Category: Disc Golf Tips

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How To Throw A Disc Golf Disc Farther

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It seems that the number one question beginners have when they start playing disc golf is How To Throw A Disc Golf Disc Farther. I remember asking the same question when I started playing. I thought if I could just throw 50 or even 25 ft farther I could shave multiple strokes off each round.

At the time I thought the answer was a high-speed disc. I saw the top pros throwing Innova destroyers and I thought I needed to throw one too. I quickly found out this was not the case and that a 12 speed disc was too much disc for my slow arm.

My right handed backhand throws with the destroyer were quickly turning left and crashing into the ground. I tried to overcompensate by throwing the disc at an anhyzer angle but that didn’t seem to work. It wasn’t unit I went back to my slower discs and focused on throwing a good shot instead of a long shot that I started to have more fun and get better.

So if you are just getting into the sport my advice to you is to not focus on throwing farther but to instead focus on throwing a good clean accurate short. Once you get that down you can worry about learning how to crush a disc and get it to go super far. If that doesn’t sway you try these strategies instead of a high-speed disc.

How To Throw A Disc Golf Disc Farther

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Change Your Disc

Try An Understable Disc

Leave your overstable and stable discs in your bag. Actually, better yet, leave them at home. When you are starting out it can be tempting to throw the discs your friends are throwing or the pros are throwing but what happens when you throw these discs is they tend to hyzer out too soon and don’t fly as far as they should. Like I said before I was guilty of this too.

What you want is a disc with a negative turn rating. If you are unsure of what this is the turn rating is the third number in the flight rating system. It measures the tendency of the disc to move left, right or straight as it leaves your hand. For a new player, your arm speed will be slower which is great for throwing understable discs.

Try A Lighter Weight Disc

Similarly to making a change to the stability of the disc you are throwing, changing the weight of the disc can add some extra distance. This works because you are able to throw a disc with a lighter weight faster than a heavier disc and throwing the disc faster should equal more distance.

With making this change there are some things to consider. You may notice that at a lighter weight, the disc you are used to throwing may turn over more often. To combat this, you may want to change to a more stable disc. This should even out the changes made to the flight path of the disc to equal more distance on your throw.

Try A Disc With More Glide

When you are starting out in the disc golf game, glide is your friend. As a new player, you have underdeveloped disc golf skills. One of these skills is arm speed and naturally, you will have a lower arm speed as a new player. Glide will counteract this and allow your disc to stay longer in the air. If the disc stays in the air longer, it will tend to fly farther.

So, how do you know if a disc has more or less glide? Just like when we discussed throwing an understable disc, we are going to the flight rating system to tell us the amount of glide a disc has. In this case, the glide rating is the second number in the rating system and as the number increases the disc has more glide.

Change Your Shot

Try Throwing The Disc Sidearm

For some, the backhand throw can be difficult to master and produce a lot of distance. It’s not uncommon for newer players to pick up the play styles of more experienced players around them or what they are seeing the pros do and the dominant throwing style is the backhand. So if you are finding your backhand drive a bit awkward or not seeing the distances you would like you might try switching to a sidearm drive

A sidearm or forearm throw is a more natural throwing motion and is used in a lot in other athletic activities. So if you have a lot of experience in baseball or other throwing sports the sidearm throw might be easier to pick up than the backhand. An added bonus to throwing forehand is you don’t have to take your eyes off your target like you do when throwing backhand. Being able to look at your target during the throw does make it easier especially for new players.

Try Rolling The Disc

Using the roller as your primary driving approach might not work for most players but in some cases trying a roller instead of throwing the disc in the air can get you more distances. What situations would you want to use the roller instead of another shot? One situation that comes to mind is that there are trees in the way that you can roll under that would otherwise be obstructed by the branches.

Other situations to consider throwing a roller would be when you have the ideal conditions. Rollers do well on close-cut grass or hard packed dirt. If you see these conditions you may want to throw a roller instead of your normal drive. Things to watch out for that might stop your roller shot and prevent it from going farther than it should would be exposed roots, large rocks, uneven terrain, and bushes or other obstacles that are in the way.

Change Your Form

Power Grip

You may not have considered this but the way you grip your disc when throwing it can be quite important. If you think about it, your fingers that grip your disc are the only things on your body touching the disc. The way you grip your disc is how you transfer the power you are generating from your body to the disc.

When gripping the disc you want it to be snug in your hand. Think tight but not too tight. If your grip is too tight it can lead to a late release and some of the energy imparted to your disc will be lost. If you grip the disc too loose, it could lead to an early release.

Get Some Momentum

If you feel like you are getting your throwing form down perfectly but aren’t seeing the distance you want you may want to consider adding some forward momentum to your throwing routine. This works because adding a run-up or an x-step to your throw will increase the velocity the disc is released at which should equate to more distance.

There are some drawbacks to adding a run or an x-step. If you form isn’t perfect, you could be sacrificing some accuracy. You’ll have to way the tradeoffs of your disc going 10 to 15 feet further vs. possibly not hitting your line with as much accuracy.

Reach Back

When throwing a disc backhand, you can achieve more distance by reaching back further before your release. This works because the farther you are reaching back the more time you have to build up momentum before the disc is released, giving your drive more distance.

If you are considering adding a farther reach back to your drive, you’ll want to make sure you have your driving form down perfectly. When reaching back remember to lead with your elbow and pull throw in a straight line.

Follow Through

Completely following through can help save your body from the wear and tear of the disc golf throwing movement but it can also help increase your distance. If you aren’t following through all the way, you are likely not getting the full extension of the throwing motion and sacrificing distance.

Following through completely and making sure your body is rotating all the way through can also ensure that you aren’t stopping your throwing rotation before it’s time. If you aren’t following through you might be slowing your body down before you are releasing the disc which could mean you are leaving some distance on the table.

Practice

I know this tip is listed last but it could be the most important. Your driving technique will greatly benefit from specific practice. This means going to a field or another open area and practicing your drive over and over. I promise you, you will see better results.

If you are one of those players that are hoping that playing more rounds of disc golf will make you better, try specifically focusing on pieces of your game and practicing them. This doesn’t just mean driving but putting and approaching. Consider taking some time to figure out your disc golf goals and schedule time during your week to practice. You’ll get better.

Image Credit Flickr Creative Commons – Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington

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6 Disc Golf Driving Tips For Beginners

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Disc golf is a great hobby and sport to get into. It’s accessible to most people and it doesn’t cost a lot of money to get started. You just need a few discs and you are good to go. After that, just find a local disc golf course and you’re all set for hundreds of hours of fun and exercise. Like I said earlier, disc golf is easy to get into but once you get into playing, you’ll want to improve on a lot of accepts of your game. One that many beginners have trouble with is driving. It’s a complex move that can take many hours of practice to perform well and consistently. Since you are new to the sport of disc golf, I’m not going to go into the detailed steps of performing a backhand or forehand drive. What I am going to share with you is a few simple tips that will get you started in the right direction. If you take these tips to heart I promise you you’ll see some improvement and have more fun on the course. Without further ado, let’s jump into the list of my disc golf driving tips for beginners.

Disc Golf Driving Tips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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#1. Disc Down

As a beginner to disc golf, you are going to want to disc down. So, what do I mean by disc down? I mean you are going to want to take that shiny new driver you bought and keep it in your bag.

New players should really focus on throwing slower discs. By slower discs, I mean your putters and midrange discs. Leave those high-speed fairway drivers and distance drivers in your bag or maybe even at home. When you step up to that tee, grab a putter and really focus on throwing it with great form.

When I first started playing, I was like most beginners and wanted a high-speed driver. But after I tried using it for one round, I quickly became frustrated. I found out my form and arm speed wasn’t yet suited for such a fast disc.

A buddy of mine saw my frustration and recommended I disc down and use one of my midranges. He was right and I had a lot more fun when I put that driver back in my bag and started throwing the slower midrange disc. As I got better and my arm got faster than I dusted off that driver I had tried to use to earlier.

