How To Help Player B Become Your Player A

If we all played like Player B, how much better would our ratings look?

How many more putts would you drain?

How much better would your accuracy be?

How many tournaments would you start winning?

Oh the possibilities!

If you're newer to the sport, you may be asking yourself right now:

Who exactly is Player B?

Player B is the version of you who makes all the tough putts, hits the tight lines, crushes distance, and wins head-to-head matchups against Player A nine times out of ten.

They're the player you become when the stakes are no longer high, when the pressure is off, and you have already taken the shot you were faced with.

Think about the last time you missed a putt but then drilled the same putt from the same lie right after.

That’s Player B showing up.

Or when you hit a perfect tight line immediately after a drive that didn’t go as planned.

Player B’s shots don’t count for anything on the score card, they are like a “do over” that mean nothing except proving to yourself that you can do it.

This raises 2 important questions:

What makes Player B better, and how can we bring those skills into Player A’s game, the player who faces real pressure?

What Makes Player B Better?

Before we get too far, we first need to take a look at what makes Player B better in the first place.

Afterall, it's the same player physically speaking, but one is achieving noticeably different results.

Player B has three key advantages that help them perform better:

1. Playing More Relaxed

Player B plays without pressure because the shot no longer matters.

You’ve already missed or made the shot, so there is nothing further to lose as far as that shot is concerned.

This relaxed state helps you focus on the mechanics and execution without the weight of consequences.

When you’re relaxed and allowed to feel loose, your body moves more naturally and your mind stays clear.

You stop trying to aim the disc and guide it where you want to go, but rather you trust your skill and form and let the rest take care of itself.

2. Immediate Feedback and Adjustment

Player B also benefits from instant feedback as a result of your throw.

If a putt missed high because of wind, Player B knows to adjust the aim or power accordingly to make the putt when trying again.

If the disc choice on a drive was wrong, Player B can switch to a better option as long as they know their bag well.

These are just two quick examples, but this feedback loop allows Player B to learn and improve shot by shot, without the pressure of scoring.

3. Clear Understanding of Conditions and Outcome

Lastly, Player B knows the conditions of the shot because they just experienced them.

They understand how the disc will likely behave on landing, how the wind affects the flight, and how the terrain influences the roll or skip.

They also will likely know if the shot they chose was even the right one at all.

Sometimes we are stuck between 2 different shot types.

When one doesn't go as well as planned, we immediately try the alternative shot and can end up with much greater success.

All of this knowledge helps Player B make smarter decisions and execute better shots, especially in real time.

How to Bring Player B’s Skills to Player A

Now that we have that squared away, how can we assist Player A in becoming more like Player B?

The player who faces pressure fearlessly, makes decisions that count, and carries the weight of the score.

Quite simply, to help Player B become your Player A, you need to build 3 things: Confidence, Knowledge, and Awareness before the shot.

Build Confidence Through Practice

Confidence comes from repetition and familiarity.

When you practice enough, no shot feels like a pressured shot because you trust your ability.

When was the last time you walked up to a 5ft or 10ft putt and felt "nervous" about whether or not you make it?

Chances are not very often, if ever at all.

Now imagine having this same feeling when 30ft away!

We're still trying to achieve the same thing, but now the situation has changed and the that same confidence is no where to be found.

We can only build this 2 ways: Practice as much as possible, and put yourself in tough, nerve racking spots during practice rounds, or preferably, play as many tournaments as you can until you don't even notice the pressure anymore.

Practice different putts, drives, and approaches until they become second nature and feel like those 10 foot putts, ones you could make in your sleep.

This increased confidence reduces anxiety and helps you stay calm under pressure.

Learn Your Discs Inside and Out

Knowing your discs is crucial.

Player B rarely chooses the wrong disc because they have experience with each one’s flight path, speed, and stability and just saw what worked or didn't work.

Spend time testing your discs in various conditions so you can have the confidence to pick the right one every time.

This not only reduces mistakes, and but will significantly improve your shot selection process.

Assess Conditions Before the Shot

Because Player B knows the conditions of the course and hole thanks to Player A giving them a tutorial on what not to do, they will make the shot after you missed the first time.

Player A needs to develop this skill of knowing what not to do before the shot.

To do so, take time to observe the wind, terrain, and obstacles standing between you and the basket.

Visualize how the disc will fly and land.

This preparation helps you make better decisions and avoid costly errors that will compound during the round and will try to collect it's investment by the end of the day.

Before you take a shot, imagine yourself executing it perfectly.

Visualize the flight path, the landing, and the follow-through.

This mental rehearsal builds a connection between your mind and body, making it easier to perform under pressure.

Manage Your Emotions and Stay Present

Pressure often comes from worrying about the outcome.

Focus on the process, not the score.

Take deep breaths, stay in the moment, and trust your preparation.

When you manage your emotions, you play more like Player B because you're relaxed and know what your body needs to do to be successful.

The last thing you want to do is snowball one mistake into many. So allow Player B to provide you with the confidence to get your game back on track.

Final Thoughts

Player B is the relaxed, confident, and informed version of you who plays without pressure and learns from every shot.

Player A is the player who faces real stakes and pressure, and if is often reflected in the final score of the round.

But it doesn't have to be.

By practicing enough to build confidence, learning your discs thoroughly, and assessing conditions carefully before each shot, you can bring Player B’s strengths into Player A’s game.

This transformation will help you play better under pressure and improve your scores significantly. You might even be able to see your

Start today by focusing on one area, whether it’s practicing putts, testing discs, or observing conditions.

Things might not change much, but in time, watch and enjoy Player A begins to play more like Player B.

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