Do you go for "heroic" shots?

[Technohic]

I heard someone in a thread call shots that are low percent success but high percent awesome (aggressive basically) heroic shots and when playing after that, realised I do it all the time.

My best rounds come from playing conservative rounds but I think I just have more fun going for that miracle shot, especially when it works so how do you play?


^^^^ Short version above. Next I will get my long winded example so, save the TLDR if you want

The other day, for example, on my drive my disc clipped my nips (damned chesticles) and wound up only going ~125' on a 325' hole placing me about 200' away from the basket with the basket behind a treeline about perpindicular to me to my right and then a treeline parallel to me that runs through the first tree line then behind the basket with a steep drop off behind the basket. So picture a T with me below the bottom line and right and the basket at the top left point with a drop off behind that, then there are 2 tress just to the left of the bottom line also in the way of the basket, if I can paint a picture.

So I am sitting there and pick up my Pro Leopard and right away I feel confident about the shot I see and turn to my friend and say "How much you give me if I sink this." and I dont know if I just looked confident in this shot but he wouldnt make the bet but I tried an anny anyway, out around the bottom tree line and between the 2 individual trees on the other side. It looked like it was going in but eventually the disc just slowed and layed maybe 5' before the basket (My leopard doesnt fade on an anny, just starts going into slow mo) and it was a sweet shot, but would have been even better had I made it. Ordinarily, I probably would have thumbered but there wouldnt have been a chance of it actually going in.

 

[jdggna]

All the time. Its something I have to fight if I'm in a tourney. That's why my last tourney I was in fourth after round one, and shot one of the worst scores in the division in the second round. I seemed to think I'd just start hitting the perfect shot every time and the bogeys just starting piling up.

 

[DiscChucker]

I heard someone in a thread call shots that are low percent success but high percent awesome (aggressive basically) heroic shots and when playing after that, realised I do it all the time.

My best rounds come from playing conservative rounds but I think I just have more fun going for that miracle shot, especially when it works so how do you play?

Wow Techno!!! You have some serious nipplage going on there if they caused you too lose 200'.

I to take way too many heroic shots. It would certainly help my scores if I took the conservative approach (no pun intended). But I think it's the risk factor, the gamble if you will, that makes it so alluring to go for the money shot or as you put it the miracle shot. Mine tend to be more of the "miracle save shot' variety though.

 

[MrFixIt]

I tend to "go for it" prolly more times than I should.
But it is sooo much fun when it works...

 

[Technohic]

Wow Techno!!! You have some serious nipplage going on there if they caused you too lose 200'.

I to take way too many heroic shots. It would certainly help my scores if I took the conservative approach (no pun intended). But I think it's the risk factor, the gamble if you will, that makes it so alluring to go for the money shot or as you put it the miracle shot. Mine tend to be more of the "miracle save shot' variety though.

Well, it was early morning so I was still a bit excited. :\

It actually caught more than just nip and my disc actually bounced my arm out a good bit when it hit my chest/ nip region.

 

[toothyfish]

The difference between heroic and stupid is often based on the ability and confidence of the person holding the disc.

The question becomes was this shot heroic because of the skill it took to throw it or because there was alot of risk if it went wrong? It sounds like a shot you were comfortable enough to throw, plus you knew what the disc would do in that situation. The risk is the drop off, I guess, or hanging it up in the trees.

It is a good feeling to recover on a hole. I would agree that most of us play our best when playing conservative. I'd rather use the word smart or calulating. One can be over-cautious.

One hole comes to mind to me that is an uphill anny. It's not long, reachable with a mid, but getting a bigger turn with little fade is key. Wearing DX Roc, slight anny release, harder than normal snap to forca a bit of OAT to get a deep turn, and no fade. There is also a narrow lane to the right that with a nice S curve you could park the hole...if you can hit it, up and over a steep drop, through the trees. I play the anny. I settle for par. Since I've gained confidence in this shot I almost always par the hole and if I really get aournd the turn, I do have a shot at birdie, with a 30ft uphill putt. The hero shot would make birdie very possible, but often means bogey if you miss the gap since the approach turns into a get out of trouble shot and a tough, long putt at best.

