Disc Golf Video Review: “E.D.G.E.” Disc Golf
The disc golf E.D.G.E., an educational video about disc golf.
My father recently got the disc golf bug. He's already out-spent me in disc purchases, has bought a practice basket, is signing up for minis and plays the Perfect Putt game with me over the Internet (we send each other scores, he's winning...). He also bought four videos, watched them, loaned them to me, and I'm going to review them.
I'm hoping Dad will chime in here, at least in the comments, to give his "starter" perspective. I'm an experienced player, though not excellent. My current rating is 873 but I think I will hit 900 this year because I'm spending a lot of time practicing. We'll see. That's my background.
EDGE (Educational Disc Golf Experience) Disc Golf is an educational disc golf video focusing on a complete introduction to disc golf. This is the video that should be the first thing people see on sites like innovadiscs.com, discraft.com, flyingdiscmagazine.com or pdga.com. It is a complete introduction to disc golf, including some technique information, course etiquette, an example hole played by three golfers and plenty of information about discs, safety and fun.
EDGE is highly produced, effectively narrated and concise. There was a plan, a script and an understanding of what they were trying to teach and who their audience is. They animate the footwork and throw analysis. This is the most professionally produced disc golf video I've seen.
This is also the video that you should show students if you plan to teach a gym class or show disc golf to the city council or parks department responsible for allowing you to put in that new 18 hole course. Or, if you are trying to get your spouse to come out and play a round, this is your video. If you are an experienced player, you probably aren't going to get a lot out of this. Buy one to support your sport, buy one to show your spouse, buy one to show your parks leaders, but don't expect any breakthroughs on your drives after watching this unless you are pretty new to disc golf.
Many top players are included in this video, but it's not really about them, and mostly they leave it to the narrator to do the speaking. Having said that, the video shows top notch shot making and should impress anyone who doesn't understand what disc golf is about. The intelligent use of sharply dressed champs of both genders will show disc golf in the best light if you do end up showing this to a city councilman or parks director.
My only gripe is that this video is a bit sanitized. Shot with above-said champs on Winthrop Gold on a beautiful day, this video doesn't represent what many players will see on a course. I would have liked it if they showed some normal duffers who don't have the best technique. That way a starter won't be discouraged if they go out and throw it 75 feet on their first try, like many do.
My opinion: get it for the right reasons -- educating, 9 of 10. As a pure throwing technique video, 6 of 10. This is not a knock on the quality of the technique but I want to indicate for someone looking to buy for technique improvement that this probably isn't the one you want first. One of the best things you could do is buy EDGE, watch it, then give it to the gym teacher at the local elementary or middle school.
