3 week beginner...advice? what I've done so far...

[simpletwist]

Originally Posted by Nick481

Honestly, the aviar, leopard, and shark are great beginner discs. They should be all you need, but if you want to use more of a variety the stingray is a nice understable compliment to the shark. Definitely don't use the starfire though, it is too fast and overstable for most beginners and will not only mask form flaws, but probably hook a lot for you (I learned this first hand). The sidewinder would probably be good for you but it requires a little more arm speed than the leopard. The best advice that helped me the most IMO is to use your whole body in the throw, keep your arm close to your chest, pull the disc in a straight line, and try to stay balanced the whole throw (a good example is Will Schusterick, even on 500 foot drives he balances on his right foot perfectly).

These are all you really need. I've said it dozens of times, there's a reason why these molds are in the Innova beginners pack.

[duckbutter]

I know it's a long post, but:
All I can say is PUTTERS, PUTTERS, and more PUTTERS!!!
Play nothing but putter rounds for about 6 months. Learn to drive with them. Learn to mid and up shot with them, and learn to putt.

I've been playing for about 7 years and had never been able to throw over 300. The first four years RHFH I played with warp speed drivers that I had no business using. At that time I only carried one putter used just for putting. If I could only throw an ESP nuke 300, how could I ever expect to get a putter to go that far, right?

Within the last three years I have started throwing RHBH and I learned very quickly that fast drivers were no good for me. After reading information on technique and form in these forums I decided to try nothing but putters for a while. The 2012 season has been nothing but putters. WOW, did this ever change the way I view disc golf and the discs I choose to use.

When you are finally able to get a putter out to 250-275 with control "Took me about a solid month to hit 250" it is a HUGE confidence builder for your game. I can now walk up to a 150-200 up shot and think "No problem, I can park this thing". Putters will teach you disc control and power control.

Using nothing but putters in this season has also added distance and control to my throws. I can now get Mids and fairway drivers up to and somtimes past 350. I'm still waiting for that magical day when I finally hit the 400 mark.

My bag is set up with 5 putters at 173-175g, 2 for drives and up's, 2 for putting, and 1 utility.
2 Mids and 5 fairway drivers are mostly below 160g. 3 Utility meat hook drivers, 1 is 150g the other 2 are 175g.

So give nothing put putters a try, bear with it, tough it out for one solid month. I guarantee, if it does not clean your game up then you can come to my house and kick my dog and steal a box full of ball points.

[championlog22]

Originally Posted by nnelson42

Anyway, all the discs I bought were DX plastic. My reasoning was that they are cheap and should last me for at least a year.

[championlog22]

if you insist on getting DX plastic, which I strongly urge you not to, get several of the same disc and alternate using them. This will make them last much longer and keep their flight patterns true.

[giles]

Throw the discs you have in a feild. Experament with trying to make them do different things. I would guess your putter will travel farther than you think.

Personal opinion here but stay away from floppy putters. They are tempting, I know, but most good putters use a stiff dx putter.

If somone has a lid/ultimate disc. It can help to play catch. Give a different perspective on how to throw that can help with upshots.

blowfly is the suck unless you want to play with a putter in the pool or something.

Have fun. I can't stand people who are so worried about how good they are that they can't have a good time if every shot isn't their best.

Try to play with better players, it helps a lot to see what is really possible.

Try diffent types of shots. The game is more fun when you can throw forehand, backhand, and overhand.

Go to PDGA.com and read the rules. A lot of people will tell you different rules and half of them don't know what they are talking about.

play different course.

[anborn]

Originally Posted by championlog22

if the OP lives in the midwest or only plays open courses, they might last a good while. DX plastic does not like trees. thats for sure.

[Toro71]

I agree with several of the posters that going all DX plastic may not be the best thing (aside from price.) A DX Roc will go through a major personaliety change after one solid tree contact. However, w/r/t the Leopard, for instance. A DX leopard will get very understable very fast. This will help you learn how discs "season," and which ones that's great for, and which ones you want to stay the same out of the box.

I might even go so far as to say just Aviar and Leopard for now. The shark is a good beginner disc, but very versatile, which can lead to innacuracy with new players. Once you get to where the Leopard turns over no matter what you do, it may be time to 'move it up a notch."

I've said elsewhere that I feel like my own development was hindered not helped by the sheer number of discs on the market. It gets to be too much fun to go shop for shiny new plastic, but resist it. it's far better, imo, to be able to throw 4 shots with one disc than one shot, with 4 discs for different results. Your game will thank you.

The Comet idea is intriguing. I've got one I'm trying to work in that goes wobbly and cut-roller on me a lot. That will get your timing down.

Slow is smooth, smooth is far.

[jtreadwell]

Advice so far has been 90% good (that's a good high number on the forums). I might suggest getting a heavier aviar to go with your 150g one, simply because the wind is going to bend you over a basket if you don't. Putting in anything over 10mph will be very difficult with a 150g. putter.

[aggreen]

Originally Posted by Billym

Welcome to Disc Golf!
You need to stay with your original 3 discs...
All you need is Aviar, Shark, Leopard and then the Gazelle to start.

^this. I started with the same set you described - 145-150g. After learning those discs - for about 6 months, I moved to a Sidewinder and Gazelle. It wasn't until I knew how to throw well (that is relative, since I still go through bouts of not throwing well) that I graduated to Rocs and the other discs you see discussed on these threads. Keep it simple.

Most of all - enjoy it. That first round under par will feel real good.

[pablo.diablo]

if you are ever throwing sidearm, then the Starfire is great for that, probably the best one in your list for flicks.

if i was just starting out and wanted discs that would last, i would have to go with those new Latitude 64 discs: Diamond, Ruby, Pearl.

However, you can't go wrong with your Leopard-Gazelle-Shark-Aviar setup. Other than when it is super windy you are gonna hate having 150g discs over heavier ones. 160-class is freaking great for just about everything. Control and Distance.