5 Mistakes Beginners Make in Tournaments

We all make mistakes in tournaments. They are inevitable and a part of life. It can be said that how you react to your mistakes is an indicator of how you scored for that round. This article gives you insights into how to avoid certain mistakes and how to deal with mistakes once they have happened. The five most common mistakes beginners make in tournaments are as follows:

1. 1. Setting expectations too high
2. 2. Not knowing the course
3. 3. Not knowing the rules
4. 4. Playing against other players on your card
5. 5. Being hard on yourself

Let’s unpack this list.

Setting Expectations Too High

You want to play well. You may even feel you have a chance to win your division. These are wonderful aspirations. Keep the good vibes flowing and keep your confidence high. Just don’t set your expectations too high. Set realistic goals such as getting 5 birdies, making friends, staying positive, etc. Try not to set a specific score you wish to shoot for your first few tournaments. Maybe you played the course one day and shot a really hot round. Maybe you have birdied every hole on the course at one time or another. Do not expect to birdie every hole during your tournament or shoot the same score as your hot round during practice.

Setting your expectations too high can result in you feeling like you are behind. This manifests itself by you taking more chances to make up for lost birdies from earlier in the round. This mindset can derail a round as your game plan will be thrown out the window. Stay positive and know that you can achieve realistic goals.

Not Knowing the Course

All too often I play in tournaments with players who do not know the course. They are constantly second-guessing their shot selection and unsure of pin locations and distances. Not knowing the course is such an unnecessary complication to your tournament round! This leads to a lack of confidence and can snowball in a hurry. The antidote, you ask? Practice rounds! If you are able, play the course where your tournament will be. Play a true practice round where you throw multiple tee shots, upshots, putts, etc. so that you can pair your specific skills with the course. Try various shots off the tee until you are comfortable applying your skills to the course giving yourself the best shot at a solid round.

If you are unable to play the course before your tournament chances are there is media available online. Do research on YouTube first for old tournament coverage or possible course walkthroughs. If nothing is available check on UDisc and DGCourseReview for reviews of the course. Also, speak with friends who have played the course to glean any pertinent
information. The idea here is to play the course yourself and formulate your game plan. This gives you confidence and ease as you know the specifics of the course.

Not Knowing The Rules

PDGA tournament rules are your friend. The more you know the more you can use them to your advantage. However, the opposite is also true. The rules can be your enemy. Many beginners do not know the rules and will be timid when executing shots as a result. Do basic research and familiarize yourself with the most frequently applied rules.

The PDGA releases a handbook of rules every year. Many players will carry a copy with them in their bag as disagreements can arise at tournaments. Highly specific rules sometimes need to be looked up while out on the course. As disc golf is a self-officiated sport it is helpful to have this handy guide in your bag.

Playing Against Other Players on Your Card

Another mistake beginners make in tournaments is playing against their cardmates. What I mean by this is beginners will discard their game plan and try to play against players on their card. This will typically lead to throwing shots you never practiced because someone else on your card throws a shot you had not seen before.

Remember that you are competing against the course and not other players. Sure, if you are in a tight race in the final round there is a strategy that should be implemented based on your competitors. However the vast majority of the time you should be competing against the course. Your game plan needs to maximize the balance between your skills and how to apply them to the course. This is where practice rounds help you to formulate a game plan and not get lost in how other players are playing.

Being Hard on Yourself

Many beginners are too hard on themselves in tournaments. You are going to make mistakes. You are going to be disappointed. You are going to get bogeys. But these mistakes need not lead to more mistakes in the future. The number one reason that a disc golf round derails is that a player becomes too critical of themself. Paul McBeth even throws bad shots! However, the difference between us and him is that he uses the poor shot as motivation to play better moving forward. He does not allow the disappointed energy to snowball into a difficult round. Try to learn something from a poor shot and have a short memory, take a breath, and move on.

The antidote for being hard on yourself is letting go. Staying in the moment. This is much easier said than done. Remember to breathe. Come back to your breath throughout a tournament round no matter how you are playing. That way, when you do throw a disappointing shot (and you will!), you are able to quickly connect, take a deep breath, and move on.

Conclusion

Beginners are going to make mistakes in tournaments. This list was designed to minimize the largest mistakes I see beginners make and to take control of aspects that are within your control. Many of these mistakes compound on top of each other to provide a storm of difficulties. This need not be the case. The overarching theme is to gain knowledge of the course and rules and to be easy on yourself. Formulate a game plan and stick to it. Bringing this knowledge and ease to a round puts you in an opportune spot to score well in your next tournament.