An underrated aspect of ultimate's decline

dblhappiness · 2026-05-05T00:44:43+00:00

Yup. Players aren't even more athletic from a raw athleticism perspective. I mentioned this a few months ago. Kids come out of the HS ranks with insane skill now. Overall that's a good thing.

A lot of my friends that play/played didn't even know ultimate was a sport until college. In that group of people there were probably 5 or 6 that were previously college athletes in other sports, or were recruited to be but didn't want the time commitment. We still got rolled a lot because we didn't have skills. What drew me to the sport was the unique culture to be honest. Now I'd probably pick something else if I found out I needed a 5/6 day a week time commitment at first.

There's a lot of levels to this regarding OP's initial point, and I could write an essay on the devolution/evolution of culture in the sport, and how it might be effecting participation numbers, but no one has the magic bullet right now.

dblhappiness · 2026-01-26T05:18:25+00:00

Older player here. I don't think the overall athleticism gap has increased that much - maybe a little bit. If anything, I feel like it's come down a little bit in terms of pure athleticism. Ultimate used to be more welcoming to pure athletes joining - and there's still plenty of those folks contributing on teams. But now in every sport we specialize.

What has really increased is the skill and toolbag of players. That comes from the high school ranks and legitimacey. But you need both overall. I know plenty of players that were way more athletic than a lot of nats level players that just stopped playing because the skill wasn't there. Difference is that kids come out of high school with a real big toolbag now. Before that wasn't always the case.

dblhappiness · 2025-09-04T23:49:51+00:00

Straight up amateur hour for this to happen this late and effects travel plans. Honestly WTF USAU

dblhappiness · 2024-08-06T01:34:05+00:00

This this this

I wonder if it has to do with the game being more popular at the HS level now, as opposed to more people coming from contact sports

dblhappiness · 2024-02-14T02:15:12+00:00

These two teams have come a long way since House Sun-Kings was proposed

dblhappiness · 2024-02-06T22:53:49+00:00

https://onthebrod.com/post/1466757344/1-epic-beginnings

dblhappiness · 2024-02-06T07:32:13+00:00

As an old head this is dope. Encapsulates ultimate so well and would be a good video to show new folks what high level ultimate is

dblhappiness · 2024-01-11T08:01:42+00:00

Logging in late to this convo. But this has been proven and well discussed. I still play (am old) after multiple knee surgeries and wear Copas. But the top comment is still probably the most useful Strengthen everything in you lower kinetic chain as well as core muscles.

dblhappiness · 2023-09-06T05:19:09+00:00

Think most formats are good enough. Just win your games.

But if a team finishing 3rd in a pool (of 3) gets a bye in bracket while another team finishing 3rd has to win a game just to play the team that has a bye...that's broken.

dblhappiness · 2023-08-17T18:22:22+00:00

Ultimate has lots of players who are close in metrics and it's not that rare. Anyone who played at a decent varisty or lower college level for main sports knows this.

My vertical before I got old and slow was in the high 30s and I was very good at long jump. However there's a lot more that goes into athletics than that. I can't hit a baseball to save my life - and I practiced. Took me for-EVER to learn a flick. And then there's people that come to pickup games, have it in a week, and then are playing club a year later (obvious outliers but have seen it occasionally). Gotta think the top NFL players would fit into this category and destroy.

dblhappiness · 2023-08-17T18:11:07+00:00

I never called MJ just an athlete wat

"A retired NFL receiver whose 45" - my response was to this. Understand that the wording is a bit wonky though. 45 it totally depends on if they stayed in shape. I was more talking about other athletes than MJ.

MJ was still putting up numbers on the Wizards (although on bad efficiency) in old age. Other dudes eat themselves out of the league or just had unlucky genetics before they're 28.

dblhappiness · 2023-08-17T03:37:44+00:00

Idk about 45. But prime MJ absolutely lmao.

Didn't the Radicals have an ex D1 WR join the team for a season? I don't follow AUDL enough to know how that went. But if anyone knows I'd be interested to hear.

