When do you play best?

[tmahan]

It's pretty random for me. I used to think I could predict when I was going to have a good round by reality has intruded on that illusion. I do sometimes play better in a group with folks 20 - 50 ratings points better than me.

 

[bizarbies]

I play best when there is something on the line. Team Bert plays for tags and the competition can get very very intense.
Biz
Team Bert

 

[DiscChainBasket18]

Probably in about 10 years from now. Dont wait up for me!

 

[12StonesScott]

Honestly, it doesn't seem to matter much -- I've played in more tournaments than ever this year, have been running our weekly singles event on Monday nights and have been playing more casual rounds with my son and occasionally with other folks, and it's been pretty random when I shoot well and when I don't. Two weekends ago, I played a tournament where I didn't play particularly badly either round, but had a couple of holes that killed me each round. Last weekend, I had my best tournament round ever (by preliminary rating), along with a second round that was slightly worse -- this one was on my home course, and I've shot the same score in both casual rounds and in the weekly singles mini -- and I've also shot 7 or 8 strokes worse than that recently on the same course/layout.

I do think I tend to play better when I'm playing with folks who're not dramatically better than I am -- I don't mind playing with people who typically beat me by up to 9 or 10 strokes per round (not a difficult feat in my case), but when we're talking guys who could comfortably give me a stroke per hole, I think the consciousness of how much worse I am gets to me. That's one reason I rarely play doubles anymore, given the crowd we tend to draw, and why I've been really pleased with breaking our Monday night singles series into Open and Rec divisions.

Course distance also affects me a lot -- I will shoot significantly higher-rated rounds on shorter layouts against the same competition on the same day compared to a longer layout, and the same is true across different events. It's strictly a matter of not being able to throw past the end of my shadow. On a shorter layout (particularly one that punishes errant throws) I can consistently keep my drives and upshots where I want them, shape lines and calibrate distance to end up with makeable putts, and get myself out of trouble effectively when I do make a mistake. On a longer layout, I can generally do the same things, but instead of having a short makeable putt after two strokes on most holes, I'm often still 40' to 100' out and still looking at two strokes to close it out. I've noticed a definite inverse correlation between course length and round ratings for me, since shorter courses play to my strengths and mitigate the distance advantage most of the competition has on me.

 

[DiscChainBasket18]

I play best when I'm throwing in front of women

 

[DiscChainBasket18]

I play best in front of beginners

 

[johnnyfoodstamp]

my best rounds happen when I play with strangers. This usually happens due to missing a local doubles tourney or a bunch of single players not wanting to wait on big groups (Seven Oaks, I'm lookin' at you)

 

[kpc2004]

lately ive been doing better when im playing alone for some reason, and no where close to as good when i play with strangers. kinda frustrating

 

[Trampy1]

I play the best when there is no one out there that can verify that any of my good shots actually happened!

 

[bazillion]

I play better after 3 beers. Any less than that, I start to lose focus.

fixed

 

[rongallo]

I play better and have recorded my best scores playing solo. I stay focused with no distractions. That being said I have more fun playing with my buddies.

 

[woodcutter]

In my dreams. always a perfect game.

 

[rcracer757]

In my mind. I always see a much better shot then when I actually release the disc.

 

[slimshadyemb]

In my mind. I always see a much better shot then when I actually release the disc.

This is the strategy. See the winning shot, make the winning shot. Practice just shrinks the gap

 

[ShopTom.com]

When I play solo I get tired quickly never having a rest between shots. I need other people there so I can take my time and dominate!

 

[Fender088]

When I play solo I get tired quickly never having a rest between shots. I need other people there so I can take my time and dominate!

I do this to myself sometimes at different courses. I'll notice that I'm just playing way too fast and my score is suffering. When this happens (and if time permits) I'll usually sit down for 3 or 4 minutes and collect myself.

 

[woodstock]

Something about playing when money is involved, I always seem to pick up my game.

 

[Mike C]

Solo. Playing at my own pace makes a huge difference for me.

 

[strain]

I seem to play real good in a solo round, but when I have some competition, that is when I try to play to hard and screw up.