Practice

[WillA]

It never ceases to amaze me how important form is. 18 months ago I was consistently throwing 300 feet. Then I hurt my knee, couldn't play for a month and couldn't really play for two months. And my distance fell off to a consistent 240.

I expected it to come back. But last year I didn't put in much field practice. I just played and I never got back to where I was. It may be boring but I am determined to spend at least a couple of days a week on field practice this year.

[TalbotTrojan]

Field Practice or playing rounds where you actually focus on form, it is all the same to me. I've put on 20 to 40 feet in the past couple of weeks simply because I have worked on having a better snap when I release. It is amazing to see the results. Wish it had happened before I played in that last tournament but I am not complaining that it happened.

[Jimb]

I get to practice in an open field close to work a heck of a lot more than I actually get to play on a course. It's definitely a good place to get to try all different kinds of shots and not just work on distance.

I've really been able to see the development of my throws and it's really cool. I can actually see my Hyzer Flips flip now. And I can actually see my Flex Shots flight path. It's even really opened up my eyes on how different Tomahawks are different from Thumbers. I guess that it's time to work on my Rollers now. Or maybe I should focus more on my crappy putting! :eek:

But the coolest thing for me was when I took it onto a football field late last Fall. I hadn't thrown on a lined off field for about six months. It was awesome actually seeing the difference measured agains the lines on the field. It just felt better to me than just seeing the distance increase versus some arbitrary reference point that I picked out.

Enjoy it wherever you're doin' it!

[Usher]

It like golf and a Driving Range. I feel when you try are "practice" on the course, you get too caught up in the game. Were as at the driving range you can just focus on your form. Same goes for Disc golf.

[TalbotTrojan]

Here is my problem with practicing not on the course. I concentrate less and care about the result less. For me it is more of a practice how you play and if I get too much on the side of thinking about form then I won't play well. It is a combination of being in the mindset and getting the form right. I think I heard it in a DisCraft video that you want to think about your throw but you don't want to think too much about your throw.

Here is where I think a driving range is beneficial, it helps you become more self aware of what you are doing. Once you have gained a certain level of self awareness you really do not need it any more. Also, it is a lot more beneficial to practice your putting as half your throws are going to be putts (on average).

[_.-Dut-._]

Biggest benefit to field practice is you can throw 50 drives in around 15 minutes.

Where as a course you only are going to Tee-off 18 times, with much more time.

[Neophyte]

The courses are pretty deserted this time of year (and I regularly play alone) so I often throw multiple shots from each position. I try out different disc and shot combinations without holding up another group. This way I can work the challenges of the course into my shot selection.

[_.-Dut-._]

The courses are pretty deserted this time of year (and I regularly play alone) so I often throw multiple shots from each position. I try out different disc and shot combinations without holding up another group. This way I can work the challenges of the course into my shot selection.


Yeah I do this same thing at times.

[t i m]

Field Practice is Golden

It's been cold, and dark early, so I hadn't been to a field in a long time. But Friday evening, I ducked out of work at 5 p.m. sharp and got in about 40 minutes in a field throwing drivers with my brother. Some new plastic had piled up over the winter and I really wanted to try it out to see how it fared. Wind was head/cross-wind blowing at 10-15mph.

We were throwing Wraiths, Teebirds, Bosses, Destroyers, Valkyries, Monarchs, Roadrunners, Grooves, and a few random discs throw in for fun (including Zephyrs and SuperHeros).

Discs flew more or less as expected, but I was reminded of a few critical things:


Teebirds fly great on low, flat lines and have a minimal low-speed fade.
Bosses skip like crazy
Roadrunners -- on a medium-high S-line -- can outdrive anything else out there for lower-power players.


Destroyers and wraiths were all about the same distance, 40-50' in front of the Teebirds and Valks. Boss/Groove/Roadrunner were about another 20' out, with the Roadrunner winning farthest drive by a few feet both upwind and downwind (surprise!).

Teebirds were by far the most predictable and closest grouped disc. Teebirds -- even different weights and plastics -- ended up close to one another, all following the same low, flat line with slight hyzer fade at the end (downwind) and flat finish (upwind).

