Paige Pierce Signs 3-year Contract with Dynamic Discs

Dynamic Discs is thrilled to announce a three-year extension with Paige Pierce! Pierce has been a dominant force in competitive disc golf since she won her first world title in 2011, collecting numerous wins including multiple major victories and three more FPO World Championships. Pierce has stated that her goal is to become the greatest female player to ever play disc golf, and we’re excited to partner with her into the future as she strives to achieve that goal!

About the extension, Pierce said, “Coming into each new year, we are faced with which direction we want to go with as a sponsored player, and this year was no different; that decision had to be made. Yeah, it was a very easy decision after a couple of conversations about what the future would hold for a DD/PP partnership moving forward.”

Pierce purchased her touring van (affectionately known as Vanna Kendrick) last year with Dynamic Discs’ support, and we hope that you’ll catch her at one of her tour stops and purchase one of her many fundraiser discs to show her your support! We’re proud of you, Paige!

Wrapping Up At Waco

We wish we could attend every event on the 2018 tour, but sadly the logistics of doing so are way too intense. The Waco Charity Open was an exception though, where we had a huge amount of the DD team representing us on the course, during the flymart, and in creating some fun footage to check out. If you haven’t already seen the conclusion of the tournament, stop reading now and go check out some post-production coverage before we spoil everything.

Our very own Bobby Brown took his camera to the course for several days during the Texas tournament and was able to capture some behind the scenes action that you don’t always see when viewing events at home. From an emotional montage highlighting Paige Pierce’s battle to the top and commemorating her 100th PDGA win to the stress on everyone’s faces each time we heard the thunder roll in the distance, Waco was intense.

Not only does this sneak peek give you insights into some of our trade secrets of media coverage but it also highlights just how much work goes into these tournaments. From setting up product and games at the Festival of the Flying Discs to documenting the tournament while getting soaked in a downpour, the people on the ground work hard to make each event a fun and memorable experience.

Without further ado, take a peek at Part 2 of our Disc Golf Adventure to Waco, TX. If you like what you see, let us know in the comments below!

The DD Women's Series - Part 4: Paige's Feelings On Disc Golf Friends

Once again it seems as if this installment of the DD Women’s Series has just flown by! We’ve gotten to learn more about form with Paige Pierce with an extra emphasis on how to find success on the tee box. She’s filled us in on how to stay strong with our mental game even when the guys on the course might be less than enthused that we’re there, and now we come to a topic that Paige is an expert on: making friends within the disc golf community.

If you’ve seen her Instagram or Facebook posts you know that Pierce is always having a good time on and off the course and has cultivated friendships with tons of players across the nation. But how does the element of female friends come into play? She shares with us some of her thoughts on how these relationships help to further her game and the sport as a whole.

Friends Are Family

For a touring pro like Paige, she sees other players on the road more often than she sees her own family, and having a close-knit group of women to hang out with is essential for her. She refers to it as building a family on the road, and notes that having other gals out there is awesome both from a performance standpoint and an interpersonal outlook: “Even though you’re competing and doing it every week to make a living, it adds a different element but we all still respect each other - we know how hard each of us is working.”

Rather than creating the environment for catty competition, the women who are on the pro tour circuit truly rely on one another for moral support and someone to have fun with when tour stop after tour stop becomes the name of the game. Paige herself has met two of her best friends through disc golf, though in completely different ways, and wouldn’t be where she is today without these wonderful women.

Ladies Who Grow The Sport

Not sure how you can make gal pals within disc golf? Paige recommends above all else to hit up a women’s only tournament at least once each season. “It’s the highlight of the year. If you haven’t been to one it’s the perfect starting point; there’s not any other vibe like it,” she says. And she’s totally right! The energy you feel at a ladies event is so different than at any other tournament, and it gives you a great chance to meet other women who are into disc golf.

