Team Discraft: pro disc golfer Chris Hysell

	NAME:	Chris Hysell
	TEAM:	Masters
	HOMETOWN:	Richmond, VA
	PDGA #:	7382
	2009 PDGA RATING:	964
	BORN:	1963
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	1993
	day gig:	Chief Draftsman for Hermitage Steel Co., Inc.
	disc Cred:	50 PDGA event wins since 1993 Lots of other stuff
	memorable disc golf moment:
	My first win in the Open division. It was at Lums Pond in Delaware, 1995.

Chris' Disc Golf Tips

No Drivers For Newbies If you're new to the game, start with an approach or midrange driver,and master it inside and out. Figure out how to turn it in any direction, and how to get distance with it. Once you're comfortable and you've got your technique down, then it's time to reach for a long range drivers.

Three Putts Will Kill You
Since I've been running weekly events for over 10 years now I have seen many new players who seem to make the same mistake over and over again. Whether it's a new amateur or an up and coming advanced player, they all feel the pressure to go for putts. A missed deuce putt can easily become a testy par putt. My suggestion is to develop a putting style that leaves you with either a drop in putt or one within the range that you are confident enough to make consistently. Eliminate a few unnecessary strokes on your card each round and you will find yourself moving up the scoreboard.

Amaze Your Friends
We all love to throw a trick shot while practicing or playing in a leisurely round. The beauty of a trick shot is that if you practice it and gain confidence with it it can become a natural shot that you might consider throwing off of tee pads. I guess the forehand roller has become my trick shot of choice. My confidence in it makes me throw it in tight woods instead of backhand shots. It's so versatile that once you master it you can throw it with virtually any disc in your bag just by changing the angle of release and by landing it properly. Practice it and amaze your friends.

Reach For The Chains
It's really frustrating to put your putts on line and have them end up hitting the basket either high or low. The common cause of this is the effect of head winds or tail winds. Flatter putt releases can help to correct this. When it's not windy I often notice players start to miss putts low as the day goes on. This can be caused by fatigue or lack of concentration. I typically call this habit 'reaching' because it appears that the player is reaching towards the actual cage of the basket. The easy fix is to stand up a little straighter and raise your release point up a few inches. Give it a try and hopefully it will work for you.

Best Discs for Forehand Shots?
As someone who sells a lot of plastic I'm often asked for advice from new players on which discs to use on forehand shots. Well the real answer is every disc has it's uses as a forehand disc. The majority of new players who are learning forehand shots need them to get out of trouble. Fortunately Discraft released the Zone and not only is it a good disc for short range forehand shots but I have found it to be a great training aid. Because of its stability it allows someone to throw a high lob anhyzer shot, a flat straight shot or a hyzer sidearm. A bonus is that this disc has a rounded edge so that minimal technique mistakes aren't exaggerated like they would be with a sharp edged disc. Grab a few Zones and go throw them. At least you won't be walking very far to pick them up.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:		Masters player Chris Hysell helps to keep disc golf moving forward on the local Virginia scene. He runs a weekly league at Gillies Creek and works to keep the courses in good shape at both Gillies and Dorey parks. He TDs a two-day PDGA event every year.
Course	Comments
DarkSide Spotsylvania, VA	A very challenging course.
Loriella Spotsylvania, VA	A great mix of windy, woods and distance.
Pohick Bay Lorton, VA	Short and tricky. Bring your putter.
Timber Ridge Bedford, VA	Absolutely beautiful at sunrise.
Lums Pond Kirkwood, DE	Thick woods.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP Surge (172 gm)	I get the most distance out of this disc. It surprises my competitors because it flies really far! I'm still carrying my original 1st run ESP Surge. It has started to beat up and is a very trusty flat flying disc. It turns over well and gives me great distance. I also throw it as a forehand roller.
FLX Surge (172 gm)	Flat, straight and fast is how my FLX Surge flies. I use them for everything, forehands, backhands and even forehand rollers. When it gets windy I'll probably be throwing one of these. It's been in the bag for about 18 months and I throw it for a majority of my shots.
Z Surge (172 gm)	People often ask me what kind of disc this one is because it has a very overstable ending to its flight. The plastic is really soft and flexible and I have yet to find another Surge that can match its stability.
Z Stalker (171 gm)	The Stalker allowed me to take two discs out of my bag: it has now replaced both my Glide and Buzzz. I have really good distance and control with this disc.
ESP Force (172 gm)	I don't have the power to use my Force as a distance driver, so I use it for it's consistent turn. I throw it both forehand and backhand and really trust it in the wind.
Z Force (167 gm)	I carry this lighter Z version and I use it for forehand distance. If I get a low, flat release I can typically get this disc to fly almost as far as I throw a backhand.
Z Flick (169 gm)	The Flick is Mr. Trusty. I carry three: the beat up one is for straight or turnover forehand shots since this disc is old and has lost some of it's stability. I carry a new Flick and use it on extremely windy days like a pitching wedge, both for forehand and backhand spike shots. I also carry a 150 class: it's great for throwing a high turnover over top of trees. When thrown like a sky roller it will usually plane out and continue on straight.
Z Avenger SS (170 gm)	This may be the most versatile disc in my bag. I use it for everything. I throw it for backhand hyzers, turnovers and really trust it for long rollers. And I do the same thing with it forehand.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
Z Buzzz (172 gm)	Since I throw many different combinations of forehand and backhand touch shots I really only use my Buzzz for wide open short range hyzer shots. I have really good luck with putting it close to my target. I often see players sporting their new FLX Buzzz or their Crystal Buzzz or some other new midrange. I'm still throwing my original First Run Z Buzzz. It behaves just like the day I put it into my bag. I might be a little nostalgic.
FLX Buzzz (168 gm)	The Buzzz is a really great midrange. It flies very straight and is easy to control.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
Soft Magnet (174 gm)	Last year I had both of my Soft Magnets split. I have been putting them since the mid nineties. No worries, I pulled 2 more out or a box. They both have aces marked on them from 1996. I think they have a 10 years of use life expectancy.
ESP Zone (171 gm)	I like it, I love it. An overstable putter/mid range is what I've really been wanting for years. I throw it for those 150ft approaches that I want to give myself a chance of making and not blowing by. I can throw it as a spike hyzer or as an anhyzer that falls out of the sky and drop like a parachute.
D Zone (170 gm)	This was the first Zone I had and it's finally getting beaten in so I can get more distance out of it. It's a trusty projectile. I've also found that as a forehand roller it will go a long way and hold a straight line.

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