Everyone talks so much about how good a disc is for rollers. When would this shot be useful? Around here you can't roll discs at all because all the courses have weeds, creeks and cactus/yucca everywhere. Even the holes that are plain grass slope steeply toward lakes. You guys must play on some flat open courses.

Well , check this out.

I was throwing a roller the other day and this lady saw me throw it. She said " Hey , I thought you were supposed to fly the frisbee , not roll it " !!!!!! :eek: I laughed !!!!!!

True , some courses I have played , there is NO way you can roll down the fairway. You have to Air everything.

Hopefully you are able to find a football field or soccer field , you can practice on.

It helps to have a roller shot in your arsenal. :)

I also come from an area where the roller isn't always practical. Mountain courses don't allow it. But I went to vegas for the halloween classic last weekend and got my butt kicked by Feldburg, Rico and every other open player who has a roller. It may not be as accurate on a wide open 300 footer. It is mandatory on certain long holes that may have a ceiling, akward OB, or other conditions. I know I am going to be spending some serious time on a short grass field honing my roller now.

Sunset Park in Vegas and Vista in Phoenix are both courses where if you have a good roller you can save some strokes for sure. I didnt start throwing rollers in tournament untill this year but I can tell you that having a roller has saved me a few strokes and givin me looks at duece on holes I never thought I would have a putt on with an airshot.

roller availability differs a lot by area. where i play there generally isn't more than 1 or 2 holes per course suitable for a roller.

i have a few reasons i roll that depend heavily upon the layout, the ground, what you want to accomplish, etc.
my reasons for rolling:
1) wide open max D
2) very tight fairway that i need to finish to the right and is under 300'.
3) Long-ish D when there is danger to the left
4) to get over/under an obstacle within 100' of the tee and want to get a straight line after that.

there are occasions where i roll more due to having an off day on my air shots. controlled rollers allow you to have complete visual contact with your target much earlier than a normal backhand.

i have played a handful of courses that have no holes that set up well for a roller. however, most courses i have played have at least 1 hole that sets up well for it.

There are lots of reasons for throwing roller shots. There are many types of roller shots and all have uses. For a roller shot that finishes to the left, try throwing a backhand cut roller or a forehand roller. I generally do not throw rollers for distance as I am a weenie arm. I mostly tend to throw rollers when there is a low ceiling or I am playing on a super friendly roller course like Vista.

Rollers can finish straight, to the left or right. The new Roadrunner is an awesome straight roller for me. It never seems to flip over, but rather holds a nice straight line for a long time. The Roadrunner is a predictable addition to my bag. Use a stable disc for cut rollers or forehand rollers that need to finish to the left. Use a very beat or unstable disc for a backhand roller that filps up and finishes right.

Even if there are not many opportunities to throw rollers on courses in your area, it is still a good idea to know this shot. You can practice on any wide open field to learn the basics. Even if you only get to throw it on one hole, it is a valuable shot that can take strokes off your score.

Boy, I agree with Discette, even if you can't throw a roller on the course you play all the time, you should learn it. It can come in handy when you are playing on the road!

Or having fun , throwing rollers around a Bicycle Oval !!!!! :D

They Haul aSSS !!!!!! :eek:

Boy, I agree with Discette, even if you can't throw a roller on the course you play all the time, you should learn it. It can come in handy when you are playing on the road!



At the very least, learn a forehand roller to help get out of tight spots. I know throw forehand rollers on this tight wooded course in north Alabama. It is a pine grove forest, so there is actually a mathematically smaller chance of hitting a tree with a roller then with an air shot.

when I'm outside watching my kids play I'll grab a small stack of discs and practice rollers around the yard... my forehand is strictly short range now but its fun to curl it all the way around the house predictably, and its fun to aim at say the swingset and see how the rolling disc behaves... less predictable is my longer range backhand roller but its fun to practice- been using some lightweight overstable drivers and heavier flippy drivers for these, but also find that I can roll a stable midrange just about as far with more room for error in angle of release etc...
good shot to have, fun stuff
don't try to roll the square ones ;)

In Texas, rollers are very important. When Veteran's is set up in all long pin placements, I can see someone rolling on 5 of the 18 holes. I will roll on 3 or 4 of those.

