German Disc Golf Pro Antonia Faber's Unlikely Rise to the Top

At first glance, it might seem unusual for a former tennis pro to become one of Europe's top female disc golfers. But for Antonia Faber, the transition from rackets to discs was almost seamless. The German athlete, who turned 36 in September, has been dominating the Open Women's field in her home country since taking up disc golf in 2013.

Faber's introduction to the sport came about when her husband dragged her out to a local course in Potsdam, Germany. Initially, she was underwhelmed by the slower pace of disc golf compared to tennis, and even admitted that she wasn't very good at throwing. However, it didn't take long for her to change her mind.

During a family vacation to Austria, Faber's husband taught her how to throw discs in a big field. The sudden improvement in her technique was impressive – within a week, she could throw up to 260 feet instead of just 100. This rapid learning curve sparked her passion for the sport.

As it turned out, Faber's athletic background and competitive mindset gave her an edge in disc golf. Her experience in tennis had honed her fine motor skills, which translated well to throwing discs. She also found that regular practice helped maintain her core strength, which was essential for long throws.

Faber's rise through the ranks of German disc golf was nothing short of remarkable. In 2014, she started competing in tournaments and won several events, including a EuroTour event and the PDGA B-tier Berlin Open. She placed third in the Deutsche Discgolf Meisterschaft (German Disc Golf Championship) that year.

One factor Faber believes contributed to her quick success was her ability to perform under pressure – thanks to her background in competitive sports. "I've had a competitive mindset from really early on," she explained. "It's never been such a big difference for me between practicing and competing."

However, as Faber continued to compete at the top level, she faced a new challenge: maintaining her distance without regular tennis practice. She discovered that tennis had helped keep her core muscles in shape, and after stopping tennis, her throws decreased by up to 30 meters.

Despite this setback, Faber has remained near the top of Germany's Open Women's field, capturing back-to-back German Championship titles in 2017 and 2018. For the 2019 season, she secured a sponsorship from Natural Born Disc Golfer.

Faber is not only focused on improving her skills but also wants to see changes in Germany's competitive disc golf scene. She believes that tournaments should offer better prizes and players' packs to attract top players from other countries. Her efforts paid off at last year's German Championship, where she helped organize a tournament with over €7,000 prize money.

Looking ahead, Faber has two primary goals: becoming the European Champion in the Pro Masters Women's division when she becomes eligible and competing in the PDGA World Championship this year. While Worlds is dependent on funding, she remains optimistic about her chances to measure up against the world's best players.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/youre-europe-germanys-antonia-faber