Team Discraft: Tanner Duncan Disc Golf Bio

	NAME:	Tanner Duncan
	HOMETOWN:	Coralville, IA
	PDGA #:	18693
	PDGA RATING:	1006
	BORN:	1978
	STARTED IN DISC GOLF:	1997
	day gig:	Owner of Machine Services LLC
	CONNECT:
	Memorable moment:	Playing in the Final 9 of the 2009 Des Moines Challenge.
	HOT SHOTS:	1st, 2014 Kings Material Open 1st, 2011 Cedar Creek Open A-tier Over 20 career wins since 2004, missed cash only 8 times in 130+ events

Tanner's Disc Golf Tips

Throw with your core/body, not your arm. You have to learn to throw with your body and follow through for any, and every shot. For backhand drives, keep your elbow up, clear your shoulder and hips and follow through, chasing your shot with your opposite hand. I'm not a great forehand thrower, but I know I have to follow with my shoulder and hip. You also have to follow through when putting. The energy has to accelerate from your weight shift through your hand. You can't slow down before release, you have to follow through and transfer the energy to the disc.

Tanner Duncan / Team Discraft

Get stronger and work on skills. Get a powerball, kettlebell, medicine ball, start crossfitting, run, row, swim etc. Do work. You have to put in the time if you want to swim with the sharks. Emac is a gymnast. Doss and AO played college basketball. Randolph has a myriad of games he's great at. In other words, these guys know what hard work can do for you, and you see them at the top of this game for a reason. Outside interests are great for variation, which is key to human growth. All that stuff is great, especially in the winter, but you still have to practice, practice, practice. And practice your weaknesses. You must practice the things you aren't good at, it might not be fun, but it's the only path to improvement. One quote that's stuck with me through the years is "Half your shots are typically putts, so at LEAST half your practice time should be putting." --I have no idea who said this. Find drills, games, and set goals to keep it interesting.

When you're off the course, read books about the mental game of golf. The first one I read was Zen Golf. It hit me so hard one day, I went to Morley Field and shot -14, my personal record there. There wasn't a putt I couldn't make!

Workout to gain strength, stamina, consistency, and confidence. I do Crossfit, but Gunnar Peterson works too.

Work on the rest of your life. Healthy relationships outside of disc golf are a must, to keep balance. It's really easy to become addicted to disc, but balance is key in everything. For me, I see my family at least once a month and keep in contact weekly. I work to be a good partner for my girlfriend and not let disc golf consume EVERYTHING I think and do. Having things right in your life makes focusing and fulfilling your potential much easier. Eat well. Sleep Well. Drink lots of water. Eliminate any potential barriers to success.

Outside interests! Go fishing or snowboarding or camping or paintballing or ball golfing. Do other stuff!

In The Disc Golf Bag: Drivers
Disc	Comments
ESP and Z Force (169, 174 gm)	Using a lighter ESP version of this perfect mold has allowed me to keep some distance in my game. Hearing more top players are throwing lighter drivers convinced me I needed to try it out. With a bigger emphasis on technique over power, I've learn to throw more accurate, long shots. The 169 ESP will get to flat without dumping over.
Z Predator (174 gm)	Fast and overstable. I use this for spike hyzers, flex shots, and sidearm shots. A great utility disc due to its reliability. I'm working one in against a brick wall and hope to get a straight-ish version for fairway shots.
Z Nuke OS (169 gm)	Super fast, super overstable. A must have in the wind. At 169g I can get this disc to actually fly a little before going left. A very fun disc to maneuver through the woods and around obstacles. Also fun to rip flat into stiff Midwest headwinds. :)
Z Stalker (174 gm)	Z Stalker is a Buzzz in driver form. A stable straigt shooter, it's fantastic for tight lines and flip to flat shots. This disc will hold any line you throw it on.
Z Avenger (174 gm)	I use the Avenger between a Predator and a Stalker. Overstable enough to power into headwinds without sacrificing distance. I have found some new Z Avengers to rival the Predator in stability, but with a forward finish.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Midrange
Disc	Comments
FLX Buzzz (177 gm)	I first started throwing the FLX in the rain and in the woods. My thinking was the flexible plastic wouldn't bounce as much off trees. I fell in love with this disc. Very straight out of the box. I use this disc most of the time I throw a Buzzz, especially on tight lines.
Z Glo Buzzz (177 gm)	My overstable mid. This disc handles the wind perfectly. I'm a happy camper with I get to throw this disc.
Z Comet (180 gm)	Cam Todd said it recently, Comet is the greatest disc ever made. I recently moved to an area with heavily wooded 300ft shots. I throw this Comet ALL the time. It's such an old disc, people have a hard time giving it consideration. I intend to change peoples minds here in Iowa. Flip to flat, high turn, long bomb flip ride...STRAIGHT. This disc is a birdie machine on my courses.
Z Hornet (172 gm)	My overstable mid. I don't throw it a whole lot, it usually requires some wind that the GLO Buzz cant handle. The overstable mid is a must have, and I choose the Hornet.

In The Disc Golf Bag: Putt and Approach
Disc	Comments
Pro D Challenger (174 gm)	My putter. I had no problem picking up a brand new Challenger the morning of a tournament after forgetting mine at home. I was nervous at first but hit some big putts right away and went on to win the tourney. I've been sold on the Challenger ever since.
ESP Zone (172 gm)	Overstable putter shots, great disc and I believe Discraft has a disc no one else makes. Zone envy is alive!
Pro D Focus (170+)	My approach disc. Very straight and reliable. I prefer throwing this putter any other.

COURSES YOU SHOULD PLAY:
Course	Comments
Westlake Davenport, IA	Big boy golf, and only 20 minutes from my parents house! Water, elevation, tunnels, distance, more water.
Winthrop Gold Rock Hill, SC	The Championship Gold course is the pinnacle of our sport. Competing on this gem is a great test of controlling your disc and making your putts.
Walnut Ridge Johnston, IA	Our Country Club course on Saylorville Lake offers all the challenge you can ask for including swirling wind.
Kensington Toboggan Milford, MI	The Toboggan was the first BIG disc golf course I ever played. After Am Nats in 2002 I decided disc golf was going to be a big part of my life.
Ewing Park Des Moines, IA	My home course and training grounds when I moved back to Des Moines in 2004. A beautiful park with a nice disc golf course, for me, it doesn't get any better.

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