I am really new to disc golf, I have 4 games total under my belt, not only am I new to the game, but I'm also physically limited to certain types of throws (back injury, see this page (http://www.pdga.com/msgboard/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=224041&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) ). I have pretty much figured out what throws I can use, and now after successfully playing an 18 hole round with no pain using these throws I want to buy 3 or 4 discs that will help me out as I learn and improve my technique. Any advice would be highly appreciated; I am not looking to become an expert, I just want to have fun, and remove some of the frustrations of a beginner.

Disc #1 Driver: I am confined to driving RHFH, which seems to require more precise mechanics than BH. For every straight throw I make, I make 3 that head out up and to the left, and then cut sharply down to the right, and one that goes about 50 feet and then breaks down to the left and rolls in a sharp clockwise circle. I realize this is mostly a technique issues, but are there any discs that will soften the edge when I make these mistakes?

Disc #2 Putter: The only putt that works for me is the Turbo putt. I have 2 problems with this throw, 1: often when putting from over 10 feet the disc will hit the basket, and then bounce out, and 2: putting from over 15 feet the disc tends to slice right at the last second. Again, I realize this is probably a technique issue, but are there any discs that will help out? I need a good putter anyway.

Disc #3 Approach: For those ~100 ft throws where precision is more important than power. I can throw these FH and BH.

Disc #4 Alternate Driver? For those holes where the initial drive absolutely must not break to the right, but ideally should break to the left, what are my options throwing RHFH with limited technique? Is there any disc that can help out?

Thanks a bunch!

How far can you drive right now???

Maybe up to 200 ft. I believe the disc I was playing with was a Discraft Elite Z XS? My friend let me use his for a while, which felt a little lighter, had a lot of glide at the end, and didn't cut sharp right, and that's when I was able to throw ~200 ft. Unfortunately, the markings on his disc were completely worn off, so we don't know what it was.

Disc #1: Anything. Just stick with your Z XS. All you need to do here is get more experience and learn how to control your angles. Then you'll be able to make it do anything.

Disc #2: Turbo putts will come with time. It sounds like you have a technique issue, but there are discs that will help. What you want to look for is a putter that has a low profile, such as a XD or Rhyno. I would also recomend a light disc while your learning. They make both of these discs in 150. If that still isn't enough, you may want to look for a faster disc, such as a midrange. If thats the case, I recomend a Z Breeze or Stingray. When you work your technique out, I recomend the Gateway Wizard.

Disc #3: You can use the same disc as #2, but I recomend a Discraft Swirl APX. It is a great disc for touch approaches. Everyone can benefit from this disc! Again, once your more experienced, get a Wizard.

Disc #4: For shots that need to curve to the left the whole time, go with an "understable" driver. I reccomend a Discraft Xpress/stratus, or an Innova Leopard/Stingray.

Good luck, have fun, and don't over do yourself!!

disc 1: I have thrown the Z-XS in all sorts of ways and it works great for sidearm. As you begin to throw farther you might want to look into a Crush, or X2, but don't worry about those now, you'll only frusterate yourself! (seriously, don't mess don't get too many discs too fast, yes it's temping but dont!)

disc 2 : For putting I like a magnet (any plastic) or challenger. The challenger is a versitile disc.

disc 3: You can use the challenger here too. Pro-D seems to work pretty well, and has a more of a "putter" feel

disc 4: I agree, a stratus will definatly fit the bill here. You might want to try a stingray.

overall suggestion: Make sure you have fun!

At the same time you should look into a more overstable disc for 2 fingers as in time your technique will catch up and youll flip that XS easily.Turbo putters I know use a Rhyno,and use it with alot of success,I think because of the Thumtrac.Personally,Id work on a different putting style if your not limited.Even a sidearm putt should be more accurate in any elements,compared to a turbo.

Personally,Id work on a different putting style if your not limited.Even a sidearm putt should be more accurate in any elements,compared to a turbo.


