Dylan O'Malia
Dylan is a Professional Disc Golfer who is a Fort Collins native. He is a member of the Colorado State University disc golf team. At Colorado State University Dylan is earning a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. Dylan started playing disc golf in 2011 while attending Fort Collins High school. He has since climbed through the ranks from intermediate all the way up to the professional division. He is also a big fan of snowboarding and riding bikes through Fort Collins.
In his bag...
Distance Drivers
Discmania PD2 Chaos (S-line) The PD2 is a great overstable distance driver. I use it for long hyzers and headwinds. I throw the swirl S-lines because they are a touch more overstable than the regular ones and still maintain good glide.
Dynamic Discs BioFuzion Defender: This is my do everything disc. When it is brand new it is overstable making it good for my sidearm and into headwind. As the Defender breaks in it becomes more workable for straight and turnover shots. This allows me to cover a wide variety of shots with this one mold.
Dynamic Discs BioFuzion Escape: The Escape is a very glidey 9 speed distance driver that I use for my control straight to turnover shots. This disc is great for players of all skill level because it is very neutral and has great glide allowing you to perform almost any type of shot with it.
Fairway Drivers
Innova Champion Firebird: This is my utility disc and all around go to for any type of hyzer. I use flat ones for my overhand thumber shots. I also carry domey firebirds for most of my sidearm shots and backhand hyzers. I can't complete a round without this disc. This is the best head wind fairway driver.
Latitude 64 Gold Line Saint Pro: I use the saint pro for my straight to overstable fairway shots. This disc is great at holding a line and having a nice consistent fade at the end of its flight.
Mid-Range
Dynamic Discs Lucid Justice: This disc in crazy overstable I use it for flare shots both sidearm and backhand. This is wihtout a doubt the most overstable Mid-Range on the market today.
Innova Champion Roc3: My go to mid-range. Great for soft hyzers and straight shots. This is the mid-range that I use the most. It can be thrown on any line and preform very well. This disc is also great in the wind.
Putt and Approach
Westside discs Soft Harp: This disc is great for approach shots. It is a very predictable overstable approach disc. I use for any approach shot sidearm or backhand that I want to throw a hyzer inside 200 feet.
Latitude 64 Zero Hard Mercy: This is my go to putter for everything from inside the circle to throwing off the tee. I like to keep my bag very simple and the mercy allows me to do that. The mercy is a great putter for any style of putting as well so if I need to throw a spin putt or a pitch putt I can use this disc.
Which bag is he using?
Zuca: I began using the Zuca cart in order to relieve some upper back pain I was getting from carrying a bag around all the time. The cart is great, I can carry anything I could ever want in it with no fear of bag fatigue. It is well worth the price and great for cart friendly courses.
His advice to up and coming players...
My advice to up and coming players is to always have fun while playing this great game. If you want to improve surround yourself with players that are better than you. Every disc golfer wants to grow the sport and help everyone they can. The best way to do this is by joining the local club. Every local club will have a league night with everyone there I saw a dramatic improvement in my game when I started completing in this weekly league. You can never practice putting too much. The people who throw 100 - 200 putts a day will always have a significant advantage. Lastly play within your own game. If you have a great sidearm or thumber use it.
KC Terry
KC is a Fort Collins native who started playing disc golf back in 1993 on the original CSU campus course. He's been playing disc golf professionally since 2006 and has many strong finishes to his name since then. He avoids ace-ing holes at all costs, preferring instead to "park" holes so putting isn't required. Also a fan of snowboarding, music and riding bicycles, he's enjoying his time at the Wright Life and in the vibrant Fort Collins disc golf scene.
In his bag...
Distance Drivers
Innova Champion Destroyer: A great straight flyer for maximum distance drives. Not too overstable so its managable for players with moderate arm speed. I find the Dominator is a disc I can work on all angles: hyzers, anhyzers, or bullet straight lines.
Innova Star Katana: The Katana has a lot of play in its flight, so it is a good one for sky anhyzers or shaping drives out in the open. I've found it to be as fast as any disc I've tried yet. Great for max-distance!
Discmania C-Line PD2: Holy overstable. This thing is almost too much to handle, but is great for a headwind since you can almost guarantee it isn't going to turn over. Good for big spike hyzers and of course, stiff-headwind drives.
