I can’t remember where I learned this …
If I could, I’d give credit where it’s due.
Regardless, if you like this tip, I’m open to praise.
Never an issue with me.
The hardest skill in disc golf is arguably throwing straight. In a future article, I’ll get into the specifics of how to make it happen. But until then, know this much: Choosing the right disc is half the battle. Seriously, that’s it. For each disc type, here are my go-to fliers for straight stuff:
- The Ruby flies dead-straight.
- The Mako3 is underappreciated.
- The Monarch is ultra-weird, but I love it.
- The Nuke SS is automatic (straight) distance.
Still, where is the top place to learn to throw straight?
The course itself isn’t an awful option.
Besides, it’s where your straight-throwing mastery will one day be on full display.
But it’s not the best pace …
Ready for this?
Go to a high school football field.
But ONLY if it’s got upright goalposts year-round.
When you get there, stand on the 50-yard line and attempt to throw between both goalposts. And I’m not talking about a spike-hyzer that comes to rest between ‘em on the ground. From hand to flight to touchdown, your discs should NOT leave the area between them – it’s a tough task.
All the benefits of field work, but with something to actually aim at.
For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 18-and-a-half feet from left to right.
Brutal, I know.
You won’t be perfect with this. But you’ll quickly get better.
Furthermore, when I go to retrieve my discs, from where they came to rest, I attempt to hit my bag, situated at the very center of the football field. The closer you get, the better you’ll feel.
“Let’s eat beans for every meal.”
Rhymes aside, for as stupid-simple as this might seem, the next time you head out to the course and encounter a tight tunnel of the tee, you’ll be stunned at how much you’ve improved.
I’ll admit it: I’m a man who frequently dabbles in hyperbole.
This is not that – it works.
Try me.
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Impossible. This can’t be done.
At least by me.
It CAN be done, Fletch!
At least, I’ve done it before by accident …
So while it can be done, replicating the issue is another story. Haha.
This method does make field work more fun, though …
It gamifies the process a bit, which I can appreciate.
I think a soccer field is more accessible. Most parks have a soccer goal, sneaking into the local high school field carries some risk …
Soccer goal is more narrow but “aim small, miss small” is what they say right?
Yeah, that’s true …
Either should get the job done.
I literally have a high school football field (turf, too) in my neighborhood, so I lucked out.
I can think of multiple soccer fields nearby, too.
Talk about a good problem to have!
My local course has something similarish. Double mando with two trees about 320 feet off the tee. The trees are maybe 20 feet apart. It’s wide open leading up to that, so of course you’ve got the big hyzer option to get there, but it’s still good practice for accuracy. I’m liking the sound of using the goalposts though!
I can’t remember where I saw it, but there was a similar game/practice using a soccer field. That had the extra fun of “zones” you’d be trying to hit too as you play, so not even all trying to zing it over the goal.
Oh, nice …
Like the sound of that!
So would these “zones” be inside of the goal, by chance?
I could see that being fun …
Just trying to conceptualize the idea – I’ll need to give it a whirl 🙂
Found it! It’s the Global Disc Golf Course. I think you could easily modify it to what you want/need though, so you could very much put a zone inside the goal!
Thanks, Tyler!
Appreciate the tip …
Maybe I’ll turn this into an article in the future – you’re the man!
Lights on either end of a dark field and glow taped discs really allows you to focus on the actual flight instead of the result.
Oh, that’s a good idea …
Hadn’t considered that.
To be honest, I’ve never done field work at night, but might be worth a try!
Thanks for the tip 🙂
I haven’t thrown anything straighter than a Berg…. But it comes down to player style and disc relationships…..
I’m not a Berg fanatic or anything, but this is true …
That thing goes straight.
It doesn’t go very far, but it goes straight …
I’ll give you that much.
For those without access to a football field, a soccer goal ought to work. Just aim for the middl
Yup!
Same difference, Terry!
Good advice – both will work just fine 🙂
I wasn’t ready for someone to spit out the old “eat beans for every meal!” Haha fantastic! … I really would like to try this method out, though. I would argue it is certainly the hardest shot in disc golf, with the least amount of room for error, whether that’s in your angle of release or point of release.
It’s annoying, right?
BUT …
If you can find the right disc for your arm-speed and natural release of angle, it’s not TOO bad.
That’s the good news 🙂
I love my Mako3, one of my favorites!
Thank you so much for all the tips and suggestions. You’ve helped improve my shots and find disks out there that work perfect for me! Much appreciated!
No problem, Jacob!
Don’t have much to offer in the ways of advice, but what I have, I’ll happily write about 🙂
Keep on huckin’, brotha!
I’m sixty something and started playing about three years ago. Hopelessly addicted. There is a park about a mile from my house. I stand between 75 and 100 feet back from two trees that provide a gap of about 15 feet. Feels like I’m in the woods cuz I have to throw Low and Straight. Just started doing this in practice, it’s a Keeper. Keep up the Great Writing.
Thanks for the kind words, Doug!
Also, great suggestion for a way to learn to throw straight …
What discs are you throwing the most while doing this, if you don’t mind me asking?