Why watching FPO disc golf will improve your game

I love disc golf, but I follow other sports, too. My dad taught me to appreciate baseball as a kid. Growing up in Oklahoma, I immediately fell head over heels for the Oklahoma City Thunder. And my wife and I enjoy Sunday Night Football to close out the weekend – it’s relaxing.

These are male-dominated sports, though. Yeah, there’s women’s softball, but the professional scene doesn’t offer much. The same thing goes for tackle football. And while the WNBA does have somewhat of a following, admittedly, I’ve never put forth much effort to get involved.

There are only so many hours in the day; I have to pick and choose what I watch.

Thankfully, disc golf doesn’t have this problem. The MPO field is insane, but so is the FPO side of things. I don’t enjoy watching one more than the other. Even better, I’d venture to say most disc golf fans feel the same way. In fact, at times, I enjoy FPO coverage way more …

Why? It’s simple: Watching the women play makes me a better disc golfer.

Male or female, if you’re an amateur, it’ll do the same for you, too – here’s why:

Not everybody throws far

Paige Pierce, Catrina Allen, Kona Panis and a few Europeans – these ladies bomb.

Again, male or female, if you’re matching them in distance, you can skip this point entirely and keep reading below. For the other 99% of you, know this: Distance isn’t everything – most of the FPO field is evidence of that. Distance is a skill. But it’s one skill amongst a host of others …

Hole 14 isn't very forehand friendly, but @SarahHokom goes right at it. #MVPOpen pic.twitter.com/19QwQwlRnz

— Disc Golf Pro Tour (@DiscGolfProTour) September 3, 2021

Ohn Scoggins isn’t a “big arm” on tour, but have you seen her putt? Madison Walker isn’t known for crazy distance, either, but her approach game is on point. And Sarah Hokom might actually  be incapable of throwing a backhand off the tee, but her forehand is incredibly reliable …

Women don’t obsess over distance. They’re better because of it.

Shot (and disc) selection is a bigger deal

There is so much “deuce-or-die” disc golf for the MPO field, it’s terrifying:

• Step No. 1 – Drive to within circle one or two.
• Step No. 2 – Drain a birdie putt – step or jump, if needed.
• Step No. 3 – Should you miss, tap in your par putt like the failure you are.

Rinse. Repeat.

I’m exaggerating, but this is hardly the case for the FPO side. Strategic placement shots off the tee are a thing. Laying up isn’t viewed as an unpardonable sin, either. Also, you see way more turnovers. Where raw, innate power might be lacking, skill more than compensates for it.

The result is a more entertaining product for fans. It’s a super relatable one, as well.

You’ll see the discs you should use in action

You know what you don’t need in your bag?

A fat stack of pop-top, max-weight Halo Destroyers with Calvin Heimburg’s name on ‘em.

You know what your bag does need in the distance department? Latitude 64 offers the Diamond, Jade and River. From Dynamic Discs, the Breakout and Maverick are easy to throw. The Discraft Heat might work for you, too. Yes, you’ll want something with more “bite,” but these’ll help.

Take it from me: Watching exclusively MPO golf will have your head thinking it can do things your body can’t. Worse, it’ll push discs on you that’ll take your game in the wrong direction …

And fast.

To tune into FPO disc golf is to view the sport the way it was intended to be played.

Watch and learn – literally.

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

Editor’s Suggestions:

• No joke, Gannon Buhr could be the next Paul McBeth
• Jacky Chen is a bigger deal for disc golf than you realize
• Disc golf: What did we learn in Las Vegas? It’s the archer, not the arrow