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PDGA Live: Tracking Throws in Real Time

PDGA Live: Tracking Throws in Real Time

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 - 12:43

From your local C-Tier to the Disc Golf Pro Tour to PDGA Majors, tracking scores is right at your fingertips via the recently-updated PDGA Live app and website.

This past weekend, new features such as Throw Tracker and expanded statistics debuted on the Disc Golf Pro Tour and more are expected to roll out soon.

Keeping score and following scores no matter the level of event has never been easier. Here are some ins-and-outs of the newly-revamped PDGA Live scoring platform:

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How to Watch Scores on PDGA Live

If you haven’t already, you can download the PDGA Live app for iPhone or Android. Alternatively, you can point your browser to PDGALive.com to keep up with scores. This is the same app that you may already be using to score rounds during your own tournaments. If you're new to the app, see below on how to watch scores live. If you're familiar with the app, we'll cover some of the updates below.

Find the Event

Once you get on PDGA Live, you can search for the name of the event you’re wanting to follow in the search bar or you can find it in the list on the homepage, organized by tier.  

Score Tab

The score tab is the same list of scores that you're used to seeing, but now there is an added element of tracking throws only during PDGA Elite Series events on the Disc Golf Pro Tour and at PDGA Majors ... for now.

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Web version of scores tab (see throw tracker enabled below)

Toggle Options

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  • Throw Tracker is enabled by default and is visible until the event is complete. Throw Tracker enables you to watch each throw in text form. Recorded throws will show up under each player’s scorecard on the screen. 
  • A new option in the latest version of PDGA Live is the ability to view distances in metric measurements. 
  • PDGA Live is available in a color accessible palette by turning on this toggle. The PDGA Live app will have the accessibility theme toggle in the future, but this is currently only available on the web version.
  • Dark mode can still be found in the PDGA Live app under settings. For the web version, you'll find the dark mode toggle at the bottom of the page with the other toggles.

throwtrackerlive.pngThrow Tracker

With Throw Tracker turned on during a live event, you'll be able to see stats as they are recorded by the volunteer statskeeper. 

As displayed in the example, Thomas Gilbert is on hole 15, and in the basket with a 16 foot putt for eagle. Cole Redalen has landed in circle 2 on hole 18, and is about to putt for par. 

Hole Breakdowns and Round Stats / Icons

As you’re watching the throw tracker or checking the individual player’s hole breakdowns, you may wonder, “what is the difference between an up arrow on a drive and a down arrow on a drive?” (that’s the one that stumped me). Most of them are pretty easy to figure out, but here is a key in case you aren't sure:

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When you click on the individual player's scorecard on the list, it will expand to show different rounds, as before, but the new version of PDGA Live includes a more detailed story, which includes stats. You'll see not only the score on each hole and the hole distance, but also stats such as: where the player landed on their drive, if they had to scramble (and if they were successful), how many times they putted in each circle, and if they went OB (and how many times).

Currently, the hole breakdowns (the section visualized by icons under each hole) are only available on desktop; our tech team is working on ways to access all details on any device. The round stats (horizontal bar graph) show how that player did overall during that round. 

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Individual player hole breakdowns and round stats as seen on desktop

Stats Tab

The new stats tab shows you how each player compares to the other players. Who hit the fairway on their drive the most? Who has the best circle 2 putting? What is a player’s average putt, their longest throw-in? You can also see how players make up strokes and how many times they went out of bounds in the round. A new stat folks have really found interesting is average putting distance and total putting distance.

The leader of each category has their stat displayed in green (blue in accessibility mode). 

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Stats tab as seen on desktop

Course Tab

What you previously would find under “stats” can now be found in “course.” Just as before, this tab shows how the course played, but now there are many additional stats. Which hole had the most players scrambling? Which hole was the easiest to park? The longest throw-in, etc.

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Course tab as seen on desktop

Behind the Scenes

  • The PDGA Live scoring platform provides the real-time scores and stats directly to the live broadcasts on the Disc Golf Network. You're able to see it on the site as soon as it's viewable on the broadcast. Full stats are currently available for only PDGA Elite Series on the Disc Golf Pro Tour and PDGA Majors.
  • Playoff scoring is also new with this latest release. Available for all tournaments, playoff scoring requires TDs to designate the playoff details in Tournament Manager. 

What to Expect Next

Updates to PDGA Live stats will be ongoing. We've taken note of suggestions as we see them on social media, but the best way to contact the tech team with ideas for improvements is on the feedback form on the app itself. Contact the PDGA Event Support Team for questions or support inquiries.

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