#2. Stand Still

When I first started playing disc golf, I drove my discs standing still. During that first round I just naturally walked up to the tee pad and with my feet firmly planted on the concrete, I hurled the disc at the basket.

It wasn’t until later that I noticed that my friends were using a run-up during their drives. When I did more research, I learned this was called an X-step and that it could add more power and distance to your drive. While that is all true, I recommend you leave it out for now.

Driving a disc is a complicated sequence of steps and as a beginner, I’m suggesting you leave out some of those steps in favor of others. In this case, leave off the run-up and focus on the reach back, releasing your disc and following through. Once you master those things, you can then focus on getting the run-up down.

After I noticed my friends and even the pros using an x step, I tried to add it into my drive. But after a few rounds, I learned the hard way that without the perfect form the run-up didn’t really add anything. It mostly took away accuracy. Do yourself a favor and skip it for now.

#3. Keep It Flat

Something you’ll want to focus on while driving is how you are releasing the disc. When I started playing disc golf, I remember my first drives being very inconsistent. This was mostly due to how I was releasing the disc.

I was throwing the disc with my wrist bent. This resulted in my drivers quickly turning left after leaving my hand and hyzering out into the woods somewhere. Not the most fun you can have on the disc golf course. No one wants to spend time searching for their disc in the leaves when they could be playing.

Do yourself a favor and focus on taking your putter or midrange disc and releasing it flat and low. This should help you get a more consistent result off the tee. As you learn how your discs fly you can start to experiment with different angles.

#4. Understable Plastic

While throwing slower discs can be beneficial for newer disc golfers, something else beginners should consider about their discs is the disc stability. Stability or the high-speed turn rating of the disc refers to the disc’s tendency to turn left or right after leaving the players had.

Understable discs are recommended for newer players. Newer players tend to have slower arm speeds and at slower arm speeds, understable discs are easier to throw. When an unstable disc is thrown by a newer player, they are likely to see a nice straight flight. If the same player were to throw a more stable or overstable disc in the same way, they will likely see their disc take a hard turn left (for a right-handed player) and crash into the ground.

But how do you know if a disc is understable? I mentioned the high-speed turn rating earlier and how it measures the tendency of the disc to turn once it leaves a player’s hand. This measurement is printed on most discs. If you’ve noticed the four numbers printed on most discs, this is what I’m talking about. It’s called the flight rating system and the third number in the sequence is the turn rating. A disc is considered understable when this number is a negative number. As a beginner, you are looking for a turn rating of -1 to -5.

Disc Golf Driving Tip #5. Ask For Help

If you are reading this article you are already doing this tip. As a new player, you can speed up your driving ability development by asking for help. This can be from online sources, like this website, or in person.

Getting general help online will point you in the right place. You can get more specific suggestions on help with your release or follow throw by using online resources. There are also great online forums like Reddit that you can ask questions or even post a video of you driving and get help.

While online resources are great, I also want to point you toward your disc golf buddies or local players as a great resource. If you are having a specific problem with your drive, asking those players around you might be the best option. They can see your drive in person and point out maybe what you are doing wrong and help you change your form to correct it.

Also, just playing with better players will help you develop as a disc golf player.

Disc Golf Driving Tip #6. Practice

This tip may seem like a no-brainer. By practicing your drive over and over you will see improvement. I would suggest taking your bag to an open field near you and throwing each disc one after the other.

This helps because you can really focus on your form and making changes to improve it. You also won’t have to worry about obstacles you may see on the course or the added decision making that playing a round of disc golf can have. By regularly practicing your dive in an open field you will see improvement.

I also want to point out that I didn’t personally take this tip to heart until much later in my disc golf development. When I first started out, I just played rounds of disc golf and maybe did some putting practice. It wasn’t until much later that I added in fieldwork. After I did, I really started to see improvement in my drive.

Image Credit Flickr Creative Commons – MarkScottAustinTX

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The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Disc Golf

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Beginners Guide To Disc Golf

Please note we’re supported by our readers. When you buy through our links we earn an affiliate commission. Thanks for your support!

In this article we’re going to cover:

  • What Disc Golf is
  • How to Play Disc Golf
  • Keeping Score
  • Finding a place to play
  • The Types of Disc Golf Throws
  • Disc Golf Putting Styles
  • Types of Disc Golf Discs
  • Disc Golf Flight Numbers
  • Best Discs for Beginners
  • How to Get Better at Disc Golf
  • Common Disc Golf Variations

What Is Disc Golf?

A very basic definition of disc golf is playing the game of golf with discs.

If you’ve ever played golf or seen it played, you know that players use clubs to hit a ball into a small hole on the course.

When playing disc golf, you’ll trade the clubs and balls for a collection of discs and the hole for a basket.

Similarly to golf, the object of disc golf is to traverse the course using the least amount of throws.

How Do You Play Disc Golf?

To play disc golf, you’ll need some discs and a course to play on.

We’ll talk more about great options for beginner discs and how to locate a disc course to play on later in the guide.

Starting off on the first hole, you’ll step on the tee pad and throw toward the basket. You’ll keep throwing toward the basket until your disc lands in the basket or in the chains above the basket.

Once, you’ve finished the first hole, you’ll move on to the next hole. If you are playing on a course with hole signs, be sure to take note of them.

They usually give you some good information like the hole’s par, how long the hole is and a picture of the layout of the hole. You can use this information to make good decisions off the tee pad.  

You’ll continue playing each hole until you run out of time or finish the course. If you are playing with a group of players there is usually an order to who throws.

The player that throws first off the tee is usually the one that did the best on the last hole. Each player then goes in order of how well they did.

After everyone has thrown their drive, the player farthest away from the basket will throw first. Everyone will continue throwing this way until the hole is complete.

Here’s a great video explaining the basics of disc golf:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfHnT1HilMM

Keeping Score In Disc Golf

In Disc Golf, score is kept the same way as it is in golf. All throws are counted with any penties added.

The player with the least amount of throws wins or another way to say that is the player with the lowest score wins.

You can keep score in your head but an easier way would be to use a scorecard or a scorekeeping app.

Just like in Golf, each hole on a disc golf course has a par assigned to it. You can think of par as the number of throws you are given to complete the hole.

The score is generally given in comparison to par. So if you are throwing on a par 3 hole and you take for 4 throws to complete it, your score for the hole would be +1 or 1 above par.

Or another word for that, that is common in golf and disc golf is a bogey.

Here are some common scoring terms you may hear:

Bogey

Finishing a hole with one throw over par. If you finish a hole with more throws over par than one, you can add double, triple, quadruple and so on. So if you completed a hole with 2 throws over par, that would be considered a double bogey.

Par

Finishing the hole with the amount of throws given to the complete the hole. When you match the number of throws as the par of the hole.

Birdie

Completing a hole with one less throw than par. So, if you are playing on a par 3 hole and you take 2 throws to finish the hole this would be considered a Birdie.

Eagle

Finishing a hole with two less throws than par. For instance, if the hole has a par 4 and a player completes the hole with 2 throws this would be considered an eagle.

Ace

Completing a hole with one throw or another word for a hole-in-one.    

Finding A Place To Play Disc Golf

In the united states, finding a local disc golf courses can be pretty easy. Just look for the nearest city or county park and there is a good chance you will find a disc golf course there.

Not all of them are full 18 hole courses, for instance, in my area there are two 9 hole courses.

If you are still having trouble, I’d recommend you ask a friend that plays disc golf. They can tell you which courses are best and which courses you might want to skip.

Don’t know anyone that plays? The internet makes finding a place to play disc golf really easy. Finding a course can be as easy as googling disc golf courses near you.

Two other great resources are Disc Golf Course Review and Disc Golf Scene. Both these sites make it easy to find local courses and also tell which ones are the best to play.

Types Of Throws

In disc golf there are a lot of different throws you can use to get the job done.

When starting out, you may want to focus on learning and using one of two but as you progress and play more, you’re going to want to learn them all.

One isn’t better than another, but certain situations may call for one type of throw over another.