Not all of those are for distance. Only 1 is for pure distance. The others are for either a straight hole that you need to get under trees or a hole that finishes to the right at the very end (which is a tough backhand shot).

I'm not too sure how, but I have learned how to roll very well. I feel comfortable rolling every hole where a roller is the ideal shot, even if most people don't roll it.

Rollers are not needed for every course, but having one comes in handy when your at a new course set up really well for rollers. It can give you a big advantage over your competitors.

What disc(s) do you roll?

long rolls (forehand) - sidewinder - lots of snap
short rolls - rhyno

I want to try a roadrunner, but the SW is sufficient for now.

illusion, spirit, sidewinder

Slipstream GT, Wildcat, Avenger

Beat up X Avenger!!!

Brand spanking new Slipstream GT!!! :D

I roll an XL.

I have a decent roller too, but I found myself throwing too many. So, I force myself to throw air shots, even when roller will get me more D or to the basket.

Roadrunner, beat JLS, Cobra.

Proline (old candy) Leopard or 1st run Sidewinder

Z-Xpress

1st run Sidewinder

All of my discs roll

Beat-up X Wildcat. My problem lately has been rolling it TOO far! At Edgebrook in Chicago I have rolled it pin high on a few 600'+ holes.

OPTIMIZER!!!!!!! :eek:

Orion 174 grams.

My slightly beat Arc Angel rolls extremely well, as does my Wolf.

Red Candy Valkerie ,CE First Run Star Stamp , 174 grams !!!!!

New Orion , 174 grams.

FIrst run 174 X-Avenger..
that thing got beat like a red-headed stepchild. I'd rather roll a DX teebird, but this'll do!

-Scott Lewis

P.s. Either that or my CE valk (unweighted, but probaly 160's)

I rolled the roadrunner untill today. They don't float by the way :( :mad:

how much less stable are they than a sidewinder. I know they are only 1 point off from eachother on high speed turn, but how much of a difference does it make..
I want a roller/hyzerflip disc in champion plastic, but i might buy a max or light Star sidewinder..
I can't stand this avenger because i just don't like the grip and it's not champion/star.

-Scott Lewis

New Orion , 174 grams.

This disc works on holes between 250-400 feet.

All of my discs roll


:D:D:D

Practice short distances and work further out as you feel comfortable. I started with 30-40'accuracy rollers around the yard or from the pin the the next tee pad. Now I'm able to roll on 250' holes as needed.

I like my sidewinder for long distances and my spider for short ones. I guess it's whatever you practice with but there's my $.02.

For a two finger forearm throw within 50 , try a regular shark.

or an Aviar :cool:

Have you tried a 180 Python ? It's like a understable Ram !!

Leaves rooster tails in wet grass !!!! /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Coyote is also good for short-mid range rollers!

i roll a x-wasp for short or utility/get outta trouble rollers.(2 finger flick)

Dx leopard for medium to long RHBH

KC 10x Firebird for long RHBH rollers and also i use it for sky rollers aswell.

i roll a x-wasp for short or utility/get outta trouble rollers.(2 finger flick)

Dx leopard for medium to long RHBH

KC 10x Firebird for long RHBH rollers and also i use it for sky rollers aswell.



Pro Firebird ? What weight ?

When I need distance I'll roll a Sidewinder. I like the Roadrunner too but I can't roll it as far as the SW.
For shorter distances I use a DX Stingray, which has a much wider diameter hook at the end of its roll than the Sidewinder. The Stingray is very predictable too.

You should try the Orion. It's like a JLS but it flips up perfect and doesn't get away from you like other rollers !!!!!

Think of it as a Super Pro Stingray.

Beat spirit for big sky and distance rollers, e element and beat blaze for controlled, and a slightly used blaze for cut rollers.

I still cannot roll as far as I throw.

I have been told I throw with too much power for my rollers, hence the reason they spin out to the right.

I actually use rollers in finesse situations, like through woods or upshots out of shule.

