Category: DeLaBlahg

Support Disc Golf Innovation: Preorder Idio’s V2 Footwear

by frisbeebrain, posted in DaLearning Curve, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf gifts, disc golf product reviews, frisbee golf, Jack Tupp, product reviews

What’s up, disc golf people! Today you have the opportunity to directly influence the future of our gear. I’m talking about shoes; about Idio Sports and their mission of pushing the boundaries of what disc golf footwear can be (thanks, Craig Kitchens!)

I’d like you to consider pre-ordering the next generation of their specialized footwear, the Syncrasy V2 and the Brawler V2 (Hi-Top) right now. Here’s why:

Idio is the only company making shoes truly from the ground up for our sport. And right now, they need the kind of community, grassroots support that the disc golf world has always been known for as they recently suffered factory theft and tariffs cut into their funding.

This isn’t an outside brand trying to buy your loyalty by paying Paul McBeth big bucks to endorse a generic “athletic shoe”. (By the way, don’t succumb to that age-old form of marketing favored by companies that can’t win on the merits of their products!)

Idio is a company that launched in 2020 and fought through the pandemic; a company that has listened to disc golfers and improved its products 3 times since then. I should know, as I’ve been reviewing them since the beginning.

By participating in Idio’s pre-order, you accomplish two crucial things: you lock in a pair of game-changing shoes, and you invest in a company that truly deserves our backing.

Ok, enough about the cause. Let’s talk about the shoes!

A person demonstrating a dynamic pose while playing disc golf, wearing colorful shoes designed for the sport, with an enthusiastic expression and surrounded by onlookers.
Ohn Scoggins. 2025 FPO World Champion and Idio Ambassador

Invest in the Bleeding Edge

I know firsthand the hurdles Idio faces as a “bleeding edge” innovator. Back in 2010, when School of Disc Golf was launching tailored, in-person instruction, we had no predecessors to imitate or follow in the niche field of disc golf instruction. Idio is doing the same thing with disc golf footwear.

Numerous companies have marketed shoes to disc golfers in the past. Idio designs and builds them.

They are tackling complex engineering problems that major outside brands would never touch. For instance, Idio figured out how to separate the mold—a technique usually used for cosmetic color changes (a “color dam”)—to implement a dual-hardness rubber compound in the outsole. This means the material in the front of the shoe (including the toe cap) is a harder compound than the back of the shoe. Why? Because while you pivot on the heel (the power plant zone), you use the front of the shoe to slow your speed, and all that spin and torque gets transferred into the front lugs. This targeted hardening ensures the shoe wears more evenly and gives you more lifespan. That is specialized performance functionality that only a company run from disc golf, for disc golf would implement.

Infographic detailing key features of shoes designed for disc golf performance, including waterproofing, drag-on toe design, power plant functionality, lightweight construction, X flex zone, and low drop.
The V2 Generation: Syncrasy V2 (EVO) and Brawler V2

Idio has taken their flagship product and the highly requested Hi-Top model and improved them across the board, focusing on durability, waterproofing, and style. By supporting this pre-order initiative (especially for the highly requested Brawler), you’re guaranteeing the success of these key product lines.

The Idio Syncrasy V2 (EVO)

The Syncrasy EVO is the newest model of Idio’s flagship product. They’ve really cleared the hurdle of making the shoe look fantastic, calling them “absolutely sweet” looking. But the performance is still king:

• Dig Toe Protection: The V2 features a completely overbuilt curl around the toe (the Dig Toe, or prominent Dragon toe cap). This feature means you won’t have to toss shoes just because the material wore through in one tiny place.

• Solid Foundation: The outsole is molded from one piece and cups upwards, creating a solid foundation.

• Proven Performance: Customers already rave about the traction and quality of waterproofing in the Syncrasy line.

Black disc golf shoe labeled Syncrasy V2 with waterproof feature and orange sole.
The Idio Brawler V2 (Syncrasy Hi-Top)

The Brawler V2 (code name “Syncrasy Hi-Top”) has been the most requested item of Idio since their start. It is designed to be the ultra-supportive, go anywhere, play any condition shoe. I was honestly surprised that I’d like high-tops disc golf, but after nearly a year and probably 100 rounds in mine, they are my disc golf shoe now!

• Adapt-A-Brace Compression Collar: This feature, which is patent pending, is a brace for the ankle that provides nice compression. It uses unique cutouts on the back to allow the ankle to flex naturally (fore and aft), while still providing very good support when flexing side-to-side.

• Ultimate Protection: The Brawler is made with the new, more breathable Sympatex waterproof liner. This membrane works using a physicochemical principle, utilizing water-attracting (hydrophilic) molecular chains to absorb moisture and emit it outward by evaporation. I tested them repeatedly—walking and standing in puddles—and they remained completely waterproof. The high-top collar also provides an unexpected benefit: keeping out dirt, rocks, little sticks, and thorns.

• Reinforced Construction: The Brawler is a duty-driven shoe featuring thicker, more reinforced TPU welding, which provides increased protection and waterproofing from the elements.

Black and gray disc golf shoe featuring a high-top design, labeled 'Brawler', with waterproof construction and a unique ankle support feature.
A Call to Action

Disc golfers, these V2 shoes represent huge value and specialized engineering built specifically for our athletic movements. Furthermore, Idio is a true disc golf pioneer that deserves our support. Being on the “bleeding edge” of innovation often refers to groundbreaking companies that pay a price for breaking new ground. Idio has put in the work. They’ve paid their dues. Let’s help them to keep pushing forward. After all, legitimate specialized footwear is a sign of a legitimate sport.

The Brawler and Syncrasy are currently available for pre-order. When you pre-order, you’re not just buying a great pair of shoes; you are helping an independent, highly innovative company continue to thrive and push the envelope for disc golf footwear. Give them a try—support the shoe brand that is truly from disc golf, for disc golf.

harness neuroscience to improve disc golf performance.

Neuroscience backed Tips: Motivation, Consistency & Growth

by frisbeebrain, posted in DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf form, disc golf instruction, disc golf psychology, The Science of Disc Golf

This post is the 5th in a 5-part series applying widely accepted principles of neuroscience to disc golf training and execution. We have presented 18 separate suggestions in total spanning 4 categories, explained how each works, and specified the brain systems involved. The first post in the series covered Aiming, Focus, and Execution, and the second post and third post both covered Skill Learning & Efficient Practice. The 4th post covered Emotional Regulation & Mental Recovery.

What’s up, everyday disc golfers!

If you’ve followed this series from the beginning, congrats! Hopefully a few of the tips have had a positive impact on your game, and your enjoyment of the game. If you haven’t, links to the previous 4 posts are all listed above.

