PDGA divisions, ratings, going pro, etc.

[Jon Brakel]

Dan, Playing a Am tourny if your 970 clearly states you are a Pro, in my eyes I guess was wrong. Like I said if I ever get to 970, I wont play Ams anymore. Clearly alot of others have a different concept of this game. To be rated high enough to be considered a Professional, should encourage that person to play what his rating says he is.
Like Bruce said, alot changed since I last played in 1999, I just need to adapt to those things and move on. Like I said before, 40 is just around the corner, if I can get to 970 in 2 years, Pro Masters will be my division. I may donate for awhile, but I will end up competing in that division. Promise! 

You aren't "wrong" it's just that not everyone shares that opinion. If I had the ability, health and determination to be a consistent 970 rated player I would probably play pro locally, turn down the prizes and play Advanced at majors and worlds. I don't think that makes me wrong but I can see that other people might not agree with the decision.

[damonshort]

Whoa, Buddy.

All this means is that Kris whoever he is had a great day...

That rating system is the WORST thing the PDGA has done in years.
Look at the IOS#3 last weekend. That Kris that won in Advanced was a 921 rating. Look at all the 960's, 950's, and 940's he beat. Is his 921 better than 966?? NO, but he shot better.  Ratings shouldn't mean ANYTHING to the AM players. Anyone can shoot bad and keep their rating low, to always assure themselves of picking up plastic for winning tournaments in lower divisions.

I don't mean to be piling on here, but I'm not sure what point is trying to be made about IOS #3. I shot w/ Kris 2nd round on Saturday. Local guy, great to play with. He shot as badly as I did the first round, did quite a bit better the 2nd, tore it up on Sunday. I'd never make any assumption that he was playing badly Sat on purpose, if that's the implication; rather that he's a 920-930+ player who's a bit inconsistent. (which is why he's around 935 now instead of, say, 970...)

I think the rating system has brought more players into tournament play than driven them away. But from my perspective, the trophy-only concept (which, if it wasn't invented by IOS, has certainly had an influence) has kind of spoiled me. I've passed on a couple of tournaments already this year because of high entry fees. As anyone who's seen my 'discs in a box' can attest, I've got way too much plastic already; my competitive drive is at a low ebb and my game this year has reeked anyhow, so I'm getting more out of playing a couple rounds at a leisurely pace for nothing, by myself or with a friend or two (hmm, let's see; yes, I do have at least two friends....)  rather than a couple of 3-hour stress-filled rounds on that same course for $30+ for a shot at getting even more discs...   

[pdga#7648]

Damon, I wasn't saying anything about Kris shooting bad on Saturday then winning on Sunday. An intermediate winning an Advanced tourny is great.

[dana]

Side note: I believe that when Mike won the Illinois Open he was only rated in the 950s.

[duain]

i just wanna say i know Kris and he is a great player and wouldn't shoot bad one day then tear it up the next on purpose. he has only been a member for not even a year now and has played intermediate to see where he would be place among the rest of the players. after he has played a few tournaments and now has had his 2nd ratings update he will be in advanced. i have beaten many people above my rating, does that mean I should have to only play people at that rating? you play where you are likely to improve' that's why you are rated to competitively play disc golf against others of the same skill. some times people do have bad days and throw bad and make up for it the next.

[pdga#7648]

Side note: I believe that when Mike won the Illinois Open he was only rated in the 950s.

actually it was 962 

[pickax]

Fact checker: Michael Robinson  #24414 24-Jun-2008     962     64

[dana]

Oh, well that same month he won the IL Open he moved down to 957.  I guess I remember the update occurring right after the event?

[pickax]

Correct, in the update a couple days later he went down to 957. Not exactly a bagger.

[Dan Michler]

Correct, in the update a couple days later he went down to 957. Not exactly a bagger.

Untrue.  He beat me in that tournament, hence he is a BAGGER.

[Jon Brakel]

It's like that old George Carlin joke. Anyone going slower than you is an idiot and anyone going faster than you is a maniac. Anyone playing in your division with a higher rating is a bagger and anyone with a rating lower than you playing in a higher division is a dreamer! 