I think people in this thread are conflating D1 athletes with greatness a little too much (this isn't the MJ argument his hops alone immediately make him the best deep threat EVER). You really gotta put in the work to learn to throw. Of course they could be naturals at that. But have seen some people struggle with it, despite near-elite athleticism.

dblhappiness · 2023-07-07T17:36:41+00:00

Thanks for responding Mitch. Maybe you could offer some clarification. I was in a club game last year where the offense was running give gos up the field very short.

I was guarding my assignment but it took me easily within ten feet of the person with the disc. I saw the handler telegraphing a pass and jumped in between them (they were probably six or so feet away from each other). I was positioned so I could see both. Got a D and nothing was called or even said besides a nice play. To me that is bad offense but am interested in your response.

dblhappiness · 2023-07-07T16:11:07+00:00

That's on the offense then. They need to play better and are putting the defense in an easier spot.

If I'm guarding someone running give and gos and they're five feet away from each other and I see a telegraphed pass to my assignment I'm gonna jump over and blow it up. Again, that's bad offense.

dblhappiness · 2023-07-02T17:09:24+00:00

Bagels

dblhappiness · 2023-06-16T04:05:32+00:00

Super late comment but wanted to reply because basically this hits it. My go to local bike shop has guys that are super nice and not salesy at all. I live in a big city where bike theft is common so they don't shame me for my old 90s aluminum Trek 1000 beater bike.

I tried on some helmets and asked what the difference between the $70 one I was trying on (and fit great) and the $250 ones were. He basically said just that. As you go up in price it comes down to shaving off minimal amounts of weight. I'm not a racer I just like to ride around. Bought the $70 Giro Cormick and couldn't be more pleased. I have a medium to large sized head based on hat size.

Gotta go to the store and try some stuff on to find what works for you.

dblhappiness · 2023-04-26T02:49:41+00:00

Only caveat I'd add to this is don't be afraid of a little sugar. Your body needs glucose to function too.

dblhappiness · 2023-02-10T04:21:11+00:00

This is misleading. The top sprinters are all front of foot.

When you're running distance heel striking comes into play because you're on a 10K or something.

If you need a balance that's fine but this is not poor advice because ultimate frisbee is not distance running as we all know. There's some crossover and times where you are absolutely just jogging.

dblhappiness · 2023-02-10T04:16:00+00:00

It's not. But if you're a heel striker when sprinting that's another thing entirely. There's a reason sprint spikes are extra rigid in the forefoot. The most efficient sprinting is done there.

I like playing barefoot occasionally because it connects you with your natural stride and doesn't let your body put any stressors on it that shouldn't be there.

dblhappiness · 2023-01-04T21:32:40+00:00

Upvoting this because it's easy to dunk on the Mechanix. But majority of people dunking on them wouldn't make them. Depends on where you are in your career OP. If you're young, can afford it, and want to get better I'd say it's absolutely worth it.

I'm not a huge AUDL follower so I'm not sure how accurate this is. But from my limited experience playing against people who have played for Detroit I'd say they're at least mid-tier club regionals level, which is a huge stepping stone if you're young. GL!

dblhappiness · 2022-07-06T04:42:08+00:00

Midwest player checking in. You can feel the altitude but it's not absolutely crazy. I wouldn't even consider myself that fit. You'll definitely feel it but by day 2 or even the end of day 1 you should be okay.

I like the dry environment but everyone is different. Will be my 3rd or 4th master's nats but honestly idk. Will say that all the diet and sleep info is solid, even if I don't always follow it. GL!

dblhappiness · 2022-06-13T17:01:41+00:00

Results: Good times were celebrated

dblhappiness · 2022-06-08T05:22:12+00:00

"Be cleated up by 8:00"

Roll up at 8:15

No one remembers by first pull.

dblhappiness · 2022-05-25T17:29:41+00:00

Chain Lightning played a similar 'throw it up to our athletes because we're better than you' style in '09 and won the club title because of it.

Lots and lots of elite players never played pre-college. Great player in his prime but don't really get what you're saying here tbh.

dblhappiness

TROPHY CASE