Throw that putter damn it!

[Midnightbiker]

I am amazed at how many people are afraid to throw their putter more than 50ft. I was in a tournament about 3 weeks ago, and we had a temp hole that was only about 90ft. I pulled out my approach disc which is a 168 Soft Magnet (thank you again for the disc Eric) and everyone else was pulling out midranges. I told them, "hey guys, this is a putter shot" and they all said they would rather throw a midrange. I just missed the chains for a chance at an Ace. Everyone in the group was kind of shocked.

I just wanted to let all of you newer players know that your putter goes much farther than you think and its pretty accurate. Don't be afraid to throw you putter. Most people, even newbies, can throw a putter at least 100ft. Give it a try. You will be amazed.

[TalbotTrojan]

Agreed. I wish I could throw my putter further myself, but anything 150ft out or in that range is perfect for the putter. The putters are designed to stick when they hit the ground so why not go at it and let the disc do what it is supposed to. Leave the midranges for the 200 to 275 ft stuff.

[TalbotTrojan]

By the way, some of the pros that I have played with would much rather reach for their putter than anything else on holes that are less than 300 ft.

[A.Mutt]

If its under 150' I'll tee off with either a voodoo or wizard.

[solomon.trenton]

mine for some reason is only good for like a max of 80'. practice i guess.

[TalbotTrojan]

mine for some reason is only good for like a max of 80'. practice i guess.

Form

[Midnightbiker]

Form

I agree. I had a newbie I was teaching at the practice field yesterday throw his Soft Magnet at least 70ft. I have throw both my hard Magnet and my Soft Magent up to 170ft at the practice field.

[solomon.trenton]

Form
still working on it
I agree. I had a newbie I was teaching at the practice field yesterday throw his Soft Magnet at least 70ft. I have throw both my hard Magnet and my Soft Magent up to 170ft at the practice field.

do you use the x step or what?

[tamahawk]

I've just started using my putter for approach/tee shots (when applicable) this year. I don't have great distance with it, but i use it a lot for short downhill holes and approach shots between 50-100ft.

That being said, I use a KCPro Aviar and it feel similar to a mid-range, that is one of the main reasons I like these discs so much.

[Dthunderchicken]

When I was first getting started I was advised to get a driving putter. It was good advice. For most shots between 40' and 100' I use an Aero. It has good glide and is very controllable. I find an advantage in throwing the slowest, most controllable disc that I can.

[Three Putt]

I find an advantage in throwing the slowest, most controllable disc that I can.Agreed. I take the driver out of my hand whenever possible. A few weeks ago a guy literally yelled "DO YOU HAVE A (censored) DRIVER IN THAT BAG?" in my face on the back nine. He was ticked off that he had out driven me on every hole and was three strokes down to me. I just kept throwing Comets and Wizards into the fairway while he threw Destroyers into the shule.

[ejvogie]

The chicken said it! Throw the slowest disc you can and still make it to the basket. The accuracy on slower discs tends to be greater than higher speeds.

[Three Putt]

Form

still working on it

I agree. I had a newbie I was teaching at the practice field yesterday throw his Soft Magnet at least 70ft. I have throw both my hard Magnet and my Soft Magent up to 170ft at the practice field.

do you use the x step or what?
Yeah, you still X step. You just can't hurry it. If you try to overpower a putter, it will turn and burn. The slow discs need smooth. You need a slower arm speed. Not a lot slower, just a tick. You have to make up for the slower arm speed with more snap. So the pull through needs to be smooth and controlled and right across you chest.

[zud00]

I love driving with my putters. I have aced a 182' hole twice...once with a DX aviar and once with a KC Pro Aviar. They are just so controllable and have little fade. If I am going for a longer drive with a putter (200'-225') I will throw it with some hyzer to make up for that flip with all that snap crackle and pop:D

[innova]

Thing about throwing a putter far is many folks will carry a new climo hard putter (or something similar) for drives and use a different putter for actual putts.

