Interesting video. I'm definitely a fan of Kona's and she admittedly had a disappointing season. Planning a wedding might have been a factor. To her credits, she always remains in good spirits on social media. Hopefully 2023 is a big comeback year for her.
Her “admittedly” acknowledging her season means nothing, because she doesn’t have to. We all can see just how awful she was, so whether or not she publicly comments on it, that doesn’t make anything better.
Great video, very interesting topic! Honestly, I feel she puts too much pressure on herself, which in turn affects her game. Hopefully she can learn to control her emotions and mind in 2023👍❤️
Well done video…my gut feeling is that Kona Panis has taken major steps to stabilize and solidify several areas of her life that were uncertain and / overwhelming her in 2022. I’ve been involved in woman’s disc golf for over 40 years and can see so much potential in Kona. I for one believe in her…2023 will be an interesting watch, that’s for certain. YOU GO GIRL!!!
I like to lean to the side of positivity. I haven’t seen anything in Kona’s circumstances that would count against her as she enters in the 2023 campaign. I hope she surprises and shocks you. I still believe she will put all the pieces together. 🥏😀👍🏼
Good for her getting that contract. I think her biggest problem is having multiple people giving her advice and teaching during the season and her changing the way she throws. You do that during the off season, not the middle. I hope she has a good season.
Personally I think she was overpaid when you compare her contract to that of K Tattar but Kona wasn't brought in for her playing skills only. DD brought her in for her online presence as well as she was doing a lot of social media. This year however she didn't really seem to be doing as much social media either. Sure she was getting married etc but I think she took a step back on the course and online. After one bad year I surely wouldn't say she has failed. She just needs to regain her focus on and off the course and play to her abilities. Many great players can overcome a season like this, hopefully she is strong enough mentally to do that. That will remain to be seen...but she's def good enough to turn it around and become a consistent player. But a lot of the newer FPO players will be making huge strides as well and that will make it difficult as the sport grows.
She has been dealing with a lot. Mental health and some thyroid issues are a lot to handle especially being out in the road for over half the year. I have faith she will do great this year with her focus on her mental and physical health. Get it girl 👏🧡
Kona's interview at the MVP Open press conference was very informative. She was open with the fact that she was struggling with mental health issues that had impacted her play. She was exploring new therapy that she hoped would help. Perhaps with that she will be able to turn it around next year.
Not surprising, I mean, her body language and here voice often gave me a weird feeling of uncertainity. I didn't even like very much when she made the commentary with page pierce (some fpo major, I think was it the champions cup?) not because I wouldn't like her, but her voice sounded often kinda ...unnaturally forced. Wish her the best, because I know myself that fix the mental health issues is the absolute basic for moving on in any aspect of life.
This is a well done video based on stats and facts, I really enjoyed it and found it informative. I really like this approach to looking at players as opposed to just peoples opinions or biases that are normally formed by the player's personality or brand representation.
Let's hope she does get better this year. To me, signing up for that much money shouldn't have been an issue. I guess some people add that pressure in their mind trynna live up to that reputation. If I was paid $500,000 for 4 years? Shoot, I'd be doing nothing but fitness and fieldwork with that money working my a** off. It's like Philo said in one of his videos - you gotta have passion and love for the sport.
The dynamic discs sponsorship page says “The most important thing about you is not how many birdies you can get but whether you can represent us well.” The whole premise of this video is based on her tournament standings but Kona’s value was never in her ability to win majors or compete at worlds but to be a quality brand ambassador and that I think she is doing quite well at with all of her social media influence off the course.
When I was a beginner, Kona inspired me to try the wombat3 and later her 2021 signature max weight blue/lime mako3 (best color!) Here I was, a middle age dude, brand new to the sport, didn’t have a fast arm, and was building my bag around FPO players’s strategy because I knew I needed control and I’d never be a crush boy. Kona was one of the pros I would follow on social media. Her disc selection made sense to me. Anyways, I watched a lot of Kona’s competitions and social media videos. But… Kona’s putt changed dramatically prior to her DD signing. She started using very high anhyzer-flex-elevator putts. It was not accurate at all. (Was this a result of coaching from Dave Dunipace?) That same year there was some commentary on Jomez about how Ulibarri had a similar putting style back in the Innova days and he HAD to change it because of the same issues. Looks like there’s a reason not many players putt with a lot of loft and flex?
She had a big decline in her scores in 2022, yes. It seems dramatic to call it her fall. Kona has mad skills. I don't see anything stopping her from using the off season to train herself back into the zone.
It's clear if you follow her that she is more focused on painting the back of discs then she is on putting those discs in baskets. Also she just got married and was more worried about having the perfect wedding all season than she was about playing after signing a half million dollar. contract
@@williamheaton3254 Yea, I don't follow her so I appreciate your opinion there. Something similar happened with Paige this year with life outside of disc golf taking precedence. I talked with her at Green Mountain and she seemed happier than I've ever seen her so I feel like she was doing the right thing for her life to take some time for herself. But Kona isn't Paige and I do think it's weird timing to put your commitment to the sport on the back burner right after you sign a huge contract like this- if that's what she's doing.
Kona would take 10 strokes off every round she currently plays if she just committed to improve her putting. For someone getting paid that much, she should be working on her putting 3 hours per day, 6 days a week, with a putting coach, indefinitely. Imagine if her goal was simply to be the best putter in disc golf. period. And then put her attention and focus all into achieving that goal. We would all be talking about her.
Undeniably one of the best female personalities in the sport. Easy to love her. I really hope her game improves now that she has more time with those disc.