Fairway Drivers
Innova Champion Firebird: This is one of two discs in my bag that have been there nearly as long as I've been playing professionally. The Firebird is a great tool for special circumstances: spike hyzers, skip shots and mean headwinds.
Discmania C-Line PD: I like the PD for shorter-length headwind drives, and have found it to be my go to disc for straight, accurate sidearm shots and smooth, pinpoint backhand hyzers. I really like the feel of this disc in the hand too, both for sidearm and backhand shots—it just fits comfortably, which give me added confidence in the shot.
Discmania C-Line FD: I picked this one up hoping it would replace my TL, but it ended up taking the place of the Teebird instead. Great glide, possibly a bit of added speed compared to the Teebird and a really consistent, straight flight path makes this my go-to fairway driver these days.
Innova Special Edition TL: This is the other disc that has been in my bag forever—probably continually since 2002. I haven't found a driver that I can throw as straight for as long as the TL. Perfect for those tough spots where you have to hit an impossibly-tight line to get out of the trees. Also doubles as my main roller disc. Downside: not a very durable plastic, resulting in a short disc-lifespan.
Mid-range
Innova Star Gator: This is the Firebird of my mid-range discs, which means I use it mostly for headwind approaches and unusual shots like short, sharp hyzers around obstacles, shots that need to sink fast, and short skip shots.
Innova Roc3 (Glow and Champion plastics): The Roc3 felt comfortable almost as soon as I put it in my hand. The glow version gives a slight, extra bit of stability. Stable, but not beefy, you can lay into it pretty hard with only minimal flip. It flies a lot like the old CE Rocs after they were broken in for a couple years. Be cautious into a headwind though, as it will turn over slightly with too much power.
Discmania S-Line MD2: I use the MD2 for hitting short tunnel shots or for turnovers. It is easy to turn over and will hold that line till nearly the end of its flight. This also means it can be flipped over too much as well, so it is a disc that requires some finesse, especially with a softer plastic like the S-Line.
Putt and Approach
Innova Champion Rhyno: This is a great choice for slight headwind approach shots, or good, consistent hyzers up to the basket from inside 150'. Once it gets to its destination it drops and stays. Can't argue with consistency.
Discmania C-Line P3: This really is one of the best putters for throwing off the tee. It's remarkably resistant to turn at high-speeds, and not overly stable as it slows down. This makes it pretty easy to throw far and straight without having to manipulate the starting angle or having it turn hard at the end of its flight.
JK Pro Aviar: I like the JK Pro Aviar for medium-long upshots, as it has a slight bit of stability. To keep it from turning over, and a gummy, flexible plastic that helps it stay where it lands. I've stopped throwing it off the tee, as that soft plastic makes for some inconsistency in the release angle.
Discmania P-Line P2 Psycho: I was putting with the standard DX Aviar for many years until recently, but made the change when I got a hold of one of these. The shape is really close to the Aviar, but the plastic is firm and stiff, reducing wobbles in the air and unexpected redirection from the disc bending in your hand before release. I wouldn't recommend this disc to all players, but for those who have developed a solid technique already, it may help to further refine your putt.
Innova Pro Nova: I've been using this one in the cold weather and it is incredibly grippy even on the chilliest days. It still has decent structural integrity, which helps with putting consistency. I need a bit of texture and tackiness with my putts, and most other putter plastics don't provide this in the cold. Who knows, it may even stay in the bag as the weather warms up.
Which bag is he using?
Grip EQ A-Series Tour Bag: I can't say enough how much I like the newest version of the Grip bags, the A-Series. I upgraded to this one last spring from the Revolution Carolina with backsaver straps, and I noticed the difference instantly. The Grip has a way of making that same number of discs feel like half as many. My only criticism is that the storage area is a bit thinner and elongated, so you have to be a bit creative how you pack things in. That being said, there is ample room—probably just as much as my Carolina bag, and maybe more. The high-quality construction makes it well worth the purchase!
His advice to up and coming players...
As they say, "drive for show.. putt for dough". This is true! Spend some time practicing that critical final shot and your scores will improve very fast. Don't think about your technique when playing, only when practicing. It is better to loosen up and let your body do what it has learned during practice. Most of all, have fun! Never forget why you got into the game. And always call people when you find their lost disc on the course!