Here’s something I can’t quite wrap my head around …
There’s a not-so-small slice of disc golf fans who think that – at the highest level of the sport, at least – putting is way too easy. And because of it, something should change: The baskets should be smaller, the circle should extend out a bit further or a few rows of chains should be removed.
With torches and pitchforks in hand, however, that SAME group of people often lead the way, demanding that Jeff Spring “standardize” baskets as soon as humanly possible. Simply put, there are far too many spit-outs in today’s game for the sport to be taken seriously – it’s embarrassing.
But is it?
I’m not one of “those people,” but my guess is that they’d argue the difference between a quality putt and a spit-out is faulty equipment – in this case, the basket. But if ALL competitors are putting on the same baskets, and ALL baskets are exactly the same, who’s really to blame?
- Culprit No. 1 – The basket.
- Culprit No. 2 – The disc golfer.
Think about it …
Every course on the Disc Golf Pro Tour is different – that’s a good thing. Some are long, while others are short. Some are OB-heavy, while natural OB is enough of a punishment on others. Even the weather differs from place to place and season to season – that’s a good thing.
The best players on tour are able to adapt their style of play to meet the demands of the course they’re attacking. Another facet of the game, if the make and model of baskets vary from event to event, why would it NOT be the responsibility of professionals to adjust the way they putt?
Nobody throws a hissy fit when a push putt-dominant Kevin Jones finds himself having to spin putt through heavy winds at the Dynamic Discs Open, right? I don’t see the difference between that and having a cow when a Veteran basket doesn’t catch the 15-foot putt Anthony Barela laser-beamed at it. Yes, untimely spit-outs are a thing. They exist. And they suck, too.
“Perfect putts” DON’T result in spit-outs, though:
- The speed was off.
- The angle was wrong.
- The point of impact was bad.
SOMETHING wasn’t right.
Baseball bats break. Three-pointers rim out. Officials get in the way.
Welcome to sports.
* Note: Let it be known, however, that THIS is completely unacceptable – it can’t happen.
If the PDGA and DGPT decide to create a single basket for all Pro Tour events, great. If they’re fine with different baskets, but choose to mandate what constitutes a “pro-level” target, sweet. Or, if they think it’s best to continue as we’ve done for years, I’m not losing any sleep over it.
Go buy a DiscDot or something – maybe that’ll help.
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