Playing Through

[WW82]

There was an unfortunate incident as we were playing through a group today. The two groups ahead of us were both looking for discs on the same hole. We waited about 3 minutes before calling out asking to play through. We were acknowledged to play on and so we got ready to throw. The first player in our group throws a wicked forehand with a Discraft Flick 175 that turns over directly into the face of the girl looking about 150' just off the side of the fairway. We yelled immediately but it was too late.

She was unfortunately cut on her upper lip and was gushing blood from her nose for a good five minutes while we helped her with water and towels...

Anyway...What do most of you do in order to make sure that playing through is done safely? And also...Be safe out there. We were very rattled after that. The poor guy who hit her was barely able to finish the round and played terribly after it.

[TheArnoldPalmer]

Wait to throw if people are in your range! Bummer for that girl. The flick is a rough disc to get hit with... I always kid how if I ever get hit, I hope it's with a soft gummy putter.

[B3NDER]

No more sidearm for him... :|

[TonyAPE12]

Typically, if a group waves me through or allow me to play through because they're searching, I expect them to pay attention to where I'm throwing, but I'm also going to yell out to them if I throw close to where they are. I've had several instances where I'll let someone else play through when I'm looking for a disc or picking up some warm up throws, and they won't yell if they're anywhere close to me. I politely correct them on what proper etiquette is when throwing on someone, even if they do yell for you to play through. Even if I am paying attention to where you're throwing I can easily lose sight of a disc or be looking down at the wrong moment and get clocked. Thus the reason why I yell out to people and expect them to do the same.

[WW82]

Wait to throw if people are in your range! Bummer for that girl. The flick is a rough disc to get hit with... I always kid how if I ever get hit, I hope it's with a soft gummy putter.

Did you even read the post? We asked to play through. The groups ahead of us acknowledged us to play through. The wait could have been 30+ minutes while waiting for them to find discs. The girl was standing off the side of the fairway. Unfortunately the guy threw the worst possible shot ever.

I agree though...The Flick is a bad disc to get hit with. Especially on a turned over anny.

[WW82]

Typically, if a group waves me through or allow me to play through because they're searching, I expect them to pay attention to where I'm throwing, but I'm also going to yell out to them if I throw close to where they are. I've had several instances where I'll let someone else play through when I'm looking for a disc or picking up some warm up throws, and they won't yell if they're anywhere close to me. I politely correct them on what proper etiquette is when throwing on someone, even if they do yell for you to play through. Even if I am paying attention to where you're throwing I can easily lose sight of a disc or be looking down at the wrong moment and get clocked. Thus the reason why I yell out to people and expect them to do the same.

Yeah we yelled. 150' goes by real fast though :(

I agree that there has to be some sort of accountability on the person looking for their disc to keep an eye out. It was just such a bad event. I've never seen someone hit that badly before and I play a lot.

[412Disc]

nothing you can do but apologize

[captain jack]

If you play through, it's your responsibility to make sure everyone else within the range of your throws knows you are coming. The groups ahead of you should have also made sure that everyone out there is aware your throwing.

You're talking about a disc going around 80 feet per second, a women within 2 seconds of your throw should be looking at YOU, as should everyone within your driving range. All eyes up.

Everyone is at fault, but ultimately, its the shankapottamus in your group that caused the injury.
The girl has every right to collect at least the cost of the medical bills from this person.

A sad situation for everyone involved, it does remind me that, now that there is crowds out there, we need to be extra careful.

[rocthecourse]

Anyway...What do most of you do in order to make sure that playing through is done safely?

I don't throw till I can do it without hitting someone.

[wkelly42]

Since they let you play through, the group in front of you should have been paying attention to you while you were throwing. I've had to let people play through while I was looking for a disc, but I stopped looking while they were driving. That's just common sense to me. I don't know of anything you could have done differently.

[thugjitsu]

It seems to me most people who tell you to play through, usually stand right in the middle of the fairway, at least around here anyways.

I wont even play through if they wont move, I'll pick up and go to the next hole. Because i play where i work i really dont wanna be the person that hits someone with a disc. Any time i ever get close to hitting someone i always play like donkey crap afterwards.

[Technohic]

Since they let you play through, the group in front of you should have been paying attention to you while you were throwing. I've had to let people play through while I was looking for a disc, but I stopped looking while they were driving. That's just common sense to me. I don't know of anything you could have done differently.

This and I make SURE they are watching as I seem to have a habit of it getting in my head they are there and the disc seems to just find a way to their general area.

[JoshEpoo]

It seems to me most people who tell you to play through, usually stand right in the middle of the fairway, at least around here anyways.