Turbo Putts can be extremely accurate inside 15' and even up to 30' with good technique and practice: if turbo putting doesn't hurt your back I would stick with it. I am assuming you are turbo putting and not "basketball" putting, turbo putting the disc flys like normal you just relase it higher and with a different grip, basketball putting (almost same grip) the disc flips end over end, you can try that too, that can be even more accurate when you are closer to the basket.
I use either a Rhyno or Big Bead Stiff Aviar for Turbos and Basketball putts.
I would also reccomend the Comet(1st) and Stingray(2nd) for your backhand throws, they have great glide and can really streach out the distance. Pick a weight that you feel comfortable with.
As for your sidearm, stick with the XS for right turns and use either a Leopard(1st), Stratus, Comet or Stingray for left turns.
I think you will be able to really enjoy disc golf even if your back problems limit the type of throws you can make. If you are very accurate up to 200' then a 400' hole should only be 2 shots and a putt. Most D-golfers that you will be playing with won't be able to reach 400' in one any way and will probably try to over throw and be in the rough, so you just have a longer yet easier second shot. Work on that shot and putting and you will be extremely successful. All in all, it comes down to approaching, putting, and playing smart.
Good Luck,
Matt

since he mentioned right-side falloff on long putts i assume he is indeed using a turbo and not a "pancake" as i've heard termed what you call basketball putts discgolftool.

i second (or third or fourth at this point) the motion that a phyno would make an excellent turbo putter, but i think with practice you might appreciate a wizard more for its increased stability. much less late fade to worry about than with a rhyno, but thats just me

It's hard to make really good recommendations without seeing you throw, but here goes:

1. Unfortunately, the two problems you describe are the opposite of each other. You can eliminate burning out left and rolling with a very overstable driver, like the Speed Demon, but your problem of fading right too early will get much worse. You might want to try a midrange for a while. The Buzzz, Wasp, and DGA Squall all work quite well for forehand shots.

2. Get a Wizard. It works just as well for turbo putts as any other disc, and you won't outgrow it when your technique improves.

3. See number 2. The Wizard can be thrown both forehand and backhand with ease, and again, you won't outgrow it.

4. No disc will naturally finish left RHFH. You need to throw a turnover shot, which is easier with something understable, but will really only come with practice. As you've seen, if you turn the disc over too hard, you end up with a roller.

Wow, so many recommendations. It looks like I'll be able to cover all my needs for discs 2 - 4 with just two new discs (say.. a Rhyno, and a Stingray), which is awesome. The urge to buy, buy, buy is there, especially only playing on weekends, it is tempting to shop on-line during the week. :)

I was attempting to Turbo putt, but since my putter was a floppy Buzzfly, I often inadvertently did a basketball putt, which surprisingly worked fine within 15 feet. Since it sounds like Turbo Putting can be accurate up 30 ft, and it doesn't bother my back, I'll stick with it for now. Whenever I putt side-arm I usually get the disc within 2 ft of the basket on either side, and then it flies/slides as far or further on the other side than I was in the first place.

I have another question about driving side-arm; couldn't an understable disc help me out with my problem where the disc heads out up and to the left, and then cut sharply down to the right? It seems that in this scenario I'm throwing the disc slightly hyzer(?) maybe, which accentuates the discs tendency to cut right, so an understable disc could cause it to straighten out, rather than cutting right? Would a more slightly understable disc be better? Or am I misunderstanding stability factors? Fwiw, the second scenario (where the goes about 50 feet and then breaks down to the left) is the result of my over-compensating to avoid the right cut, so I think I could avoid it pretty easily if I wasn't tempted to over-compensate.

thanks!

I have another question about driving side-arm; couldn't an understable disc help me out with my problem where the disc heads out up and to the left, and then cut sharply down to the right? It seems that in this scenario I'm throwing the disc slightly hyzer(?) maybe, which accentuates the discs tendency to cut right, so an understable disc could cause it to straighten out, rather than cutting right? Would a more slightly understable disc be better? Or am I misunderstanding stability factors? Fwiw, the second scenario (where the goes about 50 feet and then breaks down to the left) is the result of my over-compensating to avoid the right cut, so I think I could avoid it pretty easily if I wasn't tempted to over-compensate.

thanks!



If you want the disc to cut to the left and not come back, or come back much later in its flight, use a less stable disc. If you're using a Z XS now, you may try getting an elite X XS. It sounds like you are starting to understand how angles affect the flight. Your well on your way.

