Driving with putters

[JTacoma03]

I'm no technique guru, but I disagree with most of that. I learned how to throw far by learning to throw a putter over 300', then throwing a driver exactly the same. I often throw putters on a hyzer, but with a clean throw you can throw flat or anny with a putter just fine (i.e. an anhyzer that carries and doesn't just turn and burn). Putters are tolerant of nose angle issues, but you won't get big distance with the nose up.

Clarifying my original post (apologies): A bit of hyzer *to get them to fly straight without drifting*. You can definitely throw putters flat and anny, sorry for the oversight.

Again, with the nose angle it's only slightly up. We can agree to disagree, but before you do go out tomorrow (or when you can) and focus on trying to drive a putter nose down like you would a Nuke for example.

Also you can work putters on a flat-nose, high-release style by pushing your thumb forward through the hit as opposed to snapping hard like a driver...they come out really similar and this may actually be an easier way to digest it mentally.

Maybe I should make a video? I feel like I'm not being super clear about all of this...it's in my head (and in my game) but not translating well.

 

[ZDotHalbach]

I get most of what you are saying but when you say push your thumb forward do you mean like when you snap your fingers? Otherwise what you and everyone else has said is great advice and I thank you for that.

 

[deBebbler]

I read on one of the forums about throwing putter-only rounds, because they reveal form problems much more glaringly.

They also will react well to the changes you make in your form. Where faster, overstable discs can often mask subtle improvements, and continue to react poorly until a long list of things in your form are made right, putters will fly "somewhat better" when you throw them "somewhat better."

Also throwing a round with a single disc...any disc, in fact, will help you learn that particular disc in a very short period of time. It is just especially useful with your putter.

 

[New013]

i can't believe this conversation hasn't degenerated to "you can't throw putters past 300ft." yet.

 

[garublador]

Clarifying my original post (apologies): A bit of hyzer *to get them to fly straight without drifting*. You can definitely throw putters flat and anny, sorry for the oversight.

Again, with the nose angle it's only slightly up. We can agree to disagree, but before you do go out tomorrow (or when you can) and focus on trying to drive a putter nose down like you would a Nuke for example.

Also you can work putters on a flat-nose, high-release style by pushing your thumb forward through the hit as opposed to snapping hard like a driver...they come out really similar and this may actually be an easier way to digest it mentally.

Maybe I should make a video? I feel like I'm not being super clear about all of this...it's in my head (and in my game) but not translating well.

Most of the good putters we talk about can take as much snap and speed as any driver. In fact, they have more speed out of the hand than drivers do. High speed drivers like a Nuke require more nose down to fly far and putters can be thrown with some nose up with good results. It's not putters that require adjustment, it's high speed drivers.

A better way to say it is probably that putters, mids and fairway drivers can all be thrown the same, but you probably need to make some adjustments to get the nose down for high speed drivers. It's not a snap issue or how hard you throw, it's nose angle.

 

[jtbingster]

i can't believe this conversation hasn't degenerated to "you can't throw putters past 300ft." yet.

Me either. It's refreshing. Mind E must be napping.

 

[Disc Fiend]

I can't throw putters 300 ft. but any shot up to around 220 ft. I'm throwing my Wiz every time

 

[MattMan]

Don't forget to FH some of those putters! It needs practice just like the BH does.

 

[JTacoma03]

I get most of what you are saying but when you say push your thumb forward do you mean like when you snap your fingers? Otherwise what you and everyone else has said is great advice and I thank you for that.

For a thumb/push kinda shot its not quite like snapping because your thumb will still not move past your fingers at the hit. It's more like an exaggerated follow through. Your thumb should dig into the flight plate a little bit and through the hit focus on pushing the thumb toward the target.

You can use this kinda shot as a way to take spin off of the putter and not flip it but still get decent distance.

Most of the good putters we talk about can take as much snap and speed as any driver. In fact, they have more speed out of the hand than drivers do. High speed drivers like a Nuke require more nose down to fly far and putters can be thrown with some nose up with good results. It's not putters that require adjustment, it's high speed drivers.

A better way to say it is probably that putters, mids and fairway drivers can all be thrown the same, but you probably need to make some adjustments to get the nose down for high speed drivers. It's not a snap issue or how hard you throw, it's nose angle.

So, we're agreeing 95% right? You're just looking at it from the opposite perspective?

 

[prettyboyfloyd]

One of my practice routines is to take all my putters (mostly understable) and throw them as far as possible. I get around 250 with a fan grip. It's work wonders on my distance. You learn that smooth with speed is much better than power. My Dart is my short laser disc.