Ultimately, Paige really believes that these ladies only events are the future of the sport because they help to build camaraderie as well as create an atmosphere in which even the newest player will feel welcomed and at ease. There’s always a push to get more women involved in disc golf, and these events are a great way to get that done.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about Paige’s game, how she’s grown her skills, and what elements contribute to making her the exceptional player that she is. Keep your eyes out for another DD Women’s Series where we chat with another one of our female players!

The DD Women's Series - Part 3: Let's Get Mental With Paige Pierce

Ok, we’re not actually going crazy in this post, but we are exploring all things related to one’s mental game during a round of disc golf. If you’ve missed our previous blogs in Paige’s series, go ahead and check them out now. You’ll learn about form and tee shots along with some good tips that set up nicely for this particular discussion.

Being a female disc golfer brings perks and drawbacks, and it’s managing the challenging aspects of the game that makes the difference between success and giving up. Sure, ladies are celebrated in the sport with their own events, gear, and discs, but there can also be a negative attitude by some when women show up on the tee box.

Let’s see what Paige has done to help her own mental game and how she recommends women excel on the course.

Playing With The Boys

It’s happened to all women, even Paige - you’re playing with a group of guys and your drive comes up the shortest. All of a sudden it seems that you’re invisible as everyone walks in front of your lie and you’re standing to wait to take your next shot. “It was cute when I was 4, but when I got around 7 or 8 they were over it and started walking in front of me. I tried to be polite and wait but it was almost every hole,” Paige recalls.

So what did she do? By tapping into her competitive side, she pushed herself to outdrive the boys and avoid the problem altogether. “Learning is more productive whenever something is on the line and you have pressure on you. You know you have one chance and you have to execute right then and there. You have to focus,” she said. We know, it’s easier said than done, but it’s better for your mental game than getting mad at your cardmates.

What Does Practice Mean?

Taking an interesting perspective, Paige said that one’s mental game while playing casually has a huge impact on how you perform competitively. “People misuse the term ‘practice round’ because people aren’t focused, they’re just chunking discs,” said Pierce. Instead, try looking for a ladies league on Facebook that’s near you and use that time to get into the competitive spirit. There’s a good chance you’ll actually try more in that environment as opposed to just throwing plastic for the heck of it.

Keep Your Focus

Not that we want to harp on this too much, but there’s always something to be said for women having to stand their ground when playing a round with men. Most guys end up being respectful, but there’s always a few that completely take away from the whole experience. What does Paige recommend if you’re a gal who’s being harassed on the course? “Just don’t even talk about it, it’s going to make it more uncomfortable.” Simply ignore them, she says, and they’ll stop.

Ladies, it’s not easy to keep your mental game on point when you’re surrounded by dozens of dudes and there isn’t another gal in sight. However, Paige has been there and with the tips she’s shared, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to kick some butt and earn more respect on the course. Stay tuned for our last post in this 4-part series with Paige Pierce!

The DD Women's Series - Part 2: Paige's Tips For Women On The Tee Box

Last week we gained some insight into how Paige has been so successful on the disc golf course and found that a lot of it has to do with the repetition of certain skills and the ability to modify her game to suit her own strengths. In that vein, we’re going to dive even deeper into one of the areas that she’s best known for - her booming drives off the tee box.

If anyone tells you that there’s nothing women should do differently than men when it comes to unleashing a drive, they’re wrong. Pierce gave us some interesting things to think about when it comes to executing tee shots and how women can gain distance and accuracy. Let’s jump right into Part 2 of the DD Women’s Series!

Have The Right Mindset

Disc golf is about what’s between your ears as much as anything else, and there are a few things that can get in the way when ladies step up to a hole. First and foremost, Paige recommends being super careful with your disc selection. “Everyone wants the newest and greatest disc. Just because the man in your life hands you one doesn’t mean it’s good for you,” she says. Instead of opting for the nearest overstable disc, try honing your skills in with midranges first.

