Request for advice about field practice

[Lewis]

I've noticed a trend in my open field driving practice recently. After a few warm-up throws, my form and distance will peak quickly, and then after a couple dozen full-strength throws, about the time I get everything flowing just right, I start to get tired, my form starts to break down (I can literally feel the bad form in my body as I throw), and then I start heaving it. We all know that's a bad recipe. After about 20-30 minutes, I'm frustrated, straining, and spraying discs all over the field, while just 15 minutes earlier I was feeling good and throwing smoothly. Is this a normal pattern for when you're practicing your drives, with about a 30 minute sunset on the practice, or should I be concerned that I'm doing something wrong with my practice?

[Mushin No Shin]

I had similar issues when I started going to a soccer field by my house for "drive reps." I became mindful of taking extra time between throws to focus on what exactly I wanted to do with the next disc I was throwing. When I first started I'd just unload the 16 drivers out of my bag with the emphasis on distance, rather than optimum flight of that disc.

Eventually I built up the physical and mental stamina for 96 drives.

[culinarywiz]

I haven't noticed a drop off in such a short amount of time.

A few questions;

When you say "full-strength throws", are you "over-throwing"? Are you letting the disc do some work? Form is most important. I rarely give a disc full strength.

Are you eating well? No joke. Your body needs nutrient rich calories.

I see you stated that you perform warm-up throws, but do you stretch first? It is important to stretch fully. Key phrase - "Warm up to throw, don't throw to warm up."

I guess, if all the above is in order and you are still taxed quickly, just change up your routine, mixing in mid's and putts, thereby providing time for recovery between drives.

Good luck man. Field practice, in my opinion, is more important to your game than playing rounds.

[Lewis]

I'm probably over-throwing and not stretching enough (at all) before I throw. My diet isn't ideal, but I'm not a fatso and I can walk several miles and play several rounds in a day without any problems. What I'm trying to do is extend my full-strength distance so I won't have to use it out on the course as often. All year this year (my second year of playing), I've been watching my driving distance creep up on holes that were previously unreachable to me, month-by-month, foot-by-foot, but I don't want to sabotage that by taking steps backwards. My first year was one of leaps and bounds, my second year has been one of gradual but noticeable improvement, and I want to make sure I stay healthy and continue to stretch myself. Probably "stretch" is an important word here.

[buzzinb]

IMHO, DG drives are sorta like pitches in baseball--we only have so much in us before we start running out of gas. When I go out for field practice, I probably have about 50-60 good hucks in me before I slowly start to exhibit the exact same thing you are talking about. Some days a little more, some less. I find its better to shut it down rather than settle for sloppy throws and reinforce bad habbits.

[jdggna]

You're not used to using the muscles you use to drive so extensively. Your stamina will develop the more you practice.

[mashnut]

When you go to the field, spend some time stretching and throwing short approaches first, and work your way up to longer throws. If you warm up like that, you'll be able to throw a lot more throws in my experience. Also, if you're getting tired that quickly, it probably means you're using way too much muscle in your throws, and you need to focus more on your timing, and getting power from rotating your hips rather than using your arm.

[discgolphinmafaukner]

You might be losing focus too. You might try throwing for 15 minutes and taking a break or stretching.

If you're form is bad and you're still practicing, you're hurting your game more than you're helping it.

[Pwingles]

sorry if this has been addressed i sort of skipped to the bottom after only a few posts, I practice in a field in front of my house, and on a turf, football field at a local college at night (its lit up and really good if you want to gauge actual distance) and i have to say I had the same problem at first, but if all youre going for is brute throws for max distance you will continue to run out of gas earlier than you want to. You should be using this time to incorporate all aspects of a throw and make it add up to good distance. Take a moment to account for form, arm angle, proper snap, center of gravity and work your way into throwing at full power and I think youll find more of your sessions lasting longer and actually showing some results for your hard work besides being tired.



also, stretch more

[TalbotTrojan]

Having just read the first post in this thread.

Remember that when you are practicing you are throwing more long drives in rapid succession so the tiring effect that you normally feel on a course happens a lot quicker. Really think about form more than distance when you start to get tired and use it as training for the later holes on the course. Also, it may be helpful to try some shorter throws say when you go to retrieve the long throws, throw more mid range type shots to get back to that ideal long distance driving spot.