Hey everybody what's up Happy New Year I played with Kona about 3 years ago she was on our card I'm a senior grandmaster player and that girl's got skills and she can play I told her you start getting a good sidearm you're going to be amazing and I think what's going on with her this year is it's new company new plastic and I see her bouncing back if I could add anything just as a player she might want to start bringing back that Annie putt she was really good with that good luck Kona I'm rooting for your girl Garcia from New Mexico
I think her biggest issue is that she's rubbed people the wrong way. The announcement, trashing Innova by saying she wasn't 'valued' in the light she felt she was entitled too, etc. The arrogance/entitlement really pushed people off and that's why no one is buying her discs or anything she pumps, really. I think Rick handled his announcement professionally and well. The tone and attitude was what has done her in. Humbleness, gratefulless, and professionalism really needs to improve for me to be a fan. She has a lot of growing up and maturity to deal with, personally.
In a game where one good or bad shot leads to another, expectations weigh heavily upon player's consciousness. Once a Champion, always a Champion, and even though it may only happen once (very common) those who win multiple Championships avoid other's expectations. Ricky Wysocki is a good example, and before every tournament, whether his last score sucked or not, he says he's ready to win and playing well, reminding himself that it is not what others believe but how he feels he is playing. As athletes we must give ourselves permission to fail so we can move past the bad and get back to playing our best instead of listening to doubt and trying to correct a problem that really doesn't exist (bad days happen to everyone). Players who change their style to eliminate failures are only admitting they have gotten worse somehow. GET THIS: you never get worse unless you stop trying to get better! I have learned so much from Kona, I believe in her, and I hope she comes to terms with the pressure or changes those around her so she has the support she needs to be at her best.
I think people in the community always forget that these sponsorships are really just players being hired to the companies’ marketing teams to move product. And sure competitive play helps consistently move discs, but it’s always about the branding whenever money is involved
Yep. FPO is growing, there are so many more top tier women now than just 2-3 years ago, kona was simply benefiting from a smaller competitive pool, it's only going to get harder for her going forward.
Let's go Kona. Here's to a new year any better 2023 season. As others have noted you are an excellent human being, easily thousand rated. I do think that a lot of the FPO, to include Page and Valerie benefited from a period during the pandemic when Kirsten and other top Europeans were not swooping into steal a lot of the top finishes. It's not going to be easier next year and there will be some more strong newcomers including her DD teammate Holyn Handley. All the best to all the FPO.
Competing at this level is about 50% skills, 10% luck and 40% mental game. You can do well without the luck but the other two needed to place top 25. FPO and MPO are all super skilled nowadays, mind blowing. If a bad round gets into your head or you start doubting your putting, game over.
As some people have mentioned, disc golf deals are not necessarily as tightly tied to 'on-course' performance as, say, NBA-contracts. That being said, Dynamic Discs took a gamble and the deal came with expectations/image attached. She was the same before the contract as she is now after, albeit with pressure on top. But her image has definitetely been distorted by the contract and peoples perspective on it. You see it all the time in NBA with draft and trade "busts". Teams and companies "speculate" on athletes' potential and the individual player gets branded as a bust quick if they dont live up to these - sometimes - inflated expectations.
If I think I know what you're saying I agree she should just let all the BS go by concentrate on what she does best and just play she's going to get better if she plays
She may not be a top 10 player, but she is well-spoken, personable, and has a strong social media presence. That may be enough for her contract to be worth it to DD.
Is disc golf not a sport? When did performance become unimportant and social media postings determine success within given sport? Take away her dad that has a huge role at Innova and she probably wouldn't even be on the tour, no way she would have been sponsored by Innova if her dad wasn't involved with the company. She has a little over 7k subscribers on youtube with two videos posted in the last six months, no one cares about or follows her. She is dreadful to watch, easily the worst putting game in FPO.
Outside of that one victory at Waco, I've never considered Kona an elite level player, I also think most of the ish her and Christine Jennings post on Social Media is complete crap....... Only reason why she got that contract is because E Mac and just about every other male disc golf fan has a hard on for her......... At the end of the day she's just another pretty face using her looks to get by on.......
So much for the social media presence..I've never seen someone throwing a Kona disc, and I've seen hundreds of Paige, Tattar and Allen discs on the course. Hard to feel bad for someone being overpaid.
@@elliotlangley4459 no prob. Ill explain. I said I've never seen someone throwing a Panis disc. They said there are thousands in fan groups. I'm saying I don't follow fan groups online and that you can find thousands of people doing anything online, so it doesn't mean much to me. Clear enough?
i just feel bad for kristin, she gets paid the same as kristin, that is unfathomable, it's like zach melton making the same as ricky wysocki, i hope each time kona gets paid she feels guilty because she's literally worth a 40k base plus incentives
She certainly had a tough season on the course, but now that her wedding has taken place I believe she can put more focus back on DiscGolf. I expect a much better season from her in 2023
Disc golf fans are an interesting group. It's like it's against to law to say someone isn't good or say something that isn't positive when speaking about a player or their performance. Yet in any other sport it's the language of the game, who hasn't watched any MLB, NBA, or NFL game and said he sucks, why did he get such a crazy contract. Who doesn't rip a player when they fail during a very important moment? If any of the top paid player's in any of their respective sports completely flopped for a season, it would be the talk of the league, and it wouldn't be talk saying oh it's ok, they'll do better next year. It would be trade talks, and we want our money back. The sensitivity here is crazy, these are supposed to be the player's at the highest level, you either prove that through your performance or you don't.
