Category: Disc Golf Tips

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5 Disc Golf Tips For Intermediate Players

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If you’ve played disc golf for some time now, you’ve likely progressed past the beginner stage.

You’ve developed as a player and improved on many aspects of the game. You are likely throwing farther with more control off the tee.

You can likely sink your putts consistently inside the circle and are more confident during those testy putts.

If you are looking to improve your skills as an intermediate disc golfer you are in the right place.

I’ve outlined 5 tips that will help you take your game to the next level.

If you take these tips to heart I promise you you’ll see even more improvement and have more fun on the course.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the list of my disc golf driving tips for intermediate players.

1. Perfect Nose Down

If you want to really improve at the game of disc golf, you are going to want to focus on the small things.

To really excel in the sport, you must get every detail right. One of those tiny details is the nose-down release.

It’s a small change that can make a huge difference in your throw. Well, what do I mean when I say keep the disc’s nose down when you throw it?

It might sound like I mean to keep the disc pointed down to the ground when throwing down, but that’s not it. It would just crash into the ground a few feet from the tee pad.

When we talk about throwing a disc that is nose down we’re saying that the front of the disc is angled down slightly in relation to the direction the disc is traveling through the air.

Why is this important? If you don’t keep the disc’s nose down when you throw, it’s not going to fly as far as it should. Especially when you are driving.

So if you want to drive farther and perfect your game, learn to throw nose down. For more information and tips on this, check out our article here.

2. Master the X-Step

When it comes to throwing in disc golf, we tend to place a lot of emphasis on what the top half of our body is doing.

While our upper bodies are important, a great way to improve your throw is to master the proper footwork.

With the proper footwork, you can get the lower half of your body engaged in the throw and maximize the power you impart on the disc. This can lead to longer drives and more distance.

And I think I can speak for everyone when I say we are all looking to add more distance to our drives. So, what is the X-Step?

You can think of the X-Step as a more controlled way of performing your run-up.

It allows you to increase your momentum by using your legs during your drive and also gets your upper body into the perfect position for your reach back.

The X-step can be broken down into 3 steps. If you are a right-handed player, you’ll begin by stepping with your right foot, then having your left foot come behind your right foot, and finally stepping with your right foot again.

This should get you in a great position for your reach back to continue with your driver. If you’d like to learn more about the X-step, check out our article here.

3. Learn to Scramble

If you are looking to take your disc golf game to the next level, becoming an affective scrambler is a great way to do that.

Being able to get out of those tricky situations on the course consistently is going to lead to better results and lower scores.

So, what do I mean by scambling? Basically, scambling is the ability to recover from a bad throw or less than perfect lie.

For instance, if you find yourself on a par 3 hole and you shank the drive. Once you locate it, it’s behind a bush that obscuring your route to the basket.

If you were a good scamber you’d be able to find a way to get around that brush and set up a good putting position.

If not, you pitch your disc to right or left to set up your next shot. If you are keeping count, that’s going from a par to an extra stroke.

This may not seem like much, but it adds up a lot over a long round and more importantly, your disc golf career.

There are a lot of shots you can develop to help your chances of getting out of trouble on the disc golf course.

Some great shots to develope would be the standstill forehand, the forehand roller and any overhand shot like the tomahawk and the thumber.

They will help when you need to get around, under or over any obstacle that obstructs your throw.

As you play disc golf more, you naturally become better at scrambling but it won’t hurt to practice these situations.

4. Enter a Tournament

Thinking about competing in a disc golf tournament can be scary.

You’ll be placed with other disc golfers some probably better than you and you’ll have to compete in front of a live audience.

These things can keep a disc golfer from entering their first tournament but if you want to take your disc golf skills to the next level entering a disc golf tournament can be the perfect way to do that.

It’s a great way to play the game as it’s designed to play by the PDGA. You also get to test your skills against other disc golfers that are at a similar level to you.

But competing isn’t the only benefit you’ll get out of entering a tournament. Before the tournament, you need to prepare.

That means studying the rules so you don’t loss strokes during play and spending more time practicing to sharpen your skills.

This might seem like a lot to do beforehand, but knowing you have that day coming up is a great motivating factor.

If you haven’t yet played in a disc golf tournament, give it try. You can go here to see the upcoming tournaments. Don’t wait, sign up now. Good luck!

5. Upgrade your Discs

As a disc golfer, the main tool you have at your disposal is the disc. Discs allow you to approach disc golf holes in many different ways.

Depending on the type of discs, it’s stability and it’s shape, you have almost an unlimited amount of choices.

Disc golf manufacturers are producing different types of molds all the time. You have almost an unlimited amount of choices to consider.

As a beginner, you likely filled your disc golf bag with slower, understable discs. Which is perfect for the level of the game a beginner is at.

But if you haven’t upgraded your bag and added new discs since then, it’s time to consider doing that.

Don’t get me wrong, don’t give rid of your understable discs. You’ll still need them for turnover shots, hyzer flips and other shot shapes that understable discs excel at.

But as an intermediate player, you’ve perfected your disc golf throw and increased your arm speed.

You’ll want to get some discs that have a higher turn rating to match your increased arm speed. These are generally referred to as stable or overstable discs.

Thes discs will also serve you well for windy days, skip shots and when you need the disc to flex.

For specific discs recommended for intermediate players check out our article here.

Flickr Image Creative Commons Credit – Jeffrey

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Why Is Nose Down So Important In Disc Golf?

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If you want to really improve at the game of disc golf, you are going to want to focus on the little things. To really excel at the sport, you must get every detail right. One of those small details is a nose-down release.

