If you read my post last month about disc golf goals for 2022, you may remember that I set this goal:
- 70% putting from 25 feet
I’m working my way toward that goal by practicing. Simply practicing.
I’m not going to lie: when the weather is bad, I’m not going out. When I first started playing a couple years ago, I was out in all kinds of weather, but I’m over that now. While I am fortunate to live in South Texas, and was, in fact, out playing today, February 14, 2022, in beautiful, sunny 65-degree weather, there were a lot of days during the past few weeks that were too cold or rainy for me.
So I didn’t practice as much as I wanted to.
I did my best to visualize. I watched a lot of YouTube videos. I played a few rounds.
But I didn’t practice as much as I wanted to.
I will say, however, that I have noticed an improvement on my putting during rounds. In one tournament, I putted exactly 18 times, and won by a single stroke. I had no two-putts, and some of those putts were not gimmes. I’ve been feeling pretty good about my putting.
Even so, I approached my monthly putting measurement with guarded expectations.
Because I didn’t practice as much as I wanted to.
I set up my 15- and 21-foot stations, and started Round #1.
Oof, it started badly. In my previous practice sessions, a few weeks ago, I’d started to regard the 15-footers as total gimmes. I was missing maybe one or two of 25, and those were just lapses in focus.
This time, though, I made two of my first five. What the hell? It wasn’t until my third turn that I was able to make all five from 15, so I moved to 21 … and hit 4 of 5. That’s more like it!
But that was not to last. I was up and down for the first two rounds. Sadly, I ended Round #2 by missing all five putts from 21 feet. Ugh.
I wish I could say that Round #3 went better, but it didn’t. Well, I guess I dialed in from 15 feet, but my 21-footers were hit or miss. Not consistent at all.
I took a longer break than usual, practicing approach shots with my Roc and Pig, but it was soon time to face the music, time for the Money Round.
I stepped up to the 15-foot station for a few warmups, and sank 4 of 5. Not great, but I figured it was now or never, so I stepped back to 21 feet.
2 of 5.
I did the math quickly and figured that to be 40%, which, I justified, is honestly pretty close to last month’s 44%, so I just needed to hit three putts in my next turn to get back on track.
I did it. 3 of 5, for a total of 5 of 10, which is 50%. Suddenly things were looking pretty good, and I never looked back.
I ended up hitting 34 of 50, for 68%! That’s +24 points over January!
I’m not sure at what level I’ll make the move to get rid of the 15-foot station. Eventually I’ll need to make 25 feet the long putt, but I’m not there yet.
I have to admit, though, I’m pretty excited by my improvement from last month. I hope I can keep improving in March.
Running tally:
- January: 44% from 21 feet
- February: 68% from 21 feet