Great video! Subscribed and I look forward to seeing more analysis like this. Tattar deservedly dominated in 2022 and even PP (who I love) had to acknowledge the level of KT's play was above everyone else's. In hindsight (after the 2022 season), KT's contract clearly seems pretty low as she is indisputably the number 1 player in the world and therefore, the truer way to look at it is that Kona's contract is really just what all top 10 players (where she has been in the years before 2022), with good social media presence, should be getting in the current era of disc golf. Undoubtedly, after Kona's slow start to the season, the inevitable comparisons with KT and the very personal attacks on and criticisms of Kona took their toll on her confidence leading to mental health issues she's talked about. For Kona, her past successes show she has plenty of disc golf skills and on course smarts. I think that besides getting her putting accuracy up to elite levels being key, it also would help if she can add some more distance (due to many courses seeming to advantage power throwers) and get control of the DD plastic that seemed to turn over a lot when she wasn't expecting it. I imagine she's doing LOTS of putting and also hitting the gym in the off season. The awesome crop of newbies who have risen up in the last 1 or 2 years are probably only getting better too, so just like the MPO Division for the last several years, getting the W, or even top 10, in FPO is not getting easier. It's a great time to be a disc golf fan, but tougher than ever for players! I think in 2023 that Kona will get on top of most, if not all, the things that held her back in 2022 and I expect we'll see plenty of top 10 finishes from her this year.
Her value to DD has very little to do with her tournament results imo. She is the best female brand ambassador in the sport. She is young and has huge potential to grow her brand thru social media. This has far more value than tourney results. I think she going to have a great 2023 season and wish her the best.
This girl has 0 chances to ever win against the best around is Kristin Tattar. Dynamic Disc should drop Kona like a bad habit. Biggest bust sense Ryan Leaf.
I like Kona a lot and I wish her luck. I think she can be a really good player but she is not even close to the level of Kristen Tatar and Paige Peirce. In my eyes Kristen Tatar is the best female player in the world right now.
I'm not sure if the pressure will die off tbh. Her deal was massive, and considering they had another young star in Valarie. They are feeling the effects by not being able to have her for more than one year. Now Val is a top 5 player, while they have a huge amount tied up in someone who isn't top 20. Doesn't look good
I think the last several years have been really hard on a lot of players. Kona has serious skills. For so long, there were only a few women playing at the highest level. Now you have a lot more competitive players in the women’s division since the boom of the sport in 2018 and so there is more competition for those top cards.
Here's my outside observation with Kona- there were too many changes at once. Kona is a player who is the least consistent in her form. She has undergone many throwing and putting changes over the years and she hasn't established her own style. She had a good year as an anhyzer side putter. Then last year she was tutored by EMAC. Nothing wrong with that. But she retooled again. I can't describe her form off the tee but there's definitely a small difference. She switched her putt to a straddle. She switched her discs. That's so much to change in a short offseason. Ricky dominated because he just changed discs. I think Kona, if she can stick with what works for her, will have a bounce back year.
She will have competition for the final spots of the DGPT finals with 1x world champion Paige Shue doing a full tour, Deann Carey expanding her tour and some up and comers I think will make a splash (Lynds sisters, Keiti Tatte, Leah Tsinajinnie, and Stacie Hats)
Disc golf companies don’t determine how much they are going to pay a player solely based on skill. Skill obviously has a lot to do with the recognition from the company but the marketability of the player is also a massive factor for revenue to the company. Take Brodie smith for example, there was no reason discraft should have signed him when he was brand new to the sport, But with his reach on social media, he made discraft a lot of money. Companies want wins, but they want profit more than that. They wouldn’t sign an ogre that nobody liked and wasn’t a people person even if they were winning every tournament. You have to make a business decision and choose the people that are going to make you the most money.
Tough game. Risks are taken by manufacturers. Pressure to perform, teammate incompatibility(?), new plastic, lack of focus from travel, pressers, less practice time, time management. All contribute to player stress. Lots of variables. Plus, if you ever allow yourself to be OK with finishing lower than expected, you have lost. That fight has to be there to be on or near the top.
How unfortunate that Kona moved sponsors in the same year that the European ladies came and showed they were much better. Rough for Dynamic, rougher yet for Kona.
All the players who are consistently at the top can smash! Just part of the game now. She needs to work on functional, top-end, explosive strength. That will also help give her 30-45' putts the snap she's always lacked.
I blame Colten. He is obviously encouraging her rather than giving her the truth. He lets ger putt like an idiot. She obviously needs a complete putting overhaul
Umm kind of a shitty move to title your video "The Fall of KP..." and make it seem like her entire career is over...as clickbait. She's young and looks to have a lot going for her. I predict she uses the off year as motivation and look for her to bounce back strong.
It would have been interesting if you could have done a video interview of sorts to get her point of view...there are always factors we never consider without actually talking to her. This isn't a knock at what you've already put together, I just think these videos could be improved so much by a quick video interview.
I hope she does well in the coming season, but she is starting to remind me of Jessica Weese. A talented player who never developed into a serious contender.
My gut tells me she’s under too much control. Does she even want to play or is she being pressured by her dad (innova) and her husband? I don’t see the spark in that relationship. She’s so young and has she been allowed to be herself??? Good luck Kona. It’s going to be a tough road if you’re not living your truth.
I'm still supporting her , she is still a star player and more humble than than the girl than we all know and love , everyone has high and lows in in life , she has an abundance of self discipline , and sometimes health issues become a factor our life's but I support to her goodness and greatness to the sport , I support her positivity to the sport over any negativity that anyone has to say about her as she made a mark of greatness that only few have accomplished and I honer her for that and will never count her out , she will rise again ...
@@patrickrupp6440 I support her but seems she’s playing tight and not relaxed. Look at her putting, she’s in her head. When someone like her comes along it’s easy for the people around her to make her decisions and she goes along with it. If I were pro I wouldn’t marry someone on tour. What happens when the relationship gets rocky? That could effect her play and the game she once used to love is now a place she doesnt want to be. Maybe I’m wrong but I’ve seen it happen.