If I am rolling for distance, I use a beat up SE Leopard thrown with hyzer. It hits the ground at a nice angle \ but it does a mean curl out to the right. While I can throw 420 'golf 460' distance, my long rollers end up barely at the 350 mark.

Considering how far I am able to throw. My rationale tells me I should easily be rolling 550-600ft.

What gives?

You should be rolling near 600. Maybe it's your grip. I use a fan grip. I used to tuck my finger tips into the rim for some pop but I couldn't control the roll very well and it didn't roll as far either.

I am using the same grip for my long drives, which is either a 3 or 4 finger power grip.

Should I be using the same two finger (peace-sign) grip that use for putts and approaches? Those are the only two backhand grips I use.

I roll sidewinders. The less stable the disc...the longer it stays vertical when rolling before flipping over....I think at least. If your flipping them over too quick...try having the roller land not completely vertical, but at about 70 degree angle. Your power will force it to stand vertical and you will get more D. Also...try throwing a super sickle annie shot. I can throw a roller 200 ft before it hits the ground and rolls. This lets me control the which way the disc rolls after the air throw. Nice for turning corners or airing over bad ground before the roll.

That's what I was saying Parkntwoputt. I used the power grip for rollers but I couldn't control them or get them to roll as far. Once I switched to a fan type grip (I don't know the official term, but my fingers are not tucked in and gripping the edge of the disc). I would suggest you use the grip you use during approaches, but instead of using only two fingers use all four. Just don't curl your fingers into the lip like you do for the power grip. I would think that you'll have better control of the disc's release angle that way, too.

I will try my approach grip for rollers, see if powering down will let it roll farther before spinning out.

I don't think I need a less stable disc. My SE Leopard I roll lands at a 60degree angle and that is after releasing with hyzer.

Also try a more stable disc... tailing off to the right means that you are flipping it over too much (either the disc isn't hitting the ground at a good angle or the disc is too understable).

For example, a new TL works well for me but my beat-up Valk flips way over and off to the right. I'm not a great thrower but I've been experimenting with my rollers recently and this has worked for me.

Some are now saying that the Sidewinder rolls farther than the Roadrunner ? Does that depend more on the thrower or the disc ?

It's all about the marriage of the thrower, the throw, & the disc. Some freaks can roll a Whippet 600 ft., while others roll a beat Star-stamp Sidewinder with the same throwing motion 300 ft. Experiment & see what works best for YOU.

Orion, Orion, Orion, I used to roll a JLS which is also a great roller but the Orion is faster. Go Millinium :cool:

Orion, Orion, Orion, I used to roll a JLS which is also a great roller but the Orion is faster. Go Millinium :cool:



See...............there you go !!!!! I have been trying to tell folks about the Orion. I ripped mine again this morning for atleast 400+ !!!!! :D

i roll a x-wasp for short or utility/get outta trouble rollers.(2 finger flick)

Dx leopard for medium to long RHBH

KC 10x Firebird for long RHBH rollers and also i use it for sky rollers aswell.



Pro Firebird ? What weight ?



It's a beat 173

discs roll how they fly, overstable disc for cut rollers, understable will curl faster, For my rollers I use a new sabre when I want a long straight roller. I know that steve brinster who;s got a huge arm rolls a newish orc.

steve used to throw Candy Firebirds as rollers for a long time.. I haven't seen him play in a while though so it's possible he's changed it up since then.

Will: you gonna drive all the way down for the vineland crosstown icebowl? :)

-Scott Lewis

I'm still rolling my Orion !!! /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Sidewinder max D
Champion Stingray less D
DX Stingray even less D

What ? No Roadrunner ?

Still haven't tried it. Some day.

