How do you practice?

[billnchristy]

I cannot practice drives in my yard but have been working on putting and midrange throws lately.

I imagine drives are best done in an open field, the closest park has all the fields closed unfortunately so my only practice comes at the course.

For midrange I like to set up the practice basket to where I have several lines of approach. I basically do lay-up training by trying difficult, usually blind shots from different angles.

The goal obviously is to get within putting range. Basically it is like starting from your second shot ranging anywhere from 60-150'

My putting practice is either PP360 or just random throws from different distances.

If I am not playing 360 I will throw all my putters from a far distance...40-50' and if they do not go in I pick them up and relocate to another difficult position. I do this until they are all in.

 

[Dthunderchicken]

When I throw drivers, I'll use two targets. Usually my bag and a cooler. Then I'll try different shots all aiming to land as close to the target as possible.

For putting I have two foam covered pipes on portable stands that I putt at.

 

[billnchristy]

Oh good idea aiming at something! Will have to try that.

 

[tamahawk]

My putting practice is either PP360 or just random throws from different distances.

Same here on the putting, PP360 and various distances with focus being on the 20-30ft range.

For throwing, open field practice is great, and very beneficial.

Having targets to throw at is very helpful.
Also, try throwing different lines. Pick a line and learn to make it happen.

 

[Neophyte]

I usually practice on a football field. I stand between the uprights on one end and try to land my throws between the uprights on the other side of the field. Right now I can only reach with my X-Cal so I try to land all my other shots right in the center of the field between the hash-marks.

 

[billnchristy]

Yeah I would love a marked football field, that would be heavenly....it is so hard to judge how far your throws are unmarked.

 

[skottyb]

Since there aren't any marked football fields I generally throw from a baseball field, its about 350 dead center so I throw a little behind home plate. I focus more on form and release then general power. Its also a great area to practice rollers and what not, since your not going to lose any discs since its completely enclosed.

As a person who has left discs behind I would HIGHLY recommend counting the number of discs before you start practicing, then once you are finished count them again. This will prevent you from the heartache you might receive next time you go out and play a round.

 

[Dthunderchicken]

My first time practicing I went to the local Highschool football field. Unbeknownst to me they have an irrigation set up there. About 1/2 an hour after I start, I notice that me shoes are getting wet. By the time I figured out what was going on I was in water up to my ankles.

Soccer fields with their netted goals work OK if the netting is fine enough. My office is near a new soccer park and I have gone there at lunch to try new discs.

 

[phishbrained]

For drives I throw an old soccer field and try to get it in the goal or atleast between the goal posts. I have a skill shot net that I practice my midrange and putting on. I always have it in my car so I can break it out anywhere.

 

[Roc1Time]

For drives I throw an old soccer field and try to get it in the goal or atleast between the goal posts. I have a skill shot net that I practice my midrange and putting on. I always have it in my car so I can break it out anywhere.

Deja vu, except I have my cheap instep instead of skill shot

 

[cc0049]

Field practice is great...just emptying your bag over and over again and learning your discs. I usually like to have a target to aim and and will usually set up my portable basket. I'll throw at all different distances and try to throw my discs on all different lines.
I also really like getting a course somewhat to myself and throwing lots of shots on one hole. Of course, this is only feasible if the course is somewhat empty.
For putting, lately I've been playing PP360 because it makes putting practice more fun. A lot of times, I'll just putt 50-100 times from a certain distance and track my percentages. I putt in my house a lot for practice. I usually try to spend 15 to 20 minutes before casual round practicing putting then too.
This may sound crazy, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this, but I also visualize my form and putting etc when I'm not playing. I'm not sure if this helps much or not...I think it does some because it reminds me what I need to be doing when I get back out to actually throw.

 

[trifocal]

That does't sound crazy, but how about this?

My gal informed me yesterday that I was talking in my sleep the previous night. Evidently I was having an R.E.M. practice session with my disc mentor. She tells me I was muttering...." how'd you do that? How'd you throw that disc? What disc was that? How'd you do that?"

Good grief.

 

[solomon.trenton]

I cannot practice drives in my yard but have been working on putting and midrange throws lately.

I imagine drives are best done in an open field, the closest park has all the fields closed unfortunately so my only practice comes at the course.

For midrange I like to set up the practice basket to where I have several lines of approach. I basically do lay-up training by trying difficult, usually blind shots from different angles.

The goal obviously is to get within putting range. Basically it is like starting from your second shot ranging anywhere from 60-150'

My putting practice is either PP360 or just random throws from different distances.

If I am not playing 360 I will throw all my putters from a far distance...40-50' and if they do not go in I pick them up and relocate to another difficult position. I do this until they are all in.

i like the putting idea. i just take my bag into a public park (baseball/soccer field) and empty my whole bag.

