putting
There are some big similarities between driving and putting and one big difference.
The difference is eyes on the target (the pole, a chain link) and they cannot move until the throw is complete; they should "guide" the disc to the target. If you miss, ask yourself "was i really looking at the middle of the pole from the moment i was starting the putting motion until the disc stopped moving?". I have found many times when i miss the honest answer is that i can't really remember... which is a no, and thats most likely why i missed. Recently i have started to take a few more seconds to stare at the pole, waiting till those typical thoughs of "i might miss" pass... then i hear myself say "there is the pole, i am gonna hit the pole cause i am looking at it", then i start my throw.
I also agree with the idea of thinking of "slamming" this disc into the pole. I often use the thought of "i'm gonna break the pole", a way to tell myself i will not hesitate with my throw from beginning to the follow thru, it helps when leaving the putt short has been a problem.
The similarities are: 1. follow thru- finishing with foot up and arm pointing out (push/pitch putt) 2. weight shift /lower body powers the throw (not just chucking the disc with the arm) 3. arm slow on backswing/timing arm with body 4. relaxed upper body and relaxed grip
Info that has helped my putt:
Pointing the hand out (handshake position) and up as part of the follow thru. By "up" i mean the hand is usually above the shoulder when the throw is complete unless it is a very short putt (under 15'). If it is a very long putt the hand could be as high as a 40 degrees or more (see pics of Locastro, Barsby, McCray).
The arm drops back slow and pauses for a split second before the forward movement is executed. This may not be right for every player or every type of putt, but for pitch, jump, push or push/spin putting the timing of the arm with the rest of the bodies forward motion is crucial for accuracy. Watch McBeth: back slow.. slow.. slow... then FORWARD! with power (and the foot kick). It's weight shift that goes from the feet to the body and into the arm to the disc. The lower body stars the power, the core of the body follows, and the arm receives that power and ONLY guides the disc to the target. This is similar to driving, as poor "reach back" habits include leaning too far back (weight on back foot) or thrusting the disc back quickly before the pull-thru. It took me at least a year of putting practice before i could recognize the feeling between my core and my arm (described as tension, stiffness, slight pain) that was telling me i wasn't timing my arm with my body or i wasn't doing my foot-kick (watch Wysocki, Koling for big kicks). It's a feeling of tension from my lower core up to my arm pit into my upper throwing arm. Once u can recognize that feeling, and then get rid of it, u are correctly using your body to power the putt, and your arm to just guide the disc.
Putting steps- 1.check stance 2.relax upper body and grip (breathing) 3.stare at pole (negative thoughts come)... still stare at pole (negative thoughts go) 4. arm back slow (inhale) 5. timing of foot kick/body forward/arm forward and out (exhale loudly or say "jump!" or "kick!") 6.follow thru- finish foot kick as eyes follow disc and arm points at target
For the mental side of putting- If u are a book reader i can recommed "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" by Rotella (and his other popular books) and "Extraordinary Putting" by Shoemaker; they are ball golf books but most of the info translates well to disc.
Visualization, relaxation, meditation, yoga, 10,000 hours of practice... whatever u can do so that when u step up to putt u see it going in the basket and u tell yourself it's going in the basket; this needs to happen before u start the throw (no negative thoughts = confidence).