You know what would be really helpful, beside all the great tips on "how to" throw a roller (throw it at an angle, repeated over and over and over)? A graphic illustration [from above] of the path a roller takes [or should take] from point of contact with the ground (maybe short, med and long), to where it should stop [if thrown correctly].
This would give some of us who are trying to learn the roller a target spot to go for when we want the disc to land or end up in a particular spot. I know I would find such a graphic illustration very usefull.
The hardest part of learning a roller is that if you don't know how or where the disc is going to roll to, you have to throw SO MANY shots to figure out where it's going to [or supposed to] end up. :p

Here is an example of what I think would be helpful. I think this is pretty close, based on my short experience.

http://sopris.net/~jjmcmullen/images/Roller.jpg

The S trajectory is one likely possibility. Depending on the disc, the wind and how you throw it, it can land and go left (cut roller) dead straight with no turn or even turn left slightly at the end. It is a control issue just like an air shot.

You should just throw a thumber over those trees and be done with it. ;)

To throw a straighter trajectory, it's easier to control a rounder edged disc like a Roc.

I used to roll a Dx Shark at 180grams.

I watched a lot of players throw rollers at the Memorial last weekend. It's a great shot when you have a lot of room, but because of all the OB (at both Fountain and Vista), even if you had it dialed, you could easily loose control of where the disc was going to end up, especially if it was windy. It can be a crazy shot even when you are good at it, lol.
The most exciting shots to watch were the ones that rolled OB, then back in eventually. Intense! I have never seen so much OB in my life. But then that is what made it SO MUCH FUN. I had a great time.

Does anyone roll a really beat wraith?
I started rolling mine after I lost my sidewinder and that thing can ROLL!!

I saw a couple of sick rollers with a new champion wraith this weekend. The guy rolled it each time over 450ft. One time, giving himself a long putt on a 503ft placement, the second time parking the 470ft placement on the same hole in a different round.

But I finally figured out the roller.

Still using the beat up SE Leopard. I rolled 4 times well over 400ft. One time it hit a sign out at 370ft and jumped an addtional 30ft over a flower bed. Dented the crud out of the sign. But it was my first tournament throwing rollers, and it was very successful.

I throw alot of rollers down here in South Texas! For Short to medium shots, I use a ZMRV. For long range shots(depending on the wind) I use and old beat up 171 JK VALK or a 169 pro Starfire. The Starfire is an awesome throller. Easy 500' all day long. For sidearm rollers I use a more overstable disc ie. 171 Firebird or Teebird into a headwind. Good luck with your rolling expierience. Practice alot and then practice some more!!! :D

I only threw rollers on two holes in particular at this course. mainly because one was a 430ft anhyzer shot that the sky anny route was blocked by a large pine tree. The pin was tucked away to the right behind some old growth pines.

The other hole was ~420ft, pretty much straight but there was an elevated, fenced off OB football field on the right side risking big hyzer shots. The ground sloped to the left so anything thrown straight towards the basket would fade off about 100-150ft in the wrong direction. They are great lefty holes, but most righties who had the distance threw rollers.

I normally throw airshots because I can still throw farther then my farthest roller to date, rollers are last opportunity shots for me.

I haven't done it yet but I want to design a hole where we'll put dirt ramps about 15 feet back from the basket on either side so people could execute an ace run with a roller or skip shot.

That would be sweet, if the disc would stick going in the basket verticle at high speed!!

Anyone tried rolling with a Gremlin?

I've tried EVERYTHING with a Gremlin, including things illegal in every state of the Union (except West Virginia). Very reliable & predictable for short "trouble" rollers.

I started doing rollers when I started to play disc golf.
So now 20 years later I can say that I have a real good roller.I did a perfect roller on hole 5 at the USDGC in 2001.
I remember it so well because my disc stopped at a point where most people would land on their second shot.I had an easy 4!I used to roll with Eclipses,then later on I used rocs,stingray,whippets,leopards.
Now I roll with stingrays(1 beat,1 new)a SE Leopard(slightly beat)and a Champion Sidewinder(pretty beat).
The roller is a perfect shot to have.Same as a good side arm.You need those shots.If you are comfortable with your roller,you find out that you can use it on a whole lot of holes.But always remember;it is an finess(probably spelled wrong) shot.You don't need alot of power to roll far.But you need the right angle versus the ground and wind.Just go to a field and take any disc out of your bag and see what happens.Just remember, your arm has to make an arch movement.And like always, follow through!Enjoy ;) <font color="red"> </font>

