Going on tour for the first time is exciting and can often provide players with enough adrenaline needed to make it from stop to stop for months on end. However, once you’re nearing the end of the journey, or if you’re a more seasoned player, you may not complete your trip with the same level of energy.

Performing at a high-level week in and week out at some of the best events in America means that you’re putting your body and mind to the test. At some point, you’ll have to rest before you completely burn out. But how can this be done when the tour schedule seems to be non-stop?

Listen And Plan

Any professional athlete will tell you that listening to your body is essential for longevity within your sport. For much first time touring players, they aren’t used to playing and driving as much as they do on the road, so being aware of your body is important. Listen to your own signs (you know what they are) and if it seems like you’re about to get sick or injured, take a break.

Planning ahead of time can’t be stressed enough when you’re going on tour, but this time we’re focusing on your days off instead of your gear. Even players who jam in 30+ events per year still have multiple days in a row with nothing to do, and this gives you a chance to do things other than play disc golf.

It’s fun to take in the more traditional tourist attractions across the nation, but get creative with your friends and enjoy other activities that fill up your tank. Work your breaks into your schedule and plan complete rest days where you don’t do much of anything. We know it’s exciting to be in a new city each week, but the exhaustion you’ll feel at the end of your tour is real!

What Tour Is Really About

For most people, tour life is about bettering your disc golf game, proving something to yourself, and getting to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer. While these factors all ring true, it’s important to think about the other side of tour life, specifically your emotional and mental health.

Disc golf is good for the soul, but so are naps! Eating out can be fun, but make sure to get some healthy nutrient-rich food in your system too. Like all things in life, balance is crucial, and when you begin to focus solely on tournaments, everything else can spin out of control quickly. The last thing any player wants to do is drop out of an event or end their tour early because they burned out and can’t handle being on the road any longer.

If you aren’t already incorporating some of these tips on the 2018 hour, it’s not too late to start. We want to hear from you – what are some of your tricks for managing fatigue on tour? How can players help to keep their life in balance? Let us know in the comments below.