 

[Mr. JY]

Today's report:
Went out to the course with 4 discs today 2 Buzzzes and my putters. I used the advice that I got here and applied to my game. The Ion flew quite well getting it out to 170 ish with minimal effort and some but not much OAT. The Wizard had the same amount of OAT but was getting out to 185 and almost aced the 185 footer at my course (just a bit to much hyzer). All in all I was very pleased with the results today and I will keep practicing to get it near perfected.

Just a suggestion, try working with some understable discs/putters. imo it's the fastest way to work out OAT issues.

 

[Mike C]

Everybody here has forgotten to tell him one important detail (didn't click links so forgive me if they covered it there)

Putters and Drivers throw differently! You can't try to SNAP a putter like you would say...a Destroyer.

Putters almost always need a small bit of hyzer, and they need almost more of a push motion than a hard snap.

Putters also need to be slightly nose up, just slightly though don't overdo it. They also need more height so sometimes it's easier to get a pull through motion higher on your chest to throw them well.

In the end just practice practice practice. Learn to throw the disc itself, don't try to manipulate the putter to throw like a driver. Another thing that helps is playing catch with a friend, start 30-40' apart and slowly work your way out to 200' or so...then eventually even longer. You'll figure out how to throw it to them without burning it or leaving it short, then you'll go to the course and surprise yourself.

Gotta say I disagree with this entire post. Putters do not need nose up, most putters can be driven just fine with a flat release, and putters most absolutely can take a Destroyer style throw. If you can't rip a stable putter mold like a Destroyer without flipping it there is likely a form issue.

 

[Stud Muffin]

Just a suggestion, try working with some understable discs/putters. imo it's the fastest way to work out OAT issues.

:thmbup:

 

[ArcheType]

Gotta say I disagree with this entire post. Putters do not need nose up, most putters can be driven just fine with a flat release, and putters most absolutely can take a Destroyer style throw. If you can't rip a stable putter mold like a Destroyer without flipping it there is likely a form issue.

Gotta back up Mike C here. I used to think that putters needed to be "finessed" and thrown softer, until I played college ultimate and really learned what it meant to snap a disc. You need great spin to get that disc to go anywhere past 20 yards. I can now drive my putters just like I would a destroyer, and get them to hold hyzers the entire way.

 

[mashnut]

Gotta say I disagree with this entire post. Putters do not need nose up, most putters can be driven just fine with a flat release, and putters most absolutely can take a Destroyer style throw. If you can't rip a stable putter mold like a Destroyer without flipping it there is likely a form issue.

Thank you, that's exactly what I said, I try very hard to throw my putters and drivers the same way.

 

[ArcheType]

Thank you, that's exactly what I said, I try very hard to throw my putters and drivers the same way.

Sorry mash, I didn't notice your post, I would've backed you up too :thmbup:

 

[craftsman]

While everyones correct, if the op goes out trying to do that it will very likely be a frustrating expierence.
For a lot of us, dg has to be in steps. The reasons we suggest throwing an ultrastar is to learn snap. The reason we suggest putters is to learn to reconize and control oat, learn to throw higher, and course management.

 

[JTacoma03]

Cool, we'll agree to disagree. We're all throwing putters 300' anyway so it's just different takes on the same thing. The OP has options :thmbup:

 

[Mike C]

About 400' here

When you first try driving with a putter it'll probably flip, sure, but that's because of OAT and other form issues. Covering that up with extra hyzer or buying a VP, Zone, Pig etc for a driving putter are simply temporary bandaids. If you work through the form issues you will find a neutral putter can be thrown like your high speed drivers. EXACTLY like them.

 

[JTacoma03]

About 400' here

When you first try driving with a putter it'll probably flip, sure, but that's because of OAT and other form issues. Covering that up with extra hyzer or buying a VP, Zone, Pig etc for a driving putter are simply temporary bandaids. If you work through the form issues you will find a neutral putter can be thrown like your high speed drivers. EXACTLY like them.

You are right about that, but not exclusively right.

We've even had this discussion on your putter throwing video threads - your 400' involves lots of height and L->R movement, and you don't throw the disc like your drives because if you threw your distance drivers on that loft line they won't fly the same. I'm not saying this in a negative way, because you can wing a disc, no doubt...just be careful that people don't start thinking you can just rip 400' putter drives on frozen rope lines up a narrow fairway because the power is there.

This relates to what I said because I was talking about hyzer-flipping putters slightly to achieve that frozen rope line (especially if they are more neutral-stable like an Aviar). I don't have OAT issues and I hyzer flip my beat challengers on rope lines...do I do that for my Zone? No that sucker can be mashed on because of its stability.