 

[FRIZZLE TOSSLER]

That does't sound crazy, but how about this?

My gal informed me yesterday that I was talking in my sleep the previous night. Evidently I was having an R.E.M. practice session with my disc mentor. She tells me I was muttering...." how'd you do that? How'd you throw that disc? What disc was that? How'd you do that?"

Good grief.

Funny stuff... you need to post this on the thread "You know your addiucted to DG when.."

Deja Vu 2... for everything u just posted cc0049... esp. what u said abt. throwing all your discs on one hole if the course is empty.... IMO it's the best way to learn a course.... It is also very impt. to count how many discs u start w/ @ the beginning.... man, I've lost dozens of discs emptying my bag and not realizing I'm missing somethin' till its too late.... before I "learned" to count....

 

[SpringDgLover]

For putting i set up my Mach Lite in the backyard and basically follow the instructions Greg Ellis gives in his Discraft instructional video. I too go out to a football field and throw all manor of shots. Another thing i like to do there is stand about 15 yards behind the goal post (old school one with two poles) and shoot through the "box" that the goal post creates. It forces you to shoot straight and that has always been my achilles heal.

 

[Ball-Z]

Practice?........ Wow, maybe thats's why I suck at this game.

 

[zud00]

For driving, I go to a school football field. As SpringDGLover mentioned, I tee off about 10 feet behind the field goal and shoot through the opening to the other field goal.

I don't have a practice basket, so for my mid range practice, I have thrown from my back porch to the horseshoe pits (about 125 feet) and then when throwing the discs back, I shoot at a lawn chair. Dang, I can't wait til I get a basket!

 

[billnchristy]

Well some of my practice worked well for me tonight...my wife congratulated me for several blind putts that landed right next to the basket.

Like I told her though...if my first shot didnt suck so bad I would not have been in that predicament.

 

[trifocal]

I'm giving the Rocs and Putters more practice time. I vary the distance from 70 out to about 150. I have a few Rocs to practice with, 2 Millinium softs, a couple JK Aviars and my original pair of shabby yellow Chain Magnets. I try each mold at the same distance working on shaping a hyzer, anhyzer and flat throw. Rhbh and an Ultimate type flick. Change up on directions so I have different wind angles to gauge.

The little park I practice in, really isn't much bigger than a soccer field, flat on the bottom, but one side has a slope thats runs 300' and is 15' higher than the bottom. I use that elevation for practice, too....throwing up it, down it and diagonally. Targets are my bag, trees, garbage cans or whatever is laying on the ground.

Its fun to practice the various imaginary approach shots in the open and then go behind trees or bushes. I also will find a fence and get up close to it and throw approaches from there. Its funny how a 4' chain link fence allows a good view of my target, yet really forces me to get a nice release on a slightly higher plane...ever have an open look at the basket 50' away, but have some twigy bush directly in front of you.

I don't have a Tommy ( yet ) or a Roller, those throws are on the "to do " list. Meanwhile, I give time to practicing getting Up & Down from different distances and simulated situations with the throws I do have.

 

[Midnightbiker]

I have two empty lots that the town owns, and I used them to practice. One field actually is half lit at night, because the lights from the library parking lot lights up part of the field at night. I throw my drives from the dark side to the light side of the field at night.

I take my Skill Shot to the field, and warm up by doing some putts. Then I start walking away from the basket with a hand full of discs. I walk about 100 feet and drop my approach disc on the ground. I then walk about 200-220 ft and drop my mids on the ground. I then walk about 300ft or so and drop my drivers on the ground.

I throw my drivers at the basket, and make a mental note of how each one did. I notice which ones fly or land in the same spot, and make sure I don't have any overlap in my bag. I then walk up to my mids and do the same thing. I then walk up to my putter, throw it for an approach shot, and then , walk around and look at my discs, and where they landed, and make a mental note in my head. I also make a note of the distances from the basket, so I know which disc to choose for what distances. Kind of the same way a regular golfer checks his Irons at a driving range.

I then give my arm a break and do some putting practice from 10-30ft out. I then repeat the process with the drivers and mids again. I then take my approach disc and my putter and walk about from 20-70ft away from the basket and practice my approach shots. I think this is one of the most over looked shots in disc golf. I may not be able to drive much past 300ft, but most people are amazed at my approach shots. I have made more shots from 60-100ft, and people are shocked at how close I can land next to or in the basket from these distances.

I work on approach shots for about half an hour, then I make a few more drives, work on some putts again, throw a few mids, work on my approaches again. All this time, I have my headphones on, and I am jamming. I also make sure I bring plenty to drink, because it can get thirsty even at the practice field.

I try to limit myself, because I have hurt my arm throwing too much. That is just how I practice. I hope this helps someone.