Realistic expectations for over 50 crowd

[grotto]

Been playing a few years and have greatly improved my form since I began, but, I noticed I've hit a plateau with my drives at 320-350'. I'm happy with my mid and putter distance improvements (putters to 230"+, mids 260-280' depending on disc).

I've tried lighter discs and all the other suggestions out there and what I'm wondering is, for those of you who started discing late in life and are no longer as flexible as an 18 yr old, how far do you actually drive?

The older guys around me just play for fun and don't seem all that concerned with improving, they throw a Beast 250' and their fine with that, I however am not.

What's a realistic expectation?

 

[eegor]

You and I throw the same distances. Without finding some flexibility somehow, I don't know where more consistent distance will come from. I turn 54 on Sunday. I'm thinking the slide back will soon be reality. Injuries are starting to pile up and aren't completely healing anymore.

 

[timj5304]

Your realistic distance has peaked. I know a couple guys in the 55 range who used to throw 450-475 ft with cyclones and xl back in the day and now they are lucky to hit 350 with blizzard discs. They still kill it with superior putting and deadly upshots and letting everyone else screw up.

 

[eegor]

By the way, I've found a group of grandmaster aged guys that consistently hit 300+. They don't throw their putters and mids nearly as far as I do, but they come close with their wide rimmed drivers and Valks.

It's hard to get "old dogs" to play putter only or mid/putter only rounds.

 

[eegor]

Your realistic distance has peaked. I know a couple guys in the 55 range who used to throw 450-475 ft with cyclones and xl back in the day and now they are lucky to hit 350 with blizzard discs. They still kill it with superior putting and deadly upshots and letting everyone else screw up.

I agree. I smashed my pinky and I don't think I'll ever throw over 350 again. The bones were crushed and they aren't going to heal. The three finger grip isn't as good as a power grip. I've found about 275 throwing forehand lately. I think I might get a little more out of it.

 

[grotto]

Your realistic distance has peaked. I know a couple guys in the 55 range who used to throw 450-475 ft with cyclones and xl back in the day and now they are lucky to hit 350 with blizzard discs. They still kill it with superior putting and deadly upshots and letting everyone else screw up.

This is what I thought. Damn, wish I would have started younger.

Best part of my game is 200' and in. I guess birdie putts on 400' holes will just be a dream. Oh well.

 

[timj5304]

Kind of funny the different brand of golf played by masters. They don't read this garbage on here about "I can throw my putter x ft or my midrange x ft". Even the longest armed masters guys I know who throw in the 425 range still are throwing mids on shots of 150 ft often. I know one guy who only throws a z xs, star sidewinder and classic roc, 3 discs, throwing 350 ft max and is still rated 950-960 in his mid 50s

 

[timj5304]

This is what I thought. Damn, wish I would have started younger.

Best part of my game is 200' and in. I guess birdie putts on 400' holes will just be a dream. Oh well.

Learn to throw rollers, these masters guys can all throw backhand rollers well over 400 ft

 

[grotto]

Learn to throw rollers, these masters guys can all throw backhand rollers well over 400 ft

Yeah, I've been practicing them a lot recently.

For what it's worth, if I'm 150' away and can use it, my approach disc is a Suspect, not a putter.

 

[DavidSauls]

The realistic expectation is an individual matter. I'm 56, have been playing almost 20 years, don't throw that far, and have lost considerable distance since I was 40. But I know people over 50 who throw much farther, both lifelong players and players who took up disc golf about 5 years ago. Everyone's different.

One thing I recall from when my game was ascending, that I'd plateau for a while and then ratchet up to a new level, fairly quickly, and plateau there.

 

[RFrance]

I just turned 59 a week ago with still less than a year and a half playing. On Saturday I was getting my Valk, TB and Eagle out to an average of 250' measured. Occasionally, I'll get my Tern near the 300' mark. I've been working real hard on my form since last September and I'm still seeing a lot of improvement week to week, although realistically I know I'm getting close to my best distance. I would be quite pleased with grotto's (OP) distances.

What is important about the form at my age is it cuts down on injuries. I thought I was a short timer for the game a few months back when I was strong arming and felt like I tore something in my shoulder. I'll gladly settle for less distance for more time in the game.

