This post is the 3rd in a 4.5-part series applying widely accepted principles of neuroscience to disc golf training and execution. We will present 18 separate suggestions in total spanning 3 categories, explain how each works, and specify the brain systems involved. The first post in the series covered Aiming, Focus, and Execution, and the second post was the first half of this one, on Skill Learning & Efficient Practice. Got it? Hahaha. OK, here we go!
To realize your own full potential in disc golf, intelligent practice is as crucial as natural talent. “Getting reps in” in the field or with your stack of putters can’t be the only goal. We need to be more purpose-driven, and work as smart as we do hard.
Neuroscience offers a range of techniques that can make your practice sessions more effective, leading to faster skill acquisition and better retention.
My suggestion is to first try the ones that call out to you, or address an issue that you know has proven particularly costly to your game. In other words don’t bother tackling them in order as they are not listed in any particular order.
Silent or No-Feedback Reps
What it is: Practice throwing without watching the results of your shot. Throwing into a net is a great way to put this tip into practice as the disc hits the net before before any results-oriented feedback can spring into your mind.
Even better is throwing into a net with a TECHDISC. By first judging the results of a throw based on how it felt you tap into the all important internal feedback system. TECHDISC will capture the data for each throw, so you can compare your “by feel” impressions to actual throw metrics within seconds, or after your session.
Why it works: This technique develops your internal feedback system and refines your “feel” for the throw, making you less reliant on external cues.
Brain system involved: This practice enhances the function of the somatosensory and kinesthetic areas of the brain, which are responsible for processing body sensations and movement awareness.
Combining TECHDISC with a net lets players focus on form first, and review metrics later.
Spacing Effect (Short, Frequent Sessions)
What it is: Opt for shorter practice sessions (15–20 minutes) but engage in them more often.
I tell clients all the time that quality is much more important than quantity. This post about putting improvement mentions early on that “getting in reps” may be good for physical conditioning, but not so much for thoughtfully working on form and technique.
By employing the spacing technique each session is shorter, making it easier to stay focused on more than “How many putts can I make?”
Why it works: Research shows that spaced repetition significantly improves long-term memory consolidation of learned skills.
Brain system involved: This effect is strongly linked to the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory formation, and its process of long-term potentiation, which strengthens synaptic connections.
Error Amplification Practice
What it is: Intentionally exaggerate your flaws during practice to better understand and learn how to correct them.
I use this technique sometimes during private lessons, but until now my employment of it has been limited to a lone scenario: A client is tasked with learning a specific new skill. For instance, backhand turnover/anyhyzer shots.
Causing a disc to turn against the direction of its natural spin requires a very specific combination of disc, hyzer/anhyzer angle, launch angle, and speed/spin ratio (TECHDISC calls the last one Advanced Ratio).
So they can discover the keys to understanding how the elements relate to each other, and which turnover shots are possible in a given situation and which are not, I may ask the client to exaggerate an element that is repeatedly an issue.
I will have them change the launch angle, for instance, to help them approach the equation from the other side. Too much launch angle and the disc will lose speed and spin too early in the flight and fade away from the target. Not enough will cause the disc to hit the ground way too early.
By exaggerating a change we accomplish two things: We prove that the necessary change is possible, and we present a different – and hopefully, for that client – more digestible challenge.
Why it works: By deliberately overdoing a mistake, you build heightened awareness of subtle motor details associated with that flaw, making it easier to identify and fix in real-time.
Brain system involved: This technique directly engages your sensory-motor feedback loop, enhancing your brain’s ability to process and respond to movement errors.
After-Throw Reflection (One-Word Coaching)
What it is: Immediately after each throw, label the rep with a single keyword, such as “smooth,” “late,” or “off-balance.”
I could have sworn I published a post related to this tip in the past, but it seems not. Or I just couldn’t find it! Maybe you can by searching the blog as I did (unsuccessfully). In a nutshell:
A common tip I give competitive clients that serves to both keep a player in the moment during rounds and leverage current experiences for future growth is to create a POST-throw routine where you give yourself 5-10 seconds immediately after your throw to observe and assess the results in a neutral, detached way (not just how the disc flew, but how your body felt during and after release).
Good, or not good? Why or why not? What change would make a positive difference, or what aspect of the throw was the key to success?
Believe it or not, when limited to quick impressions this really can be done in 5-10 seconds, and the benefits are twofold:
It provides a process to properly compartmentalize thoughts and emotions. Once a throw is done, unless it’s a made putt on your last hole, your full focus should quickly shift to the next shot; Assessment, Decision, and Execution. This routine allows for a specific and short window to think about the last throw before focusing on the next one.
Taking 5-10 seconds to observe and evaluate a throw with a neutral, curious, but NOT a self-critical mindset (this part is very important) is like jotting down notes to be reviewed later. You’ll be amazed at how fully you are able to recall each decision and throw in detail, when you have the time and emotional distance to put new insights to good use.
In only 10 seconds or less you’ll be forced to limit reflections to first impressions, and when done without self-criticism (Thinking “I suck!” is not helpful in any way) the insights can be quite powerful.
Why it works: This simple act of labeling helps to build awareness of what occurred during the throw and fosters corrective instincts for future attempts.
Brain system involved: This practice utilizes your executive function (for critical thinking and self-assessment) and working memory (for temporary storage and manipulation of information).
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Occasional Distraction-Free Practice
What it is: Set aside practice time where you eliminate all distractions like music, chatter, or media.
This is good advice for me personally, and probably most others with ADHD. Unless I make a point to NOT do it, I’m usually juggling multiple sensory inputs like music, a screen or two, and my Kindle. It wouldn’t seem strange to me to try to listen to a podcast while practice putting, but doing so obviously limits the amount of attention and focus available for putting practice.
Why it works: Practicing in a quiet environment sharpens your attention and significantly improves your internal focus on the task at hand.
Brain system involved: This technique trains your reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem that plays a key role in regulating attention, arousal, and sleep-wake cycles.
Next up in this 4.5-part series will be a collection of 4 tips and drills to assist with emotional regulation and mental recovery. If you’ve experienced anything during a round of disc golf that you later thought of as melting down or freezing up, all of them are worth trying.
To read the first two posts in this series, go to the blog and search “neuroscience,” or just click these links for the first one and the second.
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