Team Discraft: Tanner Duncan Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Tanner Duncan
	HOMETOWN:	Des Moines, IA
	PDGA #:	18693
	2012 PDGA RATING:	1007
	BORN:	1978
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	1997
	day gig:	Industrial Technician
	Memorable moment:	Playing in the Final 9 of the 2009 Des Moines Challenge.
	HOT SHOTS:	1st, 2011 Cedar Creek Open A-tier Over 20 career wins since 2004, missed cash only 8 times in 130+ events

Tanner's Disc Golf Tips

Throw with your core/body, not your arm. You have to learn to throw with your body and follow through for any, and every shot. For backhand drives, keep your elbow up, clear your shoulder and hips and follow through, chasing your shot with your opposite hand. I'm not a great forehand thrower, but I know I have to follow with my shoulder and hip. You also have to follow through when putting. The energy has to accelerate from your weight shift through your hand. You can't slow down before release, you have to follow through and transfer the energy to the disc.

Tanner Duncan / Team Discraft

Get stronger and work on skills. Get a powerball, kettlebell, medicine ball, start crossfitting, run, row, swim etc. Do work. You have to put in the time if you want to swim with the sharks. Emac is a gymnast. Doss and AO played college basketball. Randolph has a myriad of games he's great at. In other words, these guys know what hard work can do for you, and you see them at the top of this game for a reason. Outside interests are great for variation, which is key to human growth. All that stuff is great, especially in the winter, but you still have to practice, practice, practice. And practice your weaknesses. You must practice the things you aren't good at, it might not be fun, but it's the only path to improvement. One quote that's stuck with me through the years is "Half your shots are typically putts, so at LEAST half your practice time should be putting." --I have no idea who said this. Find drills, games, and set goals to keep it interesting.

When you're off the course, read books about the mental game of golf. The first one I read was Zen Golf. It hit me so hard one day, I went to Morley Field and shot -14, my personal record there. There wasn't a putt I couldn't make!

Workout to gain strength, stamina, consistency, and confidence. I do Crossfit, but Gunnar Peterson works too.

Work on the rest of your life. Healthy relationships outside of disc golf are a must, to keep balance. It's really easy to become addicted to disc, but balance is key in everything. For me, I see my family at least once a month and keep in contact weekly. I work to be a good partner for my girlfriend and not let disc golf consume EVERYTHING I think and do. Having things right in your life makes focusing and fulfilling your potential much easier. Eat well. Sleep Well. Drink lots of water. Eliminate any potential barriers to success.

Outside interests! Go fishing or snowboarding or camping or paintballing or ball golfing. Do other stuff!

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
Z Force (174 gm)	Greatest disc ever made. Stable versions can be smashed into any headwind. I look to use this disc whenever I can. Its really been great for developing my sidearm throws.
ESP Predator (174 gm)	One of the most controllable, consistent drivers on the market. It is overstable which makes it perfect for shots into the wind, skip shots, forehand drives, and hyzers. They take a while to beat up, but once they do they are still a great disc. They get a little less stable and get little more glide which means they will fly a long way. This disc is a must in the bag for me, and is one of my go to disc in all kinds of situations.
Z and ESP Predator (174 gm)	Fast and overstable. I use this for spike hyzers, flex shots, and sidearm shots. A great utility disc due to its reliability. I'm working one in against a brick wall and hope to get a straight-ish version for fairway shots.
Z Stalker (174 gm)	Fairway driver this disc holds whatever line you put it on with a good, reliable stability. I think of it as a Buzzz in driver form.
ESP XL (174 gm)	My first favorite disc. Great for hyzer flip shots in tight woods. This disc is slow which is good in some situations. I can throw this at 80% and it comes right up to flat which for me is key when throwing narrow fairways. I like rolling this disc too. I has perfect zero stability, if you get it standing up with the right amount of power it will go for miles.
Z Flash (174 gm)	For long distance hyzer flip shots. Again, very reliable. Slightly straighter than a Force.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
ESP Buzzz (177 gm)	Straight. This disc holds the line and will go far. One of the easiest discs to throw.
Z Wasp (177 gm)	Best midrange ever. This disc goes wherever you throw it. The Buzzz has made me a better thrower. The glide and reliability is superior to the other midranges on the market.
X Buzzz (177 gm)	I found this disc when looking for a Buzzz that would flip flat. This disc did just that out of the box. The X plastic is durable enough to trust throughout the season.
Z Hornet (172 gm)	I use this overstable mid for short hyzer shots and headwind shots. This has been the toughest spot in my bag to fill and I was stoked when the Hornet hit the market. One of the few discs in my bag that is not max weight.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
Pro D Challenger (174 gm)	My putter. I had no problem picking up a brand new Challenger the morning of a tournament after forgetting mine at home. I was nervous at first but hit some big putts right away and went on to win the tourney. I've been sold on the Challenger ever since.
Focus (170+)	My approach disc. Very straight and reliable. I prefer throwing this putter any other.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course	Comments
Westlake Davenport, IA	Big boy golf, and only 20 minutes from my parents house! Water, elevation, tunnels, distance, more water.
Winthrop Gold Rock Hill, SC	The Championship Gold course is the pinnacle of our sport. Competing on this gem is a great test of controlling your disc and making your putts.
Walnut Ridge Johnston, IA	Our Country Club course on Saylorville Lake offers all the challenge you can ask for including swirling wind.
Kensington Toboggan Milford, MI	The Toboggan was the first BIG disc golf course I ever played. After Am Nats in 2002 I decided disc golf was going to be a big part of my life.
Ewing Park Des Moines, IA	My home course and training grounds when I moved back to Des Moines in 2004. A beautiful park with a nice disc golf course, for me, it doesn't get any better.

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