Age vs distance?

[Old Dog]

I'm in my mid 50s, pretty active and in good shape. I just started playing DG at the end of this past August and try to play a round or at least do some field practice at least once a week. I currently throw my mids from 220' to 245' (on a real good throw) but average closer to the 220' range. The average distances I'm hitting with my distance drivers is only marginally better than my mid range drivers but most of the courses I play are wooded with relatively short holes in the 300' range so I don't throw DDs that often.

I've been told by a few other players that I have probably about maxed out my distance due to my age.

I disagree. I think that if I work on and improve my form, practice and maybe begin strength training targeting the appropriate muscles I should be able to make fairly significant gains in my distance. :\

So I guess the questions is are these guys right... have I about maxed out or can I ever hope to hit or exceed 300'?

I hope some of you in the 50+ age group can chime in here and give me a ray of hope. :thmbup:

 

[Curtis_Valk]

I'll be 54 in May. I started playing DG November before last and for a few months I was where you are distance wise. Then my timing and form began to improve to where I am now at around 300 give or take. I can hit 280 to 290 consistently and almost effortlessly with fairways and long mids like a Z Buzzz. With my distance drivers (149g Starlite Valk, mid 160s QJLS and DGA Undertow) I can usually exceed 320 in the open with an occasional drive in the 350 range. My longest was probably the Starlite Valk downwind at around 375.

I feel like I still have room to improve and I think 350 consistent and accurate is not out of reach eventually. Timing and technique are more of an influence on your throw than brute strength, so I believe you will undoubtedly reach 300 or more.

 

[BionicRib]

A friend of mine is 46 or 47......and he can throw well over 400. He focuses more on technique and timing more than anything. And he can also do it with a one step.

Just keep practicing and pushing.

 

[Broken Shoulder]

My brother-in-law is 49. We didn't play for over 10 years, came back to the sport this last July, and by fall he was throwing well over 300 feet again.

 

[ohtobediscing]

I've birdied #11 at Hiller Park[346'] 3 times in a row now with easy putts. 3 days to 55. Slowing your runup and fine-tuning technique make a lot of difference.
I often disc with a guy 20 years my junior, and he outdrives me by 60-100'---but not quite as accurately as I do, so we each win about 50% of the rounds. And putting means a lot---rarely missing under 30'.

 

[Jimb]

I'm 46 and don't feel that I've maxed out distance-wise yet. I hope to increase my distance with better form for at least a few more years.

 

[Old Dog]

Thanks guys. Your responses sure make me feel a lot better.

I know that there is plenty of room to improve my driving form. At this point my run up feels very awkward and my X step is non existent. My best drives, distance and accuracy, are accomplished by taking just one step and shifting my weight forward from my back to front foot. When I try to add a run up or X step accuracy goes out the window. If I could just get this area down I feel a would add at least 25' or more to my drives.

One area that confuses my is that I often read about not releasing the disc but letting it "rip" from your hand. When I try this in inevitably grip lock it and shank it way right. Could this be because I am not pulling straight enough across my chest but pulling threw in an arch around my body instead?

This spring I hope to get involved in one of the local leagues. Playing against and just being around better players and being able to observe and pick up pointers has always been helpful in learning other sports that I've taken up in the past.

 

[hempies]

Form trumps power. I have a buddy your age and he can accurately hit 300' with his mids standing still.

 

[xlhammy]

Age is a unit of measurement to compare time relative to one another. It just so happens to correspond to the deterioration of physical ability and health in people, on average.

However, there are plenty of 70+ year old people who regularly compete in IronMan events (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, 26.2 marathon run back to back to back), which goes against the averages. These people train and maintain their ability to do these things.

Ability is not always constrained by age, so keep at it Old Dog.

 

[Nasty Nate]

Thanks guys. Your responses sure make me feel a lot better.

I know that there is plenty of room to improve my driving form. At this point my run up feels very awkward and my X step is non existent. My best drives, distance and accuracy, are accomplished by taking just one step and shifting my weight forward from my back to front foot. When I try to add a run up or X step accuracy goes out the window. If I could just get this area down I feel a would add at least 25' or more to my drives.