It’s a little change that can be made to a disc golf throw but it will make all the difference. Trust me when I say this. In this article, we’ve going to cover what nose down means when it comes to disc golf.

We’re also going to talk about why you’ll want to be throwing with the disc nose down, how you’ll know if you are releasing the disc nose up and ways to prevent a nose up release. 

Pay attention because if you make this small tweak to your game, I promise you’ll see big results.  

What does throwing nose down mean?

When we talk about throwing a disc that is nose down we’re saying that the front of the disc is angled down slightly in relation to the direction the disc is traveling through the air.

It may sound like we mean the disc is pointed down to the ground but that isn’t the case. If you throw all your discs like that they wouldn’t fly very far and they will hit the ground too quickly.

It may not seem like a big deal to keep your discs nose down with throwing them for distance but there are a lot of benefits to doing this that we’ll discuss a little later.

Why do you want to throw nose down?

If you aren’t throwing your disc discs nose down they aren’t going to fly as far as they should. So if you are looking to increase your distance when throwing, keeping the nose angled slightly down is a great place to start.

Another side effect of throwing your discs nose up is that they will tend to all fly a similar distance. We don’t want this. The main reason we carry different types of discs is that they are designed to be thrown at different distances.

The reason this happens is that when your disc is flying through the air with the nose up, the profile that is exposed to the air is not much different between putters, midranges, and drivers. 

How do I know I’m throwing Nose Up?

If you aren’t sure if you are keeping the nose down when you throw there are a few ways to tell. Seeing some of these or even one of them when you are playing a round of disc golf could indicate you are throwing at least some of the time with the disc nose angled upward. Remember, identifying that there is a problem is the first step to correcting it.

Four indicates that you are throwing Nose Up:

  • Midranges and Drivers flying a similar distance
  • Having a hard time throwing faster discs
  • Discs finishing with an air skip 
  • You can see the top of the disc during flight

Common Causes of throwing Nose Up

Now that you know how to tell if you are throwing nose up, we can try to determine what’s causing it and then how to remedy it.  I’ve listed three common causes here along with how to make changes to your throw to correct it.

I’ll go ahead and say it now. These changes will be simple but they may not be easy changes to make. It will likely take a lot of practice and time but it will definitely be worth it. Just think, if you make these changes you’ll be seeing some extra distance on your drives and everyone wants that. 

Trying to force your throw

A common cause of throwing a disc nose up is really trying to force your throw. Instead of throwing the disc smooth with finesse, disc golfers will try to muscle the disc to get it to fly farther.

When this happens, the thrower usually tenses up and doesn’t reach back as much as they could. They also tend to have their elbow down and as the disc moves through the pull-through it finishes with the nose popping up.  

Arch shaped pull through

If a disc golfer has an arch-shaped pull through, it’s almost guaranteed that they will release the disc nose up. What do I mean by an arch-shaped pull through?  During your pull through, you start the disc high and it curves down and then moves up releasing the disc high.

Another way to say this is if the disc starts at one shoulder and then move down across the stomach and then finishes at the other shoulder. As the disc moves from your stomach to your shoulder, it will remain pointed up during the release.  

Gripping the disc incorrectly

Not gripping your disc correctly can lead to a nose up release. If you aren’t gripping your disc tightly in the proper manner, you might not get the nose down release that you want and the disc might not fly as far as it should.

A weak grip can lead to the disc finishing tilted up as you pull through your throw. Another sticking point I’d like the mention is not pushing down on the disc firmly with your thumb. If you aren’t countering the fingers under the disc with your thumb, this can lead to a nose up finish.  

How to prevent a nose up release

Now that you know why you want to release the disc nose down and what might cause a disc golfer to release nose up, let’s dive into how to prevent a nose up release.

I’ve listed four ways to prevent a nose up release below. If you implement these tips into your throw, you’ll see more control and longer flights. Again, these changes won’t happen overnight but will take time and practice.   

Extend your reach back

Reaching back fully and really committing to it can prevent a nose up release. For your backhand drive, you’ll want to turn your shoulders away from the target and make sure your arm is extended straight back.

If you reach back lower or higher, it can cause the disc to pop up during the release. Committing to your reach back can help if the cause of the nose up release is trying to force your drive.  

Level your pull through

You’ll want to make sure you are pulling the disc through on a level plain in order to achieve a nose-down release. A great way to ensure that you are doing this is by making sure your hand is on the outside of the disc and to lock your wrist as you pull through.

Another tip is to keep your elbow slightly up on your throwing arm. Making sure you are doing these things can really help with a nose up release if you are one of those players trying to muscle your drive. 

Grip the disc properly

Having a strong, stable grip can go a long way to preventing the disc from being nose up. A good starting point to gripping the disc correctly is to line up the disc between the middle part of your palm on one end and in between your index and pointer finger on the other.

Once you have that setup, place your thumb on top of the disc and wrap your fingers around the bottom of the disc. Make sure your grip is firm but if you are still having issues with nose up, make sure you are flexing your wrist down as the disc comes out of your hand.

Here’s a great video that shows you how to properly grip a disc with the backhand power grip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOGf9lDIj68&t=19s

Final Thoughts

Making sure you release the disc with nose down can make all the difference. If you aren’t seeing the distance and control you want, making this small but important change to your throw can yield a big difference in your game.

Take the time to make this adjustment and then hammer it home with hours of practice and you’ll see more success in disc golf. Now get out there and start practicing.