Some would rather throw the narrow lane, bacause they can't throw the anny...depends what tools you have in your arsenal...

That's where double can be fun. One of you gets the safe shot and the other can turn it loose...

 

[DiscChucker]

Well, it was early morning so I was still a bit excited. :\

It actually caught more than just nip and my disc actually bounced my arm out a good bit when it hit my chest/ nip region.

I figured that much. I'm just poking some fun at your comment.

 

[jkdisc]

i'm not as heroic as i should be

 

[VictorB]

very rarely. I play somewhat conservative, and let the birdies come to me. Much fewer bogies per round (usually only 1 or 2) since I started playing that way.

 

[leppard]

I play conservative and consistent. I'd rather have a round with all threes(even) than a round with four bogies and four birdies(also even.) I guess I play to save par.

 

[Technohic]

I play conservative and consistent. I'd rather have a round with all threes(even) than a round with four bogies and four birdies(also even.) I guess I play to save par.

Thats how I should play but I typically bogey, bird, bogey, miss a putt and double bogey and it can get worse than that depending on what kind of trouble you get into, but I guess that is why I will always be a rec player and little more.

 

[cornelius]

depepnds on the round. in serious rounds i will play smart which means knowing when to go for it and when to lay up. when i play by myself i usually throw 5 discs perhole anyway. if i really need strokes in a tourny is when i will go for it but thats essentialy the only time.

 

[Beable]

I play very conservatively if I'm keeping score. That said, I can do some weird midrange stuff that other folks I play with wouldn't try. For them those shots would be heroic, but for me, not so much. I'm sure everyone has strengths in various parts of the game.

 

[toothyfish]

Thats how I should play but I typically bogey, bird, bogey, miss a putt and double bogey and it can get worse than that depending on what kind of trouble you get into, but I guess that is why I will always be a rec player and little more.

Not true. It's the mental discipline not the skill level. You seem to posses all the basic skills and knowledge to be a competitive player. And I know you've worked hard lately pushing distance and control with slow discs. It's not taking the bait to pull off the shot of the century...

Know what you could do...know what you SHOULD do...and know the difference...

I'm not ragging on you, I'm the same darn way...it took my a while to just play safe, which is very different from my natural style, but after a few rounds of doing so, the score card looks better. I learned this lesson the hard way. Only took 43 years. I now try to throw the highest percentage shot, even if it's not my favorite shot, because, if you do the odds are always in your favor.

You've seen Tin Cup, right? Lay up, take your par, and win the US Open.

Okay, so he put 5 in the water, sunk the 280 yard shot, and got the girl...

 

[Technohic]

Okay, so he put 5 in the water, sunk the 280 yard shot, and got the girl...

Ball. Give me another ball!

No, its ok because I am cool with it. I push myself in essence to be able to make an even cooler and riskier attempt when the opportunity arrises.

 

[cornelius]

lol thats the spirit

 

[cheddapig]

i think if i didnt always go for it i wouldnt ever make it.... now yes i go for it to much but i make more then if i never went for it

 

[nygfaninva]

We were just talking about this on the course yesterday. Although there is a fine line between heroic and stupid, the reward for the heroic shot often outweighs the risk. Be a man! Go for it!

 

[toothyfish]

Don't misunderstand me. There is a time to push oneself. I love testing limits, to see how far I can push things. Ask my mother...and my wife, God bless her...

If I'm playing for "fun" and trying to work on specific shots (ex: I just played Wed evening in strong wind, and tried a bunch of different things, just to see how is would react) that's the time to push.

But, also, learning how to score well is important, too. Developing the decision making ability. Nothing like a bogey free scorecard...

 

[toothyfish]

We were just talking about this on the course yesterday. Although there is a fine line between heroic and stupid, the reward for the heroic shot often outweighs the risk. Be a man! Go for it!

When the benefit outweighs the risk, it becomes the right shot to make. That's not the hero shot, it's the smart shot, even if it may be more difficult.