Disc Golf as Exercise – Motivation to Play Disc Golf
In today’s State of Disc Golf article we are taking a look at a new topic that was on our survey for the first time this year. What motivates us to play disc golf–specifically, is exercise part of what motivates us? Do we view disc golf as an exercise activity? This topic is especially interesting when we talk about disc golf transitioning from a casual “game” that friends play in a park to a “sport” played by professional athletes.
Do we view disc golf as more of a “game” or a “sport?” While we didn’t ask that last question specifically, I think how we view disc golf as exercise will shed some insight on that as well. So let’s take a look at the data!
How much is exercise a motivating factor in your disc golf play?
- Biggest Motivating Factor–5.12%
- Important Motivating Factor–48.53%
- Slight Motivating Factor–35.66%
- Not a Motivating Factor–9.63%
- N/A (didn’t answer question)–1.05%
I don’t think there are too many surprises here, but it is interesting that over half of us view exercise as at least an important factor in why we play. Again, this is the first year we asked this question, so I can only assume, but I’d imagine as disc golf grows as a sport, more and more people will view exercise as an important motivating factor.
But how far would we take that view of disc golf as exercise?
There have recently been new exercise equipment hitting the market that are designed to improve your disc golf game, to strengthen you and to help prevent injury. But would we even consider using such equipment? We asked you in our survey, and here were your responses:
Would you consider exercise equipment to improve your disc golf game?
- Yes–48.58%
- No–18.13%
- Maybe–32.85%
- N/A (didn’t answer)–0.44%
Now in hindsight, maybe a better way to word that question would have been to specifically question our willingness to purchase this type of equipment. Because I know at least for myself, if you ask me if I’d be willing to try something new, I’ll probably say yes. But if you ask me if I will buy that something new…maybe not. But either way, I think it is significant that nearly half of survey takers would consider this type of equipment. We as disc golfers are always looking for ways to improve our game, so why wouldn’t we be willing to give equipment like this a try?
What disc golf exercise equipment is there? Well for a long time Gateway has made Training Wizards, which are simply heavy weighted versions of their Wizard putters. While these are unique discs, their legitimacy as a training/exercise tool for disc golf has been questioned.
But a new piece of equipment that has grown in popularity is the ProPull Disc Golf Trainer. The ProPull is basically a resistance band training set that features an attached disc that allows players to practice their disc golf form while building their strength. The ProPull is a pretty revolutionary item when it comes to disc golf training equipment, and it will be interesting to see if similar products are developed over the next few years. The ProPull Disc Golf Trainer is available at Infinite Discs.
So do you view disc golf as a form of exercise?
Do you think that influences how you view disc golf as a “game” or a “sport?” And have you used any exercise equipment like the ProPull? How has it affected the game? We’d love you hear your experiences. Let us know in the comments!
My main reason for starting to play disc golf was to get exercise. I have back issues and was actually paralyzed at one time. This caused me to put on a bunch of weight. There is the added bonus of getting to spend time with buddies doing something i really enjoy doing while exercising. I also own a pro pull that i bought about a year ago to help me build arm strength and fine tune my form.
According to IRS Publication 502, medical expenses are “the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body.” The publication goes on to clarify in its definition that these costs include equipment needed for these purposes. Exercise equipment, including disc golf equipment, may meet the terms of this definition, and might be a deductible expense, depending on a few factors.
My wife gave me the ProPull Trainer as a Christmas present. It’s a nice resistance tool for building strength. It could use a little fine-tuning in terms of how it smacks the arm/wrist on the follow-through and I haven’t quite figured out how to use it just right for forehand throws, but not something that keeps me from using it on a regular basis and messing around with it on mock hammers which I can feel working some back and shoulder muscles.
I’m over 50. As far as training goes, I don’t train for disc golf like I did for 30 years playing ultimate. But keeping core in shape with simple push-ups and sit-ups regime that takes 15 minutes per day as well as a little bit of resistance work with equipment like the ProPull has made my golf game better. I’ve done enough rehab over the years that I’ve developed an appreciation for working with resistance tools such as this. Getting a couple of baskets for my backyard and practicing putting also helps!
As far as I’m concerned, every hour out playing golf and walking in the woods with my dog and/or my kid is better than an hour in the office!
I wasn’t a fan of these questions and recall that I didn’t quite answer them accurately. What would be great to know in addition to these questions is to what extent players exercise specifically for the purposes of improving at the sport.
If I answered that Exercise was the most important aspect I meant that all the exercise I do outside of Disc golf is intended to get better at disc golf. I feel that’s a good measure of how seriously players take the sport.
Questions:
Do you do specific exercises, fitness routines in order to improve at disc golf?
How often do you do the following exercises to improve your disc golf game, etc.
What exercises, etc…
After a total knee replacement almost two years ago I used disc golf as a part of my rehab. Physical therapy 3x per week and 3 weeks after surgery disc golf on my local 9 hole, but short, course at least once a day for the rest of the summer. I currently walk four miles every morning and then play disc golf a couple of times a week. The walks are at a brisk pace with four 100 foot steep climbs which is good for the heart. The folks my age who have taken up disc golf as a form of exercise seldom seem to stay with the sport but I’m not sure it would be different with any other sport. I wish there were more venues or ways to connect with the other older guys who play.