Comparison can really cause you to struggle on the course. One of the more common inquiries that Pierce hears women ask revolves around how a woman can throw as far as a guy, and it’s natural to want to unlock that secret. Unfortunately, while many women might not be as muscular as men, there’s a silver lining to reaching maximum distance: timing. One of the most shocking things about seeing Paige launch a disc over 400 feet is how compact her body is - it’s her timing, not bulging biceps, that works for her:

“I try to tell people to use your entire body as a muscle. If it’s all working together that comes from timing, and making sure your lower and upper body is working together. A way to achieve that is by putting a lot of body weight on the back part of your shot. When you pull through transfer that onto the plant foot so it’s like an explosion. You’re using your entire body to propel that disc.”

All About Anatomy

A major difference between a man throwing a distance shot and a woman doing the same has to do with the female form and some, shall we say, obstacles that might get in the way. Instructors commonly state that you should pull the disc flat across your chest, but for some ladies, that’s not an option.

What does Paige recommend in this instance? Start your shot higher above your chest and release at a lower angle. “When you come down with your elbow you have to rely more on your wrist. The benefit with that is that the disc will start low and fast, and it will end up raising later in the flight, but at least your release will be accurate, low, and controllable.”

The bottom line for ladies is to do what works for you on the tee box. No matter what the guys on the course do, choose discs that fit your game and think about your disc golf form as it relates to your own body shape.

Next week we’ll get into some more of the mental aspects of Paige’s game and how ladies can overcome common challenges on the course. Stay tuned for Part 3 of our DD Women’s Series!

The DD Women's Series - Part 1: Learning Form With Paige Pierce

When you watch multiple time World Champion Paige Pierce throw a disc off the tee box, it tends to make your jaw drop. Not only is she incredibly accurate and does she get an immense amount of distance despite her small frame, but her form and timing is immaculate. It’s one of the most common topics she gets asked about during clinics, and for good reason - hers is on point!

This DD Women’s Series obviously focuses on Paige Pierce, and over the next four weeks, we’re going to talk about a variety of elements that she finds valuable for any female disc golfer to consider. From mental to physical aspects of the game, we’ll get an idea of how Paige has found so much success and what tips might help ladies who are looking to improve upon their skills.

Let’s Go To The 90’s

Paige has had a lot of years to work on dialing in her form, as she started disc golfing with her dad at the young age of 4. Back then, she tried to mirror everything he and his friends did when it came to throwing discs, and she did a pretty good job holding her own out there. Once she started getting old enough to really put a more concentrated focus on her game, she did start to notice that things needed to change.

“A lot of it I learned from my dad and I kind of tweaked it on my own over time. Women move a little bit differently, so I couldn’t exactly replicate my dad’s form - it wouldn’t work for me,” says Pierce. While her dad gave her the basics, she modified several things, especially how long her runup is on the tee box.

Another point of focus for her as she developed her form? “Keeping my arm as flat as possible in every aspect of the throw,” she described. For Paige, her success revolves around two main components: timing and keeping everything as flat as possible. By honing in on these elements, she eventually found a technique that worked just right for her.

How did she do it? “Practice makes perfect! Once you’re in the field practicing and you throw one exactly the right way, you just feel it and it clicks. I relied on fieldwork and tweaking little aspects slowly and surely until it felt like a machine, making it easier to replicate every time.”

Extending Beyond The Body

So many players, men and women alike, focus on their form and try to get their body movements perfect in order to execute consistently. However, Pierce notes that having proper form is only part of the story because knowing what you’re throwing is equally important. Going from a good player to a great player, in her eyes, is being confident with disc and shot selection.

Her take on discs? “Once you think you’ve learned them, keep learning. You can never be perfect, and the more you know your discs the better you’re going to be.” The confidence this knowledge imparts to your game can be especially helpful during the middle of a round. If Paige says her throw feels a bit off, she amps up her confidence level to make a noticeable difference.

