The other day I was talking with a buddy of mine – we play disc golf together.
Anyway, we got to chatting about the sport and some of the earlier rounds we’d watched on YouTube when we first started competing. For me, many of the names I saw back then are the ones I still see on JomezPro each weekend: Paul McBeth, Ricky Wysocki and Eagle McMahon.
I also mentioned, however, Jared Roan – remember him?
That guy was everywhere back in 2013 and 2014, but now?
It’s hard to say, really …
It’s not been nearly as long, but if you took to disc golf around 2017 or 2018, you likely saw A.J. Risley on chase- and lead-card coverage on the regular. The dude could bomb. He wasn’t taking down tourney after tourney, but he was always in the mix, making life hard on the “favorites.”
I reached out to Risley’s dad on Twitter to try and make contact with his son for this article. Eventually, we connected. I told him what I was wanting to do, thinking he might not be game. Some of the questions I wanted to ask could potentially come with uncomfortable answers …
Nope. Not even close.
A.J. was fully onboard right from the get-go. Throughout the entire process, I was genuinely taken aback by his kindness, transparency and outright eagerness to share his story with others.
My biggest takeaway?
Disc golf’s better with A.J. a meaningful part of it.
After reading his words, you’ll agree – here’s how things went down:
Let’s get this thing started off easy: Where are you at and what are you doing in 2022?
“Currently, I’m in Emporia, Kan. working as a media producer for Dynamic Discs. I plan on living and working here until the Summer. At that point, I’ll have a performance evaluation with my superiors to collectively determine what my next move will be. Whether that’s a move back to California and a return to the Tour or no move at all, I’m confident in the people I’m working with in my corner.”
Injuries have obviously been a nuisance in recent years. What happened, exactly?
“During the first round of the 2019 World Championships, I felt a strange twinge of pain in my right wrist as I followed through on a tee shot. I played through the pain that week, made the cut to the final round and finished the event. After that, I sat out of the next five events on the Tour.
“I made a return at USDGC, only to drop out after the third round because of the same localized pain. After returning home and receiving an X-ray and MRI, I learned that there was no structural damage to the bones or tendons, but rather a Ganglion cyst and tendon strain from repetitive stress.
“Next, I saw a physical therapist to help strengthen the complementary muscles in my right arm and shoulder. Unfortunately, in my opinion (and I’m not a doctor), this strengthening process preceded the recovery process. After I made a return to the Tour in 2020, I started to feel the same localized pain after a few big events on some longer courses – Goat Hill, Dynamic Discs Open, The Preserve, etc.
“In 2021, after more physical therapy and still no reparative surgery, I attempted multiple comebacks only to be thwarted by the chronic, lingering pain. This led to a severe loss of self-confidence which was replaced by anxiety and depression.
“After talking to a therapist for a few months and accepting a few media role opportunities with Dynamic Discs and Gatekeeper Media, I found enough lingering confidence in the recesses of my mind to travel to Pensacola, Fla. to do some physical rehabilitation on my right wrist and shoulder with Dr. Dan Jarboe.
“I spent five weeks living with him, receiving chiropractic adjustments and other treatments, as well as following a specific training regimen that he laid out for me. This personal care and work gave me the strength and confidence to compete in four events on the Pro Tour at the end of the 2021 season. I’m forever grateful to Dr. Jarboe for his belief, wisdom and patience.
“Unfortunately, that rehab process hasn’t completely vanquished my lingering injury. I took a two-month break from throwing right-handed when I returned to California in the middle of October, and the same discomfort still remained. Long story short, several years of throwing hard without proper physical training and recovery finally caught up with me.”
Where are you at in the recovery process?
“I’ve put my recovery process on hold for now. A big part of that process is the timeline and the expectation to return to peak form and condition. The specific quality of the process used to haunt me. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be ready for ‘X event’ multiple times in the past, so I’ve let go of a deadline to return …
“For now.
“I still use my foam roller and lacrosse ball to break up the myofascial buildup (#BigWords #LowKeyFlex) when I get the chance, and I’ve returned to the gym to build up my cardiovascular strength, but my priorities have definitely shifted.”
How’s your off-hand game coming along? What made you start to experiment with that?
“My lefty is coming along quite nicely – thanks for asking!
“Fun fact: I am left-handed in just about every daily activity: writing, eating, etc. Before disc golf, I played baseball left-handed. So I have some familiarity with the dexterity and muscle movement involved in throwing a ball with my left arm. That translates to a lefty forehand, but NOT a lefty backhand, so that’s been an interesting process.
“I started experimenting with that and playing left-handed purely because I could feel myself missing the disc golf course. There’s something about the vibe of the course, no matter where it is, that gives me a distinct sense of self-confidence and inner peace. I feel accepted, welcomed and celebrated on a disc golf course.
