The Open at Austin

March 17, 2023

logo

Welcome. There’s no luck when you're In The Circle. 🍀

📝 On today’s card:

  • Best grip for backhand throws

  • Prodigy withdrawals request for a restraining order

  • The Open at Austin

  • Share our newsletter to earn a free In The Circle Sticker!

Read time: 5 minutes

3-14-2023-upcoming-tournament

UP YOUR GAME

When it comes to backhand throws, the general consensus is “power grip” is king. It’s the grip that most pros utilize and the one that will provide maximum power and distance.

Scott Stokely, a legend in the sport of disc golf, explains why the power grip should be the default for backhand throws. In this video, he lists three “rules” to follow when choosing a grip. He also states there are exceptions and rules can be broken.

The three rules are:

  1. Grip with four fingers - The reason is, four fingers are stronger than three, three are stronger than two, and so on. The stronger your grip, the more consistent your release.

  2. Tuck the disc entirely into the palm of your hand - As with all things regarding technique in sports, you want to do things that can be replicated. By placing the disc entirely and firmly into your palm, you can ensure the disc is in the same spot for every throw.

  3. Thumb on the inside edge of the underside lip of the disc - Use that lip you can feel to grip the disc. “Let friction aid in the grip, not create the grip.”

Scott highlights that there is no one grip to rule them all. Everyone has differently shaped hands, finger lengths are different, and people’s fingers even bend differently. Scott even uses a modified four-finger power grip called the “pinch grip.”

“There will never be a universally correct grip”

No matter your hand shape or size, find the grip most comfortable for you. Then, follow these three rules next time you’re out on the course to get that extra power on your backhand.

PRODIGY’S RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST BUHR

Prodigy has reportedly dropped its request to obtain a restraining order against Gannon Buhr. The restraining order was originally requested to keep Gannon from signing with another disc manufacturer while the original lawsuit gets settled.

“Based on a temporary understanding between Plaintiff [Prodigy Disc, Inc.] and Defendant [G.B., a Minor, by and through Michelle Nesheim, his Legal Guardian] to maintain the status quo between them, Plaintiff hereby withdraws, without prejudice, its motion for Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction, and a Hearing.”

Prodigy also wrote that they reserve the right to refile it motion if necessary.

So far, Gannon has continued to throw Prodigy discs and rep their brand. The original contract that Gannon tried to break, which then Prodigy sued him for, obligated him to Prodigy until the end of 2023.

Time will tell if Gannon can get, and is willing to sign with another manufacturer considering the original lawsuit is still pending.

THE OPEN AT AUSTIN

The third stop of the Disc Golf Pro Tour kicks off today with the start of The Open at Austin. If you missed the pre-tournament press conference, check it out here.

The tournament is held at The Open Course at Harvey Penick Golf Campus in Austin, Texas. This is a brand new course to the DGPT. The tournament has been hosted in Belton, Texas as a DGPT Silver Series event for the last two years, but has moved to a brand new course in Austin for 2023.

Free live coverage of the FPO division is already underway on the DGPT YouTube channel. Live coverage of the MPO feature card for round one will start at 4:30 pm EDT. Rounds two and three can be watched on the Disc Golf Network.

Next-day coverage of FPO and MPO feature cards will be available on JomezPro.

Follow the live scores 👇

Previous Winners

  • 2022 (SS) - Chris Dickerson / Catrina Allen

  • 2021 (SS)- Ricky Wysocki / Catrina Allen

  • 2020 (A-Tier) - Ezra Aderhold / Valerie Mandujano

  • 2019 (A-Tier) - Paul Ulibarri / Catrina Allen

  • 2018 (A-Tier) - James Conrad / Catrina Allen

SS - Disc Golf Pro Tour Silver Series

Things to know

Ricky Wysocki will be making his 2023 DGPT debut today. This will be his first tournament since the Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship in October 2022. He had missed the All-Star weekend and the first two DGPT tournaments due to a wrist injury. Ricky is a 2x champion of The Open.

Simon Lizotte will be looking to get back on track this weekend. He placed 47th at LVC and did not compete in WACO this past weekend. It remains to be seen what he can do with the MVP plastic he recently transitioned into.

Another familiar face will be Nikko Locastro. With the tournament being sponsored by Lone Star Disc, Nikko is starting on the feature card and hopes to have solid rounds this weekend. He placed 17th at LVC and 16th at WACO.

Kristin Tattar and Kyle Klein were coming off their wins at WACO last weekend. Catrina Allen may put up a fight against Kristin as she is a 5x winner of the tournament.

WEEKLY PRO RANKINGS - TOP 10

LATEST PLASTIC

The PDGA approved eleven new discs this past week.

  • Viperwolf, Solar Eclipse, Kore, Ignition, Hyrrokin, Euphoria, and Bliss from Orbital Discs

  • Dune from Trash Panda Disc Golf

  • Paladin OS and Pacific OS from Northstar Discs

  • Badia from STM Disc Golf

Total PDGA-approved models: 1,728

CIRCLE’S EDGE

  • Only two MPO players have placed Top 30 at every DGPT event they competed in for the last two seasons. Kyle Klein and Gannon Buhr.

  • If you missed the Waco Annual Charity Open this past weekend, check out the highlights from the MPO and FPO winners, Kyle Klein and Kristin Tattar.

  • Want standings for disc golf but in a Formula 1 type of way. Check out this updated standings page after the first two DGPT tournaments.

RULE OF THE DAY

B. To obtain relief from a casual area, the player's lie may be relocated without penalty to the nearest lie which is farther from the target and is on the line of play, at the nearest point that provides relief (unless greater casual relief is announced by the Director).

What score would you give today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.