:DYou almost make it sound too easy. :D

On another message board a guy is trying to argue that because he saw guys throwing rollers no further than some of the guys with air shots at a recent local event, there is no real advantage to throwing rollers. I'm pulling my hair out trying to explain to him that over a ten-year span in disc golf, the longest throws I've wtinessed have always been rollers. I've never seen a golfer throw 600+ foot airshots on flat ground, and I've seen even average golfers throw rollers that far. I'd be willing to bet that virtually any skilled disc golfer who reguarly throws rollers would attest to the increased distance (several hundred feet) they achieve with rollers versus airshots.

Harder to end up with a 2m penalty with a roller and the probability of hitting a tree is less since a much smaller horizontal disc cross section is moving forward, even if the throws are the same distance. Our course design guidlines only give about 35-50 feet added throwing distance on average to rollable holes for design calculations.

Not really a course design guideline question, just a general observation that on short grass, even average disc golfers can throw their best rollers a hundred feet or more past their longest air shots, and a top pro who already throws 500 feet in the air could probably achieve several hundred feet more than that with a roller.

There's real controllable distance and message board distance. I know I've seen longer rollers and I also know that many players throw airshots farther than our design guidelines. However, when I measured the driving distances for the current course design guidelines, rollers were also in there on hard, level ground with short grass in Miami and Houston.

My longest roller shot went down a hill where they used to skateboard. Almost 1400 feet !!!! :eek:

I was playing yesterday when i was left with about a 540ft shot left when i thought thier is no other choice but a roller i didnt have my normal roller so i pulled out a latitude 64 Mirus just to see what would happen i threw a roller with it and it pretty much amazed me it stopped about 5 feet past the basket i have never had the best roller but now i throw it when i need it all i have to say is give the Mirus a chance its pretty good

I was playing yesterday when i was left with about a 540ft shot left when i thought thier is no other choice but a roller i didnt have my normal roller so i pulled out a latitude 64 Mirus just to see what would happen i threw a roller with it and it pretty much amazed me it stopped about 5 feet past the basket i have never had the best roller but now i throw it when i need it all i have to say is give the Mirus a chance its pretty good



Forehand or backhand? Sky roller, or just throw it onto the ground 10 feet in front of the tee pad? Some discs roll better in different situations?

a backhand sky roller. if you try to roll it right off the tee pad it isnt that great

I roll a roc (it has good control).
What does everyone recommend concerning distance and control? suggestions and techniques are welcome.

As far as rollers go, a beat in Champion Panther is very easy to control. For distance, I use a KC Pro Teebird that is very beat up. Orcs also work. I never throw forehand rollers for tee shots. Firebirds work well for forehand finesse rollers within 200' or so.

Sidewinders, Roadrunners and Stingrays are terrible distance rollers because they turn on their back too quickly.

Try the Panther and an old teebird if you haven't already.

I'm having trouble getting my rollers to stand up. Occasionally when they do I get awesome distance, but how exactly do you get a disc to consistently stand up?

I should have specified, by roller I meant backhand roller.

For backhand roller, distance shot - Champ sidewinder (first run star stamp) , for control a star sidewinder. ;)

Champ Leopeard, Star Firebird, DX Roc, DX Shark, 9x KCEagle super flippy

use all of them depending on the situation.

I've been using a beat Inferno and liking it.

my beat inferno rolls farther than anything i've tried by a lot. strange, with it having such a pointed edge, you'd think it wouldn't stay up very long. somehow it stays up longer than my other drivers and rolls much straighter too. not a whole lot of an s-pattern to it as long as it stands up well.

for shorter, more accurate rolls, i use a beat element x. it doesn't turn at all until it runs out of steam.

for more of an s-pattern, i use a beat S illusion.

i also use a wizard for special occasions. downhill, no obsticles... it just keeps going.

forhand rollers, i use a spirit. not so great at those, though.

I bought a Scream DT Max from Marshall Street on their specials page....they are still going for $5
Its VERY understable and the plastic is wicked hard (almost freakishly hard).
Makes an ideal roller disc and great price.