One area that confuses my is that I often read about not releasing the disc but letting it "rip" from your hand. When I try this in inevitably grip lock it and shank it way right. Could this be because I am not pulling straight enough across my chest but pulling threw in an arch around my body instead?

This spring I hope to get involved in one of the local leagues. Playing against and just being around better players and being able to observe and pick up pointers has always been helpful in learning other sports that I've taken up in the past.

Just as others have said, slow your run up. I do more of a walk-up and even though I am not a huge distance thrower, if I ever try to "run up" it completely screws up my shot. Although the X-step is important so you should definitely work on that.

Here, take a tip from this guy

 

[little oz]

51 here and starters playing a couple of years ago. Starters out throwing 200 and straining my arm. Through experience and practice I'm out to 325-350. Form is everything for guys our age. I don't have a run up, but I have a one step/x step/release approach

 

[knettles]

I'm only 27, but I still made big improvements from slowing down my runup. Of course, that could have to do with my form just being crappy before.

 

[wingit]

Don't believe it. 54 playing 2.5 years throwing 300ish with better technique am sure I can gain another 50+

 

[Monkeypaws]

51, played in earnest for a year and a half, tried all kinds of plastic and rubber, and on a good warm summer day can do the 300 driver, 250 mid, and 220 putter. Technique is #1, but certain discs can really help, like the Warship and Tursas, ridiculous easy distance for mids, Air Saint, light GL River, and lastly UnLace, my true rubber-armed champion of easy "did I just throw that?" distance.

 

[Fraser]

One area that confuses my is that I often read about not releasing the disc but letting it "rip" from your hand. When I try this in inevitably grip lock it and shank it way right. Could this be because I am not pulling straight enough across my chest but pulling threw in an arch around my body instead?

Sounds as though you are rounding. You probably just need to close your shoulders more, get your off hand out of the way and get you throwing arm a little further from your body. If you are actively letting go, you are robbing yourself of the momentum you have built up in your runup/pull. It will take some time to get the aim corrected but you should see a jump in distance if you let the disc come out of your grip due to momentum. You've probably noticed you've gotten more distance during these "grip lock" situations. That's kind of what you are looking for.

 

[KniceZ]

I'm 54 and have been SLOWLY increasing my distance. I'm now maxing out about 325 but typically around 290-300. I'm still hoping to be able to routinely break 350.

 

[cubeofsoup]

we have a local dude who's been playing for a long time, i think he's in his 50s and he's close to 1000 rated. He can still pump it out over 400 but he definitely doesn't have the arm he once had. Still one of, if not, the best golfer around here.

 

[Dthunderchicken]

I've been told by a few other players that I have probably about maxed out my distance due to my age.

Not at all.

I disagree. I think that if I work on and improve my form, practice and maybe begin strength training targeting the appropriate muscles I should be able to make fairly significant gains in my distance. :\

With good form and reasonable strength, yeah probably.

So I guess the questions is are these guys right... have I about maxed out or can I ever hope to hit or exceed 300'?

When I was not too much younger than you, (I'm 56) before a broken shoulder and three herniated discs, I was throwing 300 with control. As long as you're healthy, strong and have good form you should be able to throw farther than most kids. (It's a good feeling. )

 

[Old Dog]

^^ This. I was playing Dry Creek with a friend last week and I tried cranking my Archangel on one of the long open holes. His jaw dropped and he claimed that it was the furthest throw he had ever witnessed. I was too miffed that I grip locked it and threw it about 30* right of my intended target that I didn't really note how far it went but it did seem like it was a long walk to retrieve it. :doh:

If I could learn to harness and control that power I have no doubt I could hit 300'+.

Nate, Thanks for the link to the video. I've got some work to do. :\

 

[Nasty Nate]

Nate, Thanks for the link to the video. I've got some work to do. :\

No problem! :thmbup: I figured you might appreciate that. I'm always working on my form and I struggle to break 300' with my drives, so Barry Schultz gives me hope that we can all bomb discs no matter what our age.

Also if you are so inclined you can always post a video here for form analysis and I'm sure people will be more than willing to help you. It really helps to be able to see what your routine is so the form masters here can assess your situation. I will be doing this once the weather gets warm.