Let’s get into the list and take a look at each throw:

Backhand

The backhand throw can be consider the most popular throwing style in the sport.

If you aren’t sure of what throw I’m referring to, think of how you throw a regular frisbee. This is the backhand.

For the average player, the backhand will allow them to throw the farest without having to use too much effort.

One thing to consider when using the backhand throw is how the disc finishes.

For a right-handed player, the disc will tend to finish to the left and for a left-handed player, the disc will finish to the right.

The backhand is a great throwing style to learn first but it’s not the only style. Some players use the forehand instead.

Forehand

With the forehand (sometimes referred as sidearm or flick) throw, the player keeps their elbow tucked in toward their body and throws the discs after extending their wrist behind their body.

Think of a sidearm throw in baseball but with a disc instead of a ball.

The forehand throw can feel more natural than throwing a disc backhand which makes it a great option for a beginner especially if you have a baseball background.

Another great thing about the forehand throw is you don’t have to take your eyes of your target like you do when throwing bankhand.

Finally, the finish of the disc is different than the backhand. If you are throwing the disc right handed, it will generally finish to the right. If you are using your left hand, it will finish to the left.

Check out this video to see Paul McBeth talk about this forehand technique.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjlBl3vHPLA

Overhand

There are actually two types of overhand throws in disc golf. These are the tomahawk and the thumber.

They are similar in how the disc is thrown. In both throws, the player will reach back over and above their shoulder, just like in an overhand baseball throw.

They differ in how the disc is held. For a thumber, the player’s thumb is placed on the inside rim of the disc.

The bottom of the disc will face the players head during the reach back.

For a tomahawk throw, the bottom of the disc faces away from the player’s head during the reach back and the grip is similar to a forehand.

Most players don’t usually choose the overhand throw as their dominate throwing style but it’s a great throw to learn for getting out of trouble.

Using the tomahawk or thumber are great options to use to get up and over an obstacle.

Putting Styles

An important type of throw to consider when playing disc golf is the throw you use when you are close to the basket.

This throw is commonly referred to as putting. All putting styles have inherent pros and cons but any style isn’t necessarily better than another.

Most players pick a style based on feel and consistency. Try each style on the discussed here and pick the one that feels right to you.

For the most part, both styles listed here can proform will at the top level of disc golf.  For more information on putting styles check out my article here.

Spin Putt

The spin putt is just like it shows. Players are propelling the disc toward the basket by putting extra spin on the disc, similarly to driving off the tee.

For beginners, this method can feel the most natural and is a great choice when starting out.

Some benefits for using this approach are putts are less affected by the wind and when spin putting you don’t have to make adjustments to your putt based on distance.

Check out more reasons to spin putt here.

Push Putt

Players that push putt are lobbing the disc at the basket rather than throwing it.

If you are a basketball fan, you might think of this putting style like a free-throw shot.

Beginners might find this approach to be less friendly to learn than the spin putt but is a great option because when done right, it can be the most accurate style.

If you want more information on the push putting style, check out our article here.

Types Of Discs

When you are starting out in the sport of disc golf, all the disc can look the same and it might be hard to tell that they are different.

If you weren’t aware already there are four types of discs: putters, midranges, fairway drivers and distances drivers.

Knowing the differences can help you make better decisions out on the course.  

Putters

These discs are designed to travel shorter distances and are considered the most accurate discs available.

They are the slowest discs out there but are made to fly extremely straight. Putters tend to have the smallest rims of any discs.

As a beginner, you’ll want to be using and throwing putters a lot. They are a great disc to use when starting to play disc golf.  

Midrange

Midrange discs (sometimes referred to as midranges or midrange drivers) are faster than putters and designed to fly farther distances.

They are highly accurate but less so than putters and also make great discs for beginners.

Their rims tend to be thicker than a putter but thinner than a driver. This is a good mix.

These discs feel great in the hand and can reach considerable distances when thrown correctly.

Fairway Drivers

Fairway Drivers (sometimes called control drivers) are designed for distances farther than a midrange disc but shorter than a distance driver.

You might use this type of driver on a shorter hole off the tee or on a longer hole as your second shot in the fairway.

These discs are easier to control than a distance driver and are considered more accurate.

As a beginner, you’ll want to stick to using putters and midranges, but if you want to use a driver, a fairway driver is a great option.   

Distance Drivers

These discs are made to be thrown fair.

Distances drivers have the greatest potential for flying that farthest out of any type of disc but also require the most speed to be thrown.

For this reason, they aren’t recommended for newer players.

These disc also have really wide rims and will take getting used to. They might be difficult to grip at first.  

Disc Golf Flight Numbers

Most discs you can buy today will come with four numbers printed on them.

These numbers are referred to as the flight rating system numbers and each number represents a measurement of a specific flight characteristic.

This system was started by Innova Champion Discs and has been adopted by many other disc golf makers.

Let’s talk about each number and what it measures.

Speed

The first number in the sequence is the speed rating. It refers to how fast the disc can fly but it also refers to how fast the disc must be thrown in order for it to fly properly.

The speed rating also lets us know how the disc is categorized. Putters range from 1-3. Midranges range from 4-5. Fairway drivers range from 6-8. Distances drivers range from 9-14.

For more information on the speed rating, check out this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWo4_Vk33FY

Glide

The second number in the sequence is the glide rating. It measures how well the disc maintains loft while in the air.

The higher the rating the easier it is for the disc to remain in the flight. Discs that have more glide are easier to throw farther distances.

Turn

The third number in the sequence is the turn rating.

Sometimes called highspeed turn, it describes the tendency of the disc to curve when it immediately leaves your hand.  The turn rating ranges from + 1 to -5.

Fade

The fourth number in the sequence is the fade rating. It describes how the disc finishes at the end of its flight.

It’s sometimes referred to as low-speed turn because it describes how the disc turns as it slows down. The more fade the disc has more it will turn at the end of its flight.

For more information on fade, check out this article.

In this guide, I have briefly discussed the flight rating system but if you want more information on this topic, please checkout out our article here.

Best Discs For Beginners

When you are first starting out playing disc golf, there are going to be some discs that are more beginner friendly than others.

Using a disc that is better suited to you as a new player, will make sure you get as much out of the game as possible and will also ensure you don’t develop any bad throwing habits.

As a basic rule, you are going to want to throw discs that are slower, with more turn and more glide.

While this isn’t 100% true all the time, using this guideline will help you pick beginner friendly discs.

For more specifics on which types of discs I recommend for new players check out the following articles:

The Best Disc Golf Discs for Beginners

The Best Innova Discs for Beginners

The Best Disc Golf Drivers for Beginners

The Best Understable Midrange Discs for Beginners

The Best Disc Golf Putters for Beginners

Once you’ve started playing more and have acquired more discs than you can carry in your hands, you might want to purchase a small disc golf bag.

For my recommendations of the best small disc golf bags check out this article here.

If you decide to purchase a bag or already have one, check out our post on things you should consider keeping in your bag.

How To Get Better At Disc Golf

Once you’ve purchased some discs and played a few rounds of disc golf, the next question most new players ask is how they can improve at the game.

While playing more rounds will improve your game, a better way to improve at the sport is to practice.

As a beginner, the best place to start improving is putting. It’s easy to practice and it can be argued that it’s the most important part of any players game.

If you’d like to start improving your putting, I recommend you read our article on putting practice drills here.

If you’d like to improve your driving, you should read out articles on How to Improve Your Disc Golf Drive and for more specific tips on driving for beginners check out this article.

Here is another great resource for building an effective practicing routine to improve your driving. Listen to former World Champ, Avery Jenkins. He knows what he’s talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP45wFSaUmg

Disc Golf Variations

While playing disc golf the traditional way is a lot of fun, if you play with more people you might be exposed to some disc golf variations.

The normal or tradition way of playing disc golf is commonly referred to as stroke play.

Here are some other variations you might see on your local disc golf course:

Doubles

This game is played with teams of two. Each player will throw on each team and then they choose which lie is the best and throw from there.