This final category, Motivation, Consistency, and Growth, includes only one tip. Trust, me, though, it’s a powerful one. School of Disc Golf’s guiding philosophy, Disc Golf in a Vacuum, is all about seeking gratification through perfecting all elements of the process (primarily decision-making and execution) rather than the results. This tip ties in nicely.

A collage of four images showing disc golfers in mid-throw on a tee pad, with a crowd of spectators watching in the background under a clear blue sky and pine trees.
A big part of consistency is learning to value process over results.

Many athletes rely on external factors—wins, personal bests, or accolades—to fuel their motivation. But what if the greatest, most sustainable reward came directly from the work itself? (Hint: It does.) Effort-based dopamine training offers a neuroscience-backed pathway to building intrinsic motivation, turning tough practice sessions into fulfilling experiences. Even if most of your practice is in rounds on the course, read on. You don’t have to be a fieldwork rat to learn from this.

What is Effort-Based Dopamine Training?

Effort-based dopamine training is a strategy in sports that focuses on training your brain to associate effort with positive feelings.

Instead of relying solely on external achievements or rewards, this method uses mental shifts—such as reframing difficulty—to make the effort itself the reward. It is fundamentally about changing how you perceive the hard work necessary for athletic success.

The Science Behind How It Works

This training is rooted in understanding the critical function of dopamine in decision-making and motivation. It’s explained below, but a simple example is the phrase “Feel the Burn!” The idea is that you learn to associate what were until then seen as negative physical sensations, like pain, discomfort, and fatigue, as positives because you know they lead to the gains you seek. Doing this eventually provides a dopamine release, providing an immediate reward of sorts and motivation to push on.

Keep reading past the science part to learn how this ties into disc golf in a much more direct way.

Illustration depicting the brain with labeled neurotransmitters: endorphins, oxytocin, serotonin, glutamate, dopamine, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine, highlighting their functions.
Dopamine’s role as a brain chemical. Image courtesy of Dispate & Cleverini
Dopamine’s Role in Effort

Dopamine plays a crucial role in effort-based decision-making, directly influencing your willingness to exert physical effort in pursuit of a reward. When the brain anticipates a reward, dopamine surges, driving action.

The Reinforcing Cycle

By deliberately training your brain to find satisfaction in the effort itself, you create a powerful reinforcing cycle. In this cycle, the physical exertion and effort itself triggers a dopamine release. This process builds intrinsic motivation, making the drive to train self-sustaining.

Physiological Benefits

Furthermore, the body aids this process: regular exercise naturally boosts baseline dopamine levels. These higher baseline levels are strongly associated with increased motivation and the capacity to push through challenges. Over time, this mental shift works to strengthen the brain’s motivation circuitry, resulting in physical exertion becoming more intrinsically rewarding.

ohn scoggins

Benefits During Training and Competitive Play

Adopting a mindset that prioritizes “process over outcome” and uses effort as the primary reward provides two distinct sets of benefits—one for practice and one for competition.

Benefit 1: Training, Strength, and Consistency

During practice or fieldwork, effort-based training helps athletes move past plateaus and avoid burnout that result from only chasing external rewards.

Instead of focusing on an outcome goal (like reaching a certain distance or achieving a specific shot shape), the focus shifts to learning what it feels like to produce a great throw and knowing the mechanics required to produce that feeling.

This focus on the process during practice sessions yields tangible physical results:

  • It helps build a close association between results and their specific physical requirements.
  • Over time, this deliberate focus on mechanics and effort helps build action-specific strength and endurance.
Benefit 2: Performance and Execution in Competitive Play

The habit of focusing on effort and mechanics during training naturally carries over into competitive rounds and “big moments”.

In high-pressure situations, this training pays off in two major ways:

  1. Physical Ease: The focused reps from training have made the necessary actions physically easier to execute during competition.
  2. Mental Focus: The athlete learns that achieving the best, most consistent results means focusing intensely on the THROW (what their body must do on the teepad) rather than the FLIGHT (the results they want). This is often taught as the first lesson in Sports Psychology: “Focus on what you intend to do, not what you hope to accomplish”.

Ultimately, this healthier and more fulfilling approach to motivation allows athletes to concentrate on execution when it matters most. At School of Disc Golf we take a holistic approach to teaching disc golf. For the vast majority of disc golfers, this is recreation. We believe that it’s not enough to help you lower your scores. We’re committed to helping you increase your enjoyment of the game as well.

Arm Brain: A Unique School of Disc Golf Term:

by frisbeebrain, posted in backhand, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf driving, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Lessons, Jack Tupp

This post is one of a series that explains terminology unique to — or at least originated by — School of Disc Golf. Each term in the series was created by me, many spontaneously during a private lesson as I searched for a new way to explain something to a client.

Think Different

For the first one in the series, I picked a biggie. Those who are familiar with Three Paths to Better Disc Golf know one of those paths involves having a predetermined philosophical approach to the game. Broad concepts a player can use to guide smaller decisions and lead to their best chance to score well.

When I wrote that book I was thinking mainly of strategic concepts, but with thousands more hours of hands-on disc golf instruction under my belt since then, I realize it applies to technique and mechanics as well. Perhaps more so.

“Arm Brain” is a term I use to describe an incorrect mechanical approach most people instinctively take to backhand driving in disc golf. In the same way that early science before Copernicus thought the earth was the center of the universe, most players treat their arm as the core of their drive.

It isn’t, of course. I use other terms in my lessons, like Nucleus, Center Pole Position. Asymmetric Timing, and 180-to-Zero to explain the difference between throwing with the entire body vs. throwing with arm only— why the literal throwing arm plays a relatively minor role in determining whether a player has a figurative Big Arm.

How arm brain came to be

One day during a 1-on-1 lesson, I noticed how my client was successfully achieving the timing and balance we wanted during drills, throwing with the right muscles from the right position, and achieving the results I promised would come. However, a trend developed where after a good throw he would often follow it up with one that were complete mis-throws.

The author with a client in Santa Cruz, CA.

After the pattern became clear, I asked him to describe his thoughts as he set up for the next throw after an especially successful effort. Each time, he described watching the good drive fly, feeling excited about the accomplishment, and wanting to see if he could throw the next drive even further.

Since Sports Psychology 101 is based on “Focus on what you’re trying to do, not what you’re wanting to accomplish” I figured his thoughts had triggered the muscle memory from thousands of Frisbee throws. To explain my thoughts, I mused that he had allowed Arm Brain to enter the realm, kind of like saying Beatlejuice one too many times.

