I should do more fieldwork. I don’t. Do as I say, not as I do.
But when I do get out to a field and actually practice with intention, it makes a noticeable difference. The problem is that most people’s “fieldwork” is just throwing discs randomly for an hour without any structure. That’s fun, but it’s not practice.
Here are drills that actually work \u2014 specific, timed, with clear goals. Pick a few that address your weaknesses and do them consistently.
The Rules of Good Fieldwork
Before we get to the drills, some principles:
Quality over quantity. 30 focused throws beats 100 mindless ones.
One thing at a time. Don’t try to fix your nose angle, footwork, and follow-through in the same session. Pick one focus.
Film yourself. What you feel isn’t always what’s happening. Video gives you truth.
Rest between throws. Walk to your disc, think about the last throw, set up deliberately for the next one. This isn’t a cardio workout.
Use markers. Targets matter. A cone, a bag, a tree \u2014 something to aim at.
Foundational Drills
Standstill 100s
Time: 15-20 minutes
What: 100 throws from a standstill. No run-up, no x-step. Just stand and throw.
Why: Isolates upper body mechanics. If you can’t throw well from a standstill, footwork will just add chaos.
Focus options:
- Nose angle \u2014 keep it flat or slightly down
- Release point \u2014 consistent height and location
- Spin \u2014 clean release, no wobble
Goal: Every throw should feel the same. Repeatability over distance.
One Disc, One Line
Time: 20 minutes
What: Pick one disc. Pick one shot shape (hyzer, flat, anhyzer). Throw only that shot for the entire session.
Why: Builds muscle memory for specific releases. You can’t own a shot shape until you’ve thrown it hundreds of times.
Goal: By the end, you should be able to predict exactly where each throw will land.
Power Control Ladder
Time: 15 minutes
What: Throw the same disc at 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% power. Repeat.
Why: Most players only have two speeds: “full send” and “lob.” Learning to modulate power gives you more shots.
Goal: Controlled, consistent flight at every power level. You should be able to throw a driver 200 feet on purpose.
Distance Drills
Max Distance Reps
Time: 20 minutes
What: 10-15 max effort throws with full recovery between each.
Why: Distance requires coordination at high speeds. You need reps at max effort to train that coordination.
How:
- Full x-step run-up
- 100% commitment
- Walk to disc slowly
- Rest 60-90 seconds before next throw
Goal: Finding 5-10 more feet on your max. Small gains add up.
The 300-Foot Putter Drill
Time: 20 minutes
What: Throw a putter as far as you can. Mark that distance. Try to beat it.
Why: Putters punish bad form ruthlessly. If you can throw a putter 300 feet, your mechanics are solid. (I can’t consistently hit 300 with a putter. It’s humbling.)
Goal: Whatever your current max is + 10%. Slow progress over time.
Accuracy Drills
Landing Zone Challenge
Time: 15 minutes
What: Set out a target (bag, cone, towel). Try to land within a circle around it \u2014 start with 30 feet, shrink it as you improve.
Why: Accuracy matters more than distance for scoring. This trains it.
Variations:
- Different distances (150 ft, 200 ft, 250 ft)
- Different shot shapes (hyzer into the zone, turnover landing in the zone)
- Different discs (can you land a driver as accurately as a midrange?)
Goal: 70%+ of throws in the zone.
Gap Targeting
Time: 20 minutes
What: Set up two markers 20-30 feet apart. Throw through the gap. Shrink the gap as you succeed.
Why: Simulates tight fairways. Teaches precision release angle.
Goal: Consistent makes through a gap you’d be nervous about on the course.
100-150-200 Triangle
Time: 15 minutes
What: Set targets at 100, 150, and 200 feet. Rotate through them randomly. Hit each target with the appropriate disc.
Why: Practices distance control and club selection (disc selection?) under variable conditions.
Goal: Landing within 15 feet of target 80%+ of the time.
Shot Shaping Drills
Turnover Practice
Time: 20 minutes
What: Throw nothing but turnovers \u2014 shots that turn right (for RHBH) and hold that line.
Why: Turnovers are scary for many players. They feel out of control. Practice removes the fear.
How: Use an understable disc. Release on anhyzer. Let it turn and ride.
Goal: Consistent turnover line you could use in a round confidently.
Hyzer Flip Practice
Time: 20 minutes
What: Throw an understable disc on hyzer with enough speed to flip it flat and ride straight.
Why: The hyzer flip is one of the most useful shots in disc golf. Straight flight with built-in accuracy.
Goal: Reliable hyzer flip that flies dead straight.
Spike Hyzer Practice
Time: 15 minutes
What: Throw with severe hyzer angle, getting the disc to land and stick rather than skip.
Why: Spike hyzers get around obstacles and stop on a dime. Useful utility shot.
Goal: Disc lands flat (not skipping) within 20 feet of target.
Sample 45-Minute Session
If you’ve got 45 minutes, here’s a balanced session:
Warm-up (5 min): Easy putter throws, stretching
Standstill 100s focus (15 min): Pick one focus (nose angle), throw 30-40 standstill shots with putter/midrange
Accuracy drill (15 min): Landing zone challenge at 200 feet
Max distance reps (10 min): 8-10 full-power throws with rest between
Cool-down: Easy putters to pick up, reflect on what felt good
Tracking Progress
Keep a simple log:
- Date
- What you worked on
- How it felt
- Any breakthroughs or struggles
Over weeks and months, patterns emerge. You’ll see what’s improving and what needs more attention.
I use the notes app on my phone. Nothing fancy. Just enough to remember what I did.
The Honest Truth
Fieldwork is boring. Playing rounds is fun. Most of us will always prefer playing to practicing.
But the players who improve fastest are the ones who put in field time. Even one focused session a week makes a difference.
I should do more fieldwork. I’m telling you to do more fieldwork. Let’s both try to actually do it.