I was reminded the line that Teebirds fly best. And how much Bosses skip almost 90-degrees sideways at the end of their flight if they are thrown low. And both of these facts came in incredibly handy at the Icebowl this weekend. There was a 450' tight tunnel shot with nasty underbrush that I threaded with a Teebird, putting it ~350' down one of the most controlled lines I've ever thrown. It just pured the alley the whole way and was a thing of beauty to behold -- easily 100' past where anyone else landed, and I was on the lead card in pro. It is gorgeous to watch a disc down a tight alley.

One other whole was a teebox with a tight line straight at the basket and a hole twice as wide to the left. I took a Boss and popped a flick out hard and low, 6" off the ground -- it went out about 380', hit the ground and skipped 60'+ to the right to park the hole. Kept me out of the tight alley and still got me to the basket.

I don't think I would have tried either shot had I not spent that time in a field. It was just a reminder to me how important it is to spend time in a field to get to know what your discs are capable of. It will save you strokes on the course.

[DiscChainBasket18]

I threw my entire stack of (misc) discs in an open field with a running track on one side (to judge straightness & distance). I got the most out of my time when I recorded notes on each throw in a journal (I was able to find all my discs this way too). Then at home later that evening I went over my notes on each disc's overall distance & hyzer, anhyzer. How quick to stable or understable etc. How the wind affected the flight. I threw uphill & down. It was a lot of effort but I did learn a lot about each disc. The discs in my bag are different now than what I had in there before field testing. Now I go back to the field to test-throw each new disc I get.

[TalbotTrojan]

Maybe it is just that field practice bores me like crazy. Yet I can go to a ball golf driving range and enjoymyself. I think I would have more fun if I had someone to play catch with so that I didn't have to walk too far. There is definately something to be said for knowing what your discs can do or rather what you can make them do.

By the way, I watched an incredible shot in a tourney which sounds much like the boss being mentioned earlier in this thread. It was on a par four with a 90 degree dogleg left. The bend was about 300 - 350 ft out and then another 250 to 300 ft to the pin. Guy threw an incredibly low shot that skipped once up over some roack in the way. Then it skipped a second time and made the turn perfectly sending him down towards the hole about 50 to 75 ft from the bend. And that was in the open ameture division! Too bad he came in third in the tourney.

[DGtourist]

Embrace field work

I have a parking lot across the street from my house. So I set up the old basket and paced off 150' (a distance I don't practice much) and tore through my stack four times. Maybe about 150 throws. It was a great learning experience, I figure I can make a run from that distance and still land in my confidence ring 95% of the time.

[YonderScott]

50 feet from the backdoor I have a practice area. I can't stand in a field and throw, I try too hard and don't learn a thing. But right here I have thrown so much that when I step on a tee on any course the short pole with the orange arrow pointing at it is all I see.

Few random thoughts:
I usually practice with my mp3 player in my ears with a soundboard from 73 or 77.
I have 3 tee boxes set up, 200' 175' 150'.
The dog is Charlie Girl!
I mainly throw putters and mid-range here. Only pulling out drivers when I get new ones.
The smaller tree on the left under the pines is a dogwood. As is the tree to the farthest right with the swing on it.
The first tree and the last tree are pecan trees. There are still plenty on the ground for munching between throws.
The first pic was taken this morning (it's cloudy in NC today).
The last 2 were taken from the 150' tee looking up the driveway. I included these 2 to show how it looks in summer and winter(when we get snow!)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z1.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z2.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z3.jpg

[JR Stengele]

50 feet from the backdoor I have a practice area. I can't stand in a field and throw, I try too hard and don't learn a thing. But right here I have thrown so much that when I step on a tee on any course the short pole with the orange arrow pointing at it is all I see.

Few random thoughts:
I usually practice with my mp3 player in my ears with a soundboard from 73 or 77.
I have 3 tee boxes set up, 200' 175' 150'.
The dog is Charlie Girl!
I mainly throw putters and mid-range here. Only pulling out drivers when I get new ones.
The smaller tree on the left under the pines is a dogwood. As is the tree to the farthest right with the swing on it.
The first tree and the last tree are pecan trees. There are still plenty on the ground for munching between throws.
The first pic was taken this morning (it's cloudy in NC today).
The last 2 were taken from the 150' tee looking up the driveway. I included these 2 to show how it looks in summer and winter(when we get snow!)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z1.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z2.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z3.jpg

That looks amazing for being in your back yard. I go down the road in Washington near the local high school which has that new turf with those little black rubber pieces and go throw. What I like about that is just the fact that it has great markings and even when wet is still great to throw on. I don't have to worry about muddy discs.