My beat to heck soft putter will never go as far as my rock hard climo aviar no matter what form i use... it is too beat and understable. I would have to release it angled at the ground to even get it to go straight... much less far.

I have parked a 326 foot hole at pa davis with a climo aviar putter (#3)
Tpat watched it land.

[Midnightbiker]

I love driving with my putters. I have aced a 182' hole twice...once with a DX aviar and once with a KC Pro Aviar. They are just so controllable and have little fade. If I am going for a longer drive with a putter (200'-225') I will throw it with some hyzer to make up for that flip with all that snap crackle and pop:D


I have never thought about doing that. I want to try to throw my Putter close to 200ft, but I was afraid of it turing over.

[zud00]

Thing about throwing a putter far is many folks will carry a new climo hard putter (or something similar) for drives and use a different putter for actual putts.

My beat to heck soft putter will never go as far as my rock hard climo aviar no matter what form i use... it is too beat and understable. I would have to release it angled at the ground to even get it to go straight... much less far.

I have parked a 326 foot hole at pa davis with a climo aviar putter (#3)
Tpat watched it land.

I need to get another KC Pro Aviar to use for driving now since my current one is getting beaten in. My DX aviar is much more understable and I can't throw it near as far now as I could when it was new.

Another think to keep in mind when driving with putters on longer shots is to use a grip that works. I can't throw my putters far with my putting grip, so I use my midrange grip which is comfortable for letting 'em rip.

[Three Putt]

This may be in questionable taste, but this is what a tell players. It's the old bull-new bull theory.

Does anybody remember the movie Colors? In that movie the Robert Duvall character tells his young partner a story. "There's two bulls standing on top of a mountain. The younger one says to the older one: 'Hey pop, let's say we run down there and (censored) one of them cows.' The older one says: 'No son. Lets walk down and (censored) 'em all.'"

Your drivers are your young bulls. They are fast, and they do basically one thing well. Your midranges and putters are your old bulls. They are slow and deliberate and do a lot of things very well.

If you want to "(censored) 'em all" i.e. beat everyone you play against, you had better be depending on your old bulls.

[zud00]

This may be in questionable taste, but this is what a tell players. It's the old bull-new bull theory.

Does anybody remember the movie Colors? In that movie the Robert Duvall character tells his young partner a story. "There's two bulls standing on top of a mountain. The younger one says to the older one: 'Hey pop, let's say we run down there and (censored) one of them cows.' The older one says: 'No son. Lets walk down and (censored) 'em all.'"

Your drivers are your young bulls. They are fast, and they do basically one thing well. Your midranges and putters are your old bulls. They are slow and deliberate and do a lot of things very well.

If you want to "(censored) 'em all" i.e. beat everyone you play against, you had better be depending on your old bulls.

Never seen it, but nice analogy;)

[Midnightbiker]

This may be in questionable taste, but this is what a tell players. It's the old bull-new bull theory.

Does anybody remember the movie Colors? In that movie the Robert Duvall character tells his young partner a story. "There's two bulls standing on top of a mountain. The younger one says to the older one: 'Hey pop, let's say we run down there and (censored) one of them cows.' The older one says: 'No son. Lets walk down and (censored) 'em all.'"

Your drivers are your young bulls. They are fast, and they do basically one thing well. Your midranges and putters are your old bulls. They are slow and deliberate and do a lot of things very well.

If you want to "(censored) 'em all" i.e. beat everyone you play against, you had better be depending on your old bulls.

You rock man! That was great, and a great way to put it.

I was telling a new guy and my son that it dosen't matter how far you can throw, if you can't put the disc where you want it, what is the point.

[billnchristy]

Yeah just for giggles last week I teed off on 18 at Lenora with my SSS Wizard. It is just under 300' uphill (which psyches you out) and I could get 150-170' out of it...if I had better accuracy I probably could've birdied but still par'd with just a putter. I would probably throw the rock-it now.