Flickr Image Creative Commons Credit – MarkScottAustinTX

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How To Throw An Understable Disc

No ratings yet. I don’t think understable discs get enough credit. It seems to me like their overstable alternatives get all the buzz. I’m not sure if it’s because the pros tend to throw beefy, overstable plastic but if you aren’t throwing understable discs you are missing out. Understable discs can work great in a lot of different circumstances. In this article, we’re going to go over how to throw an understable disc. We’re going to touch on what understable means and how releasing understable discs on different angles can affect the flight. We’ll also talk about other specific shots you can use your understable discs for. By the time you are done reading this, you have a better understanding of how to utilize your understable plastic.  

How To Throw An Understable Disc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What Is Understable?

So, first things first, what does understable mean? When we use the word unstable we’re referring to turn rating of the disc or the tendency of the disc to move left or right when it leaves your hand. For an understable disc, if you are a right handed player throwing backhand the disc will fly to the right after it leaves your hand. You hear people refer to understable discs as flippy. This just means that the disc has a higher tendency to turn over.

Angle Of Release

An understable disc is going to fly differently depending on how it is released. There are three main release angles a disc can be released on to manipulate the disc’s flight. These three angles are flat, hyzer and anhyzer. If you throw an understable disc with a flat release you are going to see a different flight than if you throw it on a hyzer.

Let’s take a look at how each release angle will affect the disc’s flight path. For each example, we’re going to use a right-handed backhanded thrower to explain how the disc will fly. If you are left-handed or a sidearm dominant thrower, you can adjust the example by using the opposite direction.    

Flat Release

An unstable disc released flat will have a tendency to turn right with it leaves the players hand. Depending on the fade the disc has, the disc will then fly straight and come back to the left as it hyzers out. This is normally described as an S-curve.   

Hyzer Release

An unstable disc released at a hyzer angle will tend to fly straight. It may fade to the left at the end of its flight. This flight path is normally referred to as a hyzer flip.

Anhyzer Release

An unstable disc released at an anhyzer angle will turn faster to the right than a flat release. The disc normally keeps moving right and depending on the fade and speed the disc is released at, the disc should finish right.  This is normally referred to as a turnover shot. If the disc is released with enough anhyzer it may turn all the way over and continue rolling on the ground. This type of shot is referred to as a backhand roller or just a roller.

Types Of Shots You Can Use An Understable Disc For

  • Hyzer Flip
  • Roller
  • Turnovers
  • S-Curve

We touched on these shots when we discussed the release angle above but you can use an understable disc to accomplish all of the shots listed above. This just highlights all the situations you can use an understable disc. Learning how to throw an understable disc will in handy in plenty of scenarios on the disc golf course.    

Understable Discs Are Recommended For

  • Beginners
  • Tailwind
  • Slow speed

Not only can you use understable discs for hyzer flips and other useful shots, but they also recommended for beginners, players with slower arm speeds and with tailwinds. Newer players and players with slower arm speeds will find understable discs easier to throw. Players throwing understable discs with less speed will get a straighter flight path than if you tried to throw discs with more stability.

Understable discs are recommended for tailwinds because tailwinds make discs fly as if they were more stable than they are. This happens because the stability of the disc is affected by the speed the wind flies across it. This could also be said that the disc seems to be moving slower than it really is because of the way the wind is affecting the air around it. If you were to throw a stable or overstable disc in a tailwind the disc would tend to turn left and hyzer out to earlier. Throwing an understable disc will in ensure the disc flies further.    

Image Credit Flickr Creative Commons – Dan Keck

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20 Disc Golf Game Variations You Should Be Playing

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While everyone here loves the game of discs golf, playing the same rounds over again can get a little boring. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of twenty disc golf game variations to help you spice up your normal play.

The next time you are on the course will your buddies try one of these disc golf game variations and enjoy the game you love in a brand new way.

disc golf game variations

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Bag Raid – This game is played just like stroke play except that the player with the lowest score on each hole is able to select an opponent’s disc. This disc is removed for the player’s bag. The player with the lowest score can also choose to return a disc to their bag if it was removed.

Barkie – In this game, disc golf is played as normal except each player can earn a point by hitting a tree. At the end for the round, the points that were earned by hitting trees are subtracted from the player’s score.

Bingo Bango Bongo – Each hole has 3 points. The player that throws the farthest off the tee is awarded a point (Bingo). The player that is closed to the basket on the second throw (BANGO). The first player to complete the hole (BONGO). After all players have thrown off the tee, the player furthest away from the basket throws next.

Bizzaro Golf – Every hole is played with a random set of rules. For instance, all players must use a putter, every player throws using their off hand, each player must use a forehand shot while driving or everyone switches bags. All holes can be decided before the round or on each hole a player can decide the rules.  

Disc Steal – All players start this game with the same number of discs. After each hole, the player or players with the best score gets to steal a disc from an opposing player. If a player has all their discs stolen, they are removed from the game.

Drink Up – The player that has the worst score on a hole must take a drink. Any player that hits a tree, lands in water or goes out of bounds must take a drink.

Hate ‘Em – At the beginning of the game, each player selects a number of holes. The number is predetermined by the players and on each hole selected the player that selected it gets a par for that hole.

Match Play – The lowest score for a hole wins a point. The player that finished the game with the most points wins the game. If a hole is tied, points aren’t pushed to the next hole.

Nomination – In this game, before each throw players decide on two discs they want to use. Their opponents then choose which disc of the two they are allowed to use. You could all more variation and by adding more discs. For instance, a player selects three discs from their bag and their opponent then selects which disc they can throw.

Piggyback – In this game, all players drive as normal. Once everyone has thrown from the tee, each player can decide to piggyback off another player. This means they can choose to throw from their lie. No player’s lie can be selected by another player more than once each hole.

