Opi Payne's Advice on Playing Ultimate

After winning gold at The 2013 World Games, TEAM USA player Opi Payne wrote: "it's the most mundane things that often make the biggest impacts on the [ultimate] field." (High Release, Issue No. 2; October 2013)

A summation of her advice in Forget About the Highlight Reel:

• Basic ultimate = beautiful ultimate. And there's nothing boring about that.
• Play smart. Your brain is as crucial to making a good cut as are your quads and hamstrings.
• Keep working hard. Better fitness allows you to make those last resort athletic plays, but more importantly, it frees up your energy to use for mental focus.

Additional lessons she learned:

• Take what the defense is giving you
• Get good body position
• Throw with balance
• Move the mark with fakes
• Maintain good footwork
• Match hips on defense