[Geoffro]

I agree with throwing putters further than conventionally thought. I would only add that in windy conditions, your putter become more inconsistent when compared to mid-ranges. I will throw my putter on a calm day 100'. Looking at that same shot with significant wind, I will throw a Shark or Skeeter, because it will loft less and sink harder. In very high wind, I might throw a fairway driver skidding in to the base of the basket. I know I'm not going to birdie with this shot, but I know that anyway in high wind, right? There's a lot to be said for laying up in this sport when considering overall scores.

[innova]

Good point about the wind.

[billnchristy]

Yeah definitely. We were throwing around the house today and the road is a good ten feet higher than the house (our first floor is considered a basement) and we had the basket between our house and the neighbors. The wind had started to pick up and we were throwing from the top of the driveway and it was just grabbing them and pushing them wide.

No matter how heavy the putter is (most of mine are in the 170s) they just sail away.

[Midnightbiker]

Yeah definitely. We were throwing around the house today and the road is a good ten feet higher than the house (our first floor is considered a basement) and we had the basket between our house and the neighbors. The wind had started to pick up and we were throwing from the top of the driveway and it was just grabbing them and pushing them wide.

No matter how heavy the putter is (most of mine are in the 170s) they just sail away.

Good point. I saw a guy throw a 175 Aviar into the wind, and it just took off in the wrong direction

[SomeChump]

You've got to have a pretty stable putter to actually drive with it. Most putters are designed to fly flat at low speeds, and few people drive at slow speeds. Now I drive up to 175' with my putter (a KC Pro Aviar) but when I was throwing birdies there was no way I'd try it. Turnover city. Sure, some people can throw a birdie 175, but I coudn't. And if there was a hint of wind, forget about it. I was much more accurate at 150-200 with a midrange than with that putter.

If you lack confidence to throw a putter off the tee on a hole that is in range with your putter (or if you don't know what your range is) play a couple rounds with just your putter. Gave me immense confidence in it compared to before. I was surprised I only shot 4 or 5 strokes worse than I usually do with my whole bag.

While I'll drive with that KC Pro Aviar from 100-175+, and I'll putt with it or a regular aviar P&A from 40 feet in, I actually prefer throwing my approach shots (40+-100) with the R-Pro Dart. I was never convinced that it's sticky rubber actually grabs the chains, but I am convinced that it slides less on bare dirt and gets up and rolls less. Its high glide allows you to throw it with much less effort than either the aviars or the midranges at that distance and its straight flight means a poorly thrown disc is usually still close enough to give you a good chance at hitting the next putt. The slower you can move your arm, the less you can screw up IMHO.

[kpc2004]

i have been working on getting distance with my putter the last 4-5 weeks and my game has been getting better and better ever since. i didnt choose to start learning the putter, i actually lost my first disc EVER that i havent gotten back, my roc :( and thats all i had if i didnt wanna use a midrange or a distance driver...but now that it made me learn my putter better im not so depressed when i think about my poor lost roc.

[zenbot]

Honestly...I can't really remember the last time I pulled out a midrange. I've been ripping the rhyno or the aviar for most of my approach shots.

[zenbot]

This may be in questionable taste, but this is what a tell players. It's the old bull-new bull theory.

Does anybody remember the movie Colors? In that movie the Robert Duvall character tells his young partner a story. "There's two bulls standing on top of a mountain. The younger one says to the older one: 'Hey pop, let's say we run down there and (censored) one of them cows.' The older one says: 'No son. Lets walk down and (censored) 'em all.'"

Your drivers are your young bulls. They are fast, and they do basically one thing well. Your midranges and putters are your old bulls. They are slow and deliberate and do a lot of things very well.

If you want to "(censored) 'em all" i.e. beat everyone you play against, you had better be depending on your old bulls.
I (censored) a cow once.

[zenbot]

I (censored) a cow once.
Oh wait...what did you mean by that?

