Hey all. Been playing alot lately. I noticed my 150 ce valk, 168 dx valk, and 166 ce orc fly the same distance my 178 buzzz, and 180 ElementX.
The problem is my drivers start out great, then all of a sudden stop and fly back left. Its so annoying.
One of the problems I think I have is my throwing. I dont throw very hard, Im still working on it though. Im only throwing 250' max now and its depressing. Any help is greatly appreciated.

The reason that the Mids are flying the same distance is because for someone with slow arm speed a driver will not have enough speed to stay in the air for the desired time. On the other hand Mids do not need as much speed but they need a good speed to spin ratio to get the desired time aloft which creates a long drive. Midranges are also not as sketchy when it comes to height as drives are but they are when it comes to angle and are torque. So out of all that bull the reason why the mids go just as far is because you don't have the form and armspeed yet to get the full effect from a driver (this is why understable mids are recommended to newbies) not overstable drivers. /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

haha thanks much.
So yea, I wouldnt consider myself weak. Im a big guy, I just have trouble swinging those discs fast. Im really trying to launch these things, but the same thing happens everytime. Any exercises u guys recommend?

Im considering a Spin throw. But wuts the x step? Any good guides?

www.discgolfreview.com (http://www.discgolfreview.com) they are hands down the best site to get info technique. www.kenclimo.com (http://www.kenclimo.com) is excellant advice as well.

cool, I'll read up.
thanks :D

Also, try some slower drivers. The ones you've picked out need quite a bit of speed to fly like the designers intended. Try a Leopard or Cheetah from Innova, a XL or Xpress from Discraft or a Sabre from Gateway.

Alright, Ill check those out.
But once I do get the technique down, the discs I have will stop doing so bad? Cuz I know the orc and valk should be getting more than 250'. I think my 168 DX valk is record holder of like 820'.

Alright, Ill check those out.
But once I do get the technique down, the discs I have will stop doing so bad? Cuz I know the orc and valk should be getting more than 250'. I think my 168 DX valk is record holder of like 820'.



Once you are able to throw 350' or so they'll start working a lot better. When I was throwing 280' max I used my Flash as a headwind disc. Once I started pushing my distance out past 300' it turned into my straight driver and then turnover disc, and it never really got that beat up.

Check out this article in particular from Blake's site:

http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/articles/choosingadisc.shtml

ok great.
Thanks for the link

You are probably thowing the disc with the nose up. This is a common problem for newer players. Focus on releasing the disc flatter.

While the Valk has flown 820ft, that was once and most players throw between 300 and 400ft, and pros throw between 400 and 500ft.

Your problem is you throw discs that are too overstable for the distance of which you are throwning them. Try an Xpress or a stratus, Stingray or a Cobra, even try a 150. There is nothing wrong with throwing a step down from the top...

Ok cool, but will I ever be able to use these discs?

I really try to make sure Im not doing that. My drives only get about 20 feet max height.

Release height and nose up are two different things. When I read that your drivers were fading back to the left hard, first thing I thought was 'nose up' as well. A flatter release will correct that. I would think by now that you have heard or read that going out to an open field and throwing is good practice.....it is! Good Luck!

ok, Ill definentily start keeping the disc flatter on the release.

I made a post exactly like this last spring.
http://www.pdga.com/msgboard/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=199636&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1
The post from Blake T and the others w/ similar advice were the ones that helped the most.
I gained 100' last year, and am hoping to add another 50' this year. Like the others said, read and re-read discgolfreview.com with practice sessions in between. Strength has nothing to do w/ it. It's all timing and technique. When I finally "got it" my distance went up in a hurry. Try to think of your whole body as a whip, and relax your upper arm. You're probably trying to throw the disc too much and not letting your body pull your arm through. This brings the disc away from your chest, and slows it down.
Hope this helps.

Nice, thanks for the tips, Ill definentily work on that stuff. Once it stops raining... :(

Nice, thanks for the tips, Ill definentily work on that stuff. Once it stops raining... :(


No prob, happy to be a link in the chain of DG knowledge.
Another couple things I still forget to do that make a BIG difference.
1. Follow through hard.
2. Keep your wrist bent down so that the disc is in line w/ your forearm.

excellent!