Yeah, “fall” is kind of melodramatic. She had a bad season. If she never has a good one again, it’s still just another big signing that didn’t pan out. It happens all the time, in sports.
lol this video is kinda just asking for attention - says how ricky did well with dynamic when he signed with them, insinuating that kona moving to new discs should have made her better or just as good. Dude was with trilogy before he went to innova, so it was actually a return to discs he had a long history with, and was still doing awesome with before he went to innova. I feel like this is a weird way to trash someone that was taken into a big contract who didnt produce, and for one season at that. Maybe make a video of calvin falling off wins from time to time, that is a more interesting story.
The best pro's adjust to new discs very easily. McBeth, Conrad, Pierce, and Allen all had either very similar or markedly better seasons their first year with new discs. Maybe Ricky isn't the best comparison because, as you rightly note, he was very familiar with trilogy discs, but a more charitable interpretation is that new discs or a new company shouldn't be a problem for the best pro's. Additionally, Panis' last seasons with Innova were noticeably better than her first season with DD. She didn't just not produce, but instead got worse. There's a genuine question being asked here: Is Panis a top tier player or not?
This is a professional sport, no one has ever criticized or questioned a big contract for a player in the NBA, MLB, or NFL after they had a horrible season? Kind of odd you're saying we should criticize a male but you have a problem with it being done to a female. 🤔
All she needs to do is learn how to putt. Unfortunately who ever is training DD ladies is doing it wrong. She has the same form as Rebecca COX and they are both bad, use too much effort and are inconsistent and have no distance. I really question why these companies pay sooo much money to these players but do not have a coach to help them get better in the off season. Like seriously how do you sponsor a great putter and do not have them help train other players.
Look, I don't think we need video reports for a given season (Fall) of some Disc Golf FPO player. How do you pick a given season and what's the significance? Or I might be entirely wrong. So the Kona lady tripped, and fell off the Kona Coast in Hawaii? Big deal, it's like this video was dead wrong from the get-go in a couple of areas.
Yup. Dumb video in my opinion. What is the word? Hyperbole? At this point it just feels like kicking someone when they are down for no reason. It's a 125K/year contract. What is that equivalent to? Three DD warehouse workers?
@@richparks1966 sick burn. You said you don't need this video. I'm asking what video we do need. Btw the significance of this video is Kona got a huge contract and failed (significantly.)
@@mindlander Was a lame alternate definition burn. When I say we don't need this video, I am not saying we then need some kind of video. I'm making an argument against this video not for one. Don't put words and n my mouth.
Interesting video. I'm definitely a fan of Kona's and she admittedly had a disappointing season. Planning a wedding might have been a factor. To her credits, she always remains in good spirits on social media. Hopefully 2023 is a big comeback year for her.
Her “admittedly” acknowledging her season means nothing, because she doesn’t have to. We all can see just how awful she was, so whether or not she publicly comments on it, that doesn’t make anything better.
Great video, very interesting topic!
Honestly, I feel she puts too much pressure on herself, which in turn affects her game. Hopefully she can learn to control her emotions and mind in 2023👍❤️
@@danielpenrodii2389 FYI, it was me saying "admittedly," not Kona. I said she admittedly had a disappointing season. Semantics.
I really hope she does well this year, she seems like a great human being and I hope she thrives.
Forget disc golf for just a moment, but why does she hold a pen like that at 0:35 ?
Lol but I have seen some people write like that.
Well done video…my gut feeling is that Kona Panis has taken major steps to stabilize and solidify several areas of her life that were uncertain and / overwhelming her in 2022. I’ve been involved in woman’s disc golf for over 40 years and can see so much potential in Kona. I for one believe in her…2023 will be an interesting watch, that’s for certain. YOU GO GIRL!!!
2033 maybe...
Ya don't hold your breath
I like to lean to the side of positivity. I haven’t seen anything in Kona’s circumstances that would count against her as she enters in the 2023 campaign. I hope she surprises and shocks you. I still believe she will put all the pieces together. 🥏😀👍🏼
Good for her getting that contract. I think her biggest problem is having multiple people giving her advice and teaching during the season and her changing the way she throws. You do that during the off season, not the middle. I hope she has a good season.
absolute banger video. Great work thank you for making this
Personally I think she was overpaid when you compare her contract to that of K Tattar but Kona wasn't brought in for her playing skills only. DD brought her in for her online presence as well as she was doing a lot of social media. This year however she didn't really seem to be doing as much social media either. Sure she was getting married etc but I think she took a step back on the course and online. After one bad year I surely wouldn't say she has failed. She just needs to regain her focus on and off the course and play to her abilities. Many great players can overcome a season like this, hopefully she is strong enough mentally to do that. That will remain to be seen...but she's def good enough to turn it around and become a consistent player. But a lot of the newer FPO players will be making huge strides as well and that will make it difficult as the sport grows.
She has been dealing with a lot. Mental health and some thyroid issues are a lot to handle especially being out in the road for over half the year. I have faith she will do great this year with her focus on her mental and physical health. Get it girl 👏🧡
Kona's interview at the MVP Open press conference was very informative. She was open with the fact that she was struggling with mental health issues that had impacted her play. She was exploring new therapy that she hoped would help. Perhaps with that she will be able to turn it around next year.
is she an anti vaxere?
living in a van playing disc golf for a living can't be a great way to be mentally healthy, I suspect it must be driving a lot of the players mad
Not surprising, I mean, her body language and here voice often gave me a weird feeling of uncertainity. I didn't even like very much when she made the commentary with page pierce (some fpo major, I think was it the champions cup?) not because I wouldn't like her, but her voice sounded often kinda ...unnaturally forced. Wish her the best, because I know myself that fix the mental health issues is the absolute basic for moving on in any aspect of life.