[Three Putt]

I (censored) a cow once.:eek:

Oh wait...what did you mean by that?:confused:

My image of LA gets weirder and weirder by the day. :rolleyes:

[zenbot]

:eek:

:confused:

My image of LA gets weirder and weirder by the day. :rolleyes:
That's not fair, man! Censorship is unAmerican!

[Three Putt]

That's not fair, man! Censorship is unAmerican!Geez, rent the movie. :rolleyes:

[A.Mutt]

Honestly...I can't really remember the last time I pulled out a midrange. I've been ripping the rhyno or the aviar for most of my approach shots.

I'm similar in that I mainly use putters for approaches. But I do use my mids for most drives. I only pull out drivers for thumber shots and wide open long holes.

[Omega SuperSloth]

ive noticed when most of you are talking about driving with putters your talking about P&A discs (aviar,wizard,etc.) and im not gonna debate you on if those are true putters or not and i could but i dont really care , all im saying is when you tell noobs about the days of yore and throwing putters 500ft feet be specific:}

[solomon.trenton]

ive noticed when most of you are talking about driving with putters your talking about P&A discs (aviar,wizard,etc.) and im not gonna debate you on if those are true putters or not and i could but i dont really care , all im saying is when you tell noobs about the days of yore and throwing putters 500ft feet be specific:}

if you use it to put then its YOUR putter

[innova]

An aviar is not a true putter? Pardon?

putt and apporach

Let's ask Climo.... nah, what does he know.

:^/

Perhaps I am misunderstanding your meaning... surely you're not saying that an Aviar isn't a true putter?

[jesus]

You've got to have a pretty stable putter to actually drive with it.

^^^ not true

[Omega SuperSloth]

An aviar is not a true putter? Pardon?

putt and apporach

Let's ask Climo.... nah, what does he know.

:^/

Perhaps I am misunderstanding your meaning... surely you're not saying that an Aviar isn't a true putter?
out of the box aviars arent good putters thats why the pros use beat in cheap plastic not champ or star aviars , and the signature aviars are even more overstable than regular ones thats why their approach discs and make good mid or short driving discs.

[Omega SuperSloth]

http://www.innovadiscs.com/discs/kcproaviar.html

[DSCJNKY]

Anything under 300' dead straight (unless uphill, or low ceiling) is a putter shot. I have 5 aces with putters, 3 with Star Aviars... In my opinion the Star Aviar (not the driver version) is the best driver I have in my bag (I carry two). [I don't putt with them]. People think I'm crazy when I pull it out sometimes. I'm pulling a putter, they're pulling a wraith??? I use it at least 7 times a round - with good results too. I agree; use your putter!
DSCJNKY

[zbyrd]

I only use a putter inside 150 or so. Usually more like 100.

[SomeChump]

^^^ not true

I should have put in a caveat. Unless you have really good form you need a really stable putter to drive with it. Or perhaps, it is easier to drive with a really stable putter.

[magictenor1]

I use my Dx aviar more than anything else in my bag. i use it off the tee on short holes and is most often my choice for a second shot whether I am in putting range or not.

[solomon.trenton]

i lean back and throw the rock away.

[kps18]

agree on throwing the putter. for all out there who want to listen, practice throwing putters and you will not be sorry. granted i live in arizona, which the courses are not exactly tree lined, but having a reliable putter shot is huge. i personally throw putters up to 250 ft or so. i like the star aviar for straight or turn overs. if i need a shorter hyzer shot i go to the zone. trust the line and remember being 20 ft short is the same as 20 ft left or right.

[John Rock]

I remember Craig Leyva using Aviars for big distance tee shots. He used to be able to toss them over 500 feet.

I use a Wham-O 86 mold Softie for my putter. On my home course (Disc Creek Disc Golf Course - Amarillo, TX) I use it for a few tee shots. I've aced #15 (short) with it 4 or 5 times now, once for $500.00!

[huskie2husker]

About a year ago, someone told me to use putters as much as possible inside of 100-150 ft, and they weren't kidding. Compared to throwing a roc for the same shots, I have much fewer blow 50 ft past, or fade hard to the left at the end.

