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Drive Low

Top Ten Tips for Disc Golf Beginners
Tip #7 Drive Low
     Many beginners tend to throw too high, time and time again. Unlike throwing a baseball, throwing a disc higher does not always mean it will fly farther. The higher you throw, the quicker the Fade(hook) will begin and ultimately cut down on the distance of the flight. Throw level with the horizon and try to keep the disc six feet above the ground for most of the flight. This will keep your disc in the fairway and give it more flight distance. If throwing too high continues to be problematic despite this adjustment, point the nose of the disc down, keeping the flight more level.

Transfer Your Weight

Top Ten Tips for Disc Golf Beginners
Tip #6 Transfer your weight
     Shift your body weight from your back foot to your front foot when you throw. It will give you more power and more distance. Using weight transfer when putting will generate more power to get the disc to the basket and allow for less arm motion for added control. When approaching, use weight transfer and more arm motion in order to produce adequate power.

 

Buy Used Discs

Top Ten Tips for Disc Golf Beginners
Tip #5 Buy Used Discs
     Used golf discs are cheaper and often broken-in. When learning a new disc’s flight pattern, stay open-minded and know that each time a disc hits a tree hard, it has the potential to become more understable and you may have to relearn that disc’s flight. Buying broken-in discs makes this less of an issue. DX and Pro discs can be tuned quicker and are better for anhyzer(turnover) left to right throws once they break-in. Plus most used discs are less expensive than new discs.

 

Throw Lightweight and Understable discs

Top Ten Tips for Disc Golf Beginners
Tip #4 Throw Lightweight and Understable discs.
     The lighter the disc, the less effort it takes to shape the desired flight lines. Start with medium to light-weight discs between 150-170 grams. Also try Blizzard discs to gain more distance from the tee. Recommended Blizzard discs for beginners: Vulcan, Beast and Katana. Keep in mind that in windy conditions, light-weight discs will be affected by the wind. Therefore, it is beneficial to carry some heavy weights as well.

-Understable discs are easier to turn over to create an S-curve shaped flight in the air allowing the disc to use more glide. This also will increase distance.

Recommended Understable discs:
Drivers: Roadrunner, Sidewinder, Avenger SS
Mid-range: Comet, Stingray, Foxbat
Putters: Aero, Dart, XD

-As your technique improves and you begin to turn over your drives (from the tee), when this happens it is time for you to move up in weight of discs and stability of discs.

 

Throw Side-Arm

Top Ten Tips for Disc Golf Beginners
Tip #3. Throw Side-Arm
     Develop your backhand and side-arm(flicks) early on. Throwing side-arm confidently when you are on a wooded course will give you a huge benefit over the many players who only throw backhand. Surprisingly, many beginners can throw side-arm far and accurately with less effort than they can just using a backhand throw.

A. Grip the disc with your index and middle finger under the rim and your thumb on the top of the disc.

B. Use your hand like a whip and snap your wrist to eject the disc from your hand.

C. Keep the disc level with the horizon as you shift your weight forward and imagine that you are skipping a stone over the surface of a pond.

D. Keep in mind that since it is easier to generate more power using this technique, you may want to start with slightly more stable drivers when throwing side-arm(Sidearm Disc Recommendations: Banshee, Viking)( A Firebird is a very overstable disc that will not turnover and is great for hook shots.)

 

Throw Bright-Colored Discs

Top Ten Tips for Disc Golf Beginners
Tip #2. Throw bright-colored discs
     Tie-dyed discs may look cool in the store but they turn into “camo” once you throw them in the woods. The best colors for high-contrast visibility in almost all conditions are: Baby blue, Pink, Yellow and White. Remember: the yellow disc that you enjoy using during the summer will be much harder to spot laying on the edge of the fairway in the autumn leaves.

Carry Multiple Discs

Top Ten Tips for Disc Golf Beginners
Tip #1. Carry multiple discs.
     Carry at least a driver, a mid-range and a putter.

A. Putters have a thick profile which helps them grab the chains. They have slower flights and more glide, allowing them to float in the air for controlled putts.