This is commonly referred to as best of doubles. It’s a great game to play if you have a large group and even numbers. It also works well in a group with a variety of skill levels.

Triples

This game is basically the same game as doubles but each team as three players instead of two. You might choose to play triples instead of doubles if you have a really large group.

Choose the best shot of three players can make the rate of play faster and ensure that you finish the course in a shorter time. Another great game to play with a variety of skill levels.

Skins

When playing this game, all holes are assigned an amount or a “skin.” The best score on the hole wins the skins. If a hole is tied than the skin is pushed to the next hole.

If this continues to happen than the skins will continue to be pushed. If you want to read more about this great game, check out my article here.

Match

In this game the lowest score on a hole wins a point. If a hole is tied, no point is awarded nor is it pushed to the next hole.

This game can get quite completed and is best played with players that have similar skill levels.

For more disc golf variations check out our article here.

Flickr Image Creative Commons – Tim Martin

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Are You Committing A Disc Golf Foot Fault?

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Are You Committing A Disc Golf Foot Fault? Something a lot of newer players don’t think about when they are playing disc golf is where their feet are at when they are throwing or putting a disc.

I know when I started playing I didn’t give it much thought and I remember one time a guy I was playing with would jump forward from the tee pad and release the disc while flying through the air.

I didn’t give it another thought until I started watching professionals play. It was during one of these tournaments I was watching on youtube that player was called for a foot fault.

I remember rewinding the video and saying to myself “Did they say foot fault?”

After watching more tournament videos, listening to disc golf podcasts and doing research online, did I finally realize what a foot fault was? I created this article so you don’t have to do all the research on your own.

Please note we’re supported by our readers. When you buy through our links we earn an affiliate commission. Thanks for your support!

Disc Golf Foot Fault

 

Inside The Circle

While your inside of the putting circle, after you have released your disc you must demonstrate full control of your balance before you move toward the basket.

If you fail to do this, you have committed a foot fault and will receive a penalty. The important thing to keep in mind about this is control of balance.

For instance, if you are putting and lose your balance and step on your lie, you have foot faulted. Here is a great video that demonstrations this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkoVYAC2V5I

Notice how he gives examples of showing that you have balance after putting.

You can pause, reach for your mini or place your back foot down before moving forward, all of which will demonstrate you have balance before moving forward.

For more information on this rule read section 806.01 of the Official Rules of Disc Golf. You can find it here.

Teeing Off

Depending on where you are on the course the rules about where your feet must be while throwing can change. We’ve looked at putting already and now we’re going to transition to driving.

If you are throwing from the tee box, you must have at least one supporting point touching the tee box during the moment the disc is released.

You also must have all your supporting points within the tee area during the release.

So basically this seems that you must have one foot touching the tee area at the time the disc leaves your hand and that your other foot doesn’t need to be touching the tee area but can’t be outside of it.

Something else to note is that you are allowed to have one foot outside the teeing area before or after the release, just not at the exact moment of release. If you break this rule the result will be a stroke penalty.

For more information on this rule read section 802.04 of the Official Rules of Disc Golf. You can find it here.

Throwing From Your Lie

If you are always throwing from the tee box to the putting circle, you can skip this section. For the rest of us, we will be throwing from our lie after we’ve driven quite often.

In this case, you must have at least one supporting point in contact with your lie.

In addition, you can’t have any supporting points closer to the basket than the read edge of your disc or your marker (depending on if you use a marker).

This means that if you supporting foot is placed outside the lie during your throw you will receive a penalty stroke.

So if you were to throw your disc with your foot on or over your marker, you could be called with a penalty and receive stroke.

Likewise, if you were to throw your disc behind you lie (this might make sense if you were right behind an obstacle) you could be called for it and get a penalty.

For more information on this rule read section 802.07 of the Official Rules of Disc Golf. You can find it here.

The Lie

So far we’ve talked a lot about foot placement and throwing from your lie. If you aren’t sure what I mean by this, your lie is the place on the ground where you are taking your stance in order to throw your disc.

If we aren’t talking about the tee pad or a drop zone, the lie is an imaginary 20cm wide by 30 cm deep rectangle centered behind your marker.

Again, during your throw, if you don’t have one foot in contact with this area you can be called for a foot fault and get a stroke penalty.

For more information on this rule read section 802.05 of the Official Rules of Disc Golf. You can find it here.

Marking Your Lie

If you are throwing from you lie in the fairway, it’s perfectly okay to use your disc has the marker. Simply live your disc where it lies and take your next shot.

If you wish to use a mini to maker your lie, you must do it in a specific way. You must place your mini directly in front of your disc and it must be touching your disc.

In front is in reference to the basket. If you mark your lie incorrectly, the first violation will result in a warning but if you continue to do this you will recieve a pently stroke for each volitoion during the round.

Here a great video of Eric McCabe showing you how it’s done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drip90Ta9XQ

For more information on this rule read section 802.06 of the Official Rules of Disc Golf. You can find it here.

Final Thoughts

If you are playing casual rounds with your friends, you might not be concerned with the rules of foot placement.

After all, we’re playing disc golf to have fun but if you are interested in playing by the rules or if you want to start playing in tournaments you’ll want to make sure you aren’t foot faulting.

Adding unnecessary strokes to your score isn’t going to help you win. If you have further questions about the rules of foot placement or any other disc golf rule I suggested you check out the official rules of disc golf put out by the PDGA.

This is a great resource and you’ll be able to find any answer to your questions about the rules of disc golf.

Flicker Image Creative Commons – USAG- Humphreys

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Disc Golf Terminology Resource

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If you are new to disc golf the terminology can be hard to get used to. This disc golf terminology resource can help.

Below you’ll find a dictionary of commonly used disc golf terms and their definitions.

You can use it to find a word’s meaning or study up to make sure you know what your disc golf buddies are talking about.

Disc Golf Terminology Resource

Please note we’re supported by our readers. When you buy through our links we earn an affiliate commission. Thanks for your support!

Ace – Throwing a disc into the basket from the tee in one throw. The same as a hole in one.

Anhyzer – For a right-handed player, releasing the disc at an angle to force it to turn to the right once it leaves the player’s hand.  This is accomplished by having the left side of the disc higher than the right when releasing. Sometimes referred to as an Anny.

To learn more about this throw check out our article here.

Approach – Throwing the disc to a safe position for a putt. Sometimes referred to as an upshot.

Backhand – A style of gripping and throwing a disc, where the back of the player’s hand faces the direction of the throw.

Bagger – A term given to a player that competes in a tournament division below their ability to increase their chance of winning.  

Basket – The main target in the sport of disc golf. It consists of a pole with chains and a basket to collect discs.

For great options on a permanent basket read our article here.  

Birdie – Finishing a hole one under par.

Card – Refers to a group of players that start on the same hole during tournament play.  

Casual – When landing in a hazard doesn’t result in a penalty stroke. If a disc does land in a casual hazard, it is customary for them to mark their lie behind the hazard.

Circle – The invisible 10-meter circle surrounding the basket. Putting rules change depending on if the disc lands inside or outside this invisible circle.

Come Back Putt – Putting after a missed putt. Usually when the first putt travels some distance past the basket.  

Cut Roll – When a roller doesn’t stand up all the way and rolls left or right instead of traveling straight.

Death Putt – Attempting a tricky putt. In most cases, the basket has a hazard or out of bounds behind it and if the putt is missed the result will be a stroke.

Distance Driver – A disc designed to be thrown long distances. These discs are characterized by their high-speed ratings and wide rims.   

Drive – The first throw done by players on a hole. It’s usually from the tee pad but could include a long second throw.  

Driver – A disc designed to be used for driving or other long distance throws.

Drop Zone – A designated area on a hole to be used when a player goes out of bounds or misses a mando.  

Eagle – The term used for when a player finished a hole two under par.

Fade – Refers to how far the discs turns at the end of its flight. Sometimes referred to as low-speed turn.

Check out our great post on fade here. 

Fairway Driver – A disc designed to be used for shorter holes off the tee or for the second throw on a longer hole.