The teaching point was this: It is always a good idea to focus on what’s right in front of you in sports, especially when you’re working on developing a new skill. Thinking about the new mechanics in particular helps prevent “Arm Brain” from jumping in and saying “I can do that!” when you think only of intended results.

Arm Brain can also rear his head at much later stages, as well, in times of mental and physical fatigue or wandering focus. Good driving form takes some work, and if you’re not focused on executing that work Arm Brain can jump in and say “Let me handle this one. It’ll be easier.”

predetermining factors of arm brain

Since that lesson when I made up the term, I broadened the use to describe a related group of reasons why some people have a hard time learning the unique mechanics that are key to throwing as far and accurately as one’s peers Here’s a quick run-down of those reasons:

  • Familiarity with tossing a Frisbee- Think of the stance you assume to play catch with a Frisbee. Your brain is likely very familiar with that stance and the action that follows, and comfortable with its ability to execute that action
  • The “Big Arm” label- This popular misnomer only reinforces the other reasons
  • Proximity to the hand- The hand is important because it holds the disc, right? Therefore focus should be on the thing connected to the hand— or so goes the logic.
  • Eyes on target- The same power-sapping position that is comfortable and familiar for a Frisbee toss is also the posture that provides a clear view of the target with both eyes before throwing— something that isn’t possible at the beginning of a proper full-power drive.
Frisbee tossing involves the hand, wrist, and arm. Driving in disc golf starts with the body’s largest muscles.

how to outsmart and outwit arm brain

You gotta know he’s lurking. You gotta know how to spot him. And you gotta know how to deflect and defeat him.

If you had to work to learn proper driving technique (or are still in the process) vs. it coming naturally right away (and sometimes even then), Arm Brain is lurking. Don’t doubt it.

If you catch yourself thinking about wants and needs rather than mechanics as you set up for shots, and your throws start to lack their normal explosiveness and carry, Arm Brain has likely infiltrated your camp. The best way to banish him is to purposefully focus on elements of your mechanics that most starkly contrast a Frisbee throw, things I focus on in sessions with my clients.

One of my favorite mantras to banish Arm Brain is “Aim with the Body, Throw with the Body,” another unique School of Disc Golf term phrase. Maybe we’ll cover that one next!

disc golf book, disc golf lessons

Three Paths to Better Disc Golf- new edition, new format

by frisbeebrain, posted in DaLearning Curve, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf instruction, disc golf product reviews, disc golf psychology, disc golf putting, Disc Golf Technique, frisbee golf, Jack Tupp, Play DiscGolf

Three Paths to Better Disc Golf is a self-help book for disc golfers. I published it in 2015 as an ebook only, as a way for me to learn the process before releasing The Disc Golf Revolution, a book I had been working on for years. I remain proud of the contents of my first book, but never really liked the cover design, and the copyediting polish was beneath my own high standards.

When I decided to publish a paperback version of Three Paths, I realized it was also an opportunity to address the copywriting and cover issues, as well. I’m stoked with how both the new paperback and ebook (which was also updated) turned out.

Each band of color on the cover represents one of the Three Paths to Better Disc Golf detailed in the book. The yellow band represents the Philosophical Path, blue for the Strategic Path, and the red band is the Tactical Path. I like the simplicity of the design, the basket designs (borrowed from our logo), and the fact that the paths intermingle- because they really do.

I wrote the book for disc golfers who enjoy keeping their score and would like to conquer their friends or just improve on the last round or the best round. The fact is, there are many ways to accomplish both and most have nothing to do with driving distance- although the book covers that, too. Decision making and mental focus are just as important in disc golf as technique and power.

Each of the three sections in Three Paths to Better Disc Golf contains a dozen short but potentially game-changing chapters. At least one will speak directly to every disc golfer, probably more. If it shaves a couple strokes off the score, or simply makes the game an even more enjoyable experience for every disc golfer who reads it, I am happy indeed.

We’re working on adding a store to this website and will at that time offer author-signed copies of both books. You can always pick up paperback or Kindle versions of Three Paths to Better Disc Golf and The Disc Golf Revolution on Amazon.

A Blueprint for Better Disc Golf Putting

by frisbeebrain, posted in DaLearning Curve, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf instruction, disc golf putting, Disc Golf Technique, frisbee golf, instruction, Jack Tupp, putting

The key to achieving a goal is to have a plan. A blueprint for success. This is as true for improving athletic performance, including disc golf putting, as anything else.

In the first half of 2020, thousands of competitive-minded disc golfers asked themselves a question in response to closed courses and cancelled tournaments due to the quarantine: “What can I do to make disc golf downtime profitable in terms of lower scores in the future?” Many of us present ourselves with a similar personal challenge each offseason — or at least we should.

If I were to conduct a poll asking that question, the most popular answer would almost certainly be “work on my putting.” Missed putts feel like missed opportunities, more than any other aspect of the game. Three-putting from 35 feet feels like self destruction in a competitive round, and missing a 20-footer after an incredible drive can be soul-crushing. Converting a few misses into makes each round is the quickest way to shave strokes from your score.

If you want that payoff at the end, however, you need to think beyond simply “getting in your rep’s” each day. Twenty putts from 10 different stations is great for conditioning, but to achieve a noticeable, lasting breakthrough you’ll have to dig deeper. This project is about thinking as well as putting.

In other words, you need a blueprint.

The first step is to conduct some critical analysis. Think of your putting game as a boat that is taking on water. You know there are leaks, and you know they can be plugged: you just have to find them.

Finding the Leaks

Step 1: Think back to missed putts in past rounds and try to identify any trends. For instance, do you regularly miss short putts left or right? Does your percentage of made putts go way down when there is more at stake? Do your missed putts all too often end up even further from the basket? Does it seem like you get more than your share of spit-outs? Make a list of what you think are your biggest leaks, then grab some discs and head for your nearest basket.

Step 2: Before you start putting, remind yourself that you’re going to take that same analyst’s approach at the end of the session. Take putts from a variety of distances (and inclines, if possible) without putting from the same place twice in a row. Take your time with each putt, as if you were playing a round. After misses, make quick mental observations so you can recall them later, then let them go and focus on the next putt. When you’re done, add to or refine the list you started earlier.

Step 3: Now contact a couple disc golf buddies, preferably ones you play with regularly. Ask them for their honest input. What are your putting strengths and weaknesses? What are your costliest chronic mistakes on the green? Do you let emotions get in the way, and if so, which ones — Fear? Anxiety? Anger? Use your friends’ answers to add to your list, then rank the items based on severity (how much of an issue is this for you personally) and impact (how many strokes is it costing you per round).

