Register

  • Discover new ways to elevate your game with the updated DGCourseReview app!
    It's entirely free and enhanced with features shaped by user feedback to ensure your best experience on the course. (App Store or Google Play)

What to use for better grip

seedlings

seedlings

* Ace Member *
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Messages
3,697
Location
Northwest Missouri
If you use a product or routine to get great grip, please share.

TLDR - I work with my hands daily - hand tools, heavy lifting, gripping, etc. They're worn and dry. Use lotion often, but not obsessive multiple times/day. I hydrate properly. Even use pumice stone/sandpaper to smooth roughness. Hands aren't cracked and dry, just … worn… slick.

Throwing routine is lick fingers wipe, grab disc, spin disc, repeat until grip feels decent. It doesn't ever seem like a good grip, except hottest summer, maybe.

Have all sorts of plastics from pro, gstar, electron soft, K2, Opto, DX, DLine, 400G, LucidX, Royal, NEO… doesn't really matter

Of course I saw Paul McBeth's video on the grip enhancers, but don't think something like that is the answer. Or is it?
 
Finger lickers unite!

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I work with my hands at home on my property quite a bit despite my office job. My hands tend to stay fairly dry/slick. On most throws I lick my pointer, middle finger, and thumb, then "dry" them on my pants. This leaves them a little tacky just long enough to throw.

I've never tried any grip enhancers so I'm curious to see what others say.
 
I live in Arizona and I've used a Birdie Bag, I've used a Whale Sac, I've used resin, I've used dirt, I've used a Friction glove. Lately, I'm using a chalk bag and loving it....BUT.

The Birdie Bag/Whale Sac/Resin....they dry the sweat off my hand...for a moment, but when I'm throwing, the sweat is back.

Dirt....this works, kind of. You have to be a course with fine dirt...most of the courses I play are desert and difficult to get a good bit of dirt on the hand.

The Friction glove is good for wet weather, but in dry weather it is hot and my hand ends up pale with my arm tanned. It's also impossible to work a phone with the glove on.

Chalk is good, but it builds up on the disc and other things you touch.

The biggest issue I have found.....chalk gives me too much grip on base plastics and enough grip on my premium (slippier) discs.

I still prefer the chalk and am going to start carrying a small, damp towel to wipe my discs/hands off with as needed.

So for dry days....chalk.
for wet or cold days.....Friction glove.

Chalk: I got a chalk ball and kept it in a ziplock bag while I tried it out. Once I decided it was a keeper, I got a chalk bag for it.

(I didn't buy the chalk ball from Infinite, but I got the same thing from a local disc store....the store didn't sell the bag, so that I did buy from Infinite).

https://infinitediscs.com/Products/Accessories/18114/Infinite-Discs-Chalk-Ball
https://infinitediscs.com/Products/Accessories/18290/Prodigy-Chalk-Bag
 
This is my routine, seems to work for me in all but slushy/icy weather. My hands are also hard and worn.

1) small tube of Gold Bond medicated hand cream (lotion does not work well for me). It's a bit expensive but worth it. When I am changing my shoes, getting my bag on at the beginning of the round I apply a very small amount to my hands and rub it in very very well.
2) whale sac, goes in my front right pocket, after the hand cream is rubbed in well, I smack the whale sac on my hands until I get the grip I want. I keep it in my pocket for more use during the round or to smack on the disc after I dry it if it gets too wet.
3) extra towel hangs on my belt by my right hand. That towel is only for my hands or my forehead if I get too sweaty, not on a disc. There is another towel on the bag for discs.
4) once I get my hand at the right spot for grip I ONLY throw with that hand. I don't use it to pick up discs or grab a drink.

I know it seems overkill, but it works for me and the extra consistency has really helped my game.
 
Last edited:
Same deal here. I've worked in a lumber yard for the past 25 years and my hands are slick as snot. I carry O'Keefe's Working Hands lotion. The stuff is absolute $ as it doesn't leave my hands greasy but drastically improves my grip. I will also use a Whale Sac as needed.
 
Tee1 said:
Same deal here. I've worked in a lumber yard for the past 25 years and my hands are slick as snot. I carry O'Keefe's Working Hands lotion. The stuff is absolute $ as it doesn't leave my hands greasy but drastically improves my grip. I will also use a Whale Sac as needed.
Click to expand...

My opinion as well. Working Hands for those who work their hands to the point of "slickness."

Beyond that, usually some finger licking is involved when throwing.

Also some plastics feel better than others and that usually varies based on the weather.

Everyone's hands are different. I think it's why some people think Gstar (or Star or Champ) stinks and others love it. I've never once in my life thought that rubbing my hand in the dirt by a teepad would improve my grip . . . but people (including pros) do it all the time . . . all I can say is their hands are different than mine.
 
kevdiv48 said:
Are you sure it's hand/ finger surface issue and not a grip technique issue?

Give DGR's classic grip article a review to see if you're missing something.
Click to expand...

I use 3 finger power grip or fan grip. Depending on the shot. Read that article 5 or 6 times. Good stuff. Slickness is slickness though.

Hadn't done OKeefs in a while since Vaseline intensive care, but might grab some to try again. I lost my chalk bag, time to make another.
 
Instead of rosin, I use Gorilla Gold Grip Enhancer.
Instead of chalk, I'll grab a large handful of orange clay when I'm throwing discs at the baseball diamond and stick into an old sock and tie off and store in a plastic baggy. Can't beat the price.
And definitely Friction Gloves for after the rain or on a dewy morning.
 
One other option....get wrist sweatbands. Wear one on your non-throwing wrist. You can wipe your throwing hand on the sweatband as needed and you don't have to hunt a towel. Turn the band every so many holes so you have a clean spot. If you have two, you can swap them out after nine holes - or between rounds.
 
gooberau said:
I have chronic dry hands. I either use a Friction Glove, which are very good, or do the Holly Finley "blow on the disc" to get some moisture going.

I assume Whale Sac's are for the opposite issue - moist hands?
Click to expand...

Yes, Whale Sac, resin/rosin bag, Birdie bags....all those are meant to remove wetness (sweat) from your hand.

Chalk seems to do two things....remove wetness/sweat from your hand and add 'grip'.
 
Toothpaste.
Old tubes work best but even the new Crest with gritty texture works great.
Not good for wet hands but perfect for dry hands.
Those little travel tubes fit great in the bag.
 
peabody said:
Toothpaste.
Old tubes work best but even the new Crest with gritty texture works great.
Not good for wet hands but perfect for dry hands.
Those little travel tubes fit great in the bag.
Click to expand...

What … ? Please explain? You put it on your fingers and your discs fly straight and far, minty fresh?
 
Hahalol. Just a small dab on each fingertip then rub it in and spread it over entire palm. And you're correct, it does make your discs minty fresh and cavity free.
 
You peeps that work with your hands, do you not wear gloves? I do, almost always if I have some labor to do, saves my hands. I've found the key is to get quality gloves that actually fit snug/well with some sort of grippy underside.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top