Discmosis

[Sam]

Think about how bad you would suck if you were just going out there by yourself. Or just with Scott.

["Over the Hill" Bob]

Originally Posted by Sam

Think about how bad you would suck if you were just going out there by yourself. Or just with Scott.

Now THAT'S funny!

Bob

[Tim]

I think a good example of discmosis (great term, btw, Jeff) is apparent when you compare OR to WA. It's no secret that on average, OR players are better than WA players. It's nothing that we up here are too proud of, but the tournament results speak for themselves. Why is this? Are Oregonians naturally more athletic than Washingtonians? Do discs fit their hands better? Is there something in the water that makes them throw farther and more accurately? Of course not.

I think it's a snowball effect of lesser skilled players playing with more skilled players and becoming better themselves. And then inadvertently, those formerly lesser skilled players influence a new generation of lesser skilled players and bring them up. In short, talent breeds more talent.

It's been my experience that when you're playing with someone better than you, even if you're not directly competing with them, something psychological happens that makes you want to play better yourself. Whereas if you're playing with someone roughly equal or less skilled, a lot of times you adopt an "ahh, screw it" kind of mentality.

[snap7times]

The brain secrets hormones that cause you to focus and improve hand eye coordination, otherwise known as adereline as one of those hormones... Lack of challenge is a lack of hormones secreted in the body and hence your so-so play...
Also for those who think they "suck", look at most of the pros on pdga... look where they started, in the 800's... most of them have taken 3-7 years to get where they are at in PDGA competition, it doesn't happen overnight, but playing with better players frequently will help the curve progress a bit faster.

[Sausage Fingers]

You know, I used to think that baseball players were the most superstitious people in sports...

Snap, so to what do you ascribe the hormone for choking? You know, when your adrenaline is pumping because the competition is so good and then you shank it into the trees? What's your PhD/MD explanation of THAT phenomenon? What?!? No PhD/MD? You just play one on the forums?

Every time that I have won a competition it wasn't because I had adrenaline, it was because I was able to trick my mind into NOT getting carried away with the adrenaline and just 'played my game'.

[Sam]

Dude... this has nothing to do with superstition. This has to do with fact. Playing with better players makes you better - if you pay attention and have a willingness to learn. Maybe the quaffers are getting in the way of this second part?

[snap7times]

Originally Posted by Sausage Fingers

You know, I used to think that baseball players were the most superstitious people in sports...

Snap, so to what do you ascribe the hormone for choking? You know, when your adrenaline is pumping because the competition is so good and then you shank it into the trees? What's your PhD/MD explanation of THAT phenomenon? What?!? No PhD/MD? You just play one on the forums?

Every time that I have won a competition it wasn't because I had adrenaline, it was because I was able to trick my mind into NOT getting carried away with the adrenaline and just 'played my game'.

I graduate with my masters this saturday if you wanted to know... and obviously my bachelor's plus plus plus degree is in physical education, sports administration and so forth...
When you shank it in the trees, that is your own fault, maybe for that last second you did something different to hold on or to redirect your body and lined that disc up with a huge tree like hole 2 at hornings *had a player say the course sucked cuz he hit it 3 times in a row, dumbaxx didnt even change his form all 3 times*...
usually a fked up throw is due to something you modified during your run up and the form it self causing that ugly shot... the more you play, the more concious you are about your form, the less chance of throwing a shank... Now if your throw was only a littttle bit off than what you wanted and still hit a tree, that is just "margin of error"...
You played your game by focusing on every aspect of your throw and didn't forget or change your throw for a round or something like that. Most errors come from blank minds or hopeful throws...
Masters degree good enough for that explanation above sausage fingers??

[jevon]

That's funny. Every time I recall reading a Sam post telling people to play up because it would make them better, it never included the whole part about practicing. It only mentioned playing with better people. I can guarantee that if you took 100 people and had them move up and another 100 people that just spent their time practicing, the people going to the field and practice basket would get better quicker.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by jevon

That's funny. Every time I recall reading a Sam post telling people to play up because it would make them better, it never included the whole part about practicing. It only mentioned playing with better people. I can guarantee that if you took 100 people and had them move up and another 100 people that just spent their time practicing, the people going to the field and practice basket would get better quicker.

You are correct. No one can deny the effectiveness of practice. However, are you going to practice the same thing over and over, or are you going to try out that really cool new shot you saw someone do the other day.

[T-what?]

I'm a firm believer in "Discmosis" I played 2 rounds with Pinkal on friday and applied what I saw the next day and shaved 6 strokes off my game. Idk...I learn from watching better players and stealing their techniques.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

You are correct. No one can deny the effectiveness of practice. However, are you going to practice the same thing over and over, or are you going to try out that really cool new shot you saw someone do the other day.

But you can see that playing with your peers, or those slightly better than you. And you'll be more likely to be able to replicate that really cool new shot because the person you saw do it isn't three miles ahead of you skill-wise.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Scott

But you can see that playing with your peers, or those slightly better than you. And you'll be more likely to be able to replicate that really cool new shot because the person you saw do it isn't three miles ahead of you skill-wise.

With all due respect, if we all thought like this we'd never try anything because "We're not that good." There are a ton of really cool shots that do NOT require huge distance... a complicated anhyzer s-shot or anything like that. All they require is seeing someone make the shot and then trying it a few times to see what your disc does when thrown like that. Without seeing someone make that shot, you might never have even thought of it as a possibility.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by T-what?

I'm a firm believer in "Discmosis" I played 2 rounds with Pinkal on friday and applied what I saw the next day and shaved 6 strokes off my game. Idk...I learn from watching better players and stealing their techniques.

I have seen the progress first-hand. Rock on T-what!

[Adam Schneider]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Without seeing someone make that shot, you might never have even thought of it as a possibility.

For a lot of beginners, I'm guessing rollers might fall into this category. You very rarely see them thrown -- intentionally. (Personally, I only throw them on Pier #1 left, and on Champoeg #7.)

[Ms Thing]

Originally Posted by "Over the Hill" Bob

I've played my whole disc golf career with better players. (I can't find any that are worse.) I'm still a sucky player! Could it be that Discmosis only applies to younger players?

Bob

ARe you forgetting that time you played with me? I am by far worse, as you would be able to tell by looking at my Trojan bag tag, that is a scary looking picture on it .


I do think you can play better by playing with better players. I have yet to have it happen to me while playing disc golf because I am playing with people far better then me. It did happen to me when I played ball golf in high school and college. I hated playing with the girls that were worse then me, I usually played worse, I played an average round with the girls that we at the same level and my best rounds I played with the girl that won our district.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

You are correct. No one can deny the effectiveness of practice. However, are you going to practice the same thing over and over, or are you going to try out that really cool new shot you saw someone do the other day.

Or more - are you going to see better form and try to incorporate that into what you are doing or are you going to continue the same poor form you have been using?

I am stunned to think that people thought that I was just suggesting watching others was all that was needed to improve. That is NOT a part of my argument and never has been. If you are not already practicing - and that should be a given for anyone who WANTS to get better - then this whole conversation is meaningless, anyway.

My apologies for thinking that we were all on the same page when it comes to practice. I had assumed that the people who want to stay in Rec were also practicing but I guess maybe not.

[kel]

We are now almost to the point where we can clearly discuss the difference between "discmosis" and "dickmostist"

[all2common]

ha!

[Sam]

Who says that there has to be a difference?

[jevon]

At least dickmostist is something I believe in and am good at!