This is a well done video based on stats and facts, I really enjoyed it and found it informative. I really like this approach to looking at players as opposed to just peoples opinions or biases that are normally formed by the player's personality or brand representation.
Let's hope she does get better this year. To me, signing up for that much money shouldn't have been an issue. I guess some people add that pressure in their mind trynna live up to that reputation. If I was paid $500,000 for 4 years? Shoot, I'd be doing nothing but fitness and fieldwork with that money working my a** off. It's like Philo said in one of his videos - you gotta have passion and love for the sport.
I think in her heart she’s just not into it. Too much pressure from family and sponsors and she’s being too controlled.
As someone who just started playing about a year and a half ago I had no idea she existed until my fiance brought up her contract.
The finality of the title belies your more hopeful vision for the future for Panis. Thanks for a thoughtful video.
Yes this makes for a good story but we haven't heard the last of Kona. She is so young and has so much talent. #TEAMKONA
The dynamic discs sponsorship page says “The most important thing about you is not how many birdies you can get but whether you can represent us well.” The whole premise of this video is based on her tournament standings but Kona’s value was never in her ability to win majors or compete at worlds but to be a quality brand ambassador and that I think she is doing quite well at with all of her social media influence off the course.
I don’t know $125,000 a year, I’m thinking they want some results
Yeah they grabbed her cause she's a babe. Which is totally fine IMHO, but it makes sense.
When I was a beginner, Kona inspired me to try the wombat3 and later her 2021 signature max weight blue/lime mako3 (best color!) Here I was, a middle age dude, brand new to the sport, didn’t have a fast arm, and was building my bag around FPO players’s strategy because I knew I needed control and I’d never be a crush boy. Kona was one of the pros I would follow on social media. Her disc selection made sense to me. Anyways, I watched a lot of Kona’s competitions and social media videos. But…
Kona’s putt changed dramatically prior to her DD signing. She started using very high anhyzer-flex-elevator putts. It was not accurate at all. (Was this a result of coaching from Dave Dunipace?)
That same year there was some commentary on Jomez about how Ulibarri had a similar putting style back in the Innova days and he HAD to change it because of the same issues.
Looks like there’s a reason not many players putt with a lot of loft and flex?
She had a big decline in her scores in 2022, yes. It seems dramatic to call it her fall. Kona has mad skills. I don't see anything stopping her from using the off season to train herself back into the zone.
It's clear if you follow her that she is more focused on painting the back of discs then she is on putting those discs in baskets. Also she just got married and was more worried about having the perfect wedding all season than she was about playing after signing a half million dollar. contract
Mad skills at what, anhyzer putting from inside the circle? 😂
@@stitch438 I'd love to see you play a round against her. It's a shame you can't respect someone for devoting their life to a game you play.
@@williamheaton3254 Yea, I don't follow her so I appreciate your opinion there. Something similar happened with Paige this year with life outside of disc golf taking precedence. I talked with her at Green Mountain and she seemed happier than I've ever seen her so I feel like she was doing the right thing for her life to take some time for herself. But Kona isn't Paige and I do think it's weird timing to put your commitment to the sport on the back burner right after you sign a huge contract like this- if that's what she's doing.
Mad putting skills. Like she is literally mad for trying to putt like she does.
I wish all the best for my first DG crush.
She was the next big thing! The trend of the power game kinda left her behind. Hoping she can have a great 2023.
Kona would take 10 strokes off every round she currently plays if she just committed to improve her putting. For someone getting paid that much, she should be working on her putting 3 hours per day, 6 days a week, with a putting coach, indefinitely. Imagine if her goal was simply to be the best putter in disc golf. period. And then put her attention and focus all into achieving that goal. We would all be talking about her.
Undeniably one of the best female personalities in the sport. Easy to love her. I really hope her game improves now that she has more time with those disc.
In the end of 2023 we can say, that unfortunately nothing has changed results wise for Kona.
Hey everybody what's up Happy New Year I played with Kona about 3 years ago she was on our card I'm a senior grandmaster player and that girl's got skills and she can play I told her you start getting a good sidearm you're going to be amazing and I think what's going on with her this year is it's new company new plastic and I see her bouncing back if I could add anything just as a player she might want to start bringing back that Annie putt she was really good with that good luck Kona I'm rooting for your girl Garcia from New Mexico
I think her biggest issue is that she's rubbed people the wrong way. The announcement, trashing Innova by saying she wasn't 'valued' in the light she felt she was entitled too, etc. The arrogance/entitlement really pushed people off and that's why no one is buying her discs or anything she pumps, really. I think Rick handled his announcement professionally and well. The tone and attitude was what has done her in. Humbleness, gratefulless, and professionalism really needs to improve for me to be a fan. She has a lot of growing up and maturity to deal with, personally.
You think her big helicopter arrival announcement was her idea? I'm sure that was more of an EMac/DD play.
Kona would be better off drop kicking the disc into the basket. She putts like a literal first time player.
Ima Kona fan. Like so many great players putting and the mental game hold them back, I hope to see her on lead card a lot this season!
This is what makes you stronger, faster and better in the game.
Keep that head held high
In a game where one good or bad shot leads to another, expectations weigh heavily upon player's consciousness. Once a Champion, always a Champion, and even though it may only happen once (very common) those who win multiple Championships avoid other's expectations. Ricky Wysocki is a good example, and before every tournament, whether his last score sucked or not, he says he's ready to win and playing well, reminding himself that it is not what others believe but how he feels he is playing. As athletes we must give ourselves permission to fail so we can move past the bad and get back to playing our best instead of listening to doubt and trying to correct a problem that really doesn't exist (bad days happen to everyone). Players who change their style to eliminate failures are only admitting they have gotten worse somehow. GET THIS: you never get worse unless you stop trying to get better! I have learned so much from Kona, I believe in her, and I hope she comes to terms with the pressure or changes those around her so she has the support she needs to be at her best.