Random Disc – At the beginning of each hole, each player selects a disc form their bag and places them in a pile. All players close their eyes and choose a disc from the pile. All players must throw from the tee using the disc they selected. An alternative to this would be that each player has to use the disc at least once before they complete the hole.

Ript Revenge – This game requires a deck of RIPT Revenge cards. All players begin the game with the same number of cards. After each hole, the player with the best score scores a point. All other players much draw a card and play the next hole according to the card’s requirements.

Get A Deck Of Cards At Amazon

Scratch Play – In this variation, points are given based on score. For a Bogey, players are given 0 points. For Par, one point is given. For Birdie, two points are earned.  If a player gets an eagle five points are given. When a player scores two consecutive bogeys they lose all points earned.

Shootout – In this game, the player that scores the worst on each hole is eliminated. The game can be played two ways. Either the player must receive the worst score outright to be removed or during ties a tie breaker must be used. To win the game you must be the last player left.

Sorry, Dude – Each player gets a number of cancels before the round is played. A player can use a cancel by saying sorry dude and the opponent player must re-do their throw.  

Safari – The player whose turn it is for honor gets to decide to play a hole from the regular tee or call safari. When declaring “safari”, they get to select a new tee to drive from. Honor can go to the player with the with the best or worst score or players can choose to alternate.

Skins – Before the round, all holes are assigned a skin. A skin can be a number of points or an amount of money. A skin is won by the player that has the best score on the hole. If a tie occurs, the skin is pushed to the next hole. For more information on this disc golf variation, check out our article here.

Throw ‘Em All – Players must throw every disc in their bag once before they are able to throw any again. Once they have thrown every disc they can throw each a second time and so on until the round is complete. A variation to this game would be to keep with the basic premise of throwing every disc in your bag before you are able to throw them a second time except when putting.

Worst Shot – After all players drive, the worst lie is chosen and all players must throw from this lie. An alternative to this game could be the best lie is selected and each player throws from this lie. To mix it up even more, each hole could alternate between the best and worst lies.

Flicker Image Creative Commons – MarkScottAustinTX

Hope you like my list of 20 disc golf game variations you should be playing!

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5 Reasons You Should Be Spin Putting

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Without question, the most important part of your disc golf game is putting. Even if you manage to throw super long distances, your lower scores can be hurt if you can’t sink your putts.

Practice and consistency are the keys to putting success. But how do you choose which approach to take?

There are lots of routes to take when deciding on which style to go with. I’ve written about them here. One great option is push putting. Which I’ve covered in detail here.

But the style we’re going to talk about today is spin putting. In this article, I’m going to give you five reason you should be spin putting. Let’s take a look at them.    

1. Great for Beginners

The spin putting technique is an excellent choice for a new disc golfer. The release needed to put spin on a disc is more intuitive.

Beginners are used to throwing a disc and using spin to help throw the shot. Spin putting is no different.

The motion used when spin putting is a throwing motion which is different from the pitch motion of the push putt. Putting in this way can be easier to aim because the putt basically flies in a straight line.

All these reason make the spin putt a great option for beginners to both learn and find success  

2. Less affected by the Wind

No one likes putting in the wind. Having your disc carried off target and float past the basket is no fun.

Adding more strokes to your final score is a bummer. That’s why learning the spin putt is so great.

The disc is less likely to be affected by windy conditions. The disc’s spin keeps the disc flying straighter and prevents the wind from getting under the disc and pushing it off course.

So even if you stick with your push putting style, learning the spin putt for those windy days is a viable option. If you play a lot in the Midwest, learning to push with spin is a must.  

For more tips on play in the wind, check out this article. 

3. Consistent at varying distances

One of the keys to disc golf success is being able to play consistently day in and day out. If you can throw the disc and know where it’s going to go every time you’ll play better.

Putting is the exact same way. Being able to keep your putting routine the same each putt is going to make it easier to knock down your putts overtime.

The spin putt will help you do that. Each putt, no matter the distance is going to be the same release point and the same angle. Not having to make the call each time you step up to a putt is going to lead to lower scores.   

4. Great for low ceilings

If you’ve ever had your putt blocked by a low hanging branch, you know it can be frustrating.

For the push putting style, in order to make a disc fly to the basket, the disc must be released nose up and fly in an arch toward the basket.

There is nothing wrong with push putting but if you have a low hanging ceiling or an obstacle it can be tricky to sink your putts. This is where the spin putt will shine.

Spin putting doesn’t require an arch. The disc will fly straight toward the basket, flying under any low ceilings.  

5. Works well outside the circle

Another drawback to the push putting style is it can be different to get the disc to reach the basket. You need to release the disc high and use your lower body to power the disc forward for extra distance.

Using a putter with extra glide can help it get there. This isn’t a problem when spin putting.

Releasing the disc on the same line with the same angle will get you to the basket each time if your aim is on point. Knocking down long putts outside of the circle shouldn’t be a problem with this approach to putting.   

Final Thoughts

If you’re new to disc golf, I hope you’ll consider the spin putt for your main putting style.

For beginners, it’s easy to pick up and learn. It works well in the wind and at long distances. Spin putting is a consistent motion from anywhere in or outside the circle.

nd you don’t have to be intimidated by a low ceiling. All these reasons make it an excellent choice. So, I hope you’ll choose to spin your way to putting success.  

Flickr Image Creative Commons – Virginia State Parks

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6 Midrange Tips To Help Improve Your Disc Golf Game

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disc golf midrange tips

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1. Use Them Off The Tee

If you aren’t already using your midrange discs for driving, you really should be. A lot of players have it in their head that they must use a driver off the tee but if you can get the distance with a slower speed disc, you should at least consider it.

