How do you aim your throw?

[D.W.G.]

I am way too lazy to check all of the threads before this one, but

HOW DO YOU AIM YOUR THROW???

Really, how do you know when to release the disc??? This is not like a bowling ball(when you get to the end of the lane you let go) you can let go too early, WAY TOO LATE...



How do you get "THAT FEEL" to know "IT IS TIME TO THROW THE DISC"...???

[treethacker]

Sometimes you don't and you have "Grip lock".Thats where instead of letting the disc go and that right moment you hang on until your arm can't go any further and the disc is forced out of your hand and goes flying eight or nine miles towards the right (or left depending on which hand your using to throw)and goes away from your intended target.
Practice,practice,cuss,practice,get frustrated,practice,practice,watch other people who are better than you,ask questions,practice,cuss,practice,slap disc hard against basket chain,say to yourself "forget this stupid game! Why the hell did I even start playing? Five minutes later....pick up disc...practice! They tell me that in time the release and distance will happen....Still waitin!!!
Hope this helps. Your welcome;)

[Ryan P.]

That's a good question, and i'm not really sure how to answer it. When i throw, i actually look away from where i'm throwing (as far as backhand goes). It's totally a feeling to know when to let go of my disc. i would just say to practice more and more. It's basically muscle memory for me.

[zensuit]

I am way too lazy to check all of the threads before this one, but

HOW DO YOU AIM YOUR THROW???

Really, how do you know when to release the disc??? This is not like a bowling ball(when you get to the end of the lane you let go) you can let go too early, WAY TOO LATE...



How do you get "THAT FEEL" to know "IT IS TIME TO THROW THE DISC"...???

You should rarely be throwing 90% or greater. So at the 75-80% range needed for most holes it's a lot easier to sense when to let the disc go. Griplock seems to be a major problem mostly when it's time to let it all hang out.

[ShaZaun]

here's the dead horse....practice....try for accuracy first and then work on distance constently.....

[srm_520]

Meditation and prayer. If that doesn't works I would take ShaZaun's advice and practice. It is interesting to watch people with natural ability versus those who have to work hard for it. That is the real conversation...

[ejvogie]

If you're using a run-up, it always help me to run in the direction I want to throw. Make sure the imaginary line from back foot to front foot points toward your intended throwing path.

[djext1]

As said already, the answer is: Practice...practice...practice.

One thing that always helps when trying to learn something new in disc golf is slowing down.

Take some time purposely NOT trying to 'gun it out there'. Instead, just take and do a slow and steady, but purposeful run up when you drive. Do it slowly with your focus on where you are throwing. Play a few rounds doing this. If you find yourself speeding up, STOP. Get yourself back on track, and just do it slowly. Eventually muscle memory takes over. It will take a while, but it's always easier when it's slow.

Another way to practice aim. Is to do NO run up. Just practice the standstill, straight reachback, across the chest and throw practice. Do a few rounds doing this. This will teach what it feels like to do the reachback and straight/flat across the chest movement without having to worry about anything else.

The main thing is to get your mind on just motion of the arm and the direction of release without all the other stuff (power, speed, run up, angle, distance,etc). You won't be throwing em far, but that isn't your goal right now. You just want to learn the motion. Do a few rounds like this, or the practice above and it should help. Ideally, you should do both, and spread it out over a good number of rounds.

The big problem with disc golf for a lot of new players is the amount of things that have to be taken into consideration in a drive/approach/putt. It's tough to get it ALL at once, but much easier to isolate and learn each one of them individually. Eventually it all comes together.


In short: slow down.

:) Anyone is free to disagree with me or add to anything I've said. I'm no authority, but these are the things I've found helpful when teaching someone new.

[ejvogie]

:) Anyone is free to disagree with me or add to anything I've said. I'm no authority, but these are the things I've found helpful when teaching someone new.

You've been reading too much of the "Disc Speed and Ability" thread, haven't you? ;)

[djext1]

What I say is Gospel truth and 100% fact and NO ONE can say otherwise...