[tamahawk]

Biggest benefit to field practice is you can throw 50 drives in around 15 minutes.

Where as a course you only are going to Tee-off 18 times, with much more time.

i agree with Dut's comment. i think this is one of the big things about field practice. you can work on form and technique, develop muscle memory, and strengthen the muscles used to throw getting in a lot more throws. in a typical round, at least at the courses in my area, i throw from the tee and the rest of the shots are going to be upshots and putts. so, after playing for 1hr or so to complete 18holes, i've probably only thrown 20-22 full shots give or take. imagine how many throws you could get in with the same amount of time, especially if throwing in both directions.

[Midnightbiker]

[QUOTE=TalbotTrojan;36897]Maybe it is just that field practice bores me like crazy. Yet I can go to a ball golf driving range and enjoymyself. I think I would have more fun if I had someone to play catch with so that I didn't have to walk too far. There is definitely something to be said for knowing what your discs can do or rather what you can make them do.

QUOTE]

I take my "Walkman" out to the practice, put on my headphones, and then go off into my own little world as I practice my drives and my putting. I love the practice field. You can see what discs work, what discs don't , and if you have any overlap in your bag.

Last tournament I was in, I didn't do as well as I thought I could, so after the tournament, I went to the practice field for 3 hours and realized some of the things I was doing wrong, and that some of the discs I was using, were not the best choice. It really opened my eyes.

[_.-Dut-._]

50 feet from the backdoor I have a practice area. I can't stand in a field and throw, I try too hard and don't learn a thing. But right here I have thrown so much that when I step on a tee on any course the short pole with the orange arrow pointing at it is all I see.

Few random thoughts:
I usually practice with my mp3 player in my ears with a soundboard from 73 or 77.
I have 3 tee boxes set up, 200' 175' 150'.
The dog is Charlie Girl!
I mainly throw putters and mid-range here. Only pulling out drivers when I get new ones.
The smaller tree on the left under the pines is a dogwood. As is the tree to the farthest right with the swing on it.
The first tree and the last tree are pecan trees. There are still plenty on the ground for munching between throws.
The first pic was taken this morning (it's cloudy in NC today).
The last 2 were taken from the 150' tee looking up the driveway. I included these 2 to show how it looks in summer and winter(when we get snow!)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z1.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z2.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z3.jpg

Dude, I want your property. All I have for trade at the moment is a Brand new Star Destroyer and a Epic. PM me and will work something out. ;)

[disc-o maniac]

50 feet from the backdoor I have a practice area. I can't stand in a field and throw, I try too hard and don't learn a thing. But right here I have thrown so much that when I step on a tee on any course the short pole with the orange arrow pointing at it is all I see.

Few random thoughts:
I usually practice with my mp3 player in my ears with a soundboard from 73 or 77.
I have 3 tee boxes set up, 200' 175' 150'.
The dog is Charlie Girl!
I mainly throw putters and mid-range here. Only pulling out drivers when I get new ones.
The smaller tree on the left under the pines is a dogwood. As is the tree to the farthest right with the swing on it.
The first tree and the last tree are pecan trees. There are still plenty on the ground for munching between throws.
The first pic was taken this morning (it's cloudy in NC today).
The last 2 were taken from the 150' tee looking up the driveway. I included these 2 to show how it looks in summer and winter(when we get snow!)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z1.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z2.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/YonderScott/z3.jpg

wow the pics are amazing i want to live there now especially in the summer and that was a very clever idea :)

[TalbotTrojan]

Don't get me wrong on practice people, I would love to get a basket and put it in my future yard. I still think that form and seeing what discs can do can be done while playing a round. Right now I know that my putting needs a little bit of work but that my form on all throws is getting better. I am also getting better snap as well. You know how I know I am getting better snap? I threw a drive on the first hole into a lake beyond the basket that I have never hit before. Either that or on hole two, when I hit the gap, which I am doing more frequently, I am actually having a birdie putt that I have not had until recently. By the time I get to hole 27 my form starts to get sloppy and I know it is time to focus and put the disc in play. If I do that I still end up with a good score and if not then it is anyones guess.

