INNOVA Team: Joel Kelly

Distance Drivers:
C.E. Valkyrie - Mid and long rollers down-wind and no wind
Champion Orc - Long flat hyzers
Champion Wraith - Long turn-over flex shots. Long hyzers that are into a slight wind and long hyzers that need to skip... usually on harder ground.
Pro Wraith - Any long shot. Long low ceiling slight turn-over shots, long low-line hyzers and long rollers into the wind. Big flex shots.
Champion Firebird - Into the wind drives and big hyzers
Fairway Drivers:
Millennium EXP - Spike hyzers and very windy long up-shots
Millennium Tachyon - Windy up-shot hyzers. Shorter spike hyzers. Short skips and short side arm upshots
Millennium Aurora MF - It's really beat up and does magical turn-overs.
Mid-Range:
2 Millennium Q-MS - One older/less stable, other newer/more stable. I use them for all sorts of mid-range shots, straight mid-range shots are where they are money.
Champion Shark - Low-line mid-range shots and finesse mid-range flex shots
Putt & Approach:
Millennium Omega putter - Short turn-over drives, most up shots and long putts

What is your profession:
Owner/Operator/Web-Master of Chain Reaction Disc Golf and chainreactiondiscgolf.com
I specialize in dyed discs and have 1000s of dye designs from mild to wild... I do all the dye work myself.
Other job duties: Disc golf lessons in the Austin area and weekly mini tournaments.

How did you get started:
Played Frisbee everyday when I was in my teens and pretty much quit when I got in my 20s. A friend (Gary Rogers) kept bugging me to play for 2 years. Finally I took him up on it and I was hooked.

What are your goals:
Long term I want to see the sport grow. When I get old, well older, I plan to run some big events in the Austin area. I really like the competition aspects of disc golf and want a major annual singles event in the area.

Most memorable tournament:
Worlds 2001 in Minnesota. I took the lead with a smokin' 4th round. The next 5 rounds I played with Joey and Stan in 95 to 100 degree heat with 99% humidity. It was the perfect card and we all brought out the best in each other-making unbelievable shots. In the final I was one back with 4 holes to go when Mela throws in a 120 footer. The gallery went wild. Then Stan throws up an eighty footer nicking some branches and it goes in. The gallery wen even wilder.

I had a couple of chances on the last 2 holes buy didn't make the shot and took 2nd. After the awards, back a tthe Thunderbird Hotel, we had 4 of the sweetest disc golf trophies (2-firsts and 2-seconds)-in the hotel room. Wish I would have had a camera.

What are your favorite tournaments:
Pro Worlds: I've been to every one since 1995 and will go to everyone 'til I die. It's the Grand-Daddy of disc golf tournaments. 9 1/2 rounds of disc golf on 4-5-6 different courses. Everyone's there and it's the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
K.C. Wide Open: Kansas City does a great job with this tournament. The staff is very professional and nothing is over-looked. Well run tournaments are something that keeps me going back to an event. I've only missed one in the past 11 years.
Capital of Texas and Waterloo Classic: These two events are in Austin and are rn by the Waterloo disc golf club. The events are very festive and most of my Texas buddies are at them. They're really laid-back tournaments that usually support a charity.

What is your most memorable win:
2005 Waco National Tour Master's division. I started the first round with a 1040 rated -8 on the west course. the second round on the East Course (The Beast) I went bogey free through 15 holes... hole 16 is a monster and I carder my first 4. I ended up shooting a 1047 rated -2. I had a 15 stroke lead at the end of the tournament.

What advice can you give to beginners:
Putting wins tournaments. When you get to the course don't run over to the 1st tee and start chucking 'em. Go to the practice basket and start putting. Try some stretching too. The muscles in the arms, back, and legs work better for every part of the game when they're warmed up and stretched. Especially for putting. If you're not sure how to putt, get a video with Climo in it. Almost any Worlds or USDGC video will do. You may not want to follow or mimic everything Kenny does, but make sure your arm moves in a long smooth motion, like Climo.