If you go to Google and search “2021 PDGA world rankings,” you’ll find the PDGA’s world rankings. The problem? They’ll be for the end of the 2019 season – not exactly what you wanted.
Touring professionals might (occasionally) enjoy bashing on the PDGA, but there was a good reason for disc golf’s governing body taking a two-year hiatus. Remember that little pandemic thingy that reared its ugly head at the start of 2020? Yeah, so that might’ve played a role …
Events were canceled. Flights were restricted. Chaos ensued.
In short, on a global scale, it was simply too difficult to calculate an accurate ranking.
For me, world rankings are invaluable. They provide instant, macro-level context for readers about a disc golfer’s relative place in the sport. Thankfully, these past two years, UDisc picked up where the PDGA left off, providing up-to-date rankings for both the MPO and FPO fields.
* Note #1: If interested in learning about UDisc’s “secret sauce” for world rankings, click here.
Those days are done, though …
Sorry, UDisc – there’s a new (or old, I guess) sheriff in town.
Last week, the PDGA announced that they’d yet again calculate world rankings for the 2022 season. This time around, initially, they’d be based on two separate tour-ranking systems:
- The U.S. Tour Ranking
- The European Tour Ranking
The U.S. Tour Ranking will be calculated based on the results of stateside majors and Elite Series events. The European Tour Ranking will be published at a later date, once COVID protocols and travel restrictions allow for more uninhibited tournament play for golfers.
And yes, you guessed it …
The PDGA’s world rankings will be a combination of the two.
.@PDGA Unveils New World Rankings: https://t.co/nChhGRLwdq
— Ultiworld Disc Golf (@UltiworldDG) February 18, 2022
– Split US/Europe rankings this year
– Combined world rankings coming 2023
– More emphasis on top Elite Series finishes
– Heavy weight on Majors pic.twitter.com/Z2NAuekorY
More specifically, here’s what’s being taken into consideration to calculate world rankings:
- Wins+ – Wins, podium placements and top-10 finishes all play a role.
- Majors – A player’s overall result at each U.S. major will be taken into account.
- Round Ratings – Average round rating at major and Elite Series events are vital.
- Elite Series Finishes – The higher a player’s average finishing position, the better.
* Note #2: If you’d like more detailed information about the PDGA’s methods, click here.
Perhaps best of all, the PDGA’s new formula for calculating world rankings isn’t something Nate Heinhold or the board of directors came up with on their own. Instead, a number of stakeholders were consulted about the changes, not to mention the PDGA’s Pro Tour Players’ Committee.
Speaking of the updates, said the committee’s chairman, Paul Ulibarri:
“I’m happy with it. I think with the added additions of the top-tens and the other things, it will give the players something to strive for. Rankings, in my opinion, hold so much more value than other things that disc golf has used as a measure of skill level.”
At this point in the sport’s history, disc golf is evolving – and at a freakishly fast rate.
The latest changes to the PDGA’s world rankings (again, sorry, UDisc) are evidence of just that.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Don’t even think of ordering UDisc off the planet! The way I look at it, with the UDisc app, UDisc Live scoring and all that, I will go UDisc Rankings every time.
It does seem like it’d make for the most accurate ratings, doesn’t it?
Just the SHEER amount of data to which UDisc has access.