New to the whole disc golf world

[Colonel21]

My son (9 years old) went to the park the other day with my wife and saw the baskets for disc golf. He asked if we could try it one of these days. Well on Thanksgiving we tried to go to the driving range at three different traditional golf courses only for them to be closed. Then he got the idea to go to the park for disc golf. Well we had no discs so we stopped at Walmart and bought two beginners packs that were 8.99 each. We went and even though we really sucked, we had a blast. So he asks to go to the next day again. We went again and we ended up losing a disc. So after reading a little bit of this forum, we went and got a Innova Leopard. We went out again this morning. He loves it and I don't mind taking him out because the park is right down the road and we can play 9 in like 45 minutes.

So as a beginner who has no idea what he is doing, what are some tips? It is frustrating for me since I cannot throw the disc far. I have a college baseball background as a pitcher. I can also hit a golf ball pretty far, but these discs are very humbling. Right now everything for me is going right and downwards at a 45 degree angle.

So any tips on throwing and discs for me and my son are much appreciated.

 

[mattc]

welcome to lots of fun, challenges, and frustration, but not always in that order

click here for a good place to start, lots of good info

 

[loki the trickster]

i would say watch disc golf videos of world champs on youtube.
here is a list
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDGA_World_Championships

i would watch both mens and womens.

also their are discraft clinics
here is a good one to watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgn6Os4YSW0

innova is working with the spin tv and discmania disc golf gets diffrent discs made for them by innova. they have a vids called deep in the game. which is a instructional video series
https://www.youtube.com/user/InnovaDiscGolf
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSpinTVcom
https://www.youtube.com/user/DiscmaniaGolfDiscs

you could also watch pdga worlds vids and the usdgc (united states disc golf championships) and watch some of the best disc golfers in the world play.

 

[Uncle Matt]

Welcome to disc golf man.

 

[the Duff]

If you have experience as a pitcher, you should try some over-hand throws: thumber or tomahawk. Watch the Mark Ellis videos on overhand. You will probably drive very far right away. You'll have problems in the woods though.

 

[Nemmers]

My son (9 years old) went to the park the other day with my wife and saw the baskets for disc golf. He asked if we could try it one of these days. Well on Thanksgiving we tried to go to the driving range at three different traditional golf courses only for them to be closed. Then he got the idea to go to the park for disc golf. Well we had no discs so we stopped at Walmart and bought two beginners packs that were 8.99 each. We went and even though we really sucked, we had a blast. So he asks to go to the next day again. We went again and we ended up losing a disc. So after reading a little bit of this forum, we went and got a Innova Leopard. We went out again this morning. He loves it and I don't mind taking him out because the park is right down the road and we can play 9 in like 45 minutes.

So as a beginner who has no idea what he is doing, what are some tips? It is frustrating for me since I cannot throw the disc far. I have a college baseball background as a pitcher. I can also hit a golf ball pretty far, but these discs are very humbling. Right now everything for me is going right and downwards at a 45 degree angle.

So any tips on throwing and discs for me and my son are much appreciated.

Without even knowing you I could actually hear you telling this post, bro. Having kids sort of gives you that innate sense of tone.

That said and being a newbie myself, I say just get out there and enjoy yourself and the time you're spending with your son. That's the only secret to the game: fun. If you're serious about improving your accuracy and strength, there's a ton of videos on YouTube that will give you step-by-step tips on what to do. I can't give you advice because I'll probably be studying the videos you're just checking out for fun. I'm not a good player yet, but I wanna be.....and that's what makes it fun.

DG is a great game and it's guys like you and your son who are going to keep it going and make it big so long as you're having fun with it and enjoying yourselves. Welcome aboard, brother!

 

[bobmcnelly]

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Colonel21]

Thanks for the welcomes guys.

I did discover today a post on overhand throws. I had to youtube it and thought that it isn't much different from the mechanics of pitching. I am going to try that next time out.

Nemmers - like you said, I am having fun just being out there with my son. The course near our house is set up around a big hill. Seem him run up the hill and down the hill chasing his disc brings a smile to my face. And who would have thought that I would lose a disc first. He was cracking up as I was in the trees looking for it. He hasn't let me forget about it. Lol. Heck he loves it so much, that we actually had family pictures at the park today and he stashed a disc in the car and asked to play a few holes after we got done. Lol.

