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How long did it take you?
- Thread starter Veritas
- Start date
beereakfast
Eagle Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2009
- Messages
- 646
In all honesty... It took a couple of years to not give a damn driving in front of folks. Took a long time to realize the issue is common, and most folks might out drive me, but can't play any better. A long midrange game, with accuracy helps! And, for the record, i kinda suck!
Veritas
Newbie
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2018
- Messages
- 19
I still stand in place to drive. I'll work on power after I get my form and accuracy working. But it sucks to have no distance. I actually took to putting quicker. I am still utterly horrible though.
zontar
Double Eagle Member
keep playing a LOT. pretty soon when you watch others play you'll see that more and more of them you could hang with. and if they ask you if you want to jump in with them, DO IT! ask questions, stay humble and you'll learn a lot. and for the record, I still suck too....
lines
Double Eagle Member
It's okay to suck.
With that being said here are a few things that will help make sucking not so bad.
1. Embrace it without being self deprecating. People don't want to hear about how you suck.
2. Don't act like you just started sucking today. I can't stand listening to a golfer talk about all the sick shots they had, on this hole, up until today.
3. Be a polite sponge. Golfers like talking golf/discs/technique/etc. We like about other things too. Keep it loose out there.
4. Sucking is a state of mind. You have made good shots; if you think about sucking before you throw, you will not make good shots.
5. Golfers like playing with others who don't suck. We like advice... ask now, give later.
6. Everyone's first throw went high and hard left.
With that being said here are a few things that will help make sucking not so bad.
1. Embrace it without being self deprecating. People don't want to hear about how you suck.
2. Don't act like you just started sucking today. I can't stand listening to a golfer talk about all the sick shots they had, on this hole, up until today.
3. Be a polite sponge. Golfers like talking golf/discs/technique/etc. We like about other things too. Keep it loose out there.
4. Sucking is a state of mind. You have made good shots; if you think about sucking before you throw, you will not make good shots.
5. Golfers like playing with others who don't suck. We like advice... ask now, give later.
6. Everyone's first throw went high and hard left.
You'll know you've made it when you can play through a slower group of much better players, without being self-conscious.
"You'd worry less about what people think of you, if you knew how little they do." Paraphrased, not sure from whom, but worth keeping in mind.
I also remember that every better player I encounter, was once as bad as I am now. Just as every worse player I encounter, I remember when I was like that.
"You'd worry less about what people think of you, if you knew how little they do." Paraphrased, not sure from whom, but worth keeping in mind.
I also remember that every better player I encounter, was once as bad as I am now. Just as every worse player I encounter, I remember when I was like that.
Pymm
* Ace Member *
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2016
- Messages
- 2,082
After about 6 months I felt comfortable throwing in front of people other than my friends. We regularly play through groups now and it's no issue, though one of my friends who is way better than me still has issues sometimes in front of other people. Just a mental thing I guess. I agree that it's very humbling when you first start but I think it's way easier to get to a level where you don't feel embarrassed by your efforts than it is in some other things. Ball golf for instance took me years to get a point where I felt I wasn't just absolutely terrible.
You should never worry about what others think.
That being said, I was playing Cedar in Nashville and getting ready to drive and who comes up behind us?
Yep, Ken Climo and two of his friends. I am standing there on the tee and saying to myself "The Ken Climo is watching me throw".
Suffice to say I drove maybe 90 feet and right into the crap on the left side of the fairway.
So do as I say and not as I do! LOL
That being said, I was playing Cedar in Nashville and getting ready to drive and who comes up behind us?
Yep, Ken Climo and two of his friends. I am standing there on the tee and saying to myself "The Ken Climo is watching me throw".
Suffice to say I drove maybe 90 feet and right into the crap on the left side of the fairway.
So do as I say and not as I do! LOL
This reminds me of my chess skill level. Ask me if I'm any good at chess, and my answer depends 100% on how good YOU are at chess.
I can look like a disc golf pro or like an utter disc golf imbecile. It just depends on who's playing with me or watching me. The main thing that has changed is that I no longer worry as much about the people watching me or playing with me.