You’re now almost ready to start the hands-on part of this project, but the last bit of preparation is crucial. You need to create a plan of action to address each specific issue on your list. It’s easier said than done, but you need to know the cause of each leak so you can figure out the best way to address it.

Plugging the Leaks

You may feel stumped at this point. If you knew the cause of all those frustrating missed short putts you’d have fixed the problem yourself by now, right? While I don’t have the space here to address every issue, I’ll cover a few common ones and link to some resources that go into more detail. But remember, the main point is to take a systematic and purposeful  approach to make significant improvements to your putting game. Okay, onto plugging some common leaks!

Left/Right Misses

First up: a tendency to miss even short putts left or right. This is usually due to horizontal movement of hand and disc during the putt, which makes it difficult to consistently release the disc directly at the target.

The reason this tip works so well is simple. A disc pulled back and then propelled along a straight line will begin its flight heading in the exact direction at which that line points. 

If you’re interested to learn more about the importance of straight-line putting and how to retrain yourself, you can read up on that here. 

Short Putts

If you tend to miss too many putts in general, the above issue is only one of several possible causes. The other common physical cause for demoralizing unforced errors such as missed short putts is a lack of follow-through. This sometimes happens because we mistakenly believe short putts only require a soft toss. It is important to always complete your putting motion, regardless of length. For help incorporating proper follow-through, check out this post.

The most common reason for missing short putts has nothing to do with technical flaws. It’s simply a lack of focus on the task at hand. If the putt is practically a gimme, it’s easy to take it for granted and begin thinking about the next hole. Or perhaps the hole went badly and you’re eager to get it over with and move on. The best way to eliminate these completely avoidable mistakes is to establish a specific putting routine and stick to it, no matter how short the putt. If you’re doing it at 30 feet, you should also be doing it at 10. There are even more causes of missed short putts and how to eliminate them here.

Pressure Putts

Do your putting percentages go down as the stakes go up? Pressure putts can undermine even the best players and in a variety of different ways. Stress and anxiety are known to be performance inhibitors in all sports, causing the body to tighten up and lose necessary fluidity. Sometimes it’s as simple as being distracted, thinking about how important the putt is when you should be thinking about aim or line or follow-through.

I’ve found that the best way to combat both is to stick to your routine, and make sure the routine includes thinking about the right things before and during the putt. This is straight out of Sports Psychology 101, and I sum it up thusly: Think about what you’re trying to do, NOT what you’re hoping to accomplish. I’ve talked about handling pressure, and proper ‘shot-thinking” in the past. 

Three-Putting

If you take three throws to complete a hole after being within 50 feet, either you made an avoidable mistake or got hit with a large dose of bad luck. (I’ve got tips on how to best deal with the instances when it’s truly a rotten break and nothing else.) If you suffer lots of three-putts, however, you’ve likely got a systemic issue that is easily addressed. 

Here are the most common of those systematic issues:

Putting Too Hard 

When you fire bullet-putts at the basket, all kinds of things can go wrong. If you miss entirely, the disc is now moving away from the basket at full speed. If you hit the top or the cage, the disc still has plenty of energy and momentum to travel away from the basket. And sometimes accurate putts that would stay in the basket if thrown at a more reasonable speed use that excess, superfluous energy to escape the grasp of the chains.

To avoid long comeback putts (which often turn into three-putts or worse), use only enough velocity to hit the link of chain you’re aiming at with sufficient energy to push that link toward the pole. Except on short putts, the speed of the disc should not be the same when it arrives at the target as when it left your hand.

The key to doing this is to use arc. The longer the putt, the greater the arc. This enables you to get the disc to arrive at the target with only the necessary amount of speed. As a bonus, the arc means that on longer putts the disc will be moving downward (toward the ground) at the end of its flight, which will usually help it come to a stop sooner.

The next two causes of chronic three-putting have nothing to do with technique. One stems from flawed decision making and the other a lack of focus.

Lack of Risk/Reward Concession 

The object of golf is to complete each hole in the fewest strokes possible. Your decision to go for it boldly or go for it carefully or lay it up should be dictated by the answer you ask yourself: What are my odds of executing this shot successfully and what is the worst possible consequence if I miss?

Don’t confuse confidence with a blissful ignorance of things like odds and risk. If you know your chances of making a birdie putt from 50 feet are low and you’re playing a round where score counts, it makes sense to lay up and play for par. If you have the skill to go for it with enough finesse that a miss will result in a putt you make almost every time, that’s a different story. The key is knowing your limitations. Otherwise, you’re burning up three strokes to complete the hole from 50 feet. 

Lack of Focus 

As mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to maintain focus is to develop a routine and stick to it. This means going through the same steps every time regardless of how routine the throw or short the putt. The repetition will ensure that you don’t forget to do it in important or stressful situations. All routines different in little ways, but have the same critical elements in common. This is helpful in understanding the necessary basic components.

your blueprint

If you agree that working on your putting is a good way to achieve real score improvement, don’t just commit to an amount of time or putts each day. Use the below formula to create a customized blueprint to work smarter and succeed.

  1. Identify your putting ‘leaks’ (WHERE is the leak?)
  2. List possible causes for each leak. (WHY does it leak?)
  3. Find changes or adjustments to try based on each cause until you find the one that works (What MIGHT plug the leak? What WILL plug the leak?)
  4. Practice putting purposefully, plugging one leak at a time
disc golf lessons, disc golf blog

The Straight Line on Disc Golf Putting: Part 2

by frisbeebrain, posted in DaLearning Curve, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf form, disc golf instruction, disc golf putting, Disc Golf Technique, frisbee golf, Jack Tupp

Do you notice when watching the best players in disc golf that their putts seem effortless? A big reason why is Spin. In Part 1 of this series I communicated two main points:

  1. Maintaining a straight line at the target while putting, during the entire motion AND follow-through, is the best way to maximize accuracy and consistency
  2. It can be tricky to do this, since spin is also required and generating spin typically requires a certain amount of rotational (non-straight line) force.

So how can you manufacture spin while sticking to that pure straight line? That’s what Part 2 is all about.

I believe it comes down to two key points that work in tandem (in other words, you gotta do both for either to matter when it comes to generating spin). They are described below, followed by a couple other tips that should also help.

Cock the Wrist

By cocking your wrist you are doing all the prep work needed to get the spin on your putt that will enable it to fly more smoothly and hold its line longer.