I was reading some tips about how yer not supposed to use yer arm strength to throw it, but rather the whip like effect from your body rotation.
I tried both ways in my basement without letting go of the disc, and Im completely serious that when I tried using the whiplike technique, it hurt my hand quite a bit trying to hold onto the disc because of all the speed it had. I cannot wait to get out and try this. rain rain go away...

By the way, wut exactly is X step? I cant find a detailed explanation.

By the way, wut exactly is X step? I cant find a detailed explanation.


in short, the X step is a method of incorporating your entire back and hips into a throw, instead of just your shoulder. what it comes down to is basically the reverse of taking a jump step before throwing a baseball from center field to home plate (this is a very loose analogy). in that case, you would swing your right foot behind your left leg and plant on it before stepping forward with your left foot and throwing the ball. in the case of an X step, you would swing your left foot behind your right leg and at the same time begin to align the disc for the upcoming release by thrusting it away from your target (in essence you're just extending your throwing arm in the opposite direction of the basket). once your left foot lands, your right swings forward and plants, at which point the disc is travelling toward the target and you release as your entire body lunges forward. it's confusing in writing, but once you imagine it and try it out, it's very easy. go to a course and watch some good players and you'll understand what's going on when they take an X step.

X-step is just kinda an outline of the position and location of where your feet should get during your final or only steps of your throw. It helps make use of your large muscles groups to whip your arm around.

You've probably checked out discgolfreview, but they have articles and videos

http://hem.bredband.net/area46/engelska/skola/utkast.html
is another site that has an article with a video on the x-step

http://www.lsdga.com/mpegs/disc_golf_dreams.mpeg
I kinda assumed that everyone knows about this site, but maybe they don't. Its a really cool video of pro's (who have killer technique) making great drives and putts.

cool video, thanx for sharing /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

wow lots of info. Ill definetily practice today,

Thats easily the coolest video ever. Got anymore like it?

Fun video ... can't believe I've never seen it.

No, I just found it a long time ago when I googled DiscGolf video's. For some reason I thought it'd be common knowledge among most discgolfer, forgetting there are new ones coming to the forum all the time. Heh, I never knew you could download it until I put up that link too, I thought I had to watch it off the web. Glad you liked it.

wow. I just started using the 360 method and the ripping technique. It honestly must have added atleast 50'. I was amazed! I used to think the game was all strength, but now I see its technique. I use my arm as a whip and let the thing rip outta my hand. Makes yer arms hurt less after a round, and adds distance, what more could you want!
I just practiced on the field today, but Im so excited to try this at the course!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the 360 is not really a golf throw as much as a distace comp. throw, but if you can get accuracy out of it more power to ya. WORK ON THE X-STEP.

really? dang it. alright Ill keep workin on the x step then.

that viedo roc's

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the 360 is not really a golf throw as much as a distace comp. throw, but if you can get accuracy out of it more power to ya. WORK ON THE X-STEP.


Let the guy throw how he wants... maybe DG needs a Happy Gilmore. :D

lol!
Well, I probably should work on that xstep.
Its just so confusing in words :-/

It does sound confusing in words. I actually learned it by going to a field and starting with my back to the target line and my feet facing away and then making one step to open myself up and throwing. I still use the one step delivery on some shots and the basic concept on most upshots. After you feel comfortable having your back to the target the X step is just a way to walk into that position. Its kinda like baseball, it don't matter what you do when you hold the bat, it only matters how you bring it across the plate. You could take 100 steps to get into the X step. Dave McCormack takes quite a few and I know some guys who take only a couple. As long as you get to the right point to make the snap and are repeatable than its a good motion.

Some more great videos here. http://www.usdgc.com/media/video/ I love watching disc golf, we really need it on espn.

wow thanks man!
Those are so cool.
ack, been watching them for over half an hour, gotta go to sleep for school tommorow. :eek:

Some more great videos here. http://www.usdgc.com/media/video/ I love watching disc golf, we really need it on espn.



yea we do

I am also a big guy that was running into some distance problems, then i spent some time with Darrel Nodland our local pro. He gave some of the best advise ive gotten regarding drives. once you get your steps down...Imagine that you are pull-starting a lawnmower thats been bolted up on a wall. People with longer arms and bigger chest can maximize on this once you learn to keep the nose down and find the right angles. Now i can throw over 500.