The eleven-strong team representing Australia at the WFDF 2022 World Team Disc Golf Championships has been selected and announced. Between now and the big event in August, we will get to know a little more about each of the players in a series of ‘Meet the Team’ Player Profiles.
WA’s Chris Finn has competed at the highest level of Australian disc golf for over two decades. He has won four ADGC titles, an ADG tour title, has taken many career wins and is Australia’s career earnings leader from pro play. Chris is a prominent figure in disc golf in Australia and worldwide, he runs multiple businesses including The Flying Disc Store, course designer/installer RAD Creations and disc golf clothing brand Dude Clothing. Let’s hear from Chris, there’s a lot we can learn.
Playing Division: MPO
Current Rating: 984
Sponsors: Dude, RAD, FDS, RPM
Predominant throw: RHBH
Q: What are your strengths as a player?
A: Time in the game, I’ve played disc sports and disc golf since 1987 as an 11 year old. This means nothing unless you’ve put time in to learn. I have treated the game the same as a martial art, always working on different aspects of the game to get them better. I am very strategic on the course and also analyze the course I’m playing. At the end of the day, it’s only you versus the course, playing one hole one shot at a time.
Q: What is your best or favourite competition result to date?
A: Hmm, so many hard to decide, I don’t think one singular stands out for me so top 5 are these, Junior Disc Golf Titles were part of my early love but probably then top 2 in a Major in a Pro Division, United Stated Masters Championships top 20 then 2015 Aussie Champs Title, Last but not least winning Rob Hancock Memorial, every time
Q: What are your disc golfing ambitions and plans for the next two or three years?
A: My passion and legacy is to keep developing courses so more people find the game, as this is singularly the most important thing for people to find the game, courses in the ground and my legacy is to ensure I can help people find something like this to help them through life’s ups and downs. Actually putting myself 1st again for playing, and playing my best, no one elses, just to play my best and win or lose doing that is all I want to do knowing I haven’t left any stone unturned, practice, practice, practice. If I’m beaten it’s because someone played better than my best, not because I wasn’t good enough due to not putting in the effort.
Q: Can you share a top form tip or something that substantially helped you improve your play. A: Focus, clearly at the shot you’re about to take. The Wind, the Danger, The memory of a good shot on that hole or a similar shot you’ve played, visualize the shot, practice the shot in your mind and execute it in full, don’t have any doubts in which disc, or shot or line your about to take. When I’ve done this the results have always been 1,000 rated plus rounds.
Q: What top pro player do you look up to and why?
A ; Jay Reading, he’s everything a player and person can aim to be. Enjoying the playing, The competition, giving back to the game and community and furnish everyone with your positive presence, Jay has done this since I’ve known him. Honourable mention to Simon Feasey as well for being such an awesome bloke around the world, he’s the reason I keep pushing myself….
Q: What is your favourite disc in your bag right now and what do you use it for?
A: Most favorite….So hard, I love my discs, my RPM Piwakawaka, P2 Glow and PD2. Always reliable.
Thanks Chris, best of luck for Croatia.
By David Kynaston
Thanks and credit for images to Kingsley Flett