CORRECT: When the wrist is properly cocked your hand will be at the front of the disc, ‘towing’ the disc along that straight line toward the basket. The back of your hand should stay closer to the target than the disc until the last moment.
INCORRECT: If your hand stays on the side of the disc and your wrist straight you’ll either generate minimal spin or pull off the straight line at the worst time.

The great thing about this simple tip is that it allows you to focus on the straight line. Just cock your wrist and keep it cocked, then bring the disc forward on that line.

Set it and forget it

The second part of this magical formula is that mainstay of good technique in most every sport- follow-through! A cocked wrist + strong and exaggerated followthrough = tight spin.

Follow Through!

The keys to proper followthrough are exaggeration and keeping it up for longer than seems necessary. Power through the putting motion, and continue to move your hand toward the target without showing down, even after the disc leaves your hand. Stretch your hand toward the target until it can go no further, with fingers outstretched, even holding that pose for a beat.

Exaggerated followthrough ensures two things:

  1. You won’t subconsciously add rotation movement at the end in an attempt to add extra spin
  2. You WILL power through your putt rather than letting up just before or upon release

No more inside-the-circle airballs? Yes, please!

The first of these is important in terms of keeping the disc on the line, and the second is the key to converting the potential of that cocked wrist into all the spin your putt will need. The quicker you go from a fully cocked wrist to fingers outstretched toward the basket, the more spin you’ll get.

If you want a great example of both straight line discipline and exaggerated followthrough, check out Paul McBeth clips on YouTube. Jomez has plenty of good slo-mo (or SloMez, as they call it), and this several years-old clip shows three minutes of off-season practice. Watch for the straight line and the followthrough.

Additional Tips

  • Practice reps focusing on going from cocked wrist to exaggerated followthrough will strengthen the involved muscles for use in this specific manner. If it seems like you can’t get much power on putts using this technique at first, put in the reps. You’ll see progress.
  • Focus on balance. Keep your entire body’s movement on that straight line–not just arm and disc. If you feel yourself pulling or falling to one side, it will affect the putt.

Do pressure putts wind you up? “Don’t look down!”

by frisbeebrain, posted in DaLearning Curve, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf instruction, disc golf putting, Disc Golf Technique, frisbee golf, instruction, Jack Tupp, putting

How do you perform on pressure putts? Are they a weakness in your otherwise solid disc golf game? If the first question caused you to grind your teeth and/or break out into a cold sweat, and if you grudgingly answered ‘yes’ to the second question, this post is for you.

Let’s start with a seemingly random question: Have you ever had to walk across a rickety bridge spanning a 3,000-foot gorge? Or maybe you’ve traversed a narrow, slippery trail hugging the side of a steep mountain. Even if you haven’t, you’ve probably seen such scenes in movies and know what the cool, calm, and collected inevitably say to those with mortal fear in their eyes:

“Don’t look down!”

Image: InfinityandBeyond2

The obvious reason for this timely advice is to help an already frightened and nervous person from becoming paralyzed with fear. Looking down in such situations reminds us of the dire consequences if things don’t go right, and healthy fear is one of the traits hard-wired into all species. But alas, not all fear is healthy, nor helpful.

Take away the consequences -possibility of serious injury or death, with immense pain along the way, in this case – and that walk across the rickety bridge is really no big deal. It’s just walking, after all. But when one false step could turn into a real-life Wile E. Coyote plunge, it suddenly gets much harder. And this is true of pretty much everything. The more it means to you, the greater the likelihood that anxiety comes into play. And anxiety, needless to say, never enhances performance.

Good news, the solution is simple! However, it’s not easy, at least not in an instantaneous, problem-solved kind of way. You gotta consciously work at overcoming a tendency that, like garden weeds, can never be entirely eliminated. But if you make a sincere effort to make this change you should see some results almost immediately.

Here is the essence of the one and only true way to combat performance anxiety. Drumroll, please . . . . . .

Think about what you’re trying to do, not what you’re trying to accomplish- and definitely not why you’re trying to accomplish it.

Many believe that athletes who are known as ‘clutch performers’ must somehow thrive on the pressure that negatively affects everyone else. That’s not true. They have simply trained themselves to concentrate on the raw components of the task at hand and block out everything else.

The general idea of focusing on actions rather than results is nothing new. Instructors, trainers, and coaches have applied it to everything imaginable- far beyond the realm of athletics. I’ve written about the applications of this concept multiple times before and have included some links later in this post. There are many techniques that will help you accomplish this game-changing transformation. Adapt one of mine, or come up with your own. The purpose here is to help you understand and embrace the basic concept.

The rickety bridge/”Don’t look down!” analogy just recently occurred to me, and I think it can be instrumental in helping golfers who already realize that the primary obstacles between them and lower scores are often mental, but haven’t gotten beyond that vague realization.

Want yet another example? I bet whoever trains people to diffuse bombs stresses the fact that the mind must remain focused 100 percent on the task at hand. Thoughts of beloved family members and fear of being blown to smithereens could result in shaky hands or a momentary confusion between red and blue wires. Next thing you know, BOOM!

As we all know, some missed putts result in different kinds of explosions (or, in some cases, implosions): Exploding scores, tempers, and visions of that personal-best round that was so close you could taste it. And it’s not the miss itself that is so frustrating, but the awareness that it was due to a brain twisted into knots.

If you now believe the simple solution revealed above (think about what you’re trying to do, not what you’re trying to accomplish) has merit, and are wondering “How, exactly?” that’s an excellent question. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but I think I can get you headed in the right direction by sharing a little about my personal strategies, tactics, and tricks.

Think about what you’re trying to DO

This literally means the physical movements I (and you) need to perform in order to execute a successful putt. This isn’t a post about putting technique, so I’ll only list a few things that I try to think about right before every putt (yours may be different):

  • Start with a comfortable, balanced stance
  • Focus my eyes on the orange decal on the pole, or one particular link, and don’t release the stare until the disc arrives at the basket
  • Follow through straight at the target, feeling the stretch in my back, shoulder, arm, hand and fingers for a lingering second after the disc leaves my hand

Notice I did not list “make the putt” as something I’m trying to do.

Do NOT think about what you’re trying to accomplish, or why you’re trying to accomplish it.

The second you start thinking about making the putt, two bad things happen.

  1. You stop thinking the productive “Do This” thoughts that give you the best chance of success. You can’t simultaneously follow two trains of thought.
  2. You open the door to why you want or need to make the putt. The bigger the situation, the farther the drop from that rickety bridge. It doesn’t matter whether a really bad thing will happen if you miss (you lose the round, for instance) or a really good thing won’t happen (you don’t birdie hole 13 for the first time ever). The effect is the same.

