Team Discraft: pro disc golfer Bård

	NAME:	Bård Soleng
	TEAM:	Tour
	HOMETOWN:	Norwalk, CT
	PDGA #:	19410
	2009 PDGA RATING:	995
	BORN:	1980
	day gig:	Specialized Carpenter
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	1999
	HOT SHOTS:	1st, AnimalFest XI 2009 1st, Greater Hartford Open 2009 2nd, Tupelo Bay Open 2009 15th, Vibram Open 2009 2nd, 2007 Philly Open 6th, 2007 Skylands Classic 4th, 2007 W Virginia Open 7th, 2007 Sugarbush Open 6th, 2007 Charlotte Open 1st, 2006 Azalea Tournament 22nd, 2005 USDGC

MEMORABLE DISC GOLF MOMENT

I was losing by one at the New England Match Play Championships in 2004. Last hole I pull my upshot to the wrong side of the basket, 40 feet away with a big gnarly tree between me and the basket. My opponent Jason Southwick was 15 feet away for an easy win. I had a small disc-sized slit through the branches directly to the cage, there was only one option. I threw a backhand putter right through and into the basket. Jason missed and we went on to extra holes and I lost on the first one. Now that's a moment.

Bård's Disc Golf Tips

The Angry Roller
When throwing a back-hand long distance roller you need to get angry. That's the first thing that I concentrate on when preparing to go big. I like to roll an overstable driver like a brand new Z-Avenger. Instead of turning the disc over with speed and torque, I like to release the disc on a big anhyzer angle and try to drop the disc about 85 feet in front of me. The reason for rolling overstable driver is that it will travel straighter and not cut left or flip over right. Its more difficult to roll an overstable then understable driver but as you learn you will build up strength and realize that the disc just wants to roll straight until it does not know which way to fall, left or right. Also it is important to make the impact from the disc to the ground is as smooth as possible. This will then not affect the speed and spin as much.

Learn Better Form
Newbies always try and throw discs like an Ultra-Star or beach disc. This mistake costs beginners to lose distance because of the overstability of golf discs. I try to describe good form as one fluent motion that ends with your wrist releasing the disc, like grabbing a soda from a chest high cabinet and placing it on a opposite cabinet while bringing it across your chest.

Layering Is Key To Comfort
Before a tournament, always check the weather from as many sources as you can. When is going to be cold, bring lots of layers. The more layers you wear the less likely you will become cold and you can always take layers off. When its going to be rainy get the more reliable rain gear. Discraft has a great rain jacket for example. Try and wear light layers under your rain gear. Get seal skin socks and light breathable sneakers. When its really hot drink loads of water the night before and wear the lightest in weight and color most breathable gear you have. The better your prepared for the weather the better you will perform, I promise you!

A Lifetime Sport... One Shot At A Time
How to let your bad shots go? All disc golfers will have bad shots. The great players can except this and let it go. You can always bounce back with a great shot and be right where you want to be. The way I try to maintain a steady head game is by reminding myself that golf is not just about one shot, or one round, or one tourney. Its about a life time of playing and I want to be under par in the end!

Patience and Disc Golf Go Hand in Hand
It takes a lot of time and practice to get to where you want to be. When you feel like your game is not getting any better, that's when you need patience to overcome and excel to the next level. The longer you wait for progress the harder you should be practicing in order to be the best disc golfer you can be. If you're on a 'bogey train', the best way to get off at the next stop is to be patient and not press too hard for a birdie. Especially, playing in tournaments one must get used to waiting for other players in the tournament to hole out. It takes time and the best way to take control of your round is to rely on your patients to get you in the right mind-set for your next shot.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course	Comments
Warwick Town Park Warwick, NY	The best all around course. Warwick is the true training ground.
Renaissance Gold Charlotte, NC	A true par 70 course that can't be duplicated. You have to play it to believe it!
Molakai Temp Course Molakai, HI	Set on an abandoned ball golf course in a tropical paradise.
Wickham Park Wickham, CT	Fairly new course built right beside Hartford. A scenic and challenging layout.
Winthrop Gold Rock Hill, SC	Just play it.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP NUKE (174 gm)	I LOVE the NUKE!!!! The fastest disc ever made. I love the wide rim and perfectly balanced weight distribution that makes the Nuke the sickest disc I have ever thrown. The disc speed is just silly. It seems to pick up speed about half-way through the flight. I have thrown my farthest drives with the Nuke and plan on breaking all my personal records using this driver.
ESP Force (174 gm)	I can't say enough about the ESP Force. The Force is great for big hyzers, long distant shots, and control drives. I use them in the woods and in the open. It's overstable and super fast. I can throw it hard and trust that it will always hyzer back. It's the fastest and most dependable driver out there. I love the ESP plastic too, for its great grip and durability.
ESP Surge (174 gm)	The ESP Surge gives the long distance glide that a Predator may lack. This is my longest flying disc by far in my bag. I have two at all times, one brand new and one that is well seasoned. The brand new one I use in the open when I feel I need to get as much distance as I can. The Surge has the most glide I have ever seen on a disc. My seasoned ESP Surge is for controlled tunnel shots in the woods about 290ft-370ft. I am so impressed in the straight line it holds when I release it on a slight hyzer. It just goes straight with a high level of controllability.
Z Avenger (max weight)	When I need to throw a controlled long distance roller I grab a brand new Z Avenger. I really like the speed and straight flight of the Avenger. I can crush it as hard as I want and still have faith that it won't flip over too easily.
Z Predator (max weight)	I love the reliability of the overstable Z Predator. I can always count on the flight path to end left. If there is O.B. on the right I can throw the predator directly at it and have confidence that it will come back hard left. I feel like I can never overpower the Pred and because of the durable Z plastic it will consistently perform the same way. I always have one brand new one and a slightly beat in one for more touch shots. The Predator also has a great skip for cutting around corners. For the fore-hand roller shot I can trust the Predator to go straight and then flip late left towards my target.
X Avenger (max weight)	This version of the Avenger is less stable and packed with more than enough glide. When I need a slow turning long anhyzer drive I turn to the X Avenger. The feel and grip of the plastic make this comfortable in most hands. The X Avenger is great for sky rollers. This gives me more distance than I can get in the air

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
Z Buzzz (max weight)	My favorite disc ever! This is by far the truest disc I have ever thrown. Whichever angle I release it on it will go that direction. The Z-plastic is what keeps the Buzzz flying consistent over a long period of time. I have three in my bag with different levels of stability. The Buzzz is also great for touch forehand up-shots. It has just a little more distance then a putter and much more controllability then a driver.
D Buzzz (max weight)	I love this disc for small or big turnover shots. I can trust my disc to turn right every time. The D plastic makes it easy to beat in. I have two in my bag with different stabilities.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
X Soft Challenger (max weight)	This is my all-time favorite putter. This Challenger has the grippiest feel for all weather condition putting. It is a little overstable and I use this to my advantage. The Soft Challenger will fly straight and break to the basket late and just in time.
D Magnet (max weight)	I can't say enough about the control, distance, and reliability of the Magnet. This putter I use for driving straight. Its great for downhill shots where you might be nervous about going too far. I try to throw it as high as I can and let gravity take it. Its great control and slow speed make it the best upshot disc. The magnet is a strong weapon in my bag and I couldn't live without it.

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