[jynx]

hey this is kris i was told about these post today and figured i'd just make my own comment on this and believe me i had a bad day on saturday which happens especially at your home course u have days like that i was dissapointed in myself more then n e thing about that day but if you ask anybody I've ever playd with whether i shot good or bad i don't complain about anybody beatn me regardless of division people have good days and bad days im sure u have 2 otherwise you'd be a pro instead of a advanced player right?  but even if my rating wasnt goin up i was going 2 start playn advanced after  IOS#3  anyways cause I'm having a good year and i feel advanced is the division i should be playing the last two years though probably not. so theres no playing bad to keep my rating in intermediate who wants to stay back in lower division and believe me if i could take some cash home instead of discs believe me it would help my bank account out alot but i love playn disc golf for the competition im a competitive player but not a sore loser. and doug u never know u could start having some bad few years and you could be playn intermediate at 40 then we could be calling u a bagger
                                                                                                                                     peace out girlscout

[airspuds]

any one got a problem with me playing novice at  IOS Fairfield

839   

two T;s this year   

IN state and  Adler

[pickax]

If that's what your rated, that's where you should play. If my rating dropped down to 849. I would have played MA4. Fortune has smiled on Dave and Diana.

[Chainmeister]

Mike

You are 841 and you should be able to play Novice without getting any crap from anybody unless your wife has an opinion.    Look forward to playing with you.  (Bagger... )

[Dan Michler]

hey this is kris i was told about these post today and figured i'd just make my own comment on this and believe me i had a bad day on saturday which happens especially at your home course u have days like that i was dissapointed in myself more then n e thing about that day but if you ask anybody I've ever playd with whether i shot good or bad i don't complain about anybody beatn me regardless of division people have good days and bad days im sure u have 2 otherwise you'd be a pro instead of a advanced player right?  but even if my rating wasnt goin up i was going 2 start playn advanced after  IOS#3  anyways cause I'm having a good year and i feel advanced is the division i should be playing the last two years though probably not. so theres no playing bad to keep my rating in intermediate who wants to stay back in lower division and believe me if i could take some cash home instead of discs believe me it would help my bank account out alot but i love playn disc golf for the competition im a competitive player but not a sore loser. and doug u never know u could start having some bad few years and you could be playn intermediate at 40 then we could be calling u a bagger
                                                                                                                                     peace out girlscout

Well put, I agree with all 4 of your sentences.     Just keep on competing and having fun bro!

[pdga#7648]

Damon, I wasn't saying anything about Kris shooting bad on Saturday then winning on Sunday. An intermediate winning an Advanced tourny is great.

never was a shot at you Kris. It was a shot at the rating system.
Like most topics here, again this was a topic taken the wrong way.
But I will never go back to intermediate, no matter what the ratings show. I am called a bagger here at home, so to be called one from out of towners wouldn't hurt.

[Bruce Brakel]

any one got a problem with me playing novice at  IOS Fairfield

839   

two T;s this year   

IN state and  Adler

If that's your rating, you should play Am 4, Novice. 

Diana played pretty good last weekend, but i think she's Am 4 Life.

Kelsey tossed a 961 into her stats last weekend. 

[Jon Brakel]

hey this is kris i was told about these post today and figured i'd just make my own comment on this and believe me i had a bad day on saturday which happens especially at your home course u have days like that i was dissapointed in myself more then n e thing about that day but if you ask anybody I've ever playd with whether i shot good or bad i don't complain about anybody beatn me regardless of division people have good days and bad days im sure u have 2 otherwise you'd be a pro instead of a advanced player right?  but even if my rating wasnt goin up i was going 2 start playn advanced after  IOS#3  anyways cause I'm having a good year and i feel advanced is the division i should be playing the last two years though probably not. so theres no playing bad to keep my rating in intermediate who wants to stay back in lower division and believe me if i could take some cash home instead of discs believe me it would help my bank account out alot but i love playn disc golf for the competition im a competitive player but not a sore loser. and doug u never know u could start having some bad few years and you could be playn intermediate at 40 then we could be calling u a bagger
                                                                                                                                     peace out girlscout

Well put, I agree with all 4 of your sentences.     Just keep on competing and having fun bro!

There were four sentences in that? 

[MDR_3000]

Funniest thread I've read in a while.

Love,
The Biggest Bagger ever.

P.S. I'm off to tank some more rounds so I can play advanced again.