Remember when I said the solution is simple, but not easy? That’s because thinking only about the process of putting and blocking out all thoughts related to the desired achievement is a simple enough concept- but easier said than done. That’s where the strategies, tactics, and tricks come in. I’ve shared a few that I’ve posted about in the past. Adapt them to your game, or use them as inspiration for developing your own routines to prevent yourself from “looking down.”

“Do This!”

Back in 2011, I came up with a pre-shot routine wherein I practice my putting motion several times, full speed but without the disc in my hand, right before my actual putt. I discovered several benefits in doing this, and you can read the post or watch this short video if you’re interested in the full explanation. I list it here because one of those benefits of the routine is that it allows me to think about my process keys while practicing my “stroke,” and then when it’s time to execute the actual putt, my last final thought is always the same: Do exactly what I just did on the last practice stroke. Just that one thought, and nothing else.

For me, there is no other correct final thought before I pull the trigger. The routine is now habit for me, which makes it easier to remember even in the most high-pressure moments. I’m also more likely to identify renegade “value” thoughts that try to invade my routine in time to replace them with “process” thoughts.

Assess. Choose. Execute.

Extending the routine further backward is another way to be sure I’m thinking about the right things at the right time. A successful shot starts well before I step up to my lie. In this post I discuss the proper sequence of first assessing the situation, then choosing exactly what to do, then executing. If I complete the first two steps before I step up to my lie (this post was for all shots, not just putting), I have a better chance at being able to focus on process, and only process, when it’s time to execute.

Like A Machine

Another post that touches on this subject was titled “Play Disc Golf Like a Machine. A Well-Oiled Machine.” If you need another metaphor for setting emotion and value aside and simply executing a command, you’ll find it in that post. If it helps, think of yourself emulating a robot, automaton, or even Star Trek’s Dr. Spock. If asked, he’d say “In competitive disc golf, feelings are illogical and counter-productive.”

However you get there, separating process from value on every throw will result in lower scores and less stress. Find something that works for you, and stick with it. It’ll be worth it!

Do Live Broadcasts Grow the Sport of Disc Golf?

by frisbeebrain, posted in Avery Jenkins, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, frisbee golf, Jack Tupp, media, USDGC

The Disc Golf World Tour debuted last weekend and for the most part, it delivered on Jussi Meresmaa’s promises. But whether it can deliver on his long-term vision of disc golf as a spectator sport- well, that’s another matter. As is the question of whether his and the other new tours’ efforts will ultimately help or hinder the sport’s growth.

He said his new high-profile tour series would be broadcast live with better production quality- a slicker, more polished presentation if you will – and it was. In that sense, SpinTV delivered, and then some.

Open courses can be picturesque, but do they really show off disc golf's best features?
Open courses can be picturesque, but do they really show off disc golf’s best features?

The on-screen graphics and animation during live coverage of the inaugural La Mirada Open represented a huge leap forward. Little details like on-course sponsor signage, the pads wrapped around the basket pole colored the same yellow as the Innova DisCatcher band, and even the DGWT branding on handheld microphones added to the overall effect. On Saturday, when we couldn’t see residential streets and chain link fences in the shot, La Mirada looked like Augusta National. Even the commercials looked to be more professionally done.

Announcers Jamie Thomas and Avery Jenkins (who both performed fairly well and will certainly get even better) made much ado of the next-level ‘metrics’, Greens in Regulation, Putts Inside the Circle Ratio, Putts Outside the Circle Ratio. Sports fans definitely love their stats and having these on-screen graphics available at any time is a big step in that direction.

Speaking of the announcers, did you know Avery starred in another disc golf TV show five years ago? Discmasters, a show featuring Avery, Nate Doss, Valarie Jenkins and your truly (Jack Tupp) was filmed for local TV in Santa Cruz and made the rounds on YouTube. Hopefully, he’ll get to show his lighter side on SpinTV as well.

One last big positive to point out: the player profiles mixed into the broadcast. Media experts have understood that the more insight viewers get about what makes the players tick, the stronger their connection to the action.

As an avid disc golfer, I have an appetite for live disc golf action and I can appreciate the strides that have been made by  DiscGolfPlanetTV, Smashboxx, and now SpinTV. It’s definitely getting better and better. But I have two major concerns about the direction things are headed.Logo-web

The first is the fact that with the current course and camera configurations these broadcasts don’t come close to conveying the essence of disc golf. Even with two cameras, the angles are almost always from behind the thrower and behind the basket. In both cases, the disc remains fairly static on the screen and so does the backdrop. Ball golf uses at least six cameras to properly film a hole, and that’s just not feasible for disc golf yet. Disc golfers who are viewing can convert what they are seeing into the majestic S-turn we know the shot required and appreciate the amazing skill. To a non-disc golfer, it’s just people throwing Frisbees again and again.

The other nit I’m gonna pick today is with the decision – or rather the necessity – to feature mostly wide open holes. The logic that open holes film better is sound, at least as long as the technology is limited to two camera angles at ground level. But it’s regrettable because another essential aspect of disc golf’s mystique is the wooded hole. In terms of how the games plays, two important elements of disc golf that distinguish it from ball golf in a positive way are missing in coverage of wide open courses; The holes with multiple obstacles players must navigate on a single shot, and the fact that disc golf can be played on very rugged terrain. Forest? Jungle? No problem! That needs to be part of the elevator pitch- which five minutes of live coverage seen by a non-disc golfer amounts to.

Once again, if the aim is to use the broadcasts to introduce potential new players and fans to the sport I don’t think it’ll work. In fact, seeing guys throw Frisbees in what appears to be, and usually is, a city or county park probably just confirms their misguided preconceptions.

What’s the real goal here? If it’s to entertain disc golf enthusiasts, then fine. Well done (Although your typical disc golfer likes to be outside on a Saturday afternoon, so even that market gets diluted somewhat). But if the goal is to ‘#growthesport’ of disc golf, we need players, and we need even more courses. For now, the best solution is still the one that got us where we are today. Support your local club. Volunteer, become a dues-paying member. Sponsor a hole.

Then take a break and watch some live Disc Golf World Tour coverage. If you’re already a disc golf nut, it’s a treat to stream the best players in the world onto a big screen TV.

Learning by Feel in Disc Golf: Why, and How

by frisbeebrain, posted in All Things Disc Golf, DaLearning Curve, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf book, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Technique, frisbee golf, instruction

Companies that market formal clothing love to tell us how their garments lead directly to success in business.

“If you look good, you’ll feel good”. Heard that one before?