New and beat TLs' for longer rollers, 325+
Beat Rocs for shorter distances, 200-300ish
Champ Firebird for forehand rollers, sometimes something less stable for the forehand if I want it to turn quicker.

I have a question on landing placement-that is given a wide open flat field, with no obstacles, how far out would you like your disc to hit the ground and at what angle? i am getting into the forehand roller but am having fits with the backhand...
thanks!

for a distance roller, you probably want it to land about 80 or 100 feet out at about 65 degrees. if you throw it hard enough it will definitely stand up and roll for a while. i've seen several rollers that stand up from around 45 degrees though. guess it just depends on how much juice you can get on it. for sky rollers, you want it to land more like 200 feet out and probably not quite so much of an angle because it won't stand up as easily. around 75 degrees.

there will be a little bit of difference from disc to disc, also.

I have a question on landing placement-that is given a wide open flat field, with no obstacles, how far out would you like your disc to hit the ground and at what angle? i am getting into the forehand roller but am having fits with the backhand...
thanks!


I found it was easier to learn by not throwing it too far. You can still get a good roller to go a LONG way when it hit's the ground 100 ft or less away from you. Once you get that dialed you can start working on the "sky" rollers.
With my limited experience, I can get a new-used DX Leopard to roll a very long way. For bigger rollers I'll use my broken in Sidewinder, or now working on breaking in a CH Roadrunner.

I was out yesterday at the soccer field. I pulled out 3 Champ Valks, 1 CE Valk, 5 Pro Wraiths, 5 Pro Starfires, 2 Champ Road Runners, and 3 Champ Sidewinders. I was throwing in the air about 300-330 ft and letting them land about 110 deg and they would roll really straight for a long time and just lay down at the end when they ran out of steam. I found that the best disc for me was the Pro Starfire it was the most consistant.
The longest was 515ft, and the average was 480f, but when I decided to throw them back I just couldn't get any consistancy. 3-5 mph tailwind good were rolling well, and 3-5 mph headwind they kept turning right and not near the distance.

Ok...I am new to the sport and I am trying to develope my playing arsenal. Can someone tell me some situations where a roller would be useful and some basic techniques to try? Thank you

rollers really help with low-ceiling shots and shots that you cant reach in the air;use your own judgement because a roller that is not thrown correctly can cost you a stroke or 2 especially in a tournament.

Most players can roll farther than they can throw in the air on holes that are open enough and the ground is flat enough to try. Learning how to throw a backhand roller will help you practice the type of throwing motion that can improve your ability to throw turnover (anhyzer) throws. Learning how to get down on one knee and throw a forehand roller to escape from wooded lies just off the fairway will be useful on many courses.

Once you get some modest amount of roller control, there are a surprising number of holes where a roller might do you some good and is unlikely to do you much harm.

As mentioned, rollers can "go wild," and generally RHBH rollers go wild to the right and RHFH rollers go wild to the left.

On a fairly open hole, without danger on the pertinent side, a roller can get you more distance or under a low horizon, or through a vertical row of tree trunks without likelihood of losing anything over an air shot.

It is, however, quite frustrating to see a RHBH roller get to the pin and then go another 100 feet to the right :D

As mentioned, rollers can "go wild," and generally RHBH rollers go wild to the right



That seems like a strange observation to me. I haven't done a full statistical analysis on it :D, but I probably see just as many RHBH rollers fail to stand up and cut-roll wildly left.

Aha, I should be more precise: A RHBH roller that is at least minimally successful (and therefore doesn't go wildly left as it would if it fails to "stand up") may go wild to the right.

What I am trying to describe is that feeling of excitement as the disc heads to the pin and then zooms right on by.

You are correct, a failed RHBH roller that doesn't stand up goes hard left; I guess I don't see as many of those as I used to :)

Ok...I am new to the sport and I am trying to develope my playing arsenal. Can someone tell me some situations where a roller would be useful and some basic techniques to try? Thank you


This (http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/articles.shtml) website has a ton of useful information.