Find out the best fairway drivers by reading our post.

Flex Shot – A term used to describe a throw that turns over of a player’s hand and then flexes back the other direction before finishing. This throw is commonly achieved by releasing an overstable disc on an anhyzer angle.

Check out our quick guide to the flex shot here.

Flick – A word used to describe a sidearm or forehand throw.

Flight Plate – The top circle part of a disc enclosed inside the rim.

Flight Rating – The four number rating system that is used to describe how a disc flies. The four numbers consist of the speed rating, turn rating, glide rating, and fade rating.

Take a look at our full article on the flight rating system here.

Flippy – A word used to describe an understable disc or a disc that is easy to turn over.

Foot Fault – The term given to a rule violation of where a player’s foot must be placed when putting or throwing.

Forehand – When a player throws the disc in a similar manner to a sidearm baseball throw. Also referred to as a sidearm.

Frolf – Another term for disc golf or may refer to the game of disc golf played with a frisbee. It combines the words frisbee and golf.

Frisbee Golf – Another term for disc golf.

Glide – Refers to a discs ability to maintain loft while in flight.

Grip Lock – A term used to describe a late release or holding onto a disc too long before releasing.  

Hyzer – For a right-handed player, releasing the disc at an angle to force it to turn to the left once it leaves the player’s hand.  This is accomplished by having the left side of the disc lower than the right when releasing.

Hyzer Flip – When a player releases an understable disc at a hyzer angle and the disc flips to flat. This usually results in a very straight flight path.

If you want to know how to throw a hyzer flip check out our article here. For great hyzer flip discs read this one.

Jump Putt – A putting technique that consists of a player jumping toward the basket while putting. This always the player to putt a farther distance and can only be used outside the 10-meter putting circle.

Kick – When a disc hits an obstacle in flight and results in a change of direction. A kick can be good or bad.

Lay-Up – Throwing the disc close to the basket instead of going for a long putt. Usually results in an easy putt on the next throw.

Lie – The position the disc comes to rest after its flight.

Mando – A term used to describe the route a disc must take. This is usually around a tree or another object. A shortened version of the word mandatory.

Midrange – Discs desgined to be thrown for medium distances. Midrange discs or Midrange drivers as they are sometimes referred to are slower than drives but faster than putters.

If you want to know the best midrange discs in disc golf check out this article.

Mini Marker – A small disc used by players to mark the lie of their discs.  

OB – Stands for Out of Bounds. The area of a course that’s not intended for disc golf play. If a disc lands in the OB area a penalty stork is earned.

Overstable – A disc that is more lightly to hyzer. These discs commonly have a high turn and/or fade rating and are intended to be used for more advanced players.

If you want to know what actually makes a disc overstable, check out our article here.

Par – The intended number of throws it should take a player to complete a hole.

Parked – When a player throws a disc that lands close to that basket leaving them with an easy putt.

Penalty Stroke – An extra stroke given to a player for a rule violation. This could be from landing out of bounds, missing a mando or another type of violation.

Push Putt – A style of putting where the player puts little to no spin on the disc. Instead, the disc is propelled toward the basket by pushing or tossing it.

Check out our great resource on the push putt here.

Putt – A disc golf throw that is intended to land in the basket.

Putter – A disc desgined to be used for putting. They are the slowest disc available but also the most accurate.

Read our recommendations for the best putters in disc golf here.

Rim – The part of the disc around the edge. Higher speed discs tend to have wider rims.

Roller – A disc golf throw where a player lands a disc on its side getting it to roll instead of flying through the air.

Sidearm – When a player throws the disc in a similar manner to a sidearm baseball throw. Also referred to as a forehand.

Speed – How fast a disc is desgined to fly. Measured by the speed rating which is the first number in the flight rating system.

Spin Putt – A disc golf putting technique that uses spin to propel the disc toward the basket.

Found out why you should be spin putting here.

Spit Out – A putt that seems like it should have gone in but comes out. Usually as a result of hitting the chains and falling out.

Stability – Refers to the tendency of the disc to turn when it leaves a players hand. This disc golf terminology is used to describe high-speed turn. A disc’s stability can be understable, stable or overstable.

Stable – Describes a disc the flies straight or doesn’t turn when leaving a players hand.

Straddle Putt – When a player has their legs spread apart while putting. Can be a normal putting style or used to stretch out from an obstacle so a player has a look at the basket.

Star Frame – When all players on a card birdie a hole.

Tee Pad – The beginning area of a hole used by players to drive from.

Thumber – An overhand throwing style in which a player holds the disc by placing their thumb on the rim.

Tomahawk – An overhand throwing style in which a player holds the disc similar to a forehand grip.

Turbo Putt – An overhand putting style in which the player holds the disc like they might hold a pizza or a tray. The disc is held flat and the player’s thumb is placed at the disc’s center.

Read our resource on the turbo putt here.

Turn – Refers to the tendency of the disc to turn when it leaves a players hand. This disc golf terminology is commonly referred to as high-speed turn and is the third number in the disc golf flight rating system.

Understable – Describes a disc that will turn over when leaving a players hand. This disc could be described a flippy.

Learn how to throw an understable disc here.

Upshot – When a player throws the disc toward the basket to step themselves up for a putt. Another disc golf terminology for an approach shot.

Flickr Image Creative Commons – Steve Ganz

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Disc Golf Putting Tips

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12 Disc Golf Putting Tips To Elevate Your Game This 2023

If you’ve read any of my other posts on putting, you know I think it’s a big deal. I’ll go ahead and say it now, putting is the most important part of any disc golfers game. Many players put a lot of emphasis of increasing their driving distance or improving on their forehand or some other part of their game. While those things are important, the best ROI you will get out of improving your game is mastering putting. In this article, I’m not going to go over specific putting form or technique improvements, I’m just going to give my top disc golf putting tips 2023 that all players can benefit from.

Disc Golf Putting Tips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Disc Golf Putting Tips – 1. Pick A Putting Style That Works For You

This may seem like an obvious tip, but if you do some research on putting you’ll see a lot of players and pros recommending or teaching that you should putt in the same way they putt.

While this could very well work out great, I recommend you pick a style that works best for you. Don’t just go with a putting style because your disc golf buddies or your favorite professional disc golfers say to.

If you have a putting style you like and you are getting success with, stick with it.

If you aren’t seeing the results you want and would like to switch up styles, try them all out and see what works best. This could be the push putt, spin putt, spush putt, straddle putt or any other variation in between. 

Check out this article on putting styles if you need some ideas.

Disc Golf Putting Tips – 2. Don’t Forget To Learn Other Putting Styles

If you have a putting style you love and that works well for you, by all means, stick with it.

With that in mind, it’s important to remember that while a putting style might work well most of the time, you might find yourself in a situation that another style might be more useful.

For instance, let’s say your main style is the push putt and you have a lie that’s within putting distance. When you approach your lie, you realize you have a tree in the way and its branches are blocking your shot.

You could pitch your disc to the side and take an extra stroke, but it might make a more sense to straddle out to the side so you have a clear line at the basket.

If you learn the straddle putt and practice it, you’ll have more confidence when you have to use it.   

Disc Golf Putting Tips – 3. Get The Right Putter For You And Your Game

This suggestion is similar to using the right style for yourself. Selecting the right putter for yourself and your style is also very important.

Again, don’t use a putter just because everyone else is using.

If you have a putter right now that you are using that works great, by all means, use that putter. But if you aren’t seeing the success you want, it might be time to try out a few putters and see if a change makes sense.

For instance, if you are using the spin putting style it makes sense to use a putter with a lot of glide. If your buddy is a push putter, they might use a putter with less glide and are more concerned with having their disc fly straight so they want to use a stable putter. 

In this case, going with a putter your buddy likes would hurt your game.

Check out my recommendations for the best putters here. 

Disc Golf Putting Tips – 4. Practice Putting A Lot

The only way to achieve consistent putting is to practice and you should practice often.  