 

[primal dg]

I have introduced many people to the game. Girlfriends dad, multiple friends, my cousins, my uncle, my sisters boyfriend. And the one thing I tell every single one is. Dont get frustrated. Nobody throws a disc 300 feet at first. It is a huge learning curve throwing discs. Have fun. And start slow(speed discs that is) buy a buzz or a roc or a comet or something 5 speed and pretty neutral. Throw it level, not too high off the ground and smooth. You will improve quickly. Also if you know people who are more experienced. Throw with them. They can teach you alot. Have fun. Welcome to the disc golf world!

 

[scarpfish]

With a nine year old in tow, I wouldn't worry about doing fancy throws like overhands. Just concentrate on getting the backhand working for now.

I also would avoid those 8.99 "frisbee disc/Halex" starter pack discs from Wallyworld and get some real discs. Those cheapies are essentially garbage, and as you've already discovered, nobody is going to enjoy learning how to play disc golf with them.

 

[MrFixIt]

Welcome to the site!
And I think it's great that you and your son have found something to do together :clap:

 

[Colonel21]

Welcome to the site!
And I think it's great that you and your son have found something to do together :clap:

Thanks. I am very fortunate that I get to do alot of activites with my son. I coach his Little League teams and he likes to go practice outside of the normal practices. He is also a pretty good ball golfer for his age. So he likes to go out to the range with me and go play 9 holes when there is opportunity. And now this is just something else that we can enjoy together. I like it because I am very bad at it so there is no competition aspect of it right now. We really don't keep score, we just go and throw and let the discs lead us around the course.

 

[Colonel21]

Quick question, what is a good putter for a beginner (for both him and I)? He really wants a purple disc, so I figured I would get him a new putter as a stocking stuffer as I know he will probably not lose a putter.

 

[bobmcnelly]

Mostly all putters are good for beginners. Minus pigs, zones, and rhynos. Maybe a DX Aviar and a soft wizard and let him decide which he likes.

 

[mutteriwiritys]

Welcome Colonel!

I'm a fairly new player too (started about 5-6 months ago) but I think I know quite a lot already from the sport. For putter there's mainly not bad options, though I wouldn't recommend choosing any overstable discs in the beginning.

For putters I'd suggest Innova Aviar. That's one of the most popular disc golf discs out there and is used by all kinds of players from beginners to pros. DX plastic works well at first.

Also I'd not suggest getting much drivers at all until you learn the basics. Those are fast discs and hard to control. You still want to have something faster than a putter, so carrying a mid-range, a Discraft Buzzz or an Innova Roc are both great discs and used by lots of players.

There's tons of material about disc golf everywhere. Deep in the Game video series will give you all the information you need about throwing different shots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLowvHyhSWU&list=PL01ED51D099D66E2C

 

[Colonel21]

Thanks for the suggestions all. He did see a purple Soft Wizard on ebay when I was surfing around and said he liked it. Maybe I will get him one of those.

As for me, I am definitely not looking at any distance discs. Right now we have a DX Leopard fairway driver. Then we have been using the junk beginner set for the midrange and putters. But I will probably upgrade those soon. I had been looking at a Roc and and Aviar putter.

 

[bobmcnelly]

Aviar, roc, leopard would be a great set for learning.

 

[Matt B.]

Thanks for the suggestions all. He did see a purple Soft Wizard on ebay when I was surfing around and said he liked it. Maybe I will get him one of those.

As for me, I am definitely not looking at any distance discs. Right now we have a DX Leopard fairway driver. Then we have been using the junk beginner set for the midrange and putters. But I will probably upgrade those soon. I had been looking at a Roc and and Aviar putter.

Please do replace those junk discs. It's like playing baseball with a broomstick and a ball of tinfoil.

 

[Colonel21]

Please do replace those junk discs. It's like playing baseball with a broomstick and a ball of tinfoil.

Too funny. Yea, I will probably see if I can't find some of the DX discs at Walmart. That is where I got the Leopard.

 

[bobmcnelly]

Too funny. Yea, I will probably see if I can't find some of the DX discs at Walmart. That is where I got the Leopard.

Check out sporting good stores. Generally, they have much better selections than Walmart.