The idea is that men wearing chic, expertly-tailored suits and women wearing designer labels gain extra confidence. There may be a kernel of truth buried beneath the B.S., but that’s beside the point. What matters is we can use it to communicate some useful info to disc golfers wanting to improve skills and consistency. It’ll take a bit of ‘splainin’ to get to the meat of the lesson, though, so hang in there. It’ll be worth the 10-minute read.

First off, this tip flips those ad slogans around. Feeling comes first. Also, I am using the word ‘feel’ in a totally different way than them. We’re not talking about the touchy-feely emotional kind of feel (as in, ‘you hurt my feelings’). More like the physiological use for the word, as in ‘that toilet paper feels like sandpaper!’ (Cringe-worthy mental image, but it got the point across, didn’t it?) Finally, since we’re talking about a different kind of ‘feel’, the word good doesn’t work as well. So if we had to have a pithy slogan similar to theirs to sum up the lesson, it would be more along the lines of “Feeling right leads to playing better, and (for those who care about such things) playing better makes you look good.

Ok, we’re done laying out our tortured analogy. Onto the actual message.

The School of Disc Golf has previously mentioned the concept of ‘muscle memory’ no less than six times, with good reason. It’s a scientific explanation of why and how practice makes us better. On Wikipedia, it is summarized as “a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort.”

By that definition, muscle memory is something that happens automatically, behind the curtain of your conscious thoughts. It’s one of the benefits of repetitive practice. I’d like to believe that as disc golfers (or any athlete working to perfect a craft) we can take it further than that. We can try to consciously maximize the process and benefits. I’ll explain using a couple commonly accepted tips.

Putting

Whether you prefer the spin putt or the push putt, the in-line or straddle stance, following through, dramatically, should be a constant. We talk about it in detail in this post and even include a video tutorial of an exercise to practice follow through and better develop the key muscles used in this particular way. Every putt should end with a rigid throwing arm stretched directly toward the link of chain you’re aiming at. Your elbow should be locked, arm and even fingers perfectly straight, with your thumb pointed straight up at the sky.

Now, as you read this, don’t focus on what that description of following through looks like. Focus on what it feels like. If I was giving you an in-person lesson right now, I’d explain follow through, much as I just did in writing above, and show you what it looks like. Hopefully after seeing me do it you’d make your best effort to replicate what you just saw me do. Assuming you did it correctly, I’d tell you so, and you’d accept that you just did it correctly based on my positive feedback. But here’s the thing: I can’t follow you around for all your practice sessions and rounds of disc golf. My lessons are reasonably priced, I think, but that would get costly quickly! And even if that were feasible, the key to the lesson (that follow through is a key to good putting) would not penetrate beyond your logical mind. In other words, it won’t be carved into your muscle memory. That kind of learning requires feel.

Let’s go back to the word picture I offered:

Every putt should end with a rigid throwing arm and hand stretched directly toward the link of chain you’re aiming at. Your elbow should be locked, arm and even fingers perfectly straight, with your thumb pointed straight up at the sky.

As you read the words, stretch your throwing arm toward a focal point across the room. It doesn’t matter what it is, but keep your eyes locked onto it. Now zero in on the key words and phrases, “rigid throwing arm and hand”, “stretched”, “elbow . . . locked”, “arm and even fingers perfectly straight”. Rather than thinking about these descriptions look like, or what you should look like emulating them, let your mind dwell on what each of these things feels like. An arm stretched straight ahead to its extremity feels very different than one that is dangling at your side, or resting on the arm of a chair. Get that feeling locked into your long-term memory and recall it before every putt. Remind yourself that unless you feel that sensation of stretching and straining directly toward your target, you’re not doing it right.

This post is meant to be more about the importance of learning and recalling by feel than a putting lesson, but we’ll make one more point. At the end of your putt, just before, during and after you release the disc, the feeling should also include a quick, sharp burst of movement. Don’t misunderstand all the talk of stretching toward the target and conjure up thoughts of slow motion Tai Chi. For more on that check out the follow through post referenced above.

Backhand Drive

Since we went into pretty good detail about the importance of ‘feel’ in the putting example, this one will be short and sweet. It should help drive (no pun intended) the point home using a different type of scenario. We’ll focus on one particular aspect of good, consistent driving: Balance.

One of the key points in our comprehensive post ‘Building Blocks of Basic Backhand Technique‘ is the relationship between balance and weight transfer. When it comes to throwing a golf disc properly the two are intertwined, and the difference can definitely be felt when done correctly vs. incorrectly.

First off, when you’re setting up to throw, make sure you begin with good posture (knees still slightly bent, but back mostly straight and body not ‘hunched over’) and weight evenly distributed between front and back foot. As you execute the throw, remember the goal of keeping that weight centered as much as possible. Yes,  you need to transfer weight to the back foot as you reach your disc all the way back and transfer it forward in sync with the disc as you throw. But to retain the most consistent control of where your disc goes, you must remain well balanced. If you feel yourself falling off to one side or, more commonly, falling forward upon disc release, your balance is off and likely so is your aim.

This is why, in the backhand post cited above as well as all lessons I give on the subject, I urge players to begin by learning proper backhand technique without a run-up. It’s important to lock in the feel of proper balance and weight transfer so you can recall it when needed, and identify flaws when they arise.

This post doesn’t include any images, for a good reason. Visual aids do have a place in learning. But when it comes to muscle memory it’s all about learning through feel, and realizing that feeling is the best way to learn.

Well-know turnover shots: when to use ’em and how to throw ’em

by frisbeebrain, posted in anhyzer, backhand, DaLearning Curve, DeLaBlahg, disc golf, disc golf instruction, Disc Golf Technique, frisbee golf, hyzer

Among the pleasures of disc golf – and there are many – perhaps the most satisfying for the athletically-minded is mastering new flight paths for one’s disc. And since all discs to one degree or another have the natural tendency to fade left or right depending on the direction of the spin, making a disc turn in the opposite direction of that fade is among the first big milestones. And then you realize that within the broad classification of “turnover shot” exist an endless quantity of different shot-shapes and ways to achieve them, and things really begin to get interesting. And fun.

A while back we published a post called “Mastering the turnover shot: Equal parts art and science.” In it we explain in pretty good detail the handful of ways of executing flight paths variously known as a turnover shot or anhyzer. (You can check out our Disc Golf Terminology page for definitions of all these terms.) We recommend reading the previous post before reading this one. This post explains specific flight paths that can be achieved by adjusting any of six different factors, and those are listed and described there.

disc golf lessons classes event disc golf events
Most anhyzer flights of any distance require extra height. Note not only the angle of this player’s disc but also the height of the release point.