My question is: do people keep separate "putting" putters and "approach/driving" putters in their bags? I putt with a KC aviar, but even in the pro plastic, it takes damage a lot faster when I am using in for approach shots. I don't like putting with all the dings and scratches on the disc, so I've considered moving that beat putter to a mid-range slot in my bag and buying a shiny new aviar for just putts and shots that have 0% chance at hitting a tree. Anyone else do this?

[Dillon_Gourley]

I have putters I stricty putt with and putters I throw for drives and approaches.

[gvan]

My question is: do people keep separate "putting" putters and "approach/driving" putters in their bags? I putt with a KC aviar, but even in the pro plastic, it takes damage a lot faster when I am using in for approach shots. I don't like putting with all the dings and scratches on the disc, so I've considered moving that beat putter to a mid-range slot in my bag and buying a shiny new Aviar for just putts and shots that have 0% chance at hitting a tree. Anyone else do this?

I carry 5 putters.
2 beat KC Aviars for putting/approach and driving with hyzer flip
A DX Aviar P&A for flippy drives with a tailwind.
A Pig for headwind putting
A new KC Aviar for light headwind, or flat approaches with slight fade

I also have had an R-Pro Aviar P&A in the bag for a couple of weeks. It doesn't get a lot of use though.

I usually throw an Aviar for straight shots 290' or less out in the open. In the woods I'm more likely to reach for a Roc (I carry 3 of those).

[Dillon_Gourley]

I carry

1 seasoned soft challenger - only for putting
1 soft challenger - breaking in for putting
1 5x jk pro aviar
1 beat dx aviar (currently not in bag)
1 star aviar driver
1 first run glo aviar

[RallySoob]

I went out for my first time this weekend with 3 friends and I kept up with them using a putter the whole time, its all I had. I bought it before we went not knowing about the different discs used in DG. When practicing I found I can throw it the length of a soccer field, goal to goal. I bought a Innova Xcaliber they day afterwards, went out to the park and now I'm having a blast. But I gotta say I picked up some serious putt'n skills my 1st day out ;)

[garublador]

My question is: do people keep separate "putting" putters and "approach/driving" putters in their bags? I putt with a KC aviar, but even in the pro plastic, it takes damage a lot faster when I am using in for approach shots. I don't like putting with all the dings and scratches on the disc, so I've considered moving that beat putter to a mid-range slot in my bag and buying a shiny new aviar for just putts and shots that have 0% chance at hitting a tree. Anyone else do this?Sort of. I like to putt with a lighter putter than I like to drive or approach with, so they are sepearate discs.

I use Wizards and the most beat one I've ever had (3-4 years old) is easier to flip to flat from a hyzer and doesn't fade as much (which also makes it longer). I've never had one get understable on me. In other words, putters beat in really slow, especally when they're big beaded and made out of awesome plastic.

I'll also encourage anyone who hasn't tried pushing out putters as far as they can to do so. Heck, if it's less than 200' or so you can throw it just like a catch disc, no special driving tecniques needed. Playing catch with your putter with a buddy is a great way to see what you can do and to practice approach shots.

[A.Mutt]

I sort of separate my putters. On most days now I carry a Super Soft Voodoo, Soft Wizard, 150 organic Wizard (feels medium in firmness), and a Soft Warlock. I will tee-off and approach with all of them dependent on scenario. But I only "putt" in rounds with the Voodoo now. Throwing it hard is a lot of fun too, as it holds a very straight line for me.