I think people in the community always forget that these sponsorships are really just players being hired to the companies’ marketing teams to move product. And sure competitive play helps consistently move discs, but it’s always about the branding whenever money is involved
How many discs with her name on it do you own?
@@stitch438 I don't have any discs with Paul McBeth's name on em either, doesn't mean he doesn't move a shit ton of plastic lmao. What a clown take.
I like Kona. But I believe Kat Mertsch has a larger upside and more talent. She also has more wins and lead cards. Konami is wildly over rated
Yep. FPO is growing, there are so many more top tier women now than just 2-3 years ago, kona was simply benefiting from a smaller competitive pool, it's only going to get harder for her going forward.
Can't fall when you were never up
Let's go Kona. Here's to a new year any better 2023 season. As others have noted you are an excellent human being, easily thousand rated. I do think that a lot of the FPO, to include Page and Valerie benefited from a period during the pandemic when Kirsten and other top Europeans were not swooping into steal a lot of the top finishes. It's not going to be easier next year and there will be some more strong newcomers including her DD teammate Holyn Handley. All the best to all the FPO.
*Discraft opponent, Holyn Handley. ;)
Competing at this level is about 50% skills, 10% luck and 40% mental game. You can do well without the luck but the other two needed to place top 25. FPO and MPO are all super skilled nowadays, mind blowing. If a bad round gets into your head or you start doubting your putting, game over.
As some people have mentioned, disc golf deals are not necessarily as tightly tied to 'on-course' performance as, say, NBA-contracts. That being said, Dynamic Discs took a gamble and the deal came with expectations/image attached. She was the same before the contract as she is now after, albeit with pressure on top. But her image has definitetely been distorted by the contract and peoples perspective on it. You see it all the time in NBA with draft and trade "busts". Teams and companies "speculate" on athletes' potential and the individual player gets branded as a bust quick if they dont live up to these - sometimes - inflated expectations.
If I think I know what you're saying I agree she should just let all the BS go by concentrate on what she does best and just play she's going to get better if she plays
She may not be a top 10 player, but she is well-spoken, personable, and has a strong social media presence. That may be enough for her contract to be worth it to DD.
Fake insta followers. Valerie gets more likes with only 18k. Kona has over 100k
it doesnt count if they are not real...
Is disc golf not a sport? When did performance become unimportant and social media postings determine success within given sport? Take away her dad that has a huge role at Innova and she probably wouldn't even be on the tour, no way she would have been sponsored by Innova if her dad wasn't involved with the company. She has a little over 7k subscribers on youtube with two videos posted in the last six months, no one cares about or follows her. She is dreadful to watch, easily the worst putting game in FPO.
Kona buys likes on her socials
Outside of that one victory at Waco, I've never considered Kona an elite level player, I also think most of the ish her and Christine Jennings post on Social Media is complete crap....... Only reason why she got that contract is because E Mac and just about every other male disc golf fan has a hard on for her......... At the end of the day she's just another pretty face using her looks to get by on.......
Right, that massive # of subscriber's on youtube, all 7k. 😂
So much for the social media presence..I've never seen someone throwing a Kona disc, and I've seen hundreds of Paige, Tattar and Allen discs on the course. Hard to feel bad for someone being overpaid.
@Brenden Lee online? No. You can find anything you want online.
@@mindlander what lol? He said they’re everywhere and you said “nuh uh, not online”? Tf lol
@@elliotlangley4459 no prob. Ill explain. I said I've never seen someone throwing a Panis disc. They said there are thousands in fan groups. I'm saying I don't follow fan groups online and that you can find thousands of people doing anything online, so it doesn't mean much to me. Clear enough?
ill agree, for her pay she does not bring the same attention as others to DD
@@mindlander bro come play w me and see how far a kona emperor goes
She took the money knowing all these other things that yall are so quick to mention. She is Albert Haynesworth and emac is dan snyder.
Her name is Kona Montgomery
I appreciate this video. I saw this coming. Stick to being an influencer Kona. We will see.
Good, she called her self an elite player and to good for the 2021 uswdgc courses where she put up am scores. She needs to be humble
i just feel bad for kristin, she gets paid the same as kristin, that is unfathomable, it's like zach melton making the same as ricky wysocki, i hope each time kona gets paid she feels guilty because she's literally worth a 40k base plus incentives
Lmfao what are you worth?😂
@@_The_Vacant_World_ this year roughly 112k, and im in my early 20s, so suck on that
Great video. Fall of Kona feels a bit premature but I love the concept and the presentation...!
She certainly had a tough season on the course, but now that her wedding has taken place I believe she can put more focus back on DiscGolf. I expect a much better season from her in 2023
I just hope she does better this year. A contract like that, people will have expectations.
Glad to see Kona rise to a top of the pay stack as #41 being paid the same as the best FPO player of all time Kristin Tattar
I don't even see fanning over Kona, so I assume she moves very little discs as well.
I cannot fathom what DD was thinking.
Disc golf fans are an interesting group. It's like it's against to law to say someone isn't good or say something that isn't positive when speaking about a player or their performance. Yet in any other sport it's the language of the game, who hasn't watched any MLB, NBA, or NFL game and said he sucks, why did he get such a crazy contract. Who doesn't rip a player when they fail during a very important moment? If any of the top paid player's in any of their respective sports completely flopped for a season, it would be the talk of the league, and it wouldn't be talk saying oh it's ok, they'll do better next year. It would be trade talks, and we want our money back. The sensitivity here is crazy, these are supposed to be the player's at the highest level, you either prove that through your performance or you don't.