Remember what I said early, these discs are the perfect combination of speed and precision? That means they are perfect for the tee box. Using these discs for distance shots means your placement of the throw will be more accurate than if you were using a fairway driver or distance driver.

Two situations mid-range discs are ideal for are shorter holes and holes that have a lot of trouble. Using a disc that can fly the distance and do it more accurately is a no-brainer.  The reason I recommend midranges for holes that have a lot of out bounds or hazards if for their accuracy. Because even if you are losing some distance, you’ll gain those strokes back by not going out of hands or skipping into a hazard.

So the next time you are considering which disc to use for your drive, consider your mid-range discs.

2. Use Them In The Woods

If you play a lot of wooded courses you may already know the power of these discs for dodging trees. When throwing a course or a hole that has a lot of trees, you’ll need to be more conscious of your discs flight path because there are more obstacles your disc can hit on it’s a way to the basket.

Midrange discs are perfect for the woods because of the extra control they give you. In the woods, you are going to want to slow down and focus on a deliberate, controlled throw. Midrange discs allow you to throw slow controlled shots but still get the distance you want to finish the hole.

Another great thing you can use for a midrange disc for in the woods is to hit gaps and throw straight lines. Depending on your arm speed, grabbing an understand midrange and throwing it softly or selecting a stable midrange and throwing it hard will give you the straight shot you need.

The next time you find yourself on a hole with a lot of trees you are going to want to reach for a midrange.

3. Use Them For Upshots

Another great use for your midrange discs is throwing upshots. When I’ve thrown my drive and have landed within approaching range of the basket, the first disc I’m considering is a midrange disc, especially if I have some distance to cover.

Midrange discs are great at this range because of how easy they are to control and how accurate they can be. If you have thrown a great drive on a par 4 hole and gotten some serious distance, it doesn’t matter much if your next shot doesn’t land near or in the basket.

No one wants to see their upshot come up way short or blow past the basket. We’d all rather have an easy, close putt when compare to a long tester putt. Using an accurate midrange will ensure you are closer to the basket more often.

While putters are super accurate for upshots, you should still consider reaching for a trusty midrange disc. You won’t have to put as much heat on the disc from longer distances and if you are like me, I tend to be less accurate when I’m trying to ensure the disc flies far enough.

Pull out a midrange on your next upshot. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed if you do.    

4. Great For Beginners

I think everyone’s first disc should be a midrange. A lot of players may have a problem with that. They might think a putter is a better disc for a newer player.

But hear me out, a good midrange disc can be the perfect disc for most situations. We’ve already covered how great they can be off the tee and for upshots. They work well in the fairway and they are super controllable. All the things a beginner needs.

When using a midrange for distance shots you are going to need to focus on your form and really concentrate. Starting out, you want to get a great understable midrange disc and focus on throwing it flat. Here are some great choices for understable midrange discs.

As you improve, you can get good stable midrange discs or if you are a real power player, an overstable midrange will be perfect for your bag.  But don’t toss those understable ones out. They will still be useful for turnover shots and hyzer flips.

If you are a beginner to disc golf or know a new player, get them a midrange disc.

5. You Can Flick Them

That’s right, folks, midrange discs aren’t just for your backhand. They work great for your sidearm too. A lot of people think you can just throw drivers when attempting a forehand throw but if you aren’t using your more accurate midrange discs you might be gaining extra strokes.

If you want some recommendations on the best midrange discs to flick check out this article here. In short, you are looking for two things in your midrange discs to make them easier to throw forehand. One is a lower profile. This will allow you to get a better grip and assist with having a good clear release.

Another thing you’ll want in your midrange discs is an overstable flight. When throwing a disc with the forehand technique, you usually put less spin on the disc than when throwing backhand. To counteract this lack of spin, you’ll want to reach for an beefy midrange disc.

The next time you need to flick a disc make it a midrange. You’ll get a more consistent and accurate flight which leads to a  lower score.

6. Dedicate Practice To Them

The last tip I have for you is practice. Like all other aspects of your disc golf game, you are going to need to dedicate time and practice to improve.

Along with practicing your driving and putting, it’s a good idea to include practice sessions dedicated to throwing your midrange discs. You’ll want to grab all the midrange disc you own, take them to a field and throw them over and over.

To keep it fresh and challenging, I’d recommend you work on both shot shape and placement. You’ll also want to throw each disc on a hyzer, flat and anhyzer using both the backhand forehand technique.

This will allow you to get to know these discs and you’ll be that much more comfortable using them the next time you need them.

For more ideas on practicing your midrange game, I recommend you check out this video.
Jesús does a great job of explaining multiple ways to tackle midrange practice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csn-48fI2Kc&t=48s

Flicker Image Creative Commons – MarkScottAustinTX

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How To Throw A Disc Straight: 2 Methods For Achieving That Super Straight Flight Path

No ratings yet. There are few situations to find yourself in on the disc golf course that are more nerve-racking than trying to drive through a straight tunnel. If your throw is off or you miss your release, you could find yourself hitting a tree and having to search from your disc in the woods. No one wants that. The perfect throw for this situation would be a straight shot down the middle. But how do you throw a disc golf driver straight? In this article, I’m going to give you a few options and some pointers to help you on how to throw a disc straight.

When it comes down to it you have two main options for throwing a disc straight:

  1. Use a stable disc and release it flat
  2. Use an understable disc and release it with a hyzer angle

Now, there are some alternatives that can give you a relatively straight path and might be easier to throw. These include a tight S-Curve, a tight flex shot and an overhand throw like a thumber or tomahawk. But to get that true straight flight path, these are your options.

