The Beginning: First Tournaments

In wake of these tournaments, I found myself getting nervous. I haven't had that feeling in quite a long time. I missed it. Saturday morning I got to play in the Crowley Spring Stampede presented by Travis Avenue Baptist Church. In my opening round I was placed on a card with some solid players. I asked how long they had been playing professionally, they all said around 2-3 years... it was a bit shocking but I tried to keep my cool. All in all what I took out of the first round was that I was beating myself. I kept missing easy putts or missing my line on my drives. My nerves never seemed to calm because I wasn't hitting the shots I felt I should have made. In the second round it became a bit easier to settle in. I just wasn't catching any breaks, tons of spit outs (everyone was spitting out at Crowley). I finished my first tournament in the top division 3rd from the bottom... Not what I was hoping for but in the grand scheme of things this was all a learning process. 

The next day I got to play in the Dynamic Discs May Madness in Lewisville. LL Woods was a course I saw as easy and way to open. But the way it is played in Open made it easily one of my favorite courses to play. It asks more of you as a player. You need to play smart stay in the fairways and keep in bounds. Same things happened as they did the day before. I was missing putts and making mistakes I shouldn't have been making. As we went back to the Lake to play the second round I had already in a way checked out which was a mistake and continued to make mental mistakes. I finished the day 2nd from the bottom. 

What I was able to take out of these tournaments was plain and simple. I need to play a lot more and fine tune my strengths and eliminate my weakness's, so when I have to play on my weakness I know how to handle it and I can get myself out of trouble. 

Since then I have played easily 40-50 rounds of golf since then. I have changed my putting style from a spin to a pitch. I have worked more on my form, on the pad and in the field. I have seen an improvement, and will continue to build on it. My goal is to be able to play a round and keep myself out of trouble play bogey free and just smash every putt home without second guessing myself. In the great words of Marty Mcfly "If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything." That is my plan I will become a pro and play this sport at the highest level. This is only the beginning.

In My Bag

1x S Line PD2 Chaos 175g

1x P Line PD2 Chaos 175g

2x C Line PD2 Chaos 175g

This disc is easily one of my favorite discs to throw. Super fast, Super stable, Predictable. My S Line PD2s are great because they can handle heavy power, strong winds and finish with a predictable skip depending on the surface, usually my go to driver. The P Line PD2 tends to be a little more flippy which makes it fantastic for enormous flex shots, despite how flippy it is it handles wind well and finishes left always, usually my go to for open field long shots. My C Line PD2s are easily some of the most stable discs I have thrown, they remind me of a faster Firebird. I use them mainly for long sidearms, long hyzerbombs, or ridiculous head wind drives.

2x S Line PD Freak 175g

3x C Line PD Freak 175g

My go to disc. If I am ever unsure about what to throw I pick one of these up. I can do just about anything with this disc. From anhyzers, spike hyzers, flex shots, tunnel shots, and even some sidearms. The S Line PDs are great because they start out super stable but as they wear in they become predictably flippy. So I try and keep one that is more new and one that is broken in. The C Line PDs are very different because some tend to be super flippy and some are super stable. I use them mainly for flex shots and tunnel shots. Not to mention they handle windy conditions like a champ. This disc reminds me of Teebird just faster. Easy to control. Love this disc.

1x S Line TD Rush 175g

1x C Line TD Rush 175g

I chose this discs because I used to throw Leopards but was needing something that would get me the extra distance while turning right. Great disc for hyzer flips, rollers and up hill anhyzers. I don't necessarily throw rollers but have been trying to make use of them and this disc works great. It has great speed to get some extra distance before it hits the ground and rolls. S Line is more of my roller where my C Line is better for Hyzer flips. Solid disc that I have confidence in. 

2x S Line FD Jackal 175g

This disc has helped my game in every way. Powered down it holds its line. Powered up it predictably flips. Along with the TD Rush it helped replace my Leopards. With a large amount of glide this disc is perfect for uphill shots. I trust this disc almost as much as my PD. I also use this for many tunnel shots. A disc that will give anyone more confidence in their game.