“When I was younger, I used to feel the opposite way about school, and I would dread the upcoming week each Sunday night. In grade school, the disc golf course was my refuge from the barbs of my classmates and the pressure of my teachers.
“As an adult, I definitely went through some disc golf withdrawals as a result of my injury. Playing lefty was akin to going to a rehab facility. I guess you could say that I was, and still am, addicted to disc golf.”
What’s it been like working with Dynamic Discs as you make your way through all of this?
“As I push through this difficult injury process, I feel the love and support from Dynamic Discs. In 2020, I made more money from disc royalties in one year than I had earned in prize money in one year, and I only cashed at one event! 2021 was also remarkable in that sense. The financial support has been palpable and appreciated, because we all gotta eat.
“Even more importantly, everyone at Dynamic Discs – from Jeremy Rusco to Eric McCabe to the media team to the accounting department to my teammates – have dispelled my impostor syndrome time and time again with their belief in my potential, both on and off the course.
“I truly feel supported, and it really is the best-case scenario. Thank you, as always, to Robert McCall for reaching out to me in 2017 with an offer to join the Tour Team. Currently, I’m working full-time at the DD headquarters in Emporia. I love my new role, my duties and my coworkers. I have a job in disc golf!”
As a touring professional, what’s the future look like for you?
“The future is a little uncertain at the moment, when I think about my life as a ‘touring pro.’ I know that the level of competition and the requirements to be on tour have dramatically increased since I first started touring.
“Nevertheless, I still love to throw the disc to the fullest potential of my abilities, and the game of disc golf is so endlessly fascinating to me. When I practiced my hardest and dedicated myself fully, I felt a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment like I never had before.
“It was almost like absolutely nailing a guitar solo in front of fifty thousand screaming fans every day when I would finish my nightly solo putting sessions on the baskets at my hometown university course.
“So yeah, the passion is still there.
“With the proper physical conditioning and financial and moral support, I could easily see myself making another epic comeback. Although, as I type these answers, I can already feel the slight discomfort in my wrist, so I know that return will take a lot of time and effort.”
Within disc golf, what goals have you set for yourself either this year or in the coming years?
“One of my goals is to enjoy and appreciate the game at every turn. Whether that’s my last throw, my next throw, the company I’m throwing with, the course I’m playing on or the natural beauty of the moment, I want to be able to recognize the positive value in those qualities. I feel like that is the purest goal I can think of that will continuously keep me striving to be the most enlightened version of myself.
“Also, 400 feet of distance with all four disciplines – RHBH, RHFH, LHBH and LHFH. That would be so sick, and I truly believe that I can accomplish that feat by the end of the year.
“Competitively, though, I don’t have any specific goals for this year. I’m taking a big step back from that side of the game to find my true self and set up a life that I love and feel confident in. Once I get closer to that, I’ll start my journey back to being 1020-rated and USDGC-qualified.
“So yeah, a 1020 rating and qualifying for USDGC in 2023 are my goals.”
Many of our readers are die-hard Risley fans. What can they do to support you?
“You can follow me on Instagram (@rizbeejr) and share your love there. I post plenty of fun, vulnerable and relatable content on my page and stories, as well as give a live musical performance every now and then. Those little live concerts bring me so much joy, and a big part of that is the audience interaction.
“I also have a YouTube channel where I’ll post some of my video work when I can. That work can be few and far between, but it’s still out there! Of course, supporting Dynamic Discs does help support my dreams and journey in many different aspects. Whether you buy a disc and ask for my autograph or leave a comment on one of our videos, I feel the love, so thank you!”
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
“I’d just like to pass on some advice to any and all disc golfers out there, whether they’re professional, amateur or recreational. Warm up before your rounds and practice sessions. Cool down and stretch after a long round or field work. If something hurts while you’re playing, rest and take a break. There will ALWAYS be more golf to play!
“I can’t stress this enough: If you’re struggling with any sort of ailment or injury – physical, emotional or mental – talk to someone you trust. They are out there. Don’t wait for someone to ask if everything is all right. And when someone does, be completely honest with them.
“It’s okay to not be okay!
“Trust your family, friends, teammates and coaches to be there for you with your best intentions in mind. Those who see you as ‘weak’ for skipping a tournament to nurse an injury or find your confidence ONLY exist in your mind and NOT in reality. When in doubt, remember the positive and learn from the negative.
“You got this.”
Will A.J. be back on tour any time soon?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Of this much I’m certain, though: Whatever he’s doing, he’ll have a giant smile on his face. And perhaps more importantly, he’ll be going out of his way to make sure somebody else does, too.
You got this, A.J. Whatever you decide “this” needs to be.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Thank you so much for publishing this. I don’t know what else to say. I need a Kleenex…
No problem, Allen!
That’s quite the son you’ve got there – he’ll do BIG things in life, whether they be inside or outside of disc golf.
Can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him!