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This post is supplementary material to the 30 Day Plan To Get You Up And Running With Disc Golf. This articles delves in todays topic : Putting Practice
There is no point in being able to throw a disc as far as the horizon if you can’t make accurate putts. All the ground you made on the fairway means nothing if you lose too many shots trying to make the basket. If you want lower scores, practice putting. It’s one of the easiest things to work on in disc golf. No matter what your skill level, you can always become a better putter. You don’t even need a basket you can set up a home made target and aim to land your disc in it or on it.
Set up a cardboard box on a chair or set your hoodie on the ground and aim your longer putts at it. If you have a portable basket things will definitely get more interesting. Here’s some drills and tips to get you going.
Don’t try the latest slippy flippy upside down thumber rocking social media before getting to grips with the basics! All that showy crazy stuff will come later, when you’ve got some skin in the game. The things you need to concentrate on at the start are making ure you have a basic knowledge of the rules and then start off with how to grip a disc and tke it from there. Learning how to release the disc might take you 6 months once you begin.
So take plenty of time throwing off the tee. You don’t even need a teepad or a real course, practice on the beach, your backyard, the park or a field and get in some serious air time with your mids, and drivers. If getting the hang of a driver is too challenging at the start, switch to a mid-range. Try a straight flying Buzzz, just to get the hang of our disc going where you want it to and to ese the frustration. Some discs are hard to throw, they can make you want to quit the sport before you get properly started.
Get comfortable with basic putting and throwing for fun before you move on to advanced drills.
According to Malcolm Gladwell it takes 10 000 hours to master a new skill. So if you want to reach expert status you know what to do, get out and practice. Make it a habit and you’ll reap the results on the course. BTW 10 ooo hours is an extreme example and don’t even think about clocking up this amount of hours or you’ll quit before you start. If you have the time in your schedule and can blank out slots in your diary try to get a t least 3 practice sessions in a week.
This can be a mixture of course time or playing in a field or a park. Don’t worry about scores. Practice drives over and over again. Practice Putts over and over again. Fill a bag with plenty of discs and get out in the open. It will be much easier it you have a park nearby with a basket, or you have your own portable basket. It will be even easier if you have your own land or backyard, at least for putting practice.
The more you practice your shots the lower your scores will be during actual game time. Pick a spot on the course or your chosen practice area to drill putts or to drive from. If putting, you can simply start at 5 meters out, then start moving away from the basket. If you don’t have one lay something down like a sweatshirt as a target and aim to hit that spot. And lets take a closer look at target shooting.
The reason you want to use target drills is to perfect your accuracy. Sure you can also aim long, but that’s not really the point of target shots. Target shots are aiming for maximum distance, but laser guided accuracy. Things to use for targets:
You can get all technical with a rangefinder to judge how far you are from the target, or go low-tech with some measuring tape, or just use the markings on a course if you can book a round for practice golf. Usually early in the morning or during the day out of summer peak time can be the best times to get an empty course so you can linger for longer on the holes.
Set up targets at varying distances and aim to land as close as you can to it with various throws, practice forehands, backhands, drives, hyzer flips (to master check here). Mark off an area with multiple cones to create a circle to land in. As you get better decrease the size of the landing zone. This ups the difficulty and adds excitement.
Speed control is an important aspect of putting, and it’s essential to be able to putt at different speeds and distances accurately. You can practice this by setting up targets at varying distances and practicing putting with different speeds. Start with short putts and gradually increase the distance. Pay attention to the speed of your putts and make sure you’re putting at a consistent speed for each shot.
Putting from different angles and obstacles is an important part of the game and can help you prepare for real-life situations on the course. Set up targets at different angles and practice making putts from different positions, such as from behind a tree or around an obstacle. This will help you improve your accuracy and prepare you for challenging shots on the course.
The key to becoming a better putter is to make putting practice a habit. Try to practice putting at least once a week, and make sure you’re putting from different distances and angles. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become with your putting technique, and the more confident you’ll be on the course.
Putting is a crucial aspect of disc golf, and regular practice can help you become a better putter and lower your scores on the course. Start with the fundamentals, practice consistency, use target drills, focus on speed control, putt from different angles and obstacles, and make putting practice a habit. With these tips and drills, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a more confident and successful disc golfer.
It cannot be underestimated how important being a good putter is to your game, and being able to make those short shots with accuracy can make a big difference in your overall score.
Here’s the deal: for putting practice, you’ll obviously want to use a putter. Putters are designed specifically for short, accurate shots and putts. They usually have low speed, stability, and minimal glide, making them easy to control.
When you’re shopping for a putter, keep an eye out for these flight numbers:
Here’s an example of some common flight numbers for beginner-friendly putters:
Keep in mind that different brands and models may have different flight numbers, so it’s always a good idea to try out a few putters and see what works best for you. Some popular beginner-friendly putter brands include Innova, Latitude 64, and Discraft.
Look for putters with speed ratings of 1-2, stability ratings of 0, and glide ratings of 2-3. Try a few out, find the one you like best, and get to putting! Improving your putting skills can make a big impact on your overall game, so have fun with it.
If you are new to disc golf I won’t confuse you with all this talk of stability just yet. I have other posts on this site that go into that in much more detail like this one here.
A neutral disc golf putter typically has a stability rating of 0. So look for the following when you are choosing a putter.
It’s important to note that different brands and models of putters can have different flight ratings, so it’s always a good idea to check the specific ratings for a putter before purchasing it. However, the above flight ratings are a good starting point for what you can expect from a neutral disc golf putter.
Keep in mind that these ratings are just guidelines and may not reflect your personal preferences. The best way to determine what works best for you is to try out different putters and see how they fly. This will give you a better understanding of what flight ratings you prefer and what will work best for your game.
In summary, neutral putters are a great choice for beginner disc golfers because they are consistent, easy to use, versatile, and reliable. They offer a balanced flight pattern, making them more predictable and easier to control, which can help beginners improve their game and reach their goals faster.
Ok now you know where you are going with this, keep going with the 30 day plan, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering this sport.