 

[scotnt73]

I'm 42 so I'm not over 50 but I occasionally play with a couple guys who are in their mid 50s who easily throw 400. One is fat and one is skinny . they've been playing forever. I only throw 370 on my absolute best day and usually more like 350. I really feel that its technique that wins out over age. Yes some really athletic males without great technique can rip it 350-400(I have some former baseball playing friends like this). But as they get older this group will throw dramatically shorter than their technique throwing peers.

My 2 cents as an older guy who's been playing about 6 years and plays with mostly 30-40 years old and the occasional 50 plus year olds.

 

[grotto]

I guess I should be happy with my improvement. When I started, I was doing nothing but strong arming a Shark to 150' and thought it was good. After awhile my arm and shoulder were killing me, had to take some time off and that's when I started doing research and practicing differently and taking it slow and easy. When I get frustrated, I can still fall into that strong arming habit and have to remind my self to relax.

 

[ru4por]

51 here. 300ish. I could clean up form, but I don't think I would gain too much. Why mess with my iffy form that I have used for two decades. I would only likely hurt myself. I play with a group of GM's, none over 350. Keep knocking down those putts.

 

[grotto]

I just found this poking around. Wish there would be more videos of us older folks. Certainly looks different than the players on the lead card at the Worlds!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOhAXefZQLE

 

[mtb7001]

58 a couple weeks ago, throwing farther than I did at 40 and wanting more next year. Just try to repeat what you did on the last longest drive you ever threw. Keep working. Some techniques may require some new technology discs. Flip, turn, glide, fade. Work it. And don't worry about the actual number < ? > am I talking about your distance or your age ?

 

[gdub58]

I'll never understand the obsession some people have with distance.

I started playing when I was 50 and am 56 now. I am very competitive and as such really enjoy playing in tournaments. I can't remember ever playing a tournament or even a casual round where it has mattered who threw it the farthest or being impressed because someone used a putter on a 300' hole. Winning is so much more satisfying than throwing it a long way.

IMO it's about course management and putting. My rating fluctuates between 950 and 965, and if I am playing to my rating I can compete for the win in Grandmasters most of the time.

Sure, if I found a disc that added 50' to my drives I would use it, but I would much rather increase my accuracy on 30-40' putts - that will lower my score more than longer tee shots will...

 

[scotnt73]

I'll never understand the obsession some people have with distance.

I started playing when I was 50 and am 56 now. I am very competitive and as such really enjoy playing in tournaments. I can't remember ever playing a tournament or even a casual round where it has mattered who threw it the farthest or being impressed because someone used a putter on a 300' hole. Winning is so much more satisfying than throwing it a long way.

IMO it's about course management and putting. My rating fluctuates between 950 and 965, and if I am playing to my rating I can compete for the win in Grandmasters most of the time.

Sure, if I found a disc that added 50' to my drives I would use it, but I would much rather increase my accuracy on 30-40' putts - that will lower my score more than longer tee shots will...

This is true to a point. But there's a huge difference between 250 and 350 feet. Sure you don't need to throw 400 feet+ to be competitive at most levels. But the tourneys I play have allot of 290-320 foot holes. Im not saying a grandmaster that throws 250 and has an amazing short game can't beat me but he's going to be at a disadvantage.

 

[grotto]

It's not an obsession with distance, just an acknowledgment of my limits. One of the courses I play regularly has 5 par3's 400 feet or more. The best I can hope for on these holes is par unless I chain out an approach (which isn't that often) so on these holes I'll always be playing at a disadvantage.

On shorter wooded courses, I feel no such disadvantage as my short game and accuracy is always improving (it's the part of my game I practice most) because I can't rely on distance drives.

3 accurate shots with a short putt are all fine and good on a 750' par4, but it's still only going to get you a par. Now if you can throw consistently 375', it's a different game in your head.

There are lots of people I beat who can out drive me because they have no short game, but my concern is not in beating them, I pretty much play against myself and am just trying to improve my game.

 

[THUGNIFICENT763]

My dad is 52 and he can forehand a champion Starfire into the low 300s, he likes to say "you are only as old as you feel". I believe there is a 78 year old PDGA player in Japan, so if you take care of yourself, you have decades before you need to worry about anything. Just my two cents.