The Anhyzer S-turn

Let’s start by explaining the term ‘S-turn’, which describes the flight path rather than throw itself. It simply refers to a flight path where the disc turns in one direction for the beginning of the flight, then finishes by turning in the other direction. You’ve like done it before, by accident if not by design. Being able to properly execute an S-turn represents a huge step forward for any player, and once you understand how to do it it really isn’t any harder than turnover shots intended to arc in a single direction the entire flight. And it not only proves useful when two turns are required. It’s also a great way to maximize distance as the turns keep the disc in the air longer.

To hyzer a disc means to release it with a nose angle that encourages the disc to fade in the direction it naturally tends to fade. For instance, a right-handed backhand shot will fade to the left. So to throw an anhyzer in that same situation a player must release it with a nose angle that not only enables the disc to resist that tendency to fade, but turn in the other direction. An RHBH thrower uses a nose angle where the left side of the disc is lower than the right, so that same thrower – if she wants to throw an anhyzer shot – needs to reverse that nose angle so that the left side is higher than the right. Think of driving a car with your hands “10 and 2” on the steering wheel, and imagine a straight line between your hands. When you turn left, your left hand becomes lower than the right and that straight line mimics the nose angle you’d want on your disc for a hyzer release. A right turn mimics the angle for an anhyzer release (Again, see the previous post for a correct explanation of hyzer/anhyzer as anhyzer and turnover are not synonymous.)

disc golf instruction lessons

Sticking with our RHBH example, an anhyzer S-turn shot will initially turn to the right, then at some point fade back to the left. This shot comes in handy when the hole presents early obstacles on the right side of the fairway that force the player to start the shot on the left side, while also having characteristics that make it undesirable to let the disc finish in that direction. For instance the hole has a wall of early trees on the right side and on the other side of the trees is a deep ravine or a water hazard. The basket is on the left side of the fairway a little deeper than the ravine/water, behind another grove of trees.

The trees on the right are too high for a simple tall hyzer route, so the player must throw through the gap on the left, but she can’t throw straight at the basket without heading right for the grove on the left. The solution is the anhyzer S-turn, because it first avoids the trees on the right by passing through the gap, then (because it is turning right thanks to the anhyzer release angle) passes to the right of the grove on the left. This much could be accomplished with a simple anhyzer shot, but remember if it finishes right it’ll find the ravine/water hazard. So it is imperative that the disc finish left.

The two keys to pulling this off are knowing the discs in your bag and the release point required for each- and that only happens with practice. Get out in a field and throw all your discs with the same amount of power and same nose angle. The understable discs will likely turn over and never fade back, while your super-overstable disc may hardly turn at all before fading back to the hyzer angle. Since every situation is somewhat unique, you’ll want to eventually learn how to do this with as many of your discs as possible. It’ll require different combinations of those six factors explained in the last post, which is why it’s important to really know each disc’s characteristics.

We mention release point because this is usually the biggest hurdle players have in learning to throw this shot. If you release the disc at too low a point with a steep anhyzer nose angle, it will head straight for the ground as it turns over and never have a chance to fade back. A fairly typical release point for an anhyzer S-turn is eye level or higher, but it is differs depending on the player’s armspeed, the disc, and the situation.

The Flip Hyzer S-turn

The flight path for a flip hyzer (or hyzer flip) S-turn is the reverse of the anhyzer S-turn. It’s usually the easier S-turn shot to execute because for most players throwing with a hyzer angle comes much more naturally. However, a key ingredient to executing this shot is above average armspeed, so if you’re having trouble with it that may be the reason.

The term ‘flip hyzer’ accurately describes this flight path. When done properly the RHBH thrower releases a throw on a hyzer angle with enough power for the rate of speed to eventually overcome that hyzer angle, causing the disc to turn over and drift right. The really cool thing about this shot is that by dialing up just the right mix of nose angle, armspeed and release point (and of course the disc chosen matters as well), the thrower can manipulate the precise point at which the disc turns. For instance, a steeper hyzer angle will make the disc take longer to turn over, while increasing the armspeed will make it happen quicker.

Even though the flight characteristics of a flip hyzer shot are the reverse as an anhyzer S-turn, it isn’t used in quite the same way. A player will typically utilize it in two scenarios:

  • On long, ‘tunnel’ type holes where the disc needs to finish on a turnover line, a flip hyzer enables the thrower to maximize the distance before the disc begins to turn over
  • On very long, wide open holes where nothing matters but distance, a flip hyzer when executed properly will yield the most distance. In fact, in distance contests top pros use this method almost exclusively as their elite power, combined with a sharp hyzer angle and a high release trajectory often result in three turns- the initial hyzer, and then the turnover as spin rate overcomes angle, and finally (since the trajectory was upward and the disc still isn’t close to the ground), a fade back to the hyzer line.hyzer flip diagram disc golf lessons

Once again, the only way a player can master this shot enough to have confidence in the technical situations in which it is required is through hours and hours of experimentation and then repetition. It’s also worth noting that both these S-turn methods can be used to achieve a roller shot, where the player is intentionally causing the disc land on an anhyzer angle with enough power left to stand up and roll.

Holding the line

As discussed in the previous post, for most players throwing a disc perfectly straight is harder than making it turn. So it should not be a surprise that making a disc turn over and then hold a particular line once it has turned is for some even harder. On courses with baskets placed in harrowing positions (near OB, water, cliffs) a straight, flat landing is often the only way to avoid trouble. Like the S-turn shots it requires a very exacting combination of angle, speed and trajectory, but in this case another specific factor is even more important. And that factor is . . . spin.

Think of it this way: If a player wants to throw RHBH anhyzer that turns over through its entire flight he’d throw a disc he knows will continue to turn with a steep enough nose angle. If he wants the disc to turn most of the way then fade left at the end (anhyzer S-turn), he could use the same technique but switch to a sufficiently more overstable disc. But if he wants the disc to execute a right turn at a certain point then very gradually come out of the turn and finish on a straight line, merely changing discs won’t cut it.disc golf classes

Unlike most shots, where as number of factor combinations result in roughly the same flight path, this requires an increase in spin and nose angle steepness proportionate with the distance the disc needs to carry on that straight finishing line. Spin can be increased by accentuating that whip-cracking, towel-snapping release and reducing the follow through of the arm. A good way to learn this is to pick out the apex of the intended flight path, which should act as a hinge that connects the first part of your throw with the second. Aim for that hinge with the idea that your disc will reach that apex with the right angle and lots of spin, then use that spin to coast on the exact straight line you want.

This type of shot is particularly handy on shorter shorts where you can use a fan grip and a putter, but it can be thrown with a power grip as well.