;)

[Ryan P.]

actually djext, i disagree with the last statement in your post. i don't think some people have the freedom to disagree with you, because some have given up that freedom by being ridiculous jerks to others.

and before you ask ejvogie, i've been reading that thread a lot myself.

and to stay on topic with this thread, as everyone else (including myself) has already said, practice. muscle memory is one of the biggest factors with getting good at any sport. It's just like a free throw in basketball. anybody can make the shot, but the people who are better free throw shooters have simply taken more time to practice free throws.

[craigg]

Play catch
More throws in rapid succession will help you find your release point than practicing on the course, or even on a field.
Start at 100' and just keep backing up until you're playing long distance catch from 70,80,90 yards away.
You just need someone willing to shag all your shanks!
This will help you work your foot work into the equation also.

[djext1]

Play catch
More throws in rapid succession will help you find your release point than practicing on the course, or even on a field.
Start at 100' and just keep backing up until you're playing long distance catch from 70,80,90 yards away.
You just need someone willing to shag all your shanks!
This will help you work your foot work into the equation also.

Ooo. This is a good one too, forgot about that. This does help you learn that whole 'aiming' thing, plus it can sometimes even help with form if you do this with an emphasis on keeping it flat and straight. Good tip ;)

I've said it in other threads, and I'll say it everywhere: Throw rounds with a putter. Plus play catch with a putter too...same principle. Learning to throw a putter with power and accuracy will GREATLY help your driving in so many ways.



actually djext, i disagree with the last statement in your post. i don't think some people have the freedom to disagree with you, because some have given up that freedom by being ridiculous jerks to others.


lol

[zensuit]

What I say is Gospel truth and 100% fact and NO ONE can say otherwise...



;)

That is total bull***t and you are an evil motherf***er and I'm never coming here to this site full of ***holes except every time somebody replies to this c***s***ing post!

I'll show you, oh yes I will!

[garublador]

Really, how do you know when to release the disc??? This is an easy one. For drives, you don't let go. The disc rips out of your hand.

Now, how to get it to rip out of your hand at the right time is a more difficult question. It's partially mechanics and a lot of it is timing. Basically, if you throw correctly, the disc will rip out at the right time. Not pulling close to your body, not having your weight forward enough and starting your pull too early will all cause grip lock. Ironically, grip isn't normally the culprit.

As for actually aiming, assuming both your mechanics and timing don't have major problems, it's actually not that difficult:

http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/articles/aiming.shtml

[trifocal]

I imagine a hula hoop hanging in the fairway centered about 8' feet off the ground and 60-100' out. I find having a close target that the disc is going to pass thru on its way down the fairway helps me get the disc on the line I'm cooking up.

( its funny that some posts on certain threads have taken on a "family joke" quality that nobody else gets, except the people that happened to be there at the time.)

[sidewinding]

I imagine a hula hoop hanging in the fairway centered about 8' feet off the ground and 60-100' out. I find having a close target that the disc is going to pass thru on its way down the fairway helps me get the disc on the line I'm cooking up.

( its funny that some posts on certain threads have taken on a "family joke" quality that nobody else gets, except the people that happened to be there at the time.)

I actually carry a hula hoop and a ball of twine when I play tournaments. Before each shot I will climb a tree and hang the hula hoop where I need it. If there is not a tree where I need it I will hang the hula hoop from a sky hook. It has dramatically lowered my scores.

[trifocal]

I actually carry a hula hoop and a ball of twine when I play tournaments. Before each shot I will climb a tree and hang the hula hoop where I need it. If there is not a tree where I need it I will hang the hula hoop from a sky hook. It has dramatically lowered my scores.

Thats hysterical....lol multiple times....that method is only missing a trail of breadcrumbs to help find your way back to the tee.

[Midnightbiker]

The besy advice I can give is find on open field, and practice, practice , practice.

[Neophyte]

I have been told and found through my own short experience that focusing on pointing your right shoulder (RHBH) toward the intended target helps.

[tamahawk]

As said already, the answer is: Practice...practice...practice...One thing that always helps when trying to learn something new in disc golf is slowing down...