Great video! Subscribed and I look forward to seeing more analysis like this.
Tattar deservedly dominated in 2022 and even PP (who I love) had to acknowledge the level of KT's play was above everyone else's. In hindsight (after the 2022 season), KT's contract clearly seems pretty low as she is indisputably the number 1 player in the world and therefore, the truer way to look at it is that Kona's contract is really just what all top 10 players (where she has been in the years before 2022), with good social media presence, should be getting in the current era of disc golf. Undoubtedly, after Kona's slow start to the season, the inevitable comparisons with KT and the very personal attacks on and criticisms of Kona took their toll on her confidence leading to mental health issues she's talked about.
For Kona, her past successes show she has plenty of disc golf skills and on course smarts. I think that besides getting her putting accuracy up to elite levels being key, it also would help if she can add some more distance (due to many courses seeming to advantage power throwers) and get control of the DD plastic that seemed to turn over a lot when she wasn't expecting it. I imagine she's doing LOTS of putting and also hitting the gym in the off season.
The awesome crop of newbies who have risen up in the last 1 or 2 years are probably only getting better too, so just like the MPO Division for the last several years, getting the W, or even top 10, in FPO is not getting easier. It's a great time to be a disc golf fan, but tougher than ever for players!
I think in 2023 that Kona will get on top of most, if not all, the things that held her back in 2022 and I expect we'll see plenty of top 10 finishes from her this year.
Her value to DD has very little to do with her tournament results imo. She is the best female brand ambassador in the sport. She is young and has huge potential to grow her brand thru social media. This has far more value than tourney results. I think she going to have a great 2023 season and wish her the best.
Nah. Mo has the best instagram post.
The best female brand ambassador in the sport? 😂 Based on what? Please provide facts that support your statement...
I want what your smoking. Best ambassador.....???? Maybe you got 3 letters correct there.
This girl has 0 chances to ever win against the best around is Kristin Tattar. Dynamic Disc should drop Kona like a bad habit. Biggest bust sense Ryan Leaf.
Your first sentence doesn’t even make sense.
Love Kona hope she kicks ass this year
I like Kona a lot and I wish her luck. I think she can be a really good player but she is not even close to the level of Kristen Tatar and Paige Peirce. In my eyes Kristen Tatar is the best female player in the world right now.
I'm not sure if the pressure will die off tbh. Her deal was massive, and considering they had another young star in Valarie. They are feeling the effects by not being able to have her for more than one year. Now Val is a top 5 player, while they have a huge amount tied up in someone who isn't top 20. Doesn't look good
She is a dead doppelganger to Jaws from the old James Bond Movies.
The cheer up at the end was good
Change the title...in terms of the spirit of the game of disc golf, the title is clickbaity and hatery.
It's not fair to compare contracts to KT, because no one (including KT herself) would have imagined what kind of magical year she went on.
Fall, she hadn’t even risen . Little hard to fall when you haven’t made the climb.
I think the last several years have been really hard on a lot of players. Kona has serious skills.
For so long, there were only a few women playing at the highest level. Now you have a lot more competitive players in the women’s division since the boom of the sport in 2018 and so there is more competition for those top cards.
She’s a great player and will have a much improved 2023 season. Wish her the best of luck in 2023.
Here's my outside observation with Kona- there were too many changes at once. Kona is a player who is the least consistent in her form. She has undergone many throwing and putting changes over the years and she hasn't established her own style. She had a good year as an anhyzer side putter. Then last year she was tutored by EMAC. Nothing wrong with that. But she retooled again. I can't describe her form off the tee but there's definitely a small difference. She switched her putt to a straddle. She switched her discs. That's so much to change in a short offseason. Ricky dominated because he just changed discs. I think Kona, if she can stick with what works for her, will have a bounce back year.
“The Rise of R.M. Disc Golf”
She will have competition for the final spots of the DGPT finals with 1x world champion Paige Shue doing a full tour, Deann Carey expanding her tour and some up and comers I think will make a splash (Lynds sisters, Keiti Tatte, Leah Tsinajinnie, and Stacie Hats)
Disc golf companies don’t determine how much they are going to pay a player solely based on skill. Skill obviously has a lot to do with the recognition from the company but the marketability of the player is also a massive factor for revenue to the company. Take Brodie smith for example, there was no reason discraft should have signed him when he was brand new to the sport, But with his reach on social media, he made discraft a lot of money. Companies want wins, but they want profit more than that. They wouldn’t sign an ogre that nobody liked and wasn’t a people person even if they were winning every tournament. You have to make a business decision and choose the people that are going to make you the most money.
Let’s go Kona…you got this!!!
Tough game. Risks are taken by manufacturers. Pressure to perform, teammate incompatibility(?), new plastic, lack of focus from travel, pressers, less practice time, time management. All contribute to player stress. Lots of variables. Plus, if you ever allow yourself to be OK with finishing lower than expected, you have lost. That fight has to be there to be on or near the top.
How unfortunate that Kona moved sponsors in the same year that the European ladies came and showed they were much better. Rough for Dynamic, rougher yet for Kona.
Thank you.
All the players who are consistently at the top can smash! Just part of the game now. She needs to work on functional, top-end, explosive strength. That will also help give her 30-45' putts the snap she's always lacked.
Is all in the head. You win in the head before you win 🏆 in the physical world!
I'll never understand her pay, she is just not that good. A 939 rating is like run of the mill average
Great video! I say give her another year to prove herself. She definitely has the ability, but I feel she needs to improve on the mental part.
I know Kona has it in her to have better results in 2023
look at james conrad same situation besides his worlds win, change from innova = bad for skill but good for money
She'll be back. Sometimes people just have a bad Season. Don't count Her out.
