I need to start with an admission: I don’t practice putting enough. I know I should. I tell other people to practice putting all the time. I’ve written about how putting is the highest-ROI skill improvement for most amateurs. And then I go home and throw drivers in my backyard because it’s more fun, and […]
The 15-Minute Putting Routine I Hate But Do Anyway Read More »
I live in Oregon. It rains here from roughly October through June. Not constantly, but enough that there are long stretches where going to the course sounds miserable. Cold, wet, muddy, discs slip out of your hand weird, shoes get destroyed. Some people play through all of it. I admire those people. I am not
Off-Season Training: What to Do When You Can’t Play (Or Won’t) Read More »
So your drives keep doing this thing where they shoot up, hang in the air for a second, and then just… dump. Fade hard left way earlier than they should. Die about 200 feet out when you felt like you threw it pretty well. And you’re thinking maybe the disc is too overstable. Or maybe
Why Your Disc Nose-Dives (And How to Fix It in Like 10 Minutes) Read More »
The x-step is the footwork pattern that builds momentum before a backhand throw. It’s how you turn a standstill drive into a full-power drive. It’s also one of those things that looks complicated when you watch it, feels awkward when you first try it, and then eventually becomes automatic. Getting there takes practice, but the
The X-Step Explained Without Making It Weird Read More »
I need to be upfront about something: my forehand is not great. It’s functional. It exists. I can throw one when I need to and it usually goes in the general direction I intended. But it’s probably the weakest part of my game and I’ve accepted that I might never be a forehand-dominant player. This
Forehand 101: A Guide From Someone Whose Forehand Is Mediocre Read More »
I remember staring at my first disc \u2014 an Innova something, I forget what \u2014 trying to make sense of the numbers printed on it. 9/5/-1/2. What did that mean? The guy at the shop explained it but I retained maybe 20% of what he said. Something about speed and fade and turn and I
Flight Numbers Explained: What Those Four Numbers Actually Mean Read More »
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
Fieldwork Drills That Actually Improve Your Game Read More »
I played ultimate frisbee in college. Four years at Oregon State, starting handler by junior year, before I blew out my shoulder and had to quit. So when I picked up disc golf during physical therapy, I figured the throwing part would transfer over. Same basic motion, right? Just smaller discs at metal baskets instead
Backhand Basics: The Reach-Back Isn’t What You Think Read More »
My first real round of disc golf was at Pier Park in Portland and I almost didn’t go through with it. I sat in my car for probably fifteen minutes beforehand just kind of psyching myself out. What if I throw it into someone? What if I can’t find hole 1? What if everyone stares
Your First Round: What to Actually Expect Read More »
The first time someone tried to explain disc golf to me I think they made it sound way more complicated than it needed to be. This was my physical therapist, guy named Rob, who I was seeing three times a week for a shoulder thing after I blew it out playing ultimate. He kept talking
What Is Disc Golf? A No-Jargon Introduction Read More »