That happens around here too. Lots of rec players feel safe once they get 250' away from the tee and will try to wave groups through when they're standing right in the line of fire. I'm usually sort of a prick about telling them to get out of the way, or at least pay attention, but I'd rather irritate a few randoms than plunk one of them in the face. They almost always say "nice shot" and ask "what disc was that!?" when you drive one way past where they were standing anyway...

[brewcrewdominates]

So I read this thread earlier and it's an unfortunate outcome. Not completely related, but, I decided to go shoot a round tonight since it's supposed to rain tomorrow. I had a kid shank one so nasty(one of the worst shots I have ever seen on this course) and send it right over my head.(I was 3 fairways over) Literally missed me by inches and the moron didn't even say a word. I stood next to his disc and waited for him to come pick it up. Still, as he approached, he didn't even apologize or say anything. Literally not a word. You would think someone carrying a bag with 20 discs would have at least a little courtesy on the course. Needless to say, I let him have a piece of my mind, and hopefully next time he will yell out when he throws such an awful shot. Not trying to threadjack, just trying to express my discontent for people who don't at least try to yell FORE.

[GLong]

I always kid how if I ever get hit, I hope it's with a soft gummy putter.

the only time i've hit someone, it was with a sss wizard. i told him i was going to throw, he declined to move, watched me throw it and go right at him, and promptly hit him in the shoulder. it was a bad throw, but the deflection put it right under the basket. thanks kid!

[tarel]

is that flick for trade/sell

[WW82]

So I read this thread earlier and it's an unfortunate outcome. Not completely related, but, I decided to go shoot a round tonight since it's supposed to rain tomorrow. I had a kid shank one so nasty(one of the worst shots I have ever seen on this course) and send it right over my head.(I was 3 fairways over) Literally missed me by inches and the moron didn't even say a word. I stood next to his disc and waited for him to come pick it up. Still, as he approached, he didn't even apologize or say anything. Literally not a word. You would think someone carrying a bag with 20 discs would have at least a little courtesy on the course. Needless to say, I let him have a piece of my mind, and hopefully next time he will yell out when he throws such an awful shot. Not trying to threadjack, just trying to express my discontent for people who don't at least try to yell FORE.

Don't worry about thread jacking. Your comments are very wlecome and on point. I totally agree about a pet peeve being peopl who throw into other without yelling or stand right in the driving lane like some of the others have pointed out. On my "home" course the 18th hole is a picturesque downhill shot between some trees to a putting area that even most rec players can drive without throwing a great shot. Here's a link... http://www.dgcoursereview.com/media.php?id=579&mode=media# Click on hole 18.

Anyway...It's common courtesy that you never throw on that hole until the next group clears the putting area (an easily identifiable 30' wood chip circle) and is steadily moving away since just about anyone can drive it even though it's over 300'. Lately I have been thrown into more often on that hole even though I simply play the hole and walk off without dallying or playing slow. The player of course never yells or anything they just watch the thing zing down the hill towards you. One day I'm going to take someone's disc and just throw it into the pond on the backside of the hole.

[brewcrewdominates]

One day I'm going to take someone's disc and just throw it into the pond on the backside of the hole.
I was in a blindspot down a hill from this kid's shot and if there would have been a pond, I would have chucked it in as far as I could and proceeded to tell him I saw it bomb into the pond:D

[saltybigjim]

Was the girl in the line of a normal shot? If she was then you should not have thrown. If you can't control your throw and be 100% certain you will not hit them, you should not have thrown.

I blame her for not understanding how to get out of the way, but you are on DCGR, you should be the smarter person and not throw unless you are certain they are safe.

[WW82]

Was the girl in the line of a normal shot? If she was then you should not have thrown. If you can't control your throw and be 100% certain you will not hit them, you should not have thrown.

I blame her for not understanding how to get out of the way, but you are on DCGR, you should be the smarter person and not throw unless you are certain they are safe.

I don't disagree. In fact it's one of the reasons that I posted here. I wanted to find out if I had missed something. The truth of the matter is that they knew we were throwing and they were off to the side. We did not make absolute sure that the people were watching us as we threw. IMO after having read the posts here I feel like the situation could have been avoided if all parties had done their due diligence,

[TheArnoldPalmer]

the only time i've hit someone, it was with a sss wizard. i told him i was going to throw, he declined to move, watched me throw it and go right at him, and promptly hit him in the shoulder. it was a bad throw, but the deflection put it right under the basket. thanks kid!

Lol.


And to the OP, I read ur post but I stand by what I said. If you have the ability to throw and hit someone, especially a driver. It's prob smarter not to throw. or maybe skip the hole or just let them finish. I know u said u would have had to wait awhile but at least it wouldn't have ruined ur round and that girl wouldn't have gotten injured.