[Noel757]

Practice is KEY, not just playing a round. When you play a round you allow yourself to give up on form just because you got the end result you wanted or you got a better end result then planned. Take inconsistent form to a new course for a tourny and see whats up! The only way to truly become a better all around player is to practice preferably in an open field for driving and midrange (you do need targets to aim for still), so you can truly focus on FORM. Top pros have great basic form. Their styles differ in some ways but their basic form is the same. Not saying that playing rounds wont help you improve, but it won't help you reach your goals any where near as fast. Also you have to totally focus on every shot!! Just as if you were playing in a tourny or competitively with buds. Sloppy practice = sloppy play. Its muscle memory, just like Feldberg, Avery, Climo have all said before. Keep on good discin brahs!!

[BrotherDave]

I've got a big hay field to throw in all day, gave me a big boy arm in no time.

[TalbotTrojan]

I feel like I am getting lambasted here for simply saying that I would rather play a round than stand around in a field.

I have stood in a field on more than one occasion since I started playing six months ago.

It is entirely possible to play a round and focus on form as well as the outcome of the throw.

The bottom line is that if you have a disc in your hand and you are actually thinking about what you are doing you can improve your game. Doing it on a consistent basis will help you improve quicker.

[BrotherDave]

I feel like I am getting lambasted here for simply saying that I would rather play a round than stand around in a field.

I have stood in a field on more than one occasion since I started playing six months ago.

It is entirely possible to play a round and focus on form as well as the outcome of the throw.

The bottom line is that if you have a disc in your hand and you are actually thinking about what you are doing you can improve your game. Doing it on a consistent basis will help you improve quicker.

If you're playing a fairly open course all the time I agree with you but if you play tight wooded courses starting out and you can't tell if your disc was thrown well or not because it hit a tree 50 feet from the tee and then kicked 20 feet off the fairway you don't learn much except that you hate trees.

[WillA]

For me it comes down to this. In a field I can throw drive after drive after drive. Playing a round I throw a drive and walk and throw a couple of other shots and then I throw another drive. It just doesn't work as well for me.

[cc0049]

A field is good for working on distance, but not much else in my opinion. I think that the best practice is on a dg course. It's really great when you can manage to get a course to yourself so that you can throw multiples. It really helps you learn your discs well too. I for one, need something to aim at and a fairway to throw through. I have neither of those with an empty field. A field is good if there is at least a basket set up and I know how far away the basket is from where I'm throwing.
There just aren't many holes nearby in which I have to just throw all out power without worrying about placement. Most holes I'm deciding how much power to put into the throw and where to try and place the shot. It is hard to work on those last two things in an open field.

[cc0049]

If you're playing a fairly open course all the time I agree with you but if you play tight wooded courses starting out and you can't tell if your disc was thrown well or not because it hit a tree 50 feet from the tee and then kicked 20 feet off the fairway you don't learn much except that you hate trees.

Playing in an open field isn't going to help you on those tightly wooded fairways. Practicing throws on those tightly wooded fairways are going to help you on those tightly wooded fairways. IMHO of course.

[WillA]

Your point is well taken. I started this thread talking about needing to practice in a field to work on my drives for distance and form. But their are some things field practice isn't good for like throwing through a gap in the trees or putting. It's good for what it's good for and not good for other things.

[cc0049]

After reading through the thread more carefully...I do agree that field practice is also good for taking mental notes on how the discs behave...really learning their flight characteristics. Another thing that can be good about field practice is that you generally have more of a wind factor there, which is really good for determining how your discs behave in the wind. You've got to be able to play in the wind to be a good disc golfer. (Especially here in Texas)

[craigg]

Much like your choice of what course to practice on - which field you choose for practice is equally important.
One of the best objects around for learning and practicing different kinds of shots is a goalpost.

Field practice isn't just about distance - it's more about repetition.

Using a goalpost at various angles can offer good practice drills for:rollers, LtoR, RtoL shots, controlled turn at different heights, controlled directional finish, controlled height at varying distances, you name it.