How To Throw A Disc Straight

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Stable Disc With A Flat Release

The first option I’m going to suggest is throwing a stable disc with a flat release. By this I mean, taking your straightest flying disc and release the disc as flat as possible.

Now you might get different definitions of what a stable disc is, but for this article, I mean any disc that you can get to fly straight. A good rule of thumb, especially for newer discs, is a disc with a 0 to -1 turn rating.

The best way to know the turn rating of a disc is to use the flight rating of the disc which is usually printed somewhere on the disc itself. The turn rating is the third number in the sequence. You may also have a really beat in overstable disc that flies really straight for you. That would also be a good option to use in this case.

If you are attempting this approach but aren’t seeing a disc fly straight, there could be some reasons for that.

One of which might be that you aren’t pulling the disc throw in a straight line. This would primarily occur if you are throwing backhand.

If you are releasing the disc flat but aren’t performing your pull throwing in a straight line, this could cause your disc to hyzer or anhyzer instead of flying straight.

Focus on pulling the disc straight across your chest. You don’t want to be start high and release low or vice versa.

Another thing that could prevent a straight flight would be if you are rounding your wrist. You might be releasing the disc flat but then rounding it after the release which could cause the disc to turn over. You want to focus on keeping a straight wrist when throwing the disc.

Lastly, your run-up could be causing your disc not to fly straight. When attempting a straight path, you want to start with your run-up. For a backhand throw, keep your shoulder pointed at your target and move in a straight line toward it.

Try to refrain from starting your run up off to the left or right of the tee pad and then straighten up while on the pad.     

Understable Disc With A Hyzer Release

Another great option to achieve a straight flight path is using an understable disc and releasing it on a hyzer angle. This approach is commonly referred to as the hyzer flip.

First, you’ll need an understable disc. Again, we’ll need to look to the flight rating system to determine if a disc is understable.

The turn rating is the third number in the sequence and for a good hyzer flip disc, we’re looking for a -2 or lower rating. If you have a beat in stable or overstable disc that’s really flippy, that would also be a great option for the hyzer flip.

The trick with the hyzer flip is you will need to release the disc with a lot of force to get it to flip to flat. So focus on pulling your arm through quickly and generating a lot of snap. This can take a lot of practice so don’t be disappointed if you don’t get it right away.

You’ll also want to experiment with how much hyzer you release the disc on. If your disc continues to turn after flipping to flat, you may want to release the disc with more hyzer to counteract it. You might also try a less flippy disc.

Releasing the disc low and with the noise slightly down are also important to the success of the hyzer flip.

One drawback to the hyzer flip is the flight isn’t entirely straight. The disc has to turn in the beginning before flipping to flat and riding on a straight path.

You’ll need to account for this before you drive. If there is an obstacle that will stop the disc from turning, you may want to choose the stable disc released flat method instead.   

Pay Attention To Fade

Another detail you will want to pay attention to when trying to throw a disc straight is fade. Fade is the tendency on a disc to hyzer out at the end of flight.

So if you are right-handed and throwing the disc backhand, a disc with a lot of fade will tend to turn left as the disc starts to slow down.

The fade rating is the last number in the flight rating system. Discs with a 0 rating have no fade. As the number increases, discs will fade more at the end of flight.

So why is this important?

If you are trying to achieve a straight flight, you’ll want that straight flight to continue to the end. So what if you are able to throw the disc straight to the basket but the disc ends up fading to the far left and you miss your put because of it. What have you really achieved?

There are two strategies that can help with the fade problem. One of which is choosing a disc with little or no fade. Meaning discs with a 0 to 1 fade rating.

Another way to take fade out of the equation is to release the disc low. This way when it does fade at the end of flight, it will have less distance to travel before it reaches the ground.

So if you have a disc that you can throw real straight but it has a ton of fade, releasing the disc lower should help with that.

Final Thoughts

I hope you’ll at least be able to use one of these strategies to achieve a straight flight. You will likely not find success right away but if you continue to practice, you’ll get there.

In fact, I would recommend going to a field and practicing both before ever trying them on the course.

It’s bad enough executing a straight drive down a tunnel shot but will little to no practice it’s almost impossible.  

Flickr Creative Commons – Discover Lehigh Valley, PA

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8 Disc Golf Winter Tips

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As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, you might be thinking it’s time to give up disc golf for a few months and head indoors for warm activities.

Sure you could do that but you risk losing all the progress you’ve made during the warmer months. Spending all the time inside in front of the tv and you’ll lose your competitive edge for sure.

And when the sun starts to shine and all the ice melts away, you’ll have to re-learn your forehand and putting stroke. No one wants that.

So before you think you need to give up the sport you love for a few months, consider my 8 disc golf tips. Hopefully, following these tips will help you stay warm and improve your game while playing in less than ideal conditions.

Plus, if you haven’t tried it yet. Playing disc golf in the snow can be a lot of fun.

1. Use Winter Plastic

The cold weather is going to change how your discs feel in your hand. You’ll notice that as the temperature drops your disc will become less flexible and less grippy.

If you play a lot in winter weather, you may also notice that your discs have a higher probability of cracking or breaking. Especially if you are hitting trees, concrete or metal baskets.

In order to counteract the effects colder weather has on the plastic you use, I recommend using grippy and flexible plastic. A great option for this would be GStar plastic made by Innova. It’s both grippy and flexible.

For more options for winter weather plastic check out this article.