If you have the time, spending 15 to 30 minutes a day practicing your putting is ideal. If you are unsure on how to practice, check out my disc golf putting drills article here.

Another thing to think about when practice your putting, is you want it to be as close to gameplay as possible.

So, if you have multiple putters for practice, don’t hold them in your offhand while practicing because this isn’t how you putt during normal play.  

5. Get Your Own Disc Golf Basket

I would recommend any player that is focused on improving their putting game to purchase a disc golf basket they can keep at home.

You aren’t going to be able to go to the course each day to practice your putting. Most people don’t have a disc golf course next door.

Having a basket at home takes the task of driving to the course out of the equation. You can just step out your door and practice for 30 min or so and then go back to what you were doing.

It also comes in handy when it’s cold or wet outside. If you have space, you can set it up in your house or garage and putt indoors.

6. Consider Developing A Putting Routine

A pre-putting routine can help you focus and improve consistency when putting.

When putting there are a lot of steps to consider. How you line up. How you grip your putter. How you are releasing. And more.

If you have a routine in place, you don’t have to consider all these times. You follow the routine each time.

For instance, your routine might be: place your foot behind your maker, take a deep breath, focus on the target, take a practice swing and then putt.

A putting routine can improve focus because one of the steps could be to take a second to focus but it also gives you time before you shot.

If you just step and release each time, you may not be ready or you might miss something.

7. Take Into Account All Environmental Factors

Before putting, it’s important to consider all the environmental factors that could affect your putt.

Is it a windy day? Are you putting at a different elevation than the basket? Are there obstacles that could affect your disc’s flight? Are there hazards you want to avoid?

You’ll want to think about each of these factors and make adjustments if you can.

For instances, when putting in a tailwind that disc tends to get pushed down and you may want to counteract this by releasing the putter higher.

Or there might be a lake or stream on the left side of the basket. Is there a way to you adjust your putting technique so you are less likely to miss left or can you change your body position to take the hazard out of the equation?

8. Focus On The Putting Process

If you are facing a stressful putt, it may help to focus on the process rather than the outcome.

Don’t worry about missing your putt or what you will do next if you miss, instead focus on the process of putting.

Use your pre-practice routine, if you have one, and do each step of your putting process to the best of your ability.

This is more likely to produce the successful outcome you are looking for and lead to knocking down your putt.

While some players thrive on stress and can use it make putts,  most of us don’t and worry and fear we feel tends to lead to more missed putts.

9. Learn To Forget Putting Failures

Similarly to focusing on the process of putting, it’s also important to forget your misses.

If you are playing in a tournament or against your buddies, don’t focus on any putts you may have missed or any of your lines that may have been off on, instead focus on each shot.

If you focus on your familiars you may add more pressure to the situation which can lead to misses.

You may also feel the necessity to rush a putt or go for a putt that doesn’t have much chance of going in.

Again, focus on the putt in front of you and put any putting failures out of your mind will lead to more success.      

10. Take Advantage Of Your 30 Seconds

During play, you have 30 seconds to gather yourself before you actually putt and I recommend you take it every second of it.

Take the time to go through the things we’ve already talked about.

You’ll need it to go through your putting routine and to consider all the environmental factors that could affect your putt.

There is no need to rush a putt and then miss because you went too quickly.

If you are going through your putting routine and you encounter a distraction it’s perfectly legal to restart and try again with 30 second back on the clock.   

11. Check Your Footing Before You Release

Before you release your putter make sure you are on solid ground.

I’ve seen players miss a putt because they slipped and I’ve fallen victim to this situation before too.

During your 30 seconds, take a look around and consider your putting surface.

Are you putting on rocks or gravel that you could slip on? Maybe you are on an uneven surface that could cause you to lose your balance? Are there leaves or wet grass that might cause you to fall?

Try to run through a practice putt just to be sure. Make any adjustments to save your footing before you release the disc.

12. Don’t Throw Your Putter

When I say don’t throw your putter, I don’t mean don’t throw any putter.

Using putters for approach shots or upshots is great. I even like putters for medium distances and driving.

To check out some awesome driving putters check out this article.

What I mean by don’t throw your putter, is don’t throw the putters you putt with.

Throwing a disc is going to change the stability of the disc and even change the flight path.

You don’t want that. You want a consistent flight path each time.

For this reason, I recommend getting a putter and a backup copy just for putting and then having other putters for approaches and drives.   

Flickr Creative Commons – MarkScottAustinTX

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Quick Guide : The Flex Shot

No ratings yet. If you are an intermediate to advanced player looking to elevate your game, adding the disc golf flex shot to your disc golf arsenal is a great place to start.

The disc golf flex shot will allow you to achieve some nice shot shapes in a consistent way.

When thrown correctly, the shot can even add some distance to your drives.

If all that sounds good to you keep reading.

If you are a beginner, you may want to hold off on attempting this shot but you’ll still find some good information in this post.

Let’s jump into the article.

disc golf flex shot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What Is A Flex Shot & How Is It Thrown?

To perform a flex shot you take an overstable disc and release it on an anhyzer angle.

This causes the disc to turn out of your hand and then flex back.

That is why it’s referred to as the flex shot.

So for a right-handed player throwing backhanded, the disc will turn to the right as it leaves your hand and then turn back to the left as the stability of the disc kicks in.

Some players may refer to this shot as an anhyzer flex shot.  

Disc Golf Flex Shot Tips

  • Use an overstable disc. The stability of the disc will ensure that it fights the anhyzer release and comes back.
  • Pick a disc that has medium to high fade. This will ensure it flexes back at the end of its flight.
  • Release the disc with a lot of snap. Generating enough force is important to the success of the flex shot.
  • Don’t try the flex shot if you are a newer player. There are easier alternatives, like the s-shot. More on this later.
  • Keep the nose of the disc down when releasing it. If the disc is released with the nose up, it will likely stall in the air and drop.
  • You’ll need to get the anhyzer angle just right. Too much anhyzer and the disc will likely end in a cut roll.
  • You can control the distance and shape of the flex shot by the height of the throw. With more height, the disc will have more time in the air and fade for a longer distance.  
  • Practice. Practice. Practice. It will take time to get this shot down consistently. It might be a good idea to devote multiple field session to master this shot.
  • Trust your disc. If you have practiced and developed this shot, put faith in your overstable disc to flex back.

What Are Disc Golf Flex Shots Normally Used For?

There are two main options for a flex shot in disc golf:

The first is shot shaping.

If you need the disc to turn right really quick to avoid one obstacle and then move to the left to avoid another obstacle, the flex shot is perfect for this.  

If you play a lot of wooded courses you are going to want to learn and perfect this shot.

Another option would be to increase the distance of your throw.

If you take an overstable disc and throw it with a flat release, the disc is going to fly straight and then hyzer out but if you add the anhyzer release, it’s going to flex and stay in the air longer.

This works even better when you get the right height to the throw.

So if you are needing another tool for wooded holes or want to extend the flight of your overstable discs, consider learning the flex shot.   

Flex Shot VS S-Shot

In researching this article, I’ve noticed that a lot of people seem to use the terms flex shot and S-shot synonymously or even mix them up entirely.

Like we talked about earlier, the flex shot is taking an overstable disc and releasing it on an anhyzer to force the disc to turn and then come back.

An S-shot is accomplished by taking an understable disc and releasing it flat.

The disc will naturally turn and then fade back at the end of its flight.

A good way to remember the difference is the S-shot takes advantage of the natural tendency of the disc while the flex shot goes against this tendency.

Another difference between the two is the skill level required.

The S-shot is better for a beginner as it’s an easier shot to pull off.

It’s a great and easy way to add distance to your throw.

The main drawback to this throw is that it’s less predictable.

The flex shot is harder to get right but is more consistent because of the stability of the disc being used.

The one thing these two shots have in common is the shape of the disc flight.

If you were in a helicopter and looking down on a group of disc golfers, it would be very hard to determine which player was throwing a flex shot and which player was throwing an S-shot just based on the shape of the flight.   

