time in the off-season. For Paul McBeth it allows him to focus on his physical health and ensure a longer career in disc golf. It’s also an escape from the constant pressure of needing to perform at a high level which creates a good balance for his mental game.
Does everyone need an off-season?
Personally, I feel that an off-season is not necessary for everyone. For anyone that wants to compete at a high level and ensure a long career in disc golf I believe it is important to take some time off. This will allow your body to rest and spend some time focusing on any lingering injuries that may have come up throughout the year.
For casual players that just want to do nothing but throw plastic for the pure pleasure of it don’t necessarily need to take an off-season. Believe it or not, but some people actually enjoy throwing discs when it’s 20°F with snow all over the ground. They even come up with creative ways of keeping track of their discs such as taping a ribbon to the bottom of the disc!
What should you focus on in the off-season?
For myself this is the time to focus on building muscle and taking care of my injuries. This year I am fortunate enough to be working with my cousin Nick Jackson from Strength in Wisdom Fitness. He’s a personal trainer and founder of SWF and has helped me come up with a comprehensive workout plan tailored to my abilities. This will help me stay healthy and be fully prepared when tournament season starts back up in April.
I also really enjoy Yoga. It helps not only with flexibility, but it helps build your joint stability as well. For years I have been following Yoga With Adriene on YouTube for years because she found a way to make yoga fun and laid back.
Unfortunately towards the end of the 2020 season I aggravated an old knee injury of mine. It’s not painful, but I have an incredible amount of fluid built up in the knee which causes it to be unstable and feel tight. If you’re like me and have an injury like this, it is very important to seek medical help and not push through it. Ignoring it for too long will only lead to more pain and aggravation down the road. I will be scheduling a visit with an orthopedic surgeon sooner than later to have it analyzed.
What if I just want to keep playing?
If you’re brave enough to get out there in the snow and sling some discs, here’s a few tips for you:
Bring hand warmers! - I talked to a professional player recently and she actually practices her putting outside in the snow. She said she keeps hand warmers in her pockets to keep her hands fresh when she’s not throwing
Bring a change of clothes! - Getting wet in the snow is almost inevitable. The best thing you can do is have some fresh clothes to change into after the round, you’ll feel like a million bucks!
If there’s snow, use a ribbon! - Watch this video about taping a ribbon to your disc. If the disc goes under the snow, the ribbon should stay on top and help you find your valuable plastic!
I would love to know what everyone does in their off-season. Be sure to comment below or share your thoughts on my Instagram or Facebook pages!