Stay tuned for Part 2 where we go even deeper with Paige into tips specifically geared toward women when they’re executing a distance drive.

DD's Luck Of The Draw Doubles Was A Huge Success

If you're lucky enough to live in or near Emporia, then you just might have been a player or spectator at our first ever Luck of the Draw skins match at Peter Pan Park. For those of you who didn't get a chance to come out to the event, here's a quick recap of how it all went down!

DD Team Manager Robert McCall did an awesome job explaining how the day was going to work. Each hole would be played by Eric McCabe, Paige Pierce, and Ricky Wysocki, and tickets drawn would determine who their partner would be. With up to $88 available to win per hole, there was a good chance to make some money and get to play with a World Champion.

With super jump putts and CTPs determining some of the holes, a joyful gallery had a great time watching the event. Players young and old got the chance to show off their skills and impress the pros with some awesome shots.

After 6 holes, Ricky and assorted players were leading the match. You can check out holes 7-12 here.

We don't want to ruin the ending for you, so be sure to watch part 3 and the final 6 holes here. Our skins match was a hit and a good time was had by all!

Rising To The Occasion - Paige Pierce Wins Her Fourth World Title

It’s the event that players and spectators alike look forward to for months - the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships. Held earlier in the season than normal in Augusta, Georgia, 205 pro players fought their way through humidity and tough courses to see who would take this year’s title.

Coming off of her fourth world champion win, we talked with Paige Pierce to get her perspective on this year’s event, how she handled the pressure, and what comes next.

Practice With The Right Tools

Despite not arriving in Georgia as early as she wanted, Paige was able to get in multiple rounds before the event’s mid-week start. With both courses offering different types of challenges, she found that several of her discs became her go-to’s throughout the four-day event.

“The discs I relied on the most were my Paige Pierce Lucid Convict, the Lucid EMAC Truth, the Classic Blend Marshal, the Prime Deputy, and the BioFuzion Defender. The Jackson course called for a lot of putter shots hence the Marshal and Deputy, but at Fort Gordon, it was all about my favorite driver, the Bio Defender!” she said.

Not one to come into an event without a game plan, Pierce attacked each day with the determination to pull ahead of defending champion Valarie Jenkins. Though she would’ve liked to have more strokes as a buffer during her final round, perhaps it was what everyone needed: “It gave Val and I the battle that fueled us both and everyone that was watching,” said Pierce.

Stepping Up To The Challenge

Every player has their own particular preferences when it comes to course design, and for Paige, Fort Gordon didn’t quite check enough boxes on her list. Yet, noting that everyone had to play the course whether they liked it or not, Paige did find the four rounds to be a test of her skills:

“The most challenging part of the courses I would say would be that no matter where a tee shot landed you had to be on your toes and had to scramble. There was nothing easy about any given shot. Each individual shot was so demanding that it really tested all of your skill set. I think they suited my game well; honestly with the tools at my fingertips and the confidence I have in them it is hard to find a course I don't feel confident on.”

Having The Right Mentality

It would be easy to say that with her track record so far this year, Paige was a shoe-in for winning Worlds. However, she doesn’t rely on her previous successes to carry her to victory. “I try to completely wipe the slate clean after each tournament,” said Pierce. “This was no different. It didn't matter what happened the week before or even 3 months before, it was about 4 rounds that were yet to happen. So I told myself to stick to my game plan and execute the shots. If I did I knew I would at least be in contention.”

Her plan worked, as she bested the competition by a total of 5 strokes to win the 2017 title. Paige’s next goals for the year include taking home the NT Championship and even the Pro Tour Championship. As for her cycle of only winning Worlds on the odd years? “I definitely think about that often, it’s funny how that works out. Honestly, all I can do is try to put myself in position next year and give myself the chance to get up on that podium,” she said.

Congratulations on the win, Paige! Everyone at Dynamic Discs is proud to have you on our team.