Tips on Accuracy

[rowdyray]

Does anyone have any good tips on how to improve driving accuracy. I have been playing a few more wooded, technical courses and am really struggling. Should I eliminated my run up completely or just step up? Should I practice throwing through narrow gaps at the park across the street? It seems like I hit every tree on the course. I just wondered if someone had some good advice on how to improve this part of my game.

I have been playing a little over three months. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[chrishysell]

Tell me about your throwing style. Are the shots you are struggling with forehands or backhands? Are you hitting the right side of the gap or the left side? This is actually important because I can help you correct this.

 

[medicinalfunk]

when i started, i didn't know how to throw backhand off the pad at all. it was a disaster every time. so i started throwing overhand shots every single time to try to make up for it. when my leg started to hurt all the time and i got sick of it, i learned to backhand from a standstill which is where i believe is the place to start. learn to throw standing still at the end of the pad so you reach back farther. i did this all summer and didn't start using an x-step until the early fall. i stand still on the end of the pad for short holes still. i went from only being able to throw about 150-200 feet off the end of the pad to 300-325 and almost 400 downhill

i believe standing still helps the player to think more about what the disc in his hand is doing as it comes out. the angle the nose and wing are at, the level at which its coming out. it's really a lot of repetition

i say all of this because i as well was about 3 months into my disc golf tenure when i decided i wanted to figure out what i was doing and ask for advice. keep playing and you will get to where you want to be if you work at it

also, what kind of discs are you throwing? say the hole is a straight line. what disc will you throw? a hole that banks off to the right? what about one that banks off to the left? say they are all about 250 feet

 

[kevinmzane]

Practice, Practice, Practice
For me, on the technical holes I just remember to not worry about what it is going to hit so much as the line it's going to pull off....kind of like putting.
Remember to take it easy and not try to pull off anything impossible, throw slower discs, and a slower more controlled run-up may help if you don't feel comfortable elimainating it. An easy 3 is waaay better than a bad kick off of a tree that leaves you with a 4 or 5 so lay it up if neccesary.

 

[biodarwin]

1.) Throw from a standstill / one step
2.) shorten your pull back and key you eye on the target

 

[Technohic]

I like to not look at the hole Im trying to go through but rather a spot on the ground closer to me that if I throw over, it should be on target. Its easier to hit a target that is close than far away.

Also, I know a lot of newer players get the fastest drivers they can find and then have to crank on it to get it to go. Finding a disc that is in your ability to throw without needing to crush on it goes a long way toward accuracy.

 

[kevinmzane]

I must have missed the "playing for 3 months part"... starting from a standstill will be a good place to start like the others have said.

 

[Connor Jones]

I like to not look at the hole Im trying to go through but rather a spot on the ground closer to me that if I throw over, it should be on target. Its easier to hit a target that is close than far away.

:thmbup: Visualizing the line is the way to go,I always pick a a spot of the line i'd like maybe 1/3 of the way down the hole,and I know if I hit this i'm going to be okay.

 

[rowdyray]

Thanks for all the comments.

I am almost exclusively RHBH off the tee. I will throw an overhead type shot when I am in trouble (which is a lot). I don't really have a forehand to speak of.

If I want distance in the woods, I would probably throw my DX Leopard. I have more hope of keeping it straight than my Valkyrie. On 200 to 240 straight shot, I feel most confident with my DX Cobra or Buzzz.

 

[Connor Jones]

Seems like you've picked up pretty quickly then,definitely keep using the midranges/leopard,don't worry about the valk until you're pushing the leopard 300+ I would say.

 

[Technohic]

:thmbup: Visualizing the line is the way to go,I always pick a a spot of the line i'd like maybe 1/3 of the way down the hole,and I know if I hit this i'm going to be okay.

I should have also noted, I adjust how far I look depending on height I want. Lower I look shorter, higher I look further out because that typically means I have a wider window, but I have to be carefull not to look too far out because then I tend to pop my nose up.

Thanks for all the comments.

I am almost exclusively RHBH off the tee. I will throw an overhead type shot when I am in trouble (which is a lot). I don't really have a forehand to speak of.

If I want distance in the woods, I would probably throw my DX Leopard. I have more hope of keeping it straight than my Valkyrie. On 200 to 240 straight shot, I feel most confident with my DX Cobra or Buzzz.

Just dont crank on the Leopard. Keep it under control and smooth and do what the others have said with the standstill, less reachback, and keep your eyes on your target. Just for tight shots. If you have an open range to throw, you are going to want that reachback and will need to take your eyes off the target briefly but will need to set them back on it ASAP as you come around. Theres a lot to that, but thats also why when new, throwing from a standstill is good practice for a while.

 

[Apoth]

Tell me about your throwing style. Are the shots you are struggling with forehands or backhands? Are you hitting the right side of the gap or the left side? This is actually important because I can help you correct this.

Not to hijack someone else's thread, but if you know of ways to cure this problem, I could use the help as well. I've been pulling to the right lately for some reason I can't quite figure out (RHBH). Any suggestions would be great.

 

[chrishysell]

Just one piece of advice. Standing still might help you because you are looking forward when you throw. But standing still really isn't the proper solution. It just masks your bad form. The problem with missing your lines is that you are not looking at your target. It requires a combination of head turn as well as the proper toe direction. I never stand still unless i'm putting.

Do you throw a forehand? It is more of a foreward looking throw that doesn't require shoulder turn.

 

[Apoth]

It requires a combination of head turn as well as the proper toe direction.

What do you mean by this?

 

[sloppydisc]

Leopard is a good disc, but learn to throw a mid in the woods. Roc, Buzzz or Core would be good. A Fuse really has helped me. Comet is a good choice too. Think mid and work on hitting your lines.

 

[chrishysell]

Not to hijack someone else's thread, but if you know of ways to cure this problem, I could use the help as well. I've been pulling to the right lately for some reason I can't quite figure out (RHBH). Any suggestions would be great.

There are always posts on here about discing down and limiting high speed drivers. Someone will post that practice and field work will help fix problems. This game is much simpler than that. All you need is about 3 different types of discs and different weights and stabilities for each model. Find discs that fit your hand and grip and learn to use them. I only throw Surges and Nukes. I throw them both forehand and backhand. When I want a wider release I throw lighter and when I want an earlier release I throw heavier. It's as simple as that. All you need to do is learn what works for you. That comes with experience. Stop trying to throw what other people throw and trying to be someone else. Simplify your game, don't complicate it.

 

[chrishysell]

What do you mean by this?

I watch everyone i'm playing with and offer them advice. One of the biggest things that disrupt a players aim is their release position. Always think of a disc golf throw as a karate chop. Your motion needs to go straight through the direction of your intended release. I'm thinking of this as a RHBH throw. If your foot stops rotating and is pointing left of your target then you will early release. Of course people may try to continue their throw with the upper body but this will result in OAT. Do this for a day and your knee will let you know it.

 

[coolhand]

chris, can you elaborate on the pointing of the toe of your plant foot?

 

[jtbingster]

@OP:

Your Leopard and Buzzz will help you the most, but if you are playing in the woods and want those discs to last you a while I would upgrade.

Get a light Champion Leopard (~167 grams) and a heavier Z Buzzz. They will take MUCH longer to beat in, so their flights will be more consistent for you.

 

[chrishysell]

chris, can you elaborate on the pointing of the toe of your plant foot?

Just pretend you are going to stand still and throw an easy shot to a friend. Your head and your toe is pointing towards them if you are throwing correctly. You need to see where you are throwing. When you add a run-up or steps to your throw you still need to have the same position final position. Your eyes and toes need to be pointing at your target.