Do PDGA Player Ratings Matter?

PDGA members who play in PDGA sanctioned events get their rounds rated. The resulting number is what is known as a Player Rating (PR). PRs amongst PDGA members are equivocal. There is no one way to interpret these numbers and they can be difficult to quantify due to many factors that play into a round. However, many players use these numbers as valuable input to their games, especially as a measuring stick for progress. PRs are to disc golf what handicaps are to ball golf. This article will unpack PRs and the many ways they are used.

Definition (and Then Some)

According to the PDGA website;

“Your PDGA Player Rating is a number that shows how well you have played in PDGA competitions in the past year in comparison to the Scratch Scoring Average (SSA) of the course layouts you played…Your rating for each round is based on how well you shoot relative to a hypothetical scratch player defined as someone with a rating of 1000. The
automated calculation uses scores from at least 5 players with ratings over 699 whose rating is based on at least 8 rounds of information. These players are called propagators.”

The PDGA then had this to say about the SSA and how it is used to assign PRs for a sanctioned round;

“The initial calculation step determines the SSA for each round. The SSA is the score a scratch player with a rating of 1000 would be expected to average on that course. For example, let’s say the SSA is calculated as 50 for an 18-hole course. Any player who shot a 50 that round would receive a rating of 1000 for that round. Each throw is worth about 10 rating points for courses with this level of difficulty. So, if you shot a 60, your rating for that round would be 900 because you were 10 throws worse than scratch, then multiply times 10 points per throw.”

This equation is used for all PDGA sanctioned events including tournaments and leagues. While it may not be perfect, it certainly gives players an idea of their skill level compared to scratch disc golfers (ie; 1000 rated players).

Why Do Player Ratings Matter?

First and foremost, PRs matter objectively for signing up for proper tiers in tournaments. While anyone of any skill level may enter a professional tournament, there are various tiers for entry into amateur divisions. There are a multitude of amateur divisions based on gender, age, and ability (novice, recreational, intermediate, and advanced). PRs have been used since 2002 to mitigate “sandbagging.” This term is used to define players who enter tournaments below their skill level to collect an easy win. Sandbagging was mitigated to a large degree and allowed for fair competition. Don’t be a sandbagger.

Disc golf is currently experiencing a boom in popularity. Tournaments have become increasingly more popular and as a result more difficult to enter as demand has gone through the roof. This has led tournament directors of certain popular events to institute a PR tier system for tournament entry. Typically the first players able to enter are 1000 rated or higher, then a few days later 970 rated, and so on. This ensures that the top-quality players get preference for entry. Again, there are detractors to this idea as well. However, it is another way that a player’s PR tangibly affects their disc golf career.

PRs are also used subjectively. Players are able to see their progress as they move up (or heavens to Betsy down!) the ranks. This allows players to set goals as to their PR and gives them the ability to advance through the amateur ranks. It gives tangible credibility to skills gained throughout a player’s career. I certainly paid attention to my PR through my amateur years as it was exciting to compare with friends and competitors. PRs are released on the second Tuesday of every month and creates excitement if you have played better than your average in sanctioned events.

Players Opinions – Amateur vs. Professional

Players have mixed feelings about player ratings. Detractors will say that PRs do not accurately depict a player’s skill level. Other arguments say that different courses play to certain player’s strengths and therefore it is hard to compare PRs to players from different regions. Add environmental factors such as wind and rain and some will say PRs bear no weight. Fair arguments.

However, there is a time and place for PRs. One such arena where PRs are meaningful is in the amateur ranks. Amateurs typically pay more attention to their player rating due to the tangible numbers associated with progress. As mentioned earlier, amateur PRs are also used to gauge what division they enter.

Open players vary in their opinion of PRs. Many will say they do not care. Many will say that the numbers do not matter. But come on, we’re all human. EVERYONE cares about their PR to one degree or another. But at a certain level it only matters how a player performs on a given day.

Top Player Ratings in PDGA History

Paige Pierce currently holds the record for the highest ever PR on the women’s side from March of 2021 at 996. She is trying to become the first FPO player to ever break the 1000 barrier. On the men’s side, Paul McBeth had the highest ever rating in July of 2020 at 1062. This number is astounding. There are currently a few players in the 1050s but 1062! For perspective, to be touring pro players typically strive to be over the 1000 mark, and for women that number is 930. These PR’s are incredible for Pierce, McBeth, as well as for the sport. They give current and young players a target to strive for.

Conclusion

PRs are used for a variety of reasons. While the formula to come up with the specific numbers may not be universally supported, PRs still give a solid reflection of a player’s skill level. Whether players are using their PR as a benchmark for improvement, to figure out what division to enter, or simply as a way to poke some fun with friends, PRs are useful on a variety of levels. So, if you haven’t already, get yourself a PDGA membership and play in some sanctioned events to get your PR started. You may just be the one to set the new standard for the highest PR!