Team Discraft: Chris Heeren Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Chris Heeren
	HOMETOWN:	Janesville, WI
	PDGA #:	18464
	2012 PDGA RATING:	1008
	BORN:	1980
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	2001
	CONNECT:
	day gig:	PK Analyst at WTS Paradigm
	HOT SHOTS:	60 PDGA career wins. Top Worlds finish: 9th, 2005. 25 Open wins in 2010 & 2011 including: Mad City Open Supertour, Tower Ridge Open, Fox Valley Open, Sinnissippi Open & GRABM Classic, Channahon Classic, and Summersmack Down..

Memorable disc golf moments

One of my most memorable moments in disc golf was playing the 2004 Tower Ridge Open. The first round I shot a decent 1010 rated round only 2 strokes back of Barry Schultz, then the 2nd round we moved the baskets to the long pins creating one of the toughest courses in the state. I began by birding every hole that was physically possible for me to reach, I caught up to Barry by hole 5 where we continued to battle it out until the end. After I pared the last hole I finished at the new course record 47 for my highest rated round at the time a 1061. Barry and I were both tied on the day and went to a sudden death play off in 30+ mph winds. Both our drives hit trees early and both our approach shots were left about 50-60' short. I stepped up to my putt first from about 60' looking right at a heavy swirling wind. My caddy, Keith Warren said just go for it and end it now . . . so I did. The putt went up, then a few seconds later the wind gusted and blew the disc straight into the chains for my 3. Barry stepped up to his putt and the wind just pushed it straight to the ground. This was officially my first time beating Barry Schultz in a PDGA tournament after 3 years of finishing behind him and a moment I'll never forget.

Chris's Disc Golf Tips

Keep your priorities straight
The first rule I have for not only beginners but everyone is to have fun out there! Whether it's your 2nd time out or your 50th Pro tournament, I believe the biggest key is to stay in the right mind set and to have fun. If you start losing your temper on a missed putt, not only are you bringing yourself down but also the others around you. Keep in mind it is just a game and the world will still be here the next day, even if that putt didn't go in. A good book that teaches you how to put yourself in the right mental state and stay there is 'Mental Toughness Training for Sports: Achieving Athletic Excellence'. I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to improve on their disc golf game.

Eighty percent of disc golf is mental! Learning to replace the negative thoughts of missing a putt or hitting a tree out of your head while throwing with positive thoughts or making the putt or hitting the fairway will drastically increase your chances of actually doing it. When you have confidence you always play better! A great way of building your confidence is practice and repetition. Next time when practicing putting, start out closer to the basket and don't move back until you are hitting the majority of your putts. The more you make, the more confident you'll be on the course.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP NUKE (174 gm)	NUKE is the fastest and farthest flying disc to date! The first run ESP Nukes are a little more stable and very predictable with incredible distance. I use this disc for most holes over 450 feet.
Z NUKE (174 gm)	This is my go-to distance driver when trees are in play. The Z Plastic can absorb the tree hits at higher speeds better than the ESP plastic.
Z Force (172-174 gm)	I absolutely love the Z Force! It's my go to driver on most holes. It's stable, predictable, and fast! I use this disc for 300 to 450+ foot hyzer shots and also 300+ foot forehands. Since the disc is so predictable, it is also my go to drive for windy days. All around this is my favorite driver on the course.
ESP Force (172-174 gm)	The ESP force tends to beat in slightly faster than Z plastic making them great distance discs or long turnover shots. I use the lighter 170-172 ESP Forces for distance drives in open fields.
Z Avenger (174 gm)	The Z Avenger is another great driver. This is my go to disc for any tunnel, turnover or slow hyzer shot. When trees line the fairway I go straight for the Avenger and let it rip.
ESP Pulse (174 gm)	This is my go-to driver for forehands. It's a fast, very stable disc that great on a hyzer line.
ESP Avenger SS (174 gm)	The Avenger SS is a great roller disc right out of the box. I use this disc for any type of roller or massive turnover shot and typically keep only new SS's in my bag.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
ESP Buzzz (178 gm)	This is quite possibly the best disc Discraft has ever made. This midrange disc flies on whatever line it is thrown on. Very accurate, very consistent and feels great in my hands. This is my favorite disc from Discraft and also my go-to disc for any hole 300 feet or under.
FLX Drone (177 gm)	This disc is a must have on windy days! Due to the 2.5 stability rating, it's very stable and very predictable which makes it my go-to approach disc when the wind hits 20+ mph.
ESP Wasp (178 gm)	The Wasp is my stable approach disc one step up from the Buzzz. I use this disc when there is a stiff headwind or sidewind and can still maintain my confidence that it will fly how I expect it too.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
D Challenger (175 gm)	I use the Challenger as my go to disc for putting. The stability of the disc make is great for those long jump putt shots with increased accuracy.
D Magnet (175 gm)	I use this disc for short controlled turnover shots through the woods, also for any putts that need to finish to the right.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course	Comments
Idlewild Park Burlington, KY	One of my favorite courses in the country!
Blue Ribbon Pines New Bethel, MN	A very well manicured course with tough shots.
Pyramids Gold Course Leicester, MA	Very scenic and very challenging.
Telemark Resort Cable, WI	A challenging 27 hole course with the most elevation change in WI.
Renaissance Gold Course Charlotte, NC	Another very challenging par 72 course.

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