This post is the 2nd 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, explain why each works, and specify the brain systems involved. To read past posts go to The Blog. To get future posts, go to the blog and hit FOLLOW.
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. This section includes 10 total and therefore shall be broken into two posts (hence the “4.5 part series”)
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.
Mirror Neuron Training (Live Observation)
What it is: Watch players with excellent form in person, paying close attention to their movements, and then mimic them.
I’ve had clients who grasped a concept quickly after seeing me demonstrate. It probably helps that I am left-handed, so it’s a true mirror effect!
Why it works: This method taps into your mirror neurons, specialized brain cells that fire both when you perform an action and when you observe someone else performing the same action. This activation helps you to internalize proper technique simply by watching.
(I’m reminded of flinching along with Rocky every time he punched Clubber Lang.)
Brain system involved: The premotor cortex and parietal lobe are key brain regions where mirror neurons are found and activated during this type of observational learning.
Shadow Throwing Immediately After Observation
What it is: Right after watching a player, mimic their throwing motion without a disc.
Why it works: This immediate, disc-free repetition reinforces the movement patterns you just observed, helping to solidify them in your motor memory.
Eliezra Midtlyng, a young pro with elite power who burst onto the DGPT scene at age 16 a couple of years ago, has mentioned in interviews that she learned disc golf by watching it on YouTube during the Pandemic and then mimicking what she saw, before even buying her first disc!
Brain system involved: This practice engages your motor cortex (for executing the movement) and proprioceptive circuits (which give you a sense of your body’s position and movement).
Open-Loop Practice (Feel Over Outcome)
What it is: Practice throwing without tracking the results of each shot. Instead, focus entirely on your form and the physical “feel” of the throw.
Of all the tips listed in this series on neuroscience and disc golf performance, this one strikes closest to School of Disc Golf’s guiding philosophy of Disc Golf in a Vacuum. I believe we can and should extend this practice into our rounds. Take your satisfaction from how well you assess and execute each shot rather than the results as measured by score.
Learning by Feel has also been covered here, and the two concepts are definitely connected.
Why it works: By removing the pressure of outcome, you can strengthen your kinesthetic memory—your body’s ability to recall movements and positions—without becoming dependent on immediate success or failure. In competition, this tip can help proactively. If the moment gets too big, bring your focus back to what proper execution feels like.
Brain system involved: This technique primarily engages the sensorimotor cortex and the cerebellum, both critical for processing sensory information from movement and coordinating motor actions.
Variable Repetition (Contextual Interference)
What it is: During practice, frequently mix up various aspects of your throws, such as lies, distances, and even the discs you choose.
Disc golf is not like darts, or bowling, or (egad) cornhole. No shot (unless it’s a re-throw) is the same as the shot before. Fieldwork should always include some type of variety.
Why it works: This variability forces your brain to constantly adapt to new situations, which in turn builds real-world flexibility and problem-solving skills on the course. This seemingly minor type might be the difference between you seeing or not seeing the best option for that tricky lie in the woods.
Brain system involved: The prefrontal cortex (for planning and adaptation) and the cerebellum (for coordinating complex movements) are heavily engaged in this adaptive learning.
Interleaved Practice (Rotating Skills)
What it is: Instead of practicing one skill for a long block, rotate between different skills like putting, driving, and upshots in alternating sets. You can also alternate discs and shot types while throwing from one spot to another, taking the time to think through the adjustments for each disc, disc type, shot shape, and/or throw type.
Why it works: This approach disrupts “autopilot” mode, requiring your brain to constantly retrieve different motor programs. This leads to deeper neural encoding and better long-term retention of skills.
Brain system involved: This method primarily strengthens procedural learning pathways, which are responsible for learning and automating complex motor skills.
In part 2.5 of this 4.5-part series we will cover the rest of the section on Neuroscience-Based Skill Learning and Efficient Practice in Disc Golf. After that we will cover emotional learning and mental recovery, and then conclude the series with Motivation, Consistency, and Growth.
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Stay tuned for much more, and as always feel free to comment and ask questions!
