Leon Sonnleitner, the young Austrian disc golfer we interviewed back in April, had high hopes for the 2024 season. His dedication was evident, with plans to compete across Europe and push his game to new heights. However, as the season unfolded, things didn’t go quite as expected. In this follow-up interview, Leon reflects on the challenges he faced, the lessons he learned, and his decision to make significant changes in his approach, including parting ways with his sponsor and transitioning to a mixed bag. Let’s dive into Leon’s thoughts on the season that was, and how he’s preparing for what’s next.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in this past season, and how did they affect your performance?
I definitely overdid everything this year. I practiced way too much from January to April and ended up injuring my back, which was tough. I couldn’t rehab until the start of the season and had to play with painkillers for the first few events. As a result, I developed some bad form habits. I also put way too much pressure on myself because I felt like I needed to perform well due to all the work I was putting in. Overall, I made a lot of poor decisions this year and should have taken things slower and more structured instead of just grinding for hours every day without seeing any results.
When we talked in April, you mentioned that your mental game was a key focus for improvement this year. How do you feel that aspect of your game developed throughout the season?
I’m not really sure, to be honest. I still feel like my mental game holds me back the most, but I’ve been working on it. I recently discovered a scoring/gameplan method that I wish I had used sooner. Even with some improvements this year, I think overall my mental game was worse than ever this season.
Care to elaborate on the method?
A mental coach told me to try splitting up a round into six 3-hole stretches. Before each stretch I think about which score I would realistically be happy with and try to figure out where I should attack and where I need to stay away from danger. That helps me with being a bit less perfectionistic and more in control of some situations. While I still make bad decisions, I have noticed that bad stretches over multiple holes have gotten less with this method.
Which tournament or moment this season stands out to you the most, either as a highlight or a learning experience?
There were two really cool moments that stood out. In Heinola, I played a -5 final round in pouring rain, which brought me back into cash after two not-so-good rounds. I was really proud of that final round. Also, I aced Hole 1 in Ale during round 2, which is about 145 meters. I threw a max distance pure hyzer and just smashed right into the chains.
As far as learning experiences go, I feel like I gained valuable insights from every tournament, so nothing specific stands out.
You made the significant decision to part ways with Latitude 64 and now play with a mixed bag. Can you share what led to that decision and how you feel about it now?
I just wanted a mental change after the season went so poorly. Fortunately, Latitude 64 handled the situation extremely well and understood my position. I’m very grateful for that because I know other companies wouldn’t have allowed me to do what I did. I definitely feel like it was the right decision for me.
How has playing with a mixed bag impacted your game?
Unfortunately, throwing new discs didn’t instantly improve my form, haha. But I definitely found a lot of joy in learning new discs again, and it helped me rediscover some fun in the game.
What are some of your favorite discs in your current mixed bag, and how do they differ from the ones you used with Latitude 64?
I don’t feel it would be fair for me to advertise any other discs, so I don’t want to name anything specific. I can say that my bag is all over the place now, and I throw discs from a bunch of different companies.
Now that you’ve had a season that didn’t go quite as expected, how are you mentally preparing for the next one? Are there any specific areas you’re focusing on? Or are you even planning on continuing your dream of being a professional disc golfer?
As far as preparation goes, I’ve already started to practice less. I feel like it’s better for me to have some time to recover between practice sessions, and it also helps me look forward to the next session more.
My dream was never really to be a professional; my goal has always been to get better. I will start university this winter, studying sports and physics. I would have done this no matter how I performed because I think it’s important to have an education, or at least a Plan B - no one is a professional athlete forever.
I will continue to practice disc golf and get better, and if I become good enough to go pro for a while, I’ll make the decision I believe is right, whatever that may be. But I don’t practice to become a full-time pro; I do it because I just like getting better and figuring out this game. I think that if you don’t love the process of figuring out your game and learning, it won’t be fun, and if it isn’t fun, you’re not getting better. I learned that the hard way this year.
How do you stay motivated and passionate about disc golf, even when things don’t go according to plan?
It’s hard, especially when you’re on tour. You can’t just take a break because you need to get ready for the next weekend. For me, when it stops being fun, I try to take a break and wait until I get that itch again, which rarely takes more than a few days. Unfortunately, sometimes I’m afraid of taking a break.
There’s been a two-month silence on your YouTube channel. Will it be revived soon?
Yes, I will start making videos again soon. Stay tuned. :)
If you could go back to the start of this season and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
I would tell myself to take it easy. Stop trying so hard and just let things happen, and have fun with it. Also, when in doubt, play aggressively. ;-)
Cover photo: DGPT l Marika Salmi