Using the post itself to force you to throw to a given depth from a variety of distances will take you out of that mode of "just throwing hard on a field" and put you into that mode of "how do make my disc do that - and end up there" - which is EXACTLY what you need for the golf course.

If you find field practice tedious or generally unproductive, you need help developing a practice regimen. Talk to your local pro - yeah that guy who's been playing forever - and throws his midranges as far as you throw your drivers.

[t i m]

After reading through the thread more carefully...I do agree that field practice is also good for taking mental notes on how the discs behave...really learning their flight characteristics. Another thing that can be good about field practice is that you generally have more of a wind factor there, which is really good for determining how your discs behave in the wind. You've got to be able to play in the wind to be a good disc golfer. (Especially here in Texas)

QFT. That's the right spirit. When you throw in a field, you can try lots of little tweaks and see what your discs do. You can also see how disc X behaves vs. disc Y when thrown on the same line in the same conditions. You can try anhyzers and hyzers and spike shots and hyzer-flips and S-turns and flat shots and shots at different heights and different grips in all sorts of different wind conditions.

There is no substitute for field work for teaching you how discs behave. And don't make the mistake of thinking that you should always be throwing for max-D in a field. No need to do that (though you can). Try your whole bag at 80% power, then 60% power, then 40% power. Learn what different lines your discs make when thrown at different arm speeds. You'll be very surprised what happens and what you learn about your discs.

Field work absolutely translates to the woods. If you know what line your disc will follow, and at what speed, then you know how hard to throw what disc to make it carve the line you want. It's very hard to learn this in the woods. Much easier to learn in a field.

For instance, you learn that at 80% power, you favorite beat midrange is buttery straight, but at 90% power it flips too much and doesn't go as far. 80% may be your sweet spot for that disc. It's hard to learn that in the woods. Easy in the field.

You also get the chance to try rollers with discs you would never roll; hammers with discs you would never hammer. It helps to know that your Banshee hammers great on a high line, but your Destroyer flips toooo fast and goes half the distance -- even though that might seem counter intuitive.

It helps you to learn that the old beat Eagle in the back of your car is amazing and carves a wicked gently anhyzer line 6' off the ground when thrown at 60% power -- a line that you've got to overpower your Roc to 90% to throw -- and the Eagle goes farther, even with less power.

Those kinds of things take years to learn in the woods. You can learn in days line field.

Take all of your discs and set up a basket (or trashcan or whatever) 150' away. Try to land as close as possible to the target. Throw every disc. Do this over and over. What lands closest? What lines do you throw best. I.E. if you're on the course and you're 150' out, what is your most predictable way to park the basket? Should you look for a hyzer with your firebird, an anhyzer with your Roc, a straight shot with your Wizard? What is most predictable for you? How do you increase your odds on the course?

I've learned that for me, my highest percentage park-shots in the 100-200' range are flick hyzers with a Firebird or Pegasus, and closer than that are flick anhyzers with a Wizard or Roc. Neither of those shots is intuitive, but those are my highest odds. On the course, I know what to look for. On par 4s, I know where to try to aim for as a layup so I have my preferred shot as a second shot to give me the best chance at a 3.

Fields teach you odds about your own throws, and teach you throws you never knew you had.

Of course, if you don't want to do field work, I'm okay with that. It ups the odds that I'll beat you the next time we're in a tournament together. :cool:

[cc0049]

I really appreciate your comments Tim. I can tell that you have a lot of insight into this great game and am very glad that you are so willing to share. I think I'll start doing a little more field work. I can't have you beating me next time we're in a tournament together after all. :)

[TalbotTrojan]

Just so you all know I went out and did some field practice today. Got in some good time driving with my putter and boy it is frustrating at first but it definately gives you a clearer picture of what you are doing wrong. Plus when you can throw your putter 300' accurately it is a good way to forget the plus 11 round you just shot.

[swellerdiscgolf]

At most fields around here, we have either football goal posts, or soccer goals. Both are excelent for learning how to "thread the needle" by throwing through these objects from different distances. The soccer goal can even be turned sideways to get an even tighter shot. My buddy and I throw in a field when we get a chance, with one of us at one end the other at the other end. We can throw 10 discs each in about 10 min. This has also given us insight into what each other is doing wrong or right, and we have been able to help each others form alot recently.