I have a feeling you are going to be improving very fast, so I can't really recomend the DX stingray. This disc will probably become too understable for you! I would suggest getting an understable driver such as a Xpress or Leopard or Archangel. You will be able to use these discs longer.

Also, I know everyone is reccomending the Rhyno (and I did too) but I would suggest you go with the XD, especially if you only plan on using 2-3 discs! The XD is faster and straighter than the rhyno, which means it will probably go straighter and longer on turbo putts for you right now. It is also very good for those 100' shots. The Rhyno does not float very well and tends to fall off hard to the right after a turbo putt. The XD should be much straighter!

Don't listen to the people who say that Turbos are only accurate to 30'! I know a few people who can throw 150' turbos with much more accuracy than any of us can finesse a disc!! Just keep working with it! My turbo is atleast 50' now!

Weird, i replied earlier, but my post doesn't appear to have stuck. Your recommendation to us Elite X plastic instead of Elite Z was right on, it makes all the difference in the success of my throws.

So one disc down, two to go. I'll think I'll windup getting a Leopard, and an XD. Rhynos seem interesting, but the XD sounds like it may be more appropriate for Turbo Putting. Of course, if they're not too expensive I could just grab both.

thanks!

Wise choice on the XD, you will find this disc very versatile, and great for putting.

mojo = turboputt winar!!11

Well, I got my new discs (Elite X XS, XD, and Leopard), and now I've got some more questions.... :D

Today I went out to a field to test out my new drivers, as well as my original Elite Z XS. My Z XS is 164, and the other two are 170-172. The other day I practiced in this same field with a nice backwind, and I got to be able to consistently throw the Z-XS ~200 ft, straight as a can be. Well, today there was a leftish-to-straight-on-headwind, and it seemed to be really affecting me. With the Z-XS, and the X-XS, they would go ~150, and begin to descend, only to cut sharply to the right (reminder: I throw RHFH), angling into the ground. I also couldn't get the X-XS to go quite as far as the Z-XS. Is this a weight issue? Shouldn't the heavier disc go further?

The Leopard is a trip, it's really interesting how it heads to the left. I practiced throwing it at many different angles, and it never flipped, or cut to the side and died. Very nice; it will be a useful disc. I also experimented with throwing a bit hyzer, with a low release, hoping to get it to level off and finish straight, but it would always finish a bit left. Is this more of a technique issue, or am I trying this with the wrong disc?

As for the weights, I bought the lightest they had, but I'm wondering if they may be a bit too heavy, since I am still throwing the lighter Z-XS further, even with the sharp cut at the end. How does weight really affect distance? thanks!

No, heavier disks don't go further, they are usually easier to keep stable. I mean if you had HUGE arm, then they probably would because you would be over powering the lighter weights.

IIRC the X plastic disks are suppose to be farther flying, but I have no idea by how much.

Winds like that tend to make discs cut earlier. Since your X-XS is new, it is probably more overstable than your Z-XS right now. After a couple rounds, your X-XS will have calmed down and you'll probably be throwing it further.

How is the XD working out?

MadCow:
For me, when I was starting out, lighter equaled more distance.
I was also able to get lighter discs to 'flip' more easily.
Don't get any discs with wide flat rims yet, but stick with the Leopard or a Cheetah. Try to find a 150-160 Leopard if you like the one you have.
Heavier discs are easier to control once you have the power and are also less affected by the wind. Lighter discs 'fly' or rather 'glide' more and will probably give you more distance.
Wind is a whole other set of problems. Sounds like the headwind was pushing down on the top of the flight plate, causing it to lose distance.

Well, I did some Turbo putt practising with no target, and it didn't really work out too well.... I think I'll hit a course on Thursday, and then I'll let you know. I like the disc a lot, it flies really straight even into the wind, and I can see using it a lot for shorter control shots. I was practising flipping one disc to a random location within ~75 ft, and then trying to hit it with the XD, and I was doing real well, so that was nice.

I'm definitely going to need to strengthen my shoulder if I intend to practice a lot of forearm drives, and turbo putts. Playing a course is so much easier on the body than repetitive practice shots! Even on a bad day at De La Veaga I probably only make ~120 throws over 3-4 hours, and many or most of them are very low impact.