Ok, silly question time:

How do you guys and gals suggest I practice my throws? Is it best to just head out to an empty field and fling discs back and forth, trying to work on distance and technique? Or should I get out to a field, set up a target, and work on aim and distance, etc?

Any tips and or ideas are of course appreciated!

do both..... :-) need to work on distance just chunk your heart out..... if you need to work on accuracy..... then aim at something. I know people who like to throw through tire swings!!!!! :D

Try football or soccer feilds, you get the distance as well as a target to throw.

Practice the shots in a field you have trouble with on the course.

go to the course and aim for the spaces between the trees.
That's how i do it and I still suck, so I'd take someone elses advice if you want to improve, and mine if you just want to have fun.

you need to visualize a lot. Look at the blank field and see the course. Look at the course and see the blank field that you have been practicing on. It works both ways. try learning new shots too. The whole point of the field is to expeiriment.

Using a goal post as a "guide" can be a very effective practice technique. You can use it as a distance target (high and low), you can use it as a control/mandatory obstacle to practice all types of shots. You can use it for roller practice too. Just set a landing zone target behind it someplace and practice whatever shot you're working on from different locations in the field. Very easy, and very versatile.

I go to a local football field and try to split the uprights from the other goal line, with all kinds of throws

Don't use a football field, they are too short. Maybe a rugby field, aren't they like 150m long? that might be better, still a little short for distance practice, but you can back up into the parking lot and throw across the field.

Thanks for the suggestions folks. All of them excellent :cool: I have a park near by which is good for practice throws, although as the distance of my throws are getting longer and longer, I'm finding that I'm in danger of crashing in to buldings, etc. I'll have to check out some of the local football fields. They are usually around schools and should give me the clearance I need.

The idea of splitting the uprights and/or shotting for the soccer goals are excellent. Now I just need to get out and practice. :p

The only thing I would add is, when you practice, practice with a purpose (http://www.radl.biz/Articles/practiceoffthecourse.html)!!!!

I used to practice with a friend and the goal was to make the other have to walk back to retrieve your thrown disc. Motivates you to throw for distance as you would not want your buddy to think that he has to walk up to get your disc because your a weenie. Great also because he would throw his disc to me and I would throw them back to him and maybe you would end up liking that disc flight characteristics and go buy one.

When I would throw alone I would go to the soccer fields and throw and focus on getting them to land inside the goal area. Sucked because I had to make the walk to get the disc but worked to my advantage as I picked each one up and thought of what I needed to correct to do it right the next time.

My game still needs to improve but throwing with friends helps motivate your drive to improve. :D

Unfortuneately I haven't had much free time to get out and practice :( In fact I haven't had any free time to get out and golf either. I hope to remedy that this coming week and either get out and throw a few practice throws OR get out and play a couple of the courses here in the area. Either way, I am getting itchy to play!

I am trying to work on my distance too.......... the OK state camps is approaching and the 450 + yarded holes are killing me! I have switched to lighter discs and I am trying to buff up my arms at the gym......

I guess I will just have to cross my fingers.......... and practice!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

I like what Juliana Korver says. "Practice shots, not courses." (she may have been quoting someone else when she said this) Scott Stokely also said, "take one kind of disc and learn different types of shots."

While physical practice is great, I also spend a lot of time watching what other players do and reading about technique. This can be very helpful. I read, watch and then go out and apply what I've seen during my practices.