[bombmk]

Everyone is at fault, but ultimately, its the shankapottamus in your group that caused the injury.
The girl has every right to collect at least the cost of the medical bills from this person.

I would say no to that. The moment she allows you to play through (assuming she was aware of the decision/situation here) she assumes the risk. Errant throws happen. She should be aware of the possibility
Unless the player was deliberately throwing it in her direction and not directing her to move further away, he is not at fault, unless his throw was errant through gross negligance. Imho.

But then again, literally the first rule of disc golf is to not throw when you can hit other people or animals. That more or less always requires an assumption on probabilities though, as you can rarely say that no matter how your shot turns out it can hit someone.

So I will admit that it is not clear cut, and I am not a lawyer. But I would contest such a claim.

[Agricolae]

It sounds like you have the right attitude and have learned a lesson.

In my opinion, what happens downrange is, ultimately, the responsibility of the thrower. I've thrown over people standing in the fairway and waving me through; I've also declined when I've seen they are more focused on looking for their disc, watching the bluebirds, or picking lint from their navel.

I can tell from reading your posts - you said it outright - that you were all pretty shaken by what happened. We'll never educate the completely clueless so I say we should give 'em a break and just skip the hole ... or wait ... or help them find their disc. Playing through, with the chance of nailing someone, is not worth having thrown the disc that gashes someone's face.

BTW: Only a rank beginner wouldn't keep their eyes on a drive while downrange. As we all know, there are plenty of rank beginners on the courses. I bet she'll be watching next time ... unless she's decided that disc golf isn't for her.

[scarpfish]

We can debate for hours on end here who's at fault, but one I know one thing here, if you remove the variable of the thrower throwing the disc, the resulting injury doesn't occur. That's something everybody throwing a golf disc needs to remember every time they throw a shot, whether the people potentially in your line of fire are card mates, people on other cards, or bystanders.

[Norcal]

Everyone is at fault, but ultimately, its the shankapottamus in your group that caused the injury.
The girl has every right to collect at least the cost of the medical bills from this person.

He has no legal obligation to pay that bill as she assumed the risk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_of_risk

[wlkent]

I always just skip the hole rather than take a chance hitting someone. I used to try to play through but my shots always ended up going wild...mental thing..worrying about the people in the way. Would end up rattled on the next hole just not worth it....

[Old Bassman]

Whenever my group is stalling someone by looking for a disc I always tell my group I am going to signal them to play through Then I watch the other group as they get ready to throw and remind my group to watch the throw.

FIRST RULE OF DISC GOLF.......SAFETY FIRST AND FOREMOST.
SECOND RULE OF DISC GOLF...(From Steady Ed)....Whoever has the most fun wins!!!!

[Grungedude42]

Biggest problem I have at the course I play most is soccer parents chilling under the tree closest to #9 basket. They always look at me funny when I have to walk up to them, ask them to move, and walk all the way back to the tee. I spent nine years of my youth caddying, so if I let a group play through, you'd better believe I'm behind a tree or at least looking at the thrower. I bet after that incident the unfortunate victim does too.

[Old Bassman]

Biggest problem I have at the course I play most is soccer parents chilling under the tree closest to #9 basket. They always look at me funny when I have to walk up to them, ask them to move, and walk all the way back to the tee. I spent nine years of my youth caddying, so if I let a group play through, you'd better believe I'm behind a tree or at least looking at the thrower. I bet after that incident the unfortunate victim does too.

Being behind a tree may not save you in the case of a ricochet.

[cmchavis]

I play with my 7 year old quite often and we let people play though all the time since we're a little slower than most. I cannot imagine telling someone to play though and not standing out of the way, watching or taking 20 seconds out of searching for them to throw - even my kid knows that.

[BirdmanCR]

I hit a little child in the face in the middle of nowhere at boyd hill. Busted both of his lips and broke one of his teeth....I felt VERY bad but what can you do once the disc has left your hand and ppl step out of nowhere. This doesnt help with clean play thru but figed id put my 2cent..

[JeremyKShort]

I've never had an issue with the play through, either being the one playing through, or the one waiting. I've always stood over safely to the side and watched, or had the others stand clear. The only times I've only come close to hitting someone twice. Once a group of non-dg wouldn't move away from the basket, even after we watched them. They were watching and cleared out pretty quick. I also sent a really bad throw through a basketball court, somehow didn't hit anybody. That one was really, really awful, more than 90 deg off where I was aiming.

[captain jack]

All I'm saying is he should man up and take responsibility for his poor judgement, just saying you're sorry doesn't make the girls face better.
It may not be his legal obligation, but is should be a moral one, simply walking away with no further concern reeks of dirtbaggery.

[StarFirebird]

I've had to play through a few times and I always tell them to stop for a second and keep alert.If I do shank one they will be able to avoid it.