If you hesitant about replacing all the discs in your bag with a premium plastic version of the disc, you might buy a lower grade plastic like Innova’s DX. The plastic does have adequate grip and flexibility to get you through the winter weather but if a disc does break it’s much cheaper to replace.  

2. Adapt to Disc Flight Changes

If you’ve ever played disc golf in the cold, you might have noticed that your discs don’t fly the same. Most players notice two main changes to their disc’s flight.

One is stability. When playing in the cold, discs tend to act more overstable.

Another difference is they don’t fly as far. When playing during the winter time, it’s not uncommon to see less distance on your drives.

You could make changes to your bag and add more understable discs that have extra glide to counteract the effects of winter.

Check out some of our articles on great understable discs. Here is the one about drivers and this is the one for midrange discs. 

Another option would be to adapt to these changes. Before you make a decision on the disc or shot understand that the disc will likely not fly as far and act more overstable. Either method should work.   

3. Dress for Winter Success

As the seasons change and the temperatures drop, you’re going to be playing in less than ideal conditions. You are usually going to experience colder and wetter playing conditions.

You’ll want to be prepared for this by wearing warm clothes that are waterproof. I recommend wearing multiple layers, as you can always shed layers as you warm up and add layers if you get colder.

Gloves are a must. You’ll need to keep your hands warm during play. Pay close attention to your shoes and socks.

Playing in sogging socks and waterfilled shoes is no fun on any day but add in the colder temperatures and you could end up with frostbite. Make sure you’re playing in waterproof shoes and socks or at the very least bring extras to switch into.

They are also many waterproof sprays you could add to your shoes for added protection.

Here is a great option for boots. Check it out on Amazon.  

4. Join a Putting League

If you don’t want to face the cold weather, why not just play indoors? That’s what an indoor putting league can allow you to do.

A group of disc golfers get together during the colder months and compete. The great thing about playing in one of these leagues is it allows you to keep practicing and improving on the most important part of your game, putting.

If you aren’t sure if there is a winter putting league in your area its best to start with the local disc golf club. If you ask around and find out there isn’t locally, you could start your own.

Here’s a link to guide on starting your own.

Also, dynamic discs has a winter marksman league program that will help with the equipment. Check that out here.    

5. Change your Expectations

Just like you aren’t going to play your best in the wind, you aren’t going to play your best in the cold. As the temperature drops, there are too many variables that change.

We’ve already discussed the effects that winter can have on your discs in both how they feel and fly. But other things change too.

With more layers on, you are less flexible and your bulky clothing can affect your throwing form. Your footing usually isn’t as good.

Ice and water can make the tee pads slippery. It’s more difficult to keep balance in the snow.

All these things are going to be difficult to overcome and play at your very best but that’s okay. Play for fun and practice.

When the warmer months come around and tournament play begins you’ll be sharper than the competitors that stopped playing when it got cold.    

6. Give special attention to your hands

Your hands are so important in disc golf. They are the only interface you have with the disc.

You use your hands to transfer the momentum and power you generate during your dive or throw to the disc. If your hands aren’t in the right place or your grip is off this can have a detrimental effect on your ability to throw well.

Because you need your hands for throwing the disc, especially your dominant hand, they are also exposed to the winter weather. I recommend keeping your non-dominant hand in some gloves as I mentioned before.

For the hand you use to throw the disc, keeping it warm in your pocket works well. I also like using hothands.

You can keep one of these in your pocket and basically warm up your hand instantly. Check out them out on Amazon.   

7. Don’t lose your discs

When playing in winter weather it can be easy to lose a disc. Lighter discs, like white and yellow, can be hard to find, especially in the snow.

For this, I recommend using discs that stand out against the white of snow. Don’t throw your favorite white disc in the snow. You are just asking to lose it or at the very least spend a few hours searching for it.

If there is a large amount of snow and your disc can get buried in the snow, the color of the disc isn’t really going to matter.

In this situation, I recommend using the ribbon technique. If you attach a ribbon to your disc, you’ll be able to see it and easily retrieve it.

Check out this video for more information on how to do this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq7onUGx5So

8. Cross Train instead

If you are still reluctant to play disc golf in the cold and snow, you could use the winter season to focus on something else. I suggest you use the extra time to cross train.

What do I mean by cross train? Disc golf can be a physically demanding sport where you use the same movements over and over again.

This can cause muscle imbalances and injury from repeated movements. So if you aren’t going to play disc golf during the winter, why not try another sport.

You could join a basketball league or take up racquetball. Both involve different physical movements than disc golf and have a cardiovascular competent.

If starting a new sport doesn’t seem like something you are in to, you could use the extra time in the gym. You can build up your muscles and help fix any muscle imbalances by hitting the weights.

And while you are spending time on the cardio machines, you can listen to your favorite disc golf podcast and still keep up to date on the sport you love!     

Flickr Image Creative Commons – Larry Jennings

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Playing Disc Golf In The Wind

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Playing disc golf in the wind sounds more like torture than fun to most disc golfers.

I’m not going to lie there have been a few times I’ve considered leaving early or driving to a more wooded course when the wind started to pick up.

No one likes having their putter pushed off course by the wind and missing the chains by a couple feet.

Hopefully, after reading this article you’ll have a better understanding of how the wind can affect a disc’s flight and ways to use the wind to your advantage.

We’ll talk about how headwinds, tailwinds, and crosswinds affect your discs differently, what you can do to counteract the effects and how to use the wind to your advantage.   

Headwinds

When facing a headwind you’ll want to grab an overstable disc with more fade.

A headwind will cause the disc to act less stable and tends to push the disc up. Using an overstable disc with more fade will help counteract the discs tendency to turn.