$500 a year would be a lot, awful signing.
This feels personal. As if she pissed you off somehow and this is your way of getting back at her.
Wait. People are getting paid to play disc golf now? Half a million?!? For somebody that doesn’t even know how to play?!?!?!?!! Wtf
I blame Colten. He is obviously encouraging her rather than giving her the truth. He lets ger putt like an idiot. She obviously needs a complete putting overhaul
Rm disc is… huh I’m running out of things to say about this AMAZING channel
Umm kind of a shitty move to title your video "The Fall of KP..." and make it seem like her entire career is over...as clickbait. She's young and looks to have a lot going for her. I predict she uses the off year as motivation and look for her to bounce back strong.
It would have been interesting if you could have done a video interview of sorts to get her point of view...there are always factors we never consider without actually talking to her. This isn't a knock at what you've already put together, I just think these videos could be improved so much by a quick video interview.
Kona produced a video detailing much of your concerns. It’s actually well done and answers many questions.
I think your title is too strong but it gets attention. We'll see in 2023...
I hope she does well in the coming season, but she is starting to remind me of Jessica Weese. A talented player who never developed into a serious contender.
If kona wins an elite series i will give away my house to a family of bummies
Absolutely horrible contract for DD.
My gut tells me she’s under too much control. Does she even want to play or is she being pressured by her dad (innova) and her husband? I don’t see the spark in that relationship. She’s so young and has she been allowed to be herself??? Good luck Kona. It’s going to be a tough road if you’re not living your truth.
I'm still supporting her , she is still a star player and more humble than than the girl than we all know and love , everyone has high and lows in in life , she has an abundance of self discipline , and sometimes health issues become a factor our life's but I support to her goodness and greatness to the sport , I support her positivity to the sport over any negativity that anyone has to say about her as she made a mark of greatness that only few have accomplished and I honer her for that and will never count her out , she will rise again ...
@@patrickrupp6440 I support her but seems she’s playing tight and not relaxed. Look at her putting, she’s in her head. When someone like her comes along it’s easy for the people around her to make her decisions and she goes along with it. If I were pro I wouldn’t marry someone on tour. What happens when the relationship gets rocky? That could effect her play and the game she once used to love is now a place she doesnt want to be. Maybe I’m wrong but I’ve seen it happen.
Didn’t DD release the TS disc sales and he had 2 of the top 3 lol ? Can’t say it hasn’t worked out….
He?
Yeah, “fall” is kind of melodramatic. She had a bad season. If she never has a good one again, it’s still just another big signing that didn’t pan out. It happens all the time, in sports.
She got that Big Wifey energy now, you'll see.
She will be fine. Her putt needs a lot of help.
The big contract may have put pressure on her and that effected her game. Don't count her out.
Sometimes when you make it, you get lazy. Maybe you arent as hungry and lose focus?
don’t be mad she got the bag
learning how to putt might help.
lol this video is kinda just asking for attention - says how ricky did well with dynamic when he signed with them, insinuating that kona moving to new discs should have made her better or just as good. Dude was with trilogy before he went to innova, so it was actually a return to discs he had a long history with, and was still doing awesome with before he went to innova.
I feel like this is a weird way to trash someone that was taken into a big contract who didnt produce, and for one season at that. Maybe make a video of calvin falling off wins from time to time, that is a more interesting story.
The best pro's adjust to new discs very easily. McBeth, Conrad, Pierce, and Allen all had either very similar or markedly better seasons their first year with new discs. Maybe Ricky isn't the best comparison because, as you rightly note, he was very familiar with trilogy discs, but a more charitable interpretation is that new discs or a new company shouldn't be a problem for the best pro's. Additionally, Panis' last seasons with Innova were noticeably better than her first season with DD. She didn't just not produce, but instead got worse. There's a genuine question being asked here: Is Panis a top tier player or not?
This is a professional sport, no one has ever criticized or questioned a big contract for a player in the NBA, MLB, or NFL after they had a horrible season? Kind of odd you're saying we should criticize a male but you have a problem with it being done to a female. 🤔
All she needs to do is learn how to putt. Unfortunately who ever is training DD ladies is doing it wrong. She has the same form as Rebecca COX and they are both bad, use too much effort and are inconsistent and have no distance.
I really question why these companies pay sooo much money to these players but do not have a coach to help them get better in the off season. Like seriously how do you sponsor a great putter and do not have them help train other players.
Cynthia Ricciotti Used to Play league Here, in Fulton, Missouri! Little red-haired girl just destroying Our Hopes! Lol She's a Crusher!
Don’t care , I love seeing WOMEN chuck plastic! A lot goes on in life other than disc golf. She got her bag , good for her
Look, I don't think we need video reports for a given season (Fall) of some Disc Golf FPO player. How do you pick a given season and what's the significance? Or I might be entirely wrong. So the Kona lady tripped, and fell off the Kona Coast in Hawaii? Big deal, it's like this video was dead wrong from the get-go in a couple of areas.
You're so lost. I'll bite, what do we need?
@@mindlander You might reflect and ponder 2 of your choices, "A bottle in front of me, or a frontal lobotomy." Try both.
Yup. Dumb video in my opinion. What is the word? Hyperbole? At this point it just feels like kicking someone when they are down for no reason. It's a 125K/year contract. What is that equivalent to? Three DD warehouse workers?
@@richparks1966 sick burn. You said you don't need this video. I'm asking what video we do need. Btw the significance of this video is Kona got a huge contract and failed (significantly.)
@@mindlander Was a lame alternate definition burn. When I say we don't need this video, I am not saying we then need some kind of video. I'm making an argument against this video not for one. Don't put words and n my mouth.