Final Thoughts

While not recommended for new players, the flex shot is worth learning and perfecting.

It’s a great option for extending the distance of your drive and navigating a wooded hole.

If you don’t get it on the first try just stick with it. It will come with time and practice.

And if you haven’t tried a flex shot before, use my tips and get out and do some field work.

Happy flexing. 

Flickr Creative Commons – Zepfanman.com

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Disc Golf Putting Styles

No ratings yet. When it comes to disc golf, putting can be considered the most important part of any disc golfers game. To some, it seems like a fairly easy task because it’s only a short distance away but ask any disc golfer that has missed an important putt and they will tell you otherwise. There can be a lot of things to consider like the wind conditions or the distance to the basket that make putting difficult. One of the great things about disc golf putting is there are some choices. Players have several ways to get the disc from point a to point b and no way is the correct or best way. Hopefully, this article will give you some ideas on disc golf putting styles to consider if you are just starting out or some styles to start practicing for a specific occasion.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Major Putting Styles

There are two major putting styles in disc golf: the spin put and push putt. While some players fit firmly into one style or the other, some players take components from both. Let’s take a look at these styles more closely.

Spin Putt

Players that chose the method of spin putting are throwing the disc at the basket and putting spin on the disc similarly to the way they drive off the tee. The disc leaves the hand and flies in almost a straight line to the basket.

This method is great because the wind has less effect on the disc as it travels to the basket. Another benefit to the spin putt is players aren’t making modifications to the release point in order to accommodate for distance. It’s basically the same repeatable motion whether you are at 10 feet or 30 feet.  

This works because the spin a player imparts on the disc allows the disc to stay in the air longer and gives the disc more glide. Spin putting is also a great putting style for a beginner because it’s a highly repeatable motion and there is less to consider when putting.   

With all that said, the spin putt isn’t perfect and there are drawbacks. One is that there tend to be more spit outs. This is because the disc is hitting the chains at a high speed. Another drawback to the spin putt is the disc tends to fly past the basket farther if you miss your putt.

Push Putt

The Push putt is more of a toss to the basket than it is a throw. Like shooting a free throw, the push putt works by lobbing the disc at the basket in an arcing flight path.

Many players find this method to be highly accurate inside 30 feet of the basket. Another great thing about this putting method is it’s very similar to common daily tasks like throwing something into the trash. If you have a lot of experience in a sport like basketball the mechanics of shooting can carry over well to putting a disc into the basket.

A major drawback to the push putt is you have to change the arch of the shot based on the length of the putt and it may not work as well outside the circle. Windy conditions affect the flight path of the disc and the disc is more easily pushed away from your target because you tend to release the disc with a slight nose up.

For more information on the push putting style check out this article!  

Hybrid

A lot of players combine mechanics from both the spin and push putting styles to form one hybrid putting style. This is commonly referred to as the spush putt. Instead of standing still and throwing the spin putt or bending at the waist and releasing at a higher arch, they bend at the waist and push the disc but release it with more spin.

Alternative Putting Styles

While the spin putt and push putt are considered the two dominant putting styles in disc golf there are some alternative styles to consider. These alternatives can be viewed as a players main putting style but more likely these styles can be used for specific situations out on the course.

Turbo Putt

The turbo putt is something completely different than the push and spin putt. It looks more like a traditional throw of a baseball but you’re balancing the disc on your thumb and you are using your other four fingers to release the disc with a spin.

The main benefit of the turbo putt is it allows you to release the disc a higher point than the other styles. This works great if you are in trouble and you have a bush or obstacle in front of you. The turbo putt allows you to throw over it and land the disc inside the basket.

Some drawbacks to this putting style would be that the turbo putt is more difficult to learn and get right over and over. It’s also less accurate at longer distances. This style might not work as your primary putting style but would be great to learn for some situations.  

Jump Putt

The jump putt might be the most controversial throw in disc golf but if we put that aside this putting styles allows players to extend the distance for their putt by using their legs to jump. This works similar to a jump shot in basketball.

The jump putt could be described as a player using their normal putting style but with the addition of a jumping forward motion. The jumping motion is used to get more power and extend the reach of the disc. Players can only use the jump putt method if they are 10 meters from the basket otherwise the jump couldn’t be used.

Aside from the distance from the basket, something else you will need to watch out for when jump putting is your feet. Your plant foot will need to remain in contact with the ground until the disc is released from your hand. If your foot comes up before the release this would be considered a foot fault.  

Putting Stance

Another verification between putting styles to consider is the player’s stance or foot placement. Here we will take a look at two different stances that most players decide to use when facing a disc golf basket on the green.

Straddle Stance

The straddle putt refers to putting with your legs stretched apart usually about shoulder width. Some players chose to have more weight distributed to one foot or the other but usually, your weight is distributed equally between both feet. When using the straddle putt players are drawing the disc back and under them and then extending it forward until their release.

If the straddle putt isn’t your normal putting style, it’s still something you may want to consider practicing. If you ever find yourself with a lie behind a tree or another obstacle having the ability to stretch out to one side or the other and putt unobstructed is very helpful.    

Staggered Stance

The staggered putt or the inline putt as it is sometimes referred to is a putting style where the players have their feet staggered one in front of the other forming a line. The player will bring the disc back and hinge at the waist and then extend the disc forward in a line to the basket.

The great thing about this stance is the player is using their weight transfer from the back foot to their forward foot and putting straightforward which keeps aiming the putt quite simple. Wherever your front foot is pointing is where you will be putting.  

Final Thoughts

Again, one of the great things about this game is the choices every disc golfer has to make. Players have several options when it comes to which of the disc golf putting styles they wish to go with when facing a basket on the green. Another great thing about disc golf is there is no dominant way of doing things. If you are a new player hopefully this has given you some ideas on which putting style to select as your main style. If you are a veteran player, I hope this article has given you some things to consider practicing as an alternative to your normal style.  

Image Credit Flickr Creative Commons – Aspen Snowmass, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

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Choosing Your First Discs – What To Consider

No ratings yet. Disc golf is a pretty straightforward sport that anyone can play. But the more you learn about the sport, the more you understand how complex it can be. One component of the sport is the disc players use. As a beginner, it’s quite daunting to pick your first disc or set of discs.

Getting the appropriate advice is essential when purchasing your first disc. A few elements go into disc selection, which we shall explore in this article. We’ll also break down each factor and give you an idea of what suits you better.

Type Of Discs

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There are four main types of discs for disc golf: fairway drivers, distance drivers, mid-range discs, and putters. These four are utilized for different kinds of strokes under different situations.

1. Distance Drivers

Distance drivers have the highest travel potential. However, they require speed to sustain their desired flight characteristics. These discs feature sharper noses and wider rims, making them unsuitable for newer, younger, or players with slower arm speeds.

2. Fairway/Control Drivers

Fairway or control drivers travel slower than distance drivers. On average, fairway drivers have smaller rims, can fly straighter, are steadier, and are effortless to control. Although they have lower distance potential, they are good for tighter lines.

3. Mid-range

Mid-ranges are a fantastic choice as your beginner disc as they have straighter flights than distance and fairway drivers. Plus, if thrown poorly, mid-ranges will not vary from their expected flight path as much as other disc types.

Mid-range discs fly at a slower speed and have rounded less sleek edges. They have smaller, more comfortable rims for most people’s palms and often have deeper inner rims.

4. Putters

Putters have the slowest, deepest, and thinnest rims. They are easy to use and meant to fly in straight lines across shorter distances.

Some disc golfers use putters for precise upshots and placement drives. They’ll whip out a putter when they’re within 100-150 feet. Putters also grab the chains way better than the other three types and allow less ground play.

Flight Rating

Flight ratings of disc golf discs are difficult to understand, especially for newbies. But new players will quickly get the hang of distinguishing the ratings right for them.

Innova Discs was the first manufacturer to add the flight ratings of a disc. They are a succession of four numbers that describe what makes one disc model differ from another. It includes glide, speed, turn, and fade. They exist to assist disc golfers in understanding what each disc is supposed to do in the air. Players read the rating from left to right; the elements are written as follows: speed, glide, turn, and fade.