You’ll want to release the disc lower than normal to go against the upward push on the disc.

It’s also very important to keep the nose down, if the disc is released with even a slight nose up it will get caught in the wind and the disc will move up and back.

You’ll lose distance if you don’t keep the noise down.

Another tip for throwing in a headwind would be to use a faster disc. You’ll want a fast disc because relative to the wind, the disc is moving faster than normal without increasing your release speed.

This will ensure the disc flies as it should.

If you didn’t catch all that, in a headwind, you’ll want to throw a fast, overstable disc and release it low to the ground.

Check out this article for great overstable driver options.  

Tailwinds

When throwing a disc with the wind at your back, the disc will tend to act more overstable.

The wind will also cause a downward push on the disc, causing it to lose height faster than normal.

To counter these effects, throwing an over unstable disc is recommended. You’ll also need to release the disc higher.

A bonus for throwing in tailwinds is the disc will tend to carry farther. So if you throw your drive correctly and properly take advantage of a tailwind, you should see some added distance.

In a tailwind, you’ll want to throw a slower disc than normal. The disc is moving in the same direction as the disc so relative to the wind the disc is moving slower than normal.

Picking a slower disc will ensure the disc files as intended.

To sum it all up for a tailwind, you’ll want to use a slower, understable disc. You’ll want to release the disc higher than you would in calm conditions.

Check out this article for some great understable fairway driver options.

Crosswinds

Wind moving across the fairway will have a different effect on your disc depending on how you release the disc and whether you are right handed or left handed.

Making adjustments to your throw to counteract these effects are recommended.  You also might be able to change your shot to take advantage of the wind.

Left to Right Wind

For a right-handed player throwing backhanded in a left to right wind, if releasing the disc with hyzer the disc will tend to drop more than normal.

This makes sense because the flight plate is tilted in a way that catches the wind.

When throwing an anhzyer, the disc will be pushed up and move more to the right than expected.

If you are releasing the disc flat, you will notice the disc carrying to the right.

In a crosswind you have two options, you can play for accuracy or distance.

For accuracy, you’ll want to release the disc on a hyzer if the wind is moving left to right.

The disc will get pushed down and you’ll distance but it’s a more consistent shot.  

If you want distance, you’ll want to throw an anhyzer. This will allow the wind to pick up your disc and carry it.

Right to Left Wind

If the wind is moving the opposite way across the fairway, we can expect the opposite to happen.

When throwing a disc on a hyzer, the disc will tend to lift and move more toward the left.

If the disc is released with an anhyzer angle, it will get pushed down and toward the right.

A disc released flat will get pushed to the left since this is the way the wind is moving.

You have the two same choices in the right to left crosswind.

If you are going for accuracy, you want to release the disc on an anhyzer. You’ll see disc will get pushed down by the wind resulting in less distance but more accuracy.

If you’d like more distance, you’ll want to use a hyzer release. With this release, the wind will get under the disc, left if up and carry it forward.  

Putting in the Wind


Knowing how your putting style is affected by the wind can help you make a better decision when putting on those windy days.

In general, a push putter will be more affected by the wind than a spin putter.

While it may not be worth it to every push putter, learning how to spin putt may be a great alternative putting a style to pull out when the wind picks up.

If you are releasing your putters flat, the wind will have a similar effect on your putter as they do on your drivers.

In a headwind, the disc will tend to get pushed up. For a tailwind, the effect is the opposite and the putter will get pushed down.

When putting in a crosswind, the putter will get pushed the direction the wind is blowing.

Something else to think about is not everyone is going to release the disc flat.

For instance, when push putting the disc will have a slight nose up.

This could cause the putter to get pushed up higher when putting in a crosswind as well as to the left or right to take that into consideration when facing a windy putt.

Disc golf Wind Tips

Wind can blow in different directions

When considering a shot in the wind you need to realize that wind doesn’t just move in one direction.

Off the tee, wind could be moving one way but down the fairway, it could be moving another direction.

Keep this in mind when planning your shots on windy days.

Lower your expectations

You’ll need to come to the realization that you probably aren’t going to play your best in the wind.

There are too many factors to consider and unpredictable items that come into play to make all the right decisions.

Hopefully, this will allow you to relax and play better golf.

Practice in the wind

There is no substitute for practice and playing in the wind isn’t an exception.

To get better at playing in the wind you’ll need to expose yourself to it more often.

If you’ve been shying away from wind play consider it a learning opportunity instead.

Windy days are also a great time to get in some field work.

Change your Perspective

Think of playing in the wind like using nature to your advantage.

If you have it in your mind that wind is a disadvantage or an obstacle to overcome, it might be hurting your play.

While your shots are going to be less consistent on windy days, if you play the wind right you might see more distance.

Working with nature, instead of against, will lead to lower scores.  

Final Thoughts

I hope this article has helped you get a better understanding of how the wind will affect your disc golf play.

Hopefully the next time the wind picks up on your home course, you won’t run screaming to your car. Playing in the wind is something all disc golfers have to learn to deal with if they want to improve their game and get better.

With my tips, you should be able to make better decisions and see improvement when facing windy conditions.

Happy throwing in the wind!

Flickr Image Creative Commons – WxMom

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13 Things You Should Consider Putting In Your Disc Golf Bag

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Have you ever been out on the disc golf course and really needed something but didn’t have it? Maybe you had to ask someone you were playing with for it or maybe you had to run to your car to grab it. Depending on how much you really needed that thing, you may have had to drive home to get it.

Continue reading 13 Things You Should Consider Putting In Your Disc Golf Bag

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