I just played a tournament in a division unquestionably above my own. Coincidentally, I started playing down to my skill level shortly after realizing that I was playing above my expectations. Just take every shot seriously, don't try to impress people, and play your game while learning that your game might also be a bit better than you used to think... In short, you're probably not as bad (or as good) as you think. Get out there and get used to playing with people who throw better and make smarter decisions than you do.
I can look like a disc golf pro or like an utter disc golf imbecile. It just depends on who's playing with me or watching me. The main thing that has changed is that I no longer worry as much about the people watching me or playing with me.
I just played a tournament in a division unquestionably above my own. Coincidentally, I started playing down to my skill level shortly after realizing that I was playing above my expectations. Just take every shot seriously, don't try to impress people, and play your game while learning that your game might also be a bit better than you used to think... In short, you're probably not as bad (or as good) as you think. Get out there and get used to playing with people who throw better and make smarter decisions than you do.
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I echo what a lot of the others have said: play, play, play
However a few different things to keep in mind as you're growing your form and power:
1. Play for position. Odds are if you're not moving your feet, you're not hitting green distance on par 3's. That's okay. Find the edge of your power and work on your accuracy. Stay on the fairways to the maximum distance you can throw right now.
2. Watch Jomez (https://www.youtube.com/user/JomezProductions). Seriously, watch the professionals throw. Look at their feet, watch their shoulders, watch their head. Try to focus on one piece of your form at a time (probably starting with footwork in your case) and learn from what they're doing. You don't have to throw just like them but you can deduce things from their form.
3. Experiment without the disc. This was surprisingly effective for me in developing my footwork and alignment. Grab a hand towel and just slowly walk through your walk-up and form. Eventually you'll be able to take some discs out to a field and try your newfound form without the consequences of a scorecard, OB, or deep rough.
4. Take a vested interest in discs. This isn't for everyone. I for one only have around 10 discs in my bag at the moment. But if you have the money, experiment with different flights, weights, and speeds. I resisted this up to now, but as I've thrown more and more different flight types, I've been able to place discs into my form, rather than forcing a disc that isn't designed to fly the way I throw.
Hope this stuff helps!
However a few different things to keep in mind as you're growing your form and power:
1. Play for position. Odds are if you're not moving your feet, you're not hitting green distance on par 3's. That's okay. Find the edge of your power and work on your accuracy. Stay on the fairways to the maximum distance you can throw right now.
2. Watch Jomez (https://www.youtube.com/user/JomezProductions). Seriously, watch the professionals throw. Look at their feet, watch their shoulders, watch their head. Try to focus on one piece of your form at a time (probably starting with footwork in your case) and learn from what they're doing. You don't have to throw just like them but you can deduce things from their form.
3. Experiment without the disc. This was surprisingly effective for me in developing my footwork and alignment. Grab a hand towel and just slowly walk through your walk-up and form. Eventually you'll be able to take some discs out to a field and try your newfound form without the consequences of a scorecard, OB, or deep rough.
4. Take a vested interest in discs. This isn't for everyone. I for one only have around 10 discs in my bag at the moment. But if you have the money, experiment with different flights, weights, and speeds. I resisted this up to now, but as I've thrown more and more different flight types, I've been able to place discs into my form, rather than forcing a disc that isn't designed to fly the way I throw.
Hope this stuff helps!
As others have implied, until you can 'embrace sucking' you cannot let it go, or as a buddhist might say, 'it makes little sense to keep pouring tea into a cup that's already full'...
Early on, I used to remind myself, 'one day I'll look back at this and laugh'...it's also good to know that despite what you may think, everyone think/feels this way about something in their lives, although few articulate it.
Early on, I used to remind myself, 'one day I'll look back at this and laugh'...it's also good to know that despite what you may think, everyone think/feels this way about something in their lives, although few articulate it.
Old Dog
Eagle Member
Same.
Play a lot and try to get asked to join a group while they play. Ask for advise. The best advise is the stuff you hear from almost every good/pretty good player. If you only heard it from one guy, it's probably dubious, but it doesn't hurt to ask someone here like Sidewinder22.
Make videos of you driving from different angles and ask for help here. We all started and we do understand, even when we try to be witty sometimes.
Have fun. That's the object of the game.
As for how long it took? I really don't mind what others think. They can be constructive, or we could laugh and have beers.
Make videos of you driving from different angles and ask for help here. We all started and we do understand, even when we try to be witty sometimes.
