Team Discraft: Nate Krahn Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Nate Krahn
	TEAM:	Tour
	HOMETOWN:	Wynnewood, PA
	PDGA #:	29352
	2009 PDGA RATING:	1008
	BORN:	1986
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	2004
	day gig:	Electrician student: Delaware County Community College
	HOT FINISHES:	Won four of six Open events played in the first half of 2008.

MEMORABLE DISC GOLF MOMENTs

My first time going to Sedgley Woods DGC. Me and my friends went out at night and just stood at two baskets and putt back and forth. Another experience was going to Paw Paw and the Grange courses for the first time. There are a lot of the same people who go to those courses. They really know how to ensure you have a good time while you're there and that's what I've discovered for most courses and players.

Another memorable moment happened at the 2009 USDGC where my friend came down to qualify on Monday. I was already in and caddied for him during his second round to qualify and he birdied his last two holes to get into a 4 way play off for two spots into the tournament. I caddied for him for the playoff holes and watched him and one other guy birdie hole 17 to end and earn a spot in his first USDGC.

Nate's Disc Golf Tips

Smooooth It Out
I still have trouble controlling every shot but I try to control that by being as smooth with my shot as possible. Having a controlled smooth run up, pull back and release have helped me in throwing accurately and further. It's tough to have control over your shot if you're jolty with the drive or upshot.

Cross Step For More D
The cross step is great because it helps develop a straighter, deeper pull back. Always make sure your pull back is as parallel to the fairway as possible. You can also cock your wrist slightly to have more spin on the disc. I've gone to open fields and just practiced getting a smooth release.

My Putting Style
What I have learned from many experienced players is to have a comfortable stance with the lead foot pointed towards the basket. Then I try and keep my arm on a vertical line to not stray from the basket. Sometimes I imagine that my arm is being pulled on a string up and down. Then pick a link on the basket close to the center but a little right and I just try to throw it about shoulder level.

How To Throw A Forehand
I start the forehand 'flick' the same way I start a backhand: by standing sideways to the hole. Then line up the shot. When you're first learning, keep it simple and throw some hyzers to learn how the disc flies, for a flick will fade to the right. The flick however requires more spin so start with an understable disc (Avenger SS, Buzzz SS). I try and throw it as straight as possible to start out. More on learning forehand shots...

I've learned a little about getting out of tight woods and back in the fairway. This trick won't get you up the fairway too far, just about 100 ft at the most if possible. It is a vertical shot that is backhand and thrown upside down with the thumb on the bottom lip. Instead of throwing across the body from shoulder to shoulder, it is thrown upwards and spiked. It is a great trick to save yourself from further strokes. This is called a grenade or scuber.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course	Comments
The Grange Spotsylvania, VA	The tiki golf, arcades, and various games. Everyone who is there is always having a good time and trying to make your time more enjoyable.
Codorus Hanover, PA	Fun golf holes with lots of woods and big distance.
Maple Hill Leicester, MA	Exciting golf holes. Amazing land and variation.
Sedgley Woods Philadelphia, PA	Great distraction practice with good people and times.
Paw Paw Paw Paw, WV	Good test of accuracy and distance.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP NUKE (173 gm)	Great long distance disc. Pretty stable. Doesn't turn over really except thrown flat or in a headwind. Lots of glide and lots of distance because of this. The rim is a little bigger than the Force but doesn't bother me that much.
Z Stalker (174 gm)	Perfect all around driver. Does exactly what I want it to do. It will go left, right and straight with relative ease. It doesn't crash hard and doesn't flip too quickly. Almost like a long midrange. Like I said... perfect.
Z Avenger (172 gm)	This is my go-to driver. For placement shots and long birdie opportunities. I can forehand flick this disc as easily as a backhand. A stable disc at first until you beat it in a little, then it will have a slight turn when thrown hard enough.
ESP Avenger (172 gm)	Very stable starting out. I will use this disc for light head wind shots and spike shots. I don't throw it that much, that's why it isn't beat in.
ESP Force (172 - 175)	This disc is reliably overstable. I can backhand or forehand a Force without any fear of turning it over. It holds a nice straight line with a hard finish when I fully get into it. It's also good for long simple hyzer shots. The color of the plastic also gives you different stabilities. I've have seen that the orange and red ones are more overstable than a white or yellow. So my red one can be relied upon if there is OB that I need to go over. However you can theoretically get more distance from a white because it will allow you to get more of the disc's glide.
ESP Surge (172 - 175)	Surge is a great long distance, stable driver. I use this disc for easy long straight shots. You don't have to put a lot on it to make it go straight and far. I can get a lot of distance on it if I really got into it but I would have to know the disc in order not turn it over. This disc is also good for long turnover shots. It is a very slow turning disc so it can get big distance by turning it over and having it slowly come out its turn. I can also get more distance by rolling it.
ESP and Z Predator (174 gm)	Great overstable driver. Most used for spike shots, headwinds and grenades (throwing backhand with thumb underneath the rim). Also a good shot for skipping when thrown flatter. Usually though I like having them dig into the ground when I want it to.
FLX and X XL (172 - 175)	XL is an understable driver that I use for easy turnover shots and rollers. I don't try to over-power this disc. If I wanted to make the disc go straight, I would only throw it in a stand still.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
X Buzzz (172 - 175)	Perfect midrange disc. Very predictable, holds any line put on it. This disc is great for slightly hyzering straight shots. It will slowly turn for you and not crash over. It's pretty good for the woods if you don't hit too many trees with it. It's also been good to me for slow fading turnover shots. Doesn't crumble when thrown hard.
Z Buzzz (172 - 175)	Just like the X Buzzz, this disc is great for straight woods holes. It will hold just about any angle you put it on. If it's a hyzer then it will stay a hyzer and won't crumble if turned over for an anhyzer shot. It's a little more overstable than Buzzz X, so I can really get behind this and it won't turn over too much. Most of the time it hyzers out on me so I know that I can't overpower it on a hyzer.
ESP Wasp (172 - 175)	Overstable midrange. Great for headwinds and 'S' shots through the woods. This disc is reliable. I've seen with some ESP wasps that they tend to start flipping when beat up. So far this disc shows no signs of turning over.
ESP Comet (172 - 175)	This disc is understable for the most part. I can really crank it and it won't ever come back. But if I put too much finesse then it will hyzer out early. I will use this disc for long downhill shots or long up shots. I would only drive this disc if it were a short hole. I'd say about 250ft is the max distance I would try and get out of this disc.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
X Soft Challenger (175 gm)	I use this disc for my putting and close upshots. I have driven with these before but only when I don't want to use my Comet. I have to throw this disc hard if I want it to turn. Otherwise it will come out of its flight early and hard. it also has a natural glide when put on an anhyzer. This disc can crumble if thrown too hard and without enough hyzer. For the most part a reliable disc.
X Soft Focus (174 gm)	Good stable putter. I use this for drives mainly. I would say that it is a more stable challenger. This is something I've been wanting in my bag for a while.
ESP Zone (172 gm)	Awesome disc. like a mini Predator. Used for short hyzer shots and hard straight shots that want to fade at the end. I am comfortable with this disc on shots around 250 feet. You are able to hit this disc hard and not fear it turning.

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