Getting Started with Disc Golf? Here Are the Best Driving Tips for You

Since you are here, it is likely that you have decided to start playing disc golf. It’s a great decision; the sport is becoming more and more popular each day. It is accessible to everyone and doesn’t require a big investment to get started. All you need are a few discs and you are good to go. After that, just find a local disc golf course and you are set for hundreds of hours of exercise and fun.

There is no denying the fact that the game is easy to pick up and play, but once you get that drive to improve your skills, there are a lot of other aspects of the game. ‘Driving’ is one of the most common troubles that beginners face. It goes without saying that you need hours of consistent practice to perform well and consistently.

Since you are new to the game, there is no need to get technical with the types of throws just yet. We will be sharing a few general tips that will help you get started in the right direction. With these handy tips, you should have more fun on the course and see great improvement in your game in no time.

1. Ask for help whenever needed:
   Because you are a new player, you might already be doing it. Asking other players for help can help you in accelerating your driving development. You can either search for websites or just get in touch with the other players on the course. The great thing about disc golf is every course has its regulars that have played the game for a long time, so you are bound to run into someone.
   We believe that getting online help is a great option because there are chances of getting more specific suggestions. You can easily get help with your release or follow through. There are many online platforms where you can ask questions and even post videos of your throw to get suggestions. Just like online resources, you can ask your disc golf buddies or local players for help. It can be the best option for you because they can point out when you are doing something wrong or need to change your form. Obviously playing with better players will help you in developing your skills much more than playing alone or with other beginners.
2. Start with the slower discs:
   As a new player, it is common to be excited about your game and want to take out your shiny new disc on the course. But first, you should focus on throwing slower, easier discs. Look for the best putters and midrange discs on the market, and leave those high-speed fairway drivers and distance drivers at home to be used later. Learn to throw the putter with great form on your first outings to the tee.Using a high-speed driver might frustrate you as a beginner because your arm speed and form is not suited for such a fast disc. Using a slower disc will be more fun early on, and will accelerate your growth as a competent thrower. When your form gets better and the arm gets faster, it’s time to dust off that driver and take it to the course.
3. Stand still:
   When you see experienced players play, it is common to see a run-up incorporated into their approach for longer throws. However, in the beginning, it is better to leave that for later. Driving a disc is not easy; it is a complicated sequence of steps. You should first focus on the arm and wrist motions instead of leading with the run-up.Once you have become a master of those steps, you can think about starting with your footsteps. Starting with an X-Step or run won’t net you any gains before perfecting your upper body techniques. On the contrary, it might take away your accuracy.
4. Consider understable discs:
   As discussed earlier, slower discs are more beneficial for new players. The other thing you might consider while buying a disc for yourself is its stability. It is the tendency of most discs to turn right or left after the player throws it. For newer players, understable discs are recommended. Since these discs are easier to throw, newer players with slower arm speeds will find more success early on as they are learning basic throwing mechanics. With an understable disc, players will see their discs taking nice straight flight paths. But with more stable or overstable discs, the discs are likely to take an immediate right or left turn and crash into the ground.

   The high-speed turn rating is usually mentioned on the discs. The four flight path numbers reflect the rating system universally used for disc golf discs, and the third number you see in the sequence is the turn rating. When the turn rating is a negative number, it is an understable disc. As a beginner, look for turn rating between -1 to -5.

5. Keep it flat:
   ‘How to release the disc’ is the other thing that you will have to consider while driving. Most beginners have an inconsistent drive because they don’t know how to release the disc. Throwing discs with the wrist bent will result in the bending of your drivers and if you are unlucky, you might lose them in the woods or other out-of-bounds area around the course. And that does not lead to a fun round. Nobody wants to spend time searching for lost discs when they could be playing.It is better that you buy a putter or midrange disc and release it flat and low. The result you see will be more consistent off the tee. As you learn the flight patterns of your discs and gain more experience, you can start experimenting with different angles.
6. Practice:
   There is no denying the fact that practicing your throws over and over again is the best path to improvement. To practice, you can simply take your discs to an open field and start throwing them one after the other.

   Just pick a target in the distance and make changes if required to improve your accuracy. Moreover, there don’t need to be any obstacles on the course and no difficult decision-making will be required that is involved in competition. You are sure to see an improvement in your form by practicing your drive.

   Most of us avoid this tip just because we think that the other ones are more important, but this is something that you will realize later as your disc golf game develops.

Following these tips will help you in improving your game and developing your skills.

Author Bio:

Andy Woolard is a disc golfer who has years of experience with the game. He also loves researching about other games like ultimate Frisbee, cornhole, and beer pong. He likes writing blogs and sharing his experience on the games with readers. His blogs are informative and interesting to read. This guest blog is about the best driving tips that beginners should know about. Visit the official website of Disc Store and learn more.