Have fun. That's the object of the game.
As for how long it took? I really don't mind what others think. They can be constructive, or we could laugh and have beers.
well. Since you asked. I never really felt brand new. I felt pretty good at it from the beginning - the first couple times playing with others I definitely felt awkward - they were all talking about different types of plastics and flight numbers and such, I was like, I dunno I throw this one because it works good...
I got into disc golf as an alternate means of staying active after recovering from a back injury. I really didn't care that my game sucked, because well, that wasn't important.
Fifteen years later, nothing has changed (including my game).
Fifteen years later, nothing has changed (including my game).
Dire Wolfy
Still a puppy
couple weeks of consistent play school and outside of school, it made chuckers think I was a legend at age 12. Me and my 250 forehand at that time with a z avenger ss, a pro leopard, dx cobra, dx dragon and a xsoft apx
beereakfast
Eagle Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2009
- Messages
- 646
I drive and play forehand mostly. I use a one step motion like a sidearm pitcher. It is what it is. Range is limited, but it works for me, and doesn't hurt. I have fun. I putt and drive shorter holes with a backhand. Anything under 200' if theres air.
The best point is just play a lot. You figure out what works for you.
Also, don't worry about what disc works for others. I bought an x Buzz and tried it for a while. Ended up shelving it because it flew like crap. My starter pack champ panther worked better. Tried it again after a lot more playing time and now it's one of my main staples. It all takes practice and time. This is still golf!
I got over the "stage fright" of throwing in front of people and being self conscience about my throw by playing in a random draw doubles league. You can learn a lot from the people you are playing with, and you also realize even the best players have some awful shanks occasionally.
EarthRocker
Birdie Member
First time I played, I thought, "I'll be a natural!" I grew up on beaches my whole life, and can throw a freestyle Frisbee like you wouldn't believe.
(You know what's coming.)
I was so bad. Like someone else said, "Everyone's first throw was high and way left." No truer words...but my first 30 throws were like that. Just awful. And my footwork was really weird. I'd sort of knock my insteps together on my way up the pad, instead of a much more logical cross-step.
But I tried, several times, because my buddy was so into it, and he made it look so easy, all ninja-like, no apparent effort, and the disc just went *zing*, straight and perfect. After a few times, I just gave up in frustration. Sometime later, he talked me into it again, and I finally had that ONE THROW that did what his did, and I was not only hooked, but I learned quickly how to duplicate it. Because I'm cool like that.
And I love playing through, or just in front of people in general. I get very hyped and have to slow my breathing down, but I view it as an opportunity to perform. Some folks get off on that kind of thing, and I am, apparently, one of them. :\
I make it a point of inviting newer players or singles on the course into my group if we have room. As so many have said, the way to get over any fear or misgivings is to jump in wif bofe feets and learn that no one is perfect, no one really cares if you're a little slower or whatever - and EVERYone has a bad shot now and then. The trick is to recover from it intelligently. If you miss on your drive, it's not really a birdie hole anymore. Play for par.
Great group in here, by the way. Really solid advice and input.
(You know what's coming.)
I was so bad. Like someone else said, "Everyone's first throw was high and way left." No truer words...but my first 30 throws were like that. Just awful. And my footwork was really weird. I'd sort of knock my insteps together on my way up the pad, instead of a much more logical cross-step.
But I tried, several times, because my buddy was so into it, and he made it look so easy, all ninja-like, no apparent effort, and the disc just went *zing*, straight and perfect. After a few times, I just gave up in frustration. Sometime later, he talked me into it again, and I finally had that ONE THROW that did what his did, and I was not only hooked, but I learned quickly how to duplicate it. Because I'm cool like that.
And I love playing through, or just in front of people in general. I get very hyped and have to slow my breathing down, but I view it as an opportunity to perform. Some folks get off on that kind of thing, and I am, apparently, one of them. :\
I make it a point of inviting newer players or singles on the course into my group if we have room. As so many have said, the way to get over any fear or misgivings is to jump in wif bofe feets and learn that no one is perfect, no one really cares if you're a little slower or whatever - and EVERYone has a bad shot now and then. The trick is to recover from it intelligently. If you miss on your drive, it's not really a birdie hole anymore. Play for par.
Great group in here, by the way. Really solid advice and input.
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