B. Mid-range discs have medium thickness and the edges are not as blunt as a putter, so they fly faster and farther.

C. Drivers have sharp edges to allow them to slice through the air for maximum distance. They are designed to be thrown at faster speeds. Therefore, if they are not thrown hard enough, then the fade will kick in sooner than desired and will cut down on the distance of a flight. Learn to throw slower discs first and then move up to higher speed discs.

D. Disc flights vary depending on the disc model and its condition. You can use discs that tend to fly left or fly right instead of drastically changing your throwing technique to shape lines.

E. Discs sometimes crack or get lost under leaves or in water; carrying spares is recommended.

 

PDGA to Approve Electronic Golf Discs

The PDGA will allow golf discs to contain electronics beginning November 17, 2014. This is a major milestone in the development of the disc technology and will forever change the sport of disc golf. This news is sure to attract a lot of excitement on the disc golf scene with players fantasizing about the way their favorate disc golf companies will utilize this new decision and implement  this new technology.

The most consistent golf disc advancement from manufactures over the years has been the production of faster flying discs. As companies pump out lower profile discs with razor-like edges, each new distance driver enables players to drive farther which has even caused disc golf course designers to rethink there pitch and put layouts. Throughout the history of disc golf disc producers have made significant advancements that have aided players in shaving strokes off their score.

Discraft introduced thumb groves on the top of their discs to allow an ergonomic fit and to improve grip. MVP was the first and only disc manufacturer to produce all their discs with an over-mold which is a disc that has one plastic for the flight plate and another more durable rubber like plastic for the rim. Vibram the company that makes shoe soles for many hiking shoes has released a full line of golf discs made of rubber that have good grip and are extremely durable. But it is Innova that has been on the forefront of disc technology advancement for years. Its major contributions have been the the beveled edge golf disc that allowed discs to fly fast and straight while resisting high speed turn better than their Frisbee counterparts. Innova was the first company to inject small air bubbles in their Blizzard discs to allow players to throw farther which enabled pro David Wiggins to break the worlds distance record.

Now the pressure is on to see what disc manufacturers offer players to help move there disc golf experience to the next level. Allowing electronics in golf discs has the potential to be the biggest decision that the PDGA has ever made concerning disc technology.  Just imagine the possiblites. Discs can have LED lights for night golf. They could have a beeper that can be activated to find lost discs. Chips to used to track disc flights. Players could take notes about the stability of their discs on the flight plate of the disc itself. Discs that yell fore when they come fly close to another player. The sky is the limit!(No pun intended)

How would you like to see discs makers utilize this new technology? Please comment below.

Putt with Confidence

The best way to improve your score in disc golf is to putt well. Putting performance tends to  affect a players driving and approach game as well. Putting with confidence is the key to performing at your peak level. Here are some tips to help you build confidence while putting.

1. Visualize & Commit to each shot.
See the disc’s flight coming from the basket back to your hand. This will help you find a flight line. Decide on that shot and completely commit to it before you throw.

2. Believe
Expect that the disc is going in the basket. If there is a shred of doubt, then you have already missed. Expectations are very important. You will get what you are looking for. 

3. Focus on your target
You should focus on your target and nothing else. The best target to focus on is the pole in the center of the basket. Depending on elevation and wind conditions, you will need to adjust your target to ensure that your disc hits the pole.

4. Throw Through It, Not To It
If you throw with only enough power to get to the basket you will find that your putts will often fall just inches short. Always practice putting with good form but be aggressive to ensure adequate power.

5. Make Close Putts
One tip that will help you build confidence just prior to your tournament tee time is to focus on making close putts. If you watch the majority of players who are warming up, they are doing it wrong. Most players are throwing putts on the practice basket from about 30 feet away. You should start putting from about 12 feet away. Once you are consistently making putts, then you can move back a foot at a time as long as you continue to make putts. If you miss putts then take a step closer. Have the courage to go against the crowd if you are willing to practice to win.

We hope that by applying these tips you will build the confidence to allow you make more putts when it counts. By the way, it always counts in tournaments, so make it count in practice. Let us know if any of these tips have been helpful in your game.

