What can I tell you that you don’t already know? You were practicing putting for years before I even started playing. You can throw farther than I can, yet I believe I can still provide you with these 7 suggestions for improving your disc golf game.
1. “Empty your cup”. This is an old saying that says that you should be willing to accept advice with an open mind. You have 2 ears and one mouth so that means you should listen more than you speak. If someone offers you a suggestion or constructive criticism then listen and evaluate. Don’t think you already know everything there is to know because you have been playing for [fill in the blank] years. I don’t care if you are a beginner or a pro, this is an important concept. Learn it, know it, live it.
Garry and Emma Rose teach disc golf in Oregon
2. Play the way you practice and practice the way you play. Do you use a mini-disc when you play disc golf? Then make sure you use it when you practice. Try to use good form always! DO NOT walk up to the basket and just drop in the disc when playing or practicing. PUTT the darn thing. Perfect form always makes perfection and also limits injuries.
“Putting Practice” by oregonlive.com
3. Develop a practice routine, but don’t get stuck in a rut. Grab a bag or a cart and take some time to practice and have a practice routine that incorporates all of your techniques. Learn a new throw. Practice your putting, then your upshots, and then your drives. and then mix it up and try a trick or two. I love skip hyzer shots so I try those now and again. Pick a routine and stick to it for a period of time and then mix it up only after you evaluate your progress. Mixing up and changing your routine in this way keeps things fresh.
4. Participate in your local leagues and when possible participate in tournaments. These activities are a logical extension or “progression” of your disc golf game. You always play better when you play disc golf with others in a competitive environment. There is a lot to learn when you observe the local disc golfer nailing that route using a throw you haven’t tried on that one fairway that has always challenged you. I recently participated in a local mini-tournament and improved my second round score by 14 because I saw different routes that I did not utilize the first round. I am instantly a better disc golfer and I will play better on that course from now on.
5. You can learn a lot from your mistakes, but whenever possible try to learn from the mistakes of others. This is true with whatever you do. In South Florida we have a disc golf expression: “Wind Dummy”. That is the first person on the pad and they are the one we use to test the current throwing conditions. See if the Wind Dummy makes a mistake. Observe what The Wind Dummy does and try to avoid duplicating any mistakes made. Look at how the wind aids or abuses his drive. Check out his route. Adapt your style based on what you observed. The idea here is to learn from any mistakes made by others as you observe them so you avoid making the same mistakes later. I have had several epiphanies lately and it was because I learned from others’ mistakes.
6. Cross train and exercise. I do pushups and chin-ups so my arms and shoulders can better avoid injury. I take the stairs instead of the elevator. Cross training in other sports develops your muscles differently than if you were to just play disc golf. The more your muscles are developed the better you will play. The better you play the more fun you have – which segues to my next suggestion.
7. Have fun! Your mind is more open when you are in a good mood. Your brain rewards you with endorphins when you accomplish new things. Your good attitude is conducive to learning and better performance. If you are not having fun find out what is wrong with your disc golf picture and change it and for pete’s sake don’t bring everyone down with you if you are not “in the disc golfing mood”.
Having fun helps you play better disc golf
There you have it. My 7 suggestions for improving your play. I also think you can utilize these suggestion in other areas of your life as well. Got any more suggestions? Let us know!
Kevin says:
Love this, especially the first two. And I also like what you said on FB about maybe you don’t play better than someone but that doesn’t mean you can’t help them improve.
TooNA says:
My favorite was number 5. That is what I used to tell kids in Tae Kwon Doe class!
Number 1 might be the most important so put that one first.
Alan says:
You came up with some good tips that really apply to me. I really ought to practice what I play. When I practice putt, I just throw it in without really thinking or concentrating, but then when I actually play a round, I really concentrate.. Not consistent. Neither are my results.
I guess I really ought to exercise more too… It’s really just not that fun though…
Skip Hyzer says:
I work in a 16 story building so I climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator. My chinup/pushup routine takes about 12 minutes. I immediately added 30 feet to my drives. My legs give me a great foundation for putting. The cross training has helped.
FrisbeeGolf Addict says:
Good advice.. nay, great advice!
I’ve been trying to learn #1. I mean, I understand it, but I still get irritated if an individual who has played less starts giving me advice. And I really do not want to – partly because it’s unnecessary and partly because I can always learn, even when I’m told something I already know. Who knows, maybe I am doing “it” wrong and when someone tells me how to do “it”, I should just take a step back and see if they have the right of it.
Skip Hyzer says:
Sometimes the opposite is true. That is to say that the noob or the kid who only has played for 2 years and can throw farther than you and you have to study him for advice and you have been playing a decade. (true story)
High Desert Hucker says:
I really liked your tips, and practice some of them already. I’m a devout follower of #7, I can’t understand people who aren’t, especially when playing casual rounds.
In addition to yours, I have a couple I try to follow:
1. Always try to look for at least two possible routes/throws before taking a shot. Take into consideration the wind, obstacles, risk/reward, etc, then try to pick which shot gives you the best chance at success, and commit.
2. Learn the wind. The wind is like the great magnifier of shot/disc selection and shot execution. A good shot with the right disc is a thing of beauty, and actually pretty easy to do. Until I figured out to throw stable in a headwind and understable in a tail, the wind used to wreak havoc on my game. Now I really enjoy throwing in the wind.
3. Learn different discs. Don’t be afraid to buy a new disc every now and then. If you see someone consistently throwing great shots with the same disc, don’t be afraid to ask which disc it is. WARNING: this may become addictive, before you know it you have an angry girlfriend and a shelf full of plastic.
4. Learn different weights of your favorite molds. I carry 4 champ valks, all of varying weights. The lightest is one of the flippiest discs I’ve ever thrown. The 167 is a bit more stable, great in a tail/cross wind. The 173 is the most stable valk I’ve thrown and acts more like a viking or an orc. And the 175 is amazing for huge tailwind flex/hyzer flip shots. They’re all valks, but they do something slightly different.
5. Par is ok. My scores have never improved more since I started shooting for par. I mean I TRY to ace every hole I throw, but I realistically step up to most tees with the goal of par. If the opportunity for birdie presents itself, I go for it, so long as a miss doesn’t take par out of the equation. It helps relax me, knowing I have room for a not so perfect shot, so long as I’m able to recover and make par. The relaxation keeps me loose which allows me to be smoother, with gives me better shots, which leads to more birdies. It also helps even keep me even if I miss an easy birdie, I can say “Par is ok” and move on to the next hole.
6. Learn backhand/forehand. I learned and really developed as a player using a forehand drive. While I got good enough with my shot shaping and disc selection to shoot an occasional under par round, I definitely realized I was hampered by my inability to throw backhand. So I decided to go throw the long, difficult, frustrating task of learning backhand. It wasn’t easy, but once it finally clicked, a whole new world of possibility opened up.
7. Don’t be afraid to ask. If you see someone throw a new route or use a different technique, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Usually people are more than willing to share information, give advice, even let you throw molds you’ve never thrown. Who knows, you might just make a new friend.
Skip Hyzer says:
I am a big believer in number 7. ALWAYS be ready to accept new advice and information. I have 3 Tee Rex’s that I utilize your number 4 suggestion with. (by the way this is TooNA. “Skip Hyzer” is my Nom de Plume when I am writing fun articles or not editorializing)
Great suggestions!