[pokamitch]

I didn't use a putter to drive for 20 yrs and now I know that has disserviced me over those yrs. I have recently been playing Chavez Ridge in L.A. a lot and it is pretty short but very wooded and hilly. A putter is great at this course because:
1) Putters are very accurate
2) It is easier to throw a controlled anhyzer with a putter
3) Putters stick when they land better; i.e. Less rolls down the ravine
4) If you hit chains, putters stick better

I bought a new DX Aviar with the "Oak Grove- Where It All Began" stamp on it. I specifically bought to be a driver, not for putting (only use the Blow Fly to putt)

[Three Putt]

I carry two putters, one newish and one beat. I drive and approach with whichever one fits the scenario best. I putt with whichever one happens to be in my hand. Lots of times I'll have used one for my drive or upshot, so I leave it there as my marker and putt with the other one. Really at putting speed I don't see very much difference in the two, only when I'm throwing for distance do the differences in their flight show up. The only time I really specialize and putt with one is when it is really windy. Then I use the newish one for all my putts, probably just a mental thing but it seems to help.

[Midnightbiker]

I actually played with a guy yesterday who was using a Star Destroyer as a putter. I was shocked to see that, and I asked him about it, and he says he hates putters and midranges. The funny thing is, he was making some killer putts with it. I would never do it, but it worked well for him. I did beat him by 3 strokes.

[solomon.trenton]

I actually played with a guy yesterday who was using a Star Destroyer as a putter. I was shocked to see that, and I asked him about it, and he says he hates putters and midranges. The funny thing is, he was making some killer putts with it. I would never do it, but it worked well for him. I did beat him by 3 strokes.

my friend uses a beast and does the same thing.i like how you had to inform us of your winning score:o

[billnchristy]

My wife uses a #4 driver to putt and does pretty well with it...the bad part is when she misses, it usually misses hard.

[Neophyte]

I just don't trust my putter outside of 60 ft or so. I guess I just haven't tried it and when I first started playing I probably didn't have the distance to try it. I think I probably do now and should try it.

[skurf]

What grip do y'all use when driving with the putter and what do you use when putting?

[zud00]

When driving with my putter, I use the stack fork grip (http://www.innovadiscs.com/tips/images/grips/P1010038.jpg). For putting, I just use a fan grip (http://www.innovadiscs.com/tips/images/grips/P1010036.jpg) with my index finger on the underside of the disc in front of my middle finger.

[garublador]

For "long" drives (>200') I use a power grip. Inside that I use a fan/control type grip like zud00 shows above.

[Jungle Tim]

My question is: do people keep separate "putting" putters and "approach/driving" putters in their bags? I putt with a KC aviar, but even in the pro plastic, it takes damage a lot faster when I am using in for approach shots. I don't like putting with all the dings and scratches on the disc, so I've considered moving that beat putter to a mid-range slot in my bag and buying a shiny new aviar for just putts and shots that have 0% chance at hitting a tree. Anyone else do this?

I own 4 banger GTs 3 soft and one ESP
I used to carry the soft for putting and the ESP fro driving.

These days i just carry my original Soft and use it for everythign.

I bought 2 more softs as back ups and i was thinking that id use the heaviest one i have for driving. But my origional banger is nicely beat and will do what i want anywhere up to 250, so there is no need to change discs. putters beat slowly as someone said, althought i carry midranges everytime i use the banger i wonder why i bother lugging extra discs around. Stable Driver + overstable Putter is a good combo.

[A.Mutt]

When driving with my putter, I use the stack fork grip (http://www.innovadiscs.com/tips/images/grips/P1010038.jpg). For putting, I just use a fan grip (http://www.innovadiscs.com/tips/images/grips/P1010036.jpg) with my index finger on the underside of the disc in front of my middle finger.

Pretty much the same here. I use a variance of that stack fork grip for most every throw actually.

[Niven42]

I've always liked the little blurb from the Innova site:

"About the Aero
The Aero is our best disc for beginners and players using only one disc. It is the straightest point-to-point golf disc and the easiest disc to keep on the fairway for beginners. It is a slow flying control disc with a large diameter and a significant amount of float. When broken in, the Aero will turnover very slowly and predictably. The Aero was introduced in 1983 as the first disc designed specifically for disc golf. The Aero once held the world distance record at 485 feet!"

All that from a 3-6-0-0 disc!