I’m John Kelly, a Penfield resident and local disc golf nut. When I started playing, I quickly learned I needed help after I repeatedly hurt myself by throwing improperly. I did find help, both locally and online, and I’m so happy I did. But as my throwing form and game progressed, I realized some things I was taught were flat-out wrong and holding me back.
And yes, I do not charge anything for the first lesson. I do this for the love of the game and helping people, and I believe in growing the sport, not my wallet. This community helped me get started without question, so this is my way of paying it forward. I will happily accept donations, but not for me. I donate 100% of your money, even fees after the first session, directly to the Disc Golf Rochester organization to help maintain our area courses, the same courses most players and I enjoy for free.
Fast-forward, I have an instructor background, and I love teaching. As I continue to improve my throwing form for tournament play, I’m always thinking and learning how to coach newer players to shorten their learning curve and prevent injury. It’s very easy to injure yourself—often seriously—while trying to throw a disc as hard as you can.
I’m an intermediate player currently rated at 881 with the PDGA, and I’m an active league and sanctioned tournament player with a handful of top podium finishes, including two C-Tier 1st place finishes in MA40 and MA50. I need coaching too, and I have one. My personal journey learning my own throwing form has made me an avid student of throwing form mechanics. I use my Tech Disc for my form improvement and fully understand its uses and limitations. It is a precious tool for rapid learning, but without guidance, it can also be misused very easily and become a detriment to your form, too. I would only use a Tech Disc for players with at least a season’s worth of throwing experience and with some basic form knowledge.
No, I’m not a pro player (yet), and I don’t pretend to be one. If you’re looking for a pro-player coach, I recommend Tyler Tiede. When I initially got help from local pros, I quickly learned the hard way (and expensive way) that being a pro player doesn’t always equate to being a pro instructor. On the other hand, Tyler knows the disc golf form very well, plays on pro tour level tournaments, and, more importantly, he also knows how to teach it.
Contact me, even if you want to talk first about your goals.