The besy advice I can give is find on open field, and practice, practice , practice.

i am far from an expert too, but i agree with a couple of things in the above quotes. practicing in an open area lets you get in way more drives than playing a round. in a full round, you may throw 20-25 full shots, the rest are going to be approach shots and putts. if it takes roughly an hour to play 18 holes, then think of how many more full shots you can throw in an hour, probably 4x that, especially when throwing both directions.

i like the whole concept of slowing down too. i am a drummer, and have been playing for years. i always wanted to play new grooves and patterns quickly, or as fast as possible when i first learned them, but i read something once that changed my opinion about starting slow. an article in modern drummer was talking about when learning something new, you have to really start slow to give your brain time to process the motions, once the motions are processed, you will be able to get "up to speed" much quicker than trying to do it fast to begin with. this is tough, but it really works!

This is an easy one. For drives, you don't let go. The disc rips out of your hand...

this is an interesting thought, i've never heard it put like that before, letting the disc rip out of your hand. definitely something to think about and try! thanks.

I have been told and found through my own short experience that focusing on pointing your right shoulder (RHBH) toward the intended target helps.

and lastly, i have definitely found the positioning of my shoulders to be critical in aiming. when playing a particular hole at a local course (par3, 170ft downhill hyzer shot), i would constantly find myself hitting the trees on the right. i later realized that when i stepped up to the box, my shoulders were pointing to the right, and that is where i was throwing. once i adjusted the position of my shoulders, i started hitting the line regularly and getting a birdie run every time.

[TalbotTrojan]

I think everything that needs to be said has.


But just to say it again. Depending on the shot your run up is going to be key. If you are just standing still (something I do on short approach shots and putts) you have to know where your release point is in relation to where you point your shoulder and feet. The best way to figure that out is practice, and even then it will change from shot to shot depending on how you let go and the way to get consistent with that is practice, so start playing a lot.

Can someone who only speaks gospel truth read what I have said and correct me if I am wrong? Oh and what sort of degree would you need to get to speak gospel truth?

[djext1]

you have to really start slow to give your brain time to process the motions, once the motions are processed, you will be able to get "up to speed" much quicker than trying to do it fast to begin with. this is tough, but it really works!
Thanks for the great explanation of why slowing down is important :) That's a great example you give.

[garublador]

this is an interesting thought, i've never heard it put like that before, letting the disc rip out of your hand. definitely something to think about and try! thanks.I'd put some serious thought into incorporating it into your throw. It's the difference between a 200' (letting go) and a 280' (disc ripping from my hand) putter throw, both being excellent throws for me.

[DiscChainBasket18]

I'd put some serious thought into incorporating it into your throw. It's the difference between a 200' (letting go) and a 280' (disc ripping from my hand) putter throw, both being excellent throws for me.
Yeah, don't "let go". Hold on tight & you can pull harder & faster. The disc will come out of your hand. If you find you're pulling to the right a lot (grip-lock) try putting more of your back to the target.
Lastly: Search youtube for the dan beato video. It helped me a lot.

[Mark R]

Don't try too hard to aim. Instead, try not to throw too hard and refine your mechanics such that you aim perfectly without thinking about it.

[Cradical]

I find that the less I think about where I'm throwing and the more I just look were I want the disc to go, the more accurately I throw it. Unfortunatly, if I look at a tree, it undoubtably goes right into it. As long as I focus and look where I want it to go, it usually does so. I throw RHFH so that kinda affects looking where I'm throwing, it's probably much trickier backhand.

[Midnightbiker]

HOW DO YOU AIM YOUR THROW???




How do you get "THAT FEEL" to know "IT IS TIME TO THROW THE DISC"...???


I close my eyes, smile, and hope for the best as I throw.

[_.-Dut-._]

I am way too lazy to check all of the threads before this one, but

HOW DO YOU AIM YOUR THROW???

Really, how do you know when to release the disc??? This is not like a bowling ball(when you get to the end of the lane you let go) you can let go too early, WAY TOO LATE...



How do you get "THAT FEEL" to know "IT IS TIME TO THROW THE DISC"...???


You shouldnt ever "let go" of the disc. It should rip out of your grip, once you get that down, its just a matter of getting your form more consistent to where the rip point is the same.