1x Star Firebird 175g

2x 12x Champion Firebird 175g

I honestly feel like I could never go without having one of these in my bags. This disc handles sidearms, spike hyzers, head wind driver, tomahawks, and upside down spikes. My star Firebird is used mainly for sidearm approach shots and longer tomahawks. The 12x Champ Firebirds I use for just about everything else. One of the best discs ever made. Every bag should have one. 

1x S Line GM Gremlin 175g

My mini Firebird. Great head wind midrange disc. Small rim makes for a smooth release every time. Great for spike hyzer approaches. A versatile disc that has saved me on a ton of shots. 

1x S Line MD2 Fiend 180g

2x C Line MD2 Fiend 180g

I used to throw Rocs, This disc needs to be added to the debate of the which is better Roc v. Buzz. The Fiend wins out in my eyes. Great in all conditions with just the best feel out of your hand. This disc does it all from anyhyzers to hyzers. Great for tunnel shots as well. If I had to take one disc out to a course it would be a C Line MD2. Feels great in my hands and feels better once I've thrown it in the air. 

1x S Line P2 Psycho 175g

2x D Line P2 Psycho 175g
I am beginning to use these more and more off the box. The S Line is my short range head wind driver when I know my Gremlin, Firebird, PD and PD2 are too fast. From spike hyzer approaches to skip approaches, this disc really should always be in my bag. Biggest skip I have seen out of any putter. The D Line is great for about any shot. My main one I used to putt with so it is extra beat in and is reliable time and time again. I tend to have one that flips easily for short turners and one that holds whatever line I put it on. This is my main approach disc. Tons of confidence in this disc. Beadless big bead, the perfect creation in my opinion. 

2x KC Pro P2 Psycho 175g
My Putters. I keep two in the bag for warming up and because I tend to Jump putt with one more than the other. They are both beat in really well and hit the chains nicely. They are stiff putters so I do see the occasional spit out but that's golf so you forget it and move on to the next hole. I pitch putt inside the circle and this putter handles a pitch perfectly. Tend to use these for windy days as well when I need to spin putt. Have had a few occasions where I've pulled in my D Line P2s when the baskets are spitting everything out since they are slightly softer and have a bit more grip. Beadless big bead, the perfect creation in my opinion. 

Intro

Hey there. My name is Eric Oakley. I am 23 years old about to turn 24, I have many interests and have had a hard time finding something to keep my focus. I have pursued a career as a professional soccer player but it was not what I was looking for. But with that behind me I have the chance to go back to school and take time doing something I truly enjoy, Disc Golf. I have been playing off and on for about 7 years. I started playing in high school, but wasn't able to get serious playing the sport because my main focus was on playing soccer. This has been the case up until now.

I recently started playing casually about 3 months ago, and have now decided to play on a serious level. I have been playing on average 6-7 rounds a week, sometimes more. I met some players and started playing in some mini around the area (Turner Park, Lake Lewisville, Veterans and Audoban) I played in the open division and competed well against the competition. I placed in a few minis which gave me the confidence to sign up for so C tier and B tier tournaments. I will go over my experience in those tournaments down the line. I decided to get my PDGA membership and play as a Pro. I plan on learning from better players to hopefully excel my game and making me a top competitor down the line. My goal is to become a Pro, help expand the sport, and to help evolve the sport in any way I can.

I will be doing an in my bag and I will continue to update my bag contents as time goes on. I will also be doing some disc reviews/comparisons. Comparing plastics, shapes, different styles. I recently switched most of my discs to Discmania so I will be helping spread the word on why I feel these discs are better than the rest. The company had me at "reinvent your game," and that is exactly what I have done and I want to help others reinvent their own games.

I am a Discmaniac.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT4hcbSNq6U