Disc golf throwing tips, please?

[fonzinator]

Ok...I went and played disc golf last night and I've only played a handful of times in my life. I have Innova's Cheetah and Shark discs and I can't throw them worth crap?! I can throw a ultimate disc on a dime, but every golf disc I throw banks to the left EVERY TIME. :| Any tips on how to straighten out my throw?

 

[TJN23]

oh theres a difference? that stinks, i'm not too bad with an ultimate disc either....


tip: :beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:

 

[conjur]

Wear a high-heel shoe on one foot?

Or throw w/the other hand?

Had a co-worker once that was into disc golf. Just not many places around here that I know of where it's played.

 

[MrBond]

I usually start out at my shoulder and end at my waist. If you're hooking left, you're probably not keeping the disk flat as it leaves your hand. A general rule of thumb, if you want to throw left, drop the disk in your hand so its pointing slightly down. To curve it right, hold the disk so its pointing up a bit in your hand. Keep the disk level to through straight.

I don't use a shark or a cheeta, so I'm not sure which way they tend to hook. My stingray is slightly right, my cyclone is straight.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: fonzinator
Ok...I went and played disc golf last night and I've only played a handful of times in my life. I have Innova's Cheetah and Shark discs and I can't throw them worth crap?! I can throw a ultimate disc on a dime, but every golf disc I throw banks to the left EVERY TIME. :| Any tips on how to straighten out my throw?

Discs are like golf clubs -- every one has a purpose. I haven't used either Cheetah or Shark, but keep in mind that some discs will accentuate the tendency of the disc to curve left (when throwing backhand) even more than usual (there's a term for this -- I can't remember if that's considered "over-" or "understable").

Also note that throwing disc golf discs and playing ultimate is like trying to play both tennis and racquetball. You'd think that the skills would reinforce each other, but the form factors are sufficiently different that they actually impede you somewhat (my disc golf scores got much better when I stopped playing ultimate due to injury).

For a straight(er) driver, try using a Cobra or a Roc, whose leftward curve tendency is less extreme. You can also use a Stingray, which (when thrown at high rotation) will drift to the right and then back to the left (for something of a net straight line) as the disc loses rotation with distance. The best disc golf players actually use this technique (an S throw) to achieve distance on drives, as it's virtually impossible to throw a regulation disc golf disc straight for a long distance.

As far as throwing technique, make sure you keep your throw level. A lot of people bring their arm up as they release trying to get more power. Work on aim first, then get distance.

 

[fonzinator]

Thanks for the tips MrBond and FeathersMcGraw! I did a little research on the shark and cheetah discs before I bought them. They are both straight-line discs. I guess it will take some time to make the transition from throwing an ultimate disc to throwing a golf disc. Like you said...it's like trying to play tennis and racketball! Thankfully, there are quite a few courses in the Minneapolis area (all are free as usual). Some are really really nice. Next time I play, I'll try starting my throw at shoulder height and ending at waist level. Aim first, then distance...I need to keep that in mind too.

Anyone else for some throwing tips?

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: fonzinator
I did a little research on the shark and cheetah discs before I bought them. They are both straight-line discs.

Some discs have a break-in period. Stingrays are supposed to bend right when you throw them with enough spin, but I've found that new ones actually tend slightly left or straight until they've been softened up by a few tree impacts.

I don't know if you have any approach to your drive, but when I was learning to throw, my friend suggested that I just stand at the end of the pad and throw (less technique variables to analyze).

 

[MrBond]

Some discs have a break-in period. Stingrays are supposed to bend right when you throw them with enough spin, but I've found that new ones actually tend slightly left or straight until they've been softened up by a few tree impacts.

This is true. I put down my stingray due to severe left curving after I got the cyclone, only recently I've picked up the stingray again, and I'm getting a good s-pattern from it, with a slight right curve.