Top 10 Most Useful Throws in Disc Golf

One aspect that makes disc golf so interesting is the variety of shots that a player can preform to control the shape of the flight line, speed and landing of a golf disc. Mastering each of the dozens of throws can take a lifetime but there are a few shots that we recommend players develop first since they provide a solid foundation for the rest of your throwing game. There are some throws that are more popular than others, but it is important that a player uses the shots that will give them the greatest benefit in any given situation. Players should always play their own game meaning, you should play to your strengths but once you are ready to broaden you game and grow as a player we encourage you to work of developing these core throws first, in order to build confidence and become a more well rounded player.

The flights described below are for right-handed players:

10. Backhand Roller (Disc recommendation: Roadrunner or Avenger SS)
The Backhand roller gives the player the ability to go far distances under low ceilings.
Pros: Distance for players with less power, great for low ceilings, great for open areas, good for downhill shots.
Cons: affected by the terrain and ground cover, sometimes unpredictable, not good for most uphill shots

9. Spike Hyzer (Disc recommendation: Firebird or Banshee)
This type of throw is a shot that is thrown almost vertically then quickly stalls and dives toward the ground.
Pros: Predicable flight, sometimes sticks in the ground, does not glide, does not flip
Cons: limited distance, could roll away if landing on an incline, no skip

8. Hyzer Straddle Putt (Disc recommendation: XD or Classic Aviar)
When a disc lands behind a tree or bush near the green, the player can spread their feet apart in order to throw around the obstacle. Putting the disc on a hyzer line will also allow for a hook shot that will curve around barriers.
Pros: will not glide far past basket, enters basket at the best angle to avoid spit-outs, allows players to maneuver around obstacles that are guarding the basket.
Cons: Limited distance, more affected by the wind, less visible flight line for disc to hit pole.

7. Anhyzer Backhand (Disc recommendation: Areo or Stingray)
This is a shot that takes a little more finesse but will allow the disc to glide for a long time in a curving direction that helps to hook around large obstacles.
Pros: lands flat, longer flights, more glide time allows disc to hook around large obstacles or dogleg fairway, more comfortable initially due to familiar grip.
Cons: too much glide, could turn over and become a cut roller.

6. Thumber (Disc recommendation: Firebird or Max)
The Thumber does not fly straight and its best feature is the sudden dive at the end of its flight which allows the thrower to drop the disc in a desired location with less chance of fade or glide.
Pros: Drops on the target, no fade to account for, skips, wind is less of a factor
Cons: limited glide, not great for low ceilings

5. S-shot (Disc recommendation: Katana or Sidewinder)
This throw which makes the shape of the letter S in the air, keeps the flight plate of the disc horizontal for most of the flight using more glide and allowing for maximum distance.
Pros: Max distance, good glide, good for curving fairways
Cons: not great for tight fairways, could turnover

4. Hyzer Flick (Disc recommendation: Firebird or Drone)
This shot which is also referred to as the forehand or side-arm throw is great for curved fairways since it hooks to the right.
Pros: will not glide past target, predictable fade and skip, good for hooking around obstacles or curved fairways
Cons: limited distance, less glide

3.Hyzer Backhand (Disc recommendation: Suspect or Wasp)
The most natural throw for disc golf beginners, the backhand hyzer tends to fade left at the end of its flight.
Pros: limited glide, predictable fade and skip, good for hook shots
Cons: Limited glide, less distance

2. Straight Push Putt (Disc recommendation: Rhyno or KC Aviar)
The player will transfer their body weight from their back foot to their front foot and “shake hands” with the basket while springing their fingers forward.
Pros: good power, less chances to miss left or right, will not glide far past basket
Cons: more affected by the wind, more moving parts could affect the accuracy

1. Straight Backhand (Disc recommendation: Buzzz or Coyote)
The straight shot is achieved by throwing a disc with medium power to prevent turnover and timing the glide of the disc and allowing it to land before the disc has time to fade.
Pros: predictable flight path, lands flat, good for low ceilings, good for placement shots and staying in the fairway
Cons: less distance, less fade, difficult for beginners

We hope that descriptions of these types of throws have been helpful and encourage you to incorporate them into your practice rutines. Once you feel comfortable throwing these shots, you can work them into your game and shave off strokes in the process. Just keep in mind that it is best to play to your strengths in order to be successful. What shots did not make the list that you think should have? Please comment below.