1. Glide

Glide is a disc’s capability to stay in the air. Those with higher glide values will have a higher distance traveled than those with lower ones. Glide ratings range from 1 to 7, with discs with a glide rating of 7 retaining loft longer. Newbies should go for 3 or higher. This will ensure that you’ll have that extra distance on your throws.

2. Speed

Speed is the amount of force required to toss the disc for it to fly properly. The numbers 1 to 14 represent speed. A fast disc is probably between 12 and 14. As you progress down, the disc’s speed lowers. A disc with only a single-digit speed requires very little effort and speed to perform successfully after being thrown.

As a beginner, you should go for discs with 7 or lower. But others suggest that you shouldn’t go any more than 5.

3. Turn

When people refer to “understability” vs. “overstability,” they’re talking about a disc’s turn. The turn ratings will be from -5 to 1. A disc with a -5 turn rating is the most understable or with many turns. In contrast, a disc with a 0 or 1 turn rating is exceptionally overstable or minimal or low turn. Go for -1 or greater if you’re new to disc golf.

4. Fade

The fade is the inverse of the turn rating and shows the disc’s low-speed stability. That is the amount it wishes to fade out left at the end of a right-handed backhand (RHBH) throw.

A disc with a fade rating of 4 will be quite stable at the end. The less strength you have, the more stable your throws will be. Overstable discs are normally not recommended for novices since they are more difficult to get a full flight out of. Beginners should go for discs with as little fade as possible. Pick a disc with 0 or 1 fade.

Plastic

Besides the type and flight rating, you also need to choose what type of plastic you want for your first disc golf disc. Usually, all disc models have at least two different plastic kinds. The kind of plastic affects how the discs fly, particularly as they are worn out. Plus, the grip feel differs depending on the plastic, which affects players when they release the disc.

While different manufacturers have hundreds of different plastics, the major players use surprisingly similar plastic compositions. Here are some examples:

  • Basic – low-quality plastic provides a strong grip, but the discs wear out rapidly.
  • Middle Grade – more robust than basic grade plastic.
  • Ultra-Light – lighter weight discs provide additional distance, particularly for beginner players.
  • Ultra-Durable – has a smooth texture and is clear and extremely tough. These discs can withstand bumpy courses and generally maintain constant flight patterns.
  • Premium – expensive and top-grade plastic that offers optimal performance.

Weight

Disc golf discs are available in a variety of weights. Choosing the appropriate weight for your level of experience and arm speed will allow you to perform better. 

The majority of discs weigh between 165 and 175 grams. But many mid-range discs have a little larger diameter and are hence PDGA-approved to weigh up to 180 grams. On the other hand, there are ultralight discs that can weigh as little as 120 grams.

A lighter one will fly farther than a heavier one, even if it’s the same model. At the same time, lighter discs are more vulnerable to wind. Newer players can learn the game using lighter weights.

Conclusion

Even though there is a lot to learn, studying how to play disc golf is not particularly difficult. With just a disc or two, getting started is quite simple. Hopefully, you now feel more confident while searching for the right discs and choosing which disc golf disc to buy!

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How Many Disc Golf Discs Should A Beginner Have?

No ratings yet. You may be asking how many disc golf discs you need if you are considering getting into disc golf or have just picked up the sport as a hobby. It is a frequent inquiry and always seems to stir up some heated discussion among disc golfers.

Several schools of thought on the topic make it difficult to determine the precise number of discs required. Anyone can pick up the amazing game of disc golf with just one disc. Yes, a single plastic token is all that’s required to get started.

Disc Golf Discs Come In A Wide Variety Of Forms

Innova Disc Golf Discs - Innova Disc GolfIn case you were unaware of this fact beforehand, there are four distinct varieties of discs used in disc golf. You’ll find a list of the various Discs and the information below.

1. Putters

These discs are believed to have the highest level of accuracy due to their design, allowing them to travel fewer distances. Putters are the discs that go the slowest and are engineered to have a straight flight path. Putters typically have the thinnest rims of all the different types of discs.

2. Mid-ranges

Unlike putters, mid-range discs are designed to go greater distances and have a higher overall speed. They are also frequently referred to as mid-range or mid-range drivers. They have excellent accuracy. However, they are not quite as good as putters. Their rims are typically wider than putters but narrower than distance drivers.

3. Fairway Drivers

Fairway drivers, also known as control drivers, are intended for use at intermediate to long distances. More manageable than Distance Drivers, these discs are often regarded among the best in the game.

4. Distance Drivers

These discs are designed to travel a considerable distance when thrown. The distance driver is the type of disc that can go the largest distance of any form of a disc, but it also requires the most speed to be thrown. These discs have incredibly broad rims, making them challenging to handle and a lot of overall surface area.

Are The Numbers Of Disc Golf Discs Significant?

It doesn’t matter too much what the disc’s numbers are. The numbers you see most likely indicate a four-tiered Innova Discs flight rating system. These classes are the basis for disc comparisons and characterizing various disc types.

If you want to know how far your disc will go, look at the numbers printed on it; this is not a guarantee, but it will show you where your disc excels. If you’re serious about progressing in this sport, it could be worth your time to learn more about the specifics of these metrics, which we’ll do below.

Speed (1 to 14) 

The speed at which the disc travels through the air is the only criterion in this category. The discs with higher ratings travel quicker than those with lower ratings. Disc golf clubs are rated from 1 to 15, with 15 being the highest and 14 the lowest. Drivers are rated highest (10-14), fairway drivers are rated in the middle (4-9), and putters are rated lowest (1 to 3).

Glide (1 to 7) 

Glide is the capacity of a disc to keep its loft while in flight. It essentially enables a disc to remain airborne for a longer period. If you are starting and need more distance since you can’t throw as far, you should go for a disc with a higher glide rating to get the most out of it.

Turn (+1 to -5) 

The turn refers to the disc’s capability of rotating clockwise to the right (when thrown by a right-hand backhand thrower). If you have difficulties preventing the disc from moving to the left, you could try learning the proper technique and purchasing a disc with a lower rating. 

Fade (0 to 5) 

Fade is the disc’s leftward rotational capability. Volleyball players typically utilize these discs for a spike or skip shots. The discs you need to improve your game are different for every player. Therefore you must develop your throwing style.

Does One Need To Carry A Bag For Disc Golf Discs?

Limited Edition IceBerg V3 Professional Disc Golf Backpack – Berg's ActiveIf you don’t want to bring a bag to carry your discs in, that’s OK. But is it necessary? Yes, it is. Below are a few reasons why you need to carry a bag for disc golfing:

  1. Maintain awareness of where each of your discs is located by carrying them in a bag, which is especially helpful while trying to throw the discs. If you do not have a bag, you must set your discs down between every throw you make.
  2. You can carry many discs, but if you do not have a bag, it will be impractical to carry more than three or four discs at a time. Many skilled and professional players use bags that may hold anywhere from 20 to 30 discs at any given time. It doesn’t need to have that many, but some people find it more enjoyable to have many discs available for them to choose from for each round.

To What Extent Can A Disc Golfer’s Bag Contain Disc Golf Discs?

Players can bring as many discs as they like in their bag for a round of disc golf. The disc golf bag can only store so many discs. Thus that’s the main limiting factor. The number of discs in the bag can also be influenced by the player’s degree of experience. 

Still, most players will only bring along the number of discs they expect to use during a game.

It’s quite OK to bring as many discs as you’ll need to a disc golf competition. The maximum number of discs that can be carried when playing golf is completely open-ended.

Conclusion

If you’re wondering how many discs you’ll need to play a round of golf, we hope this article by Disc Golf Action helped clear it up for you. Although many disc golfers would tell you otherwise, all you need is a single disc to get started and start having fun.

It is a good idea for beginners to use a putter or mid-range for the first few rounds or perhaps the first few months. As you become more comfortable with the disc and your game improves, you may begin to stock up on discs.

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