Dave Dunnipace and Wrist Action for Effective Putting

Dave Dunnipace of Innova provides a very good tip on Wrist Action in disc golf putting. It's a very short video lasting only about a minute and a half.

The next video shows Dave Dunipace demonstrating the Snake Strike Putt. He also talks about narrowing the window down for missing. Just another technique for your Disc Golf arsenal. In all the putting videos one thing that is universal is that the player aims for the pole and on the finish or ejection of the disc, the hand should be in a position like it's shaking hands with the pole.

Disc Golf Hyzer and Anhyzer Shots

The Hyzer shot is another shot used to get around objects. A Hyzer happens when the angle of release is where the outside edge or left edge of the disc is tilted downward for a RHBH thrower (the right edge is the outside edge for a left hand back hand thrower - LHBH). This will result in the disc flying from right to left for a RHBH thrower. The grip is the same as a RHBH drive grip. What is important is a player's stance which should be adjusted to the line of flight.

The Anhyzer shot is yet another shot used to get around objects. The Anhyzer happens the angle of release where the outside edge or left edge of the disc is tilted upward for a RHBH thrower (the right edge is the outside edge for a left hand back hand thrower - LHBH). This will result in the disc flying from left to right for a RHBH thrower. Like the Hyzer throw the grip is the same as a RHBH drive grip. As with the Hyzer shot, a player's stance should be adjusted to the line of flight.

This video from the Disc Golf Association shows both the Hyzer and the Anhyzer shots.

The following video features Nikko Locastro, one of the fine younger pro players, addressing both Hyzer and Anhyzer shots with a lot of emphasis on the reachback and walking through not speeding up until the end of your throw when you bring your lower body into play.

Below is the Discraft Anhyzer shot tutorial video.

Dave Feldberg Putting Clinic

The video embedded below is a Putting Clinic by David Feldberg, one of the top disc golf pros. Many thanks to Matt Schlabach for posting the link to this video on Facebook.

Feldberg is very thorough. He understands all the mechanics involved very well. It's about an hour long video. David discusses the Push Putt, the Spin Putt, Straddle Putt, Putt Jump, Jump Putt, what is meant by 'your hit's too slow,' or the Hit, Painting the Pole, in the circle, outside the circle, and more. It's a very worthwhile piece chock full of info on Putting that studied and applied will improve one's game, I'm sure.

Disc Golf Putting Clinic By David Feldberg from Chestnut Plumeria on Vimeo.

Disc Golf Turbo Putt

The Turbo Putt is a get-out-of-trouble-putt. It's an unconventional putt that's a little bit like shooting a basketball up and over an obstacle that's in the way of putting in a conventional manner.

Here's a look at the Turbo Putt grip from an upside down viewpoint.

Here's a look at the Turbo Putt grip from an rightside up viewpoint.

Here's a look at the Turbo Putt grip from an frontside viewpoint.

Following is a Discraft tutorial video on the Turbo Putt with Scott Papa providing very good information on the subject.

No sooner do I say this is a "get-out-of-trouble-putt" then there's a video of a disc golfer performing a dead straight turbo putt for his final hole in a round. Enjoy!!!

Disc Golf Straddle Putt

The Straddle Putt is a different stance than the Putt described in the previous post. It's a good putt that can help to putt when your disc is behind a tree. Scott Papa provides another good overview of the Straddle Putt in the following video

Some Words of Wisdom from David Feldberg

The weather is getting to be more and more like spring around here everyday. Hopefully by the time you're reading this post, a lot of the snow from this winter has melted away and it won't be long before the grass is green and ready to be cut. March can be a muddy month but a good month to start getting revved up for warmer weather and afternoons, evenings, and weekends of disc golf!

This year's winter has been hard for me to get motivated. Probably because the past three winters have been fairer winter than this winter. Nonetheless, my mind is turned towards disc golf as I appear to be hopelessly addicted. One of the things that crossed my mind a lot has been how to train for disc golf.

In a post on Latitude Discs, David Feldberg addresses this issue in his post titled, "Amping up for a new season." He addresses three areas; Technique, Physical Training, and Self Improvement. His post addresses these topics in a sensible manner. For instance in the Technique paragraphs the first thing he says is, "First thing you need to realize with technique is that you can’t fix everything." How often do I try to do just that? Too much, it seems. Part of that "I want all and I want it NOW!" attitude.

In his discussion of Physical Training he again has a common sense approach along with his preferred training program. He doesn't list his training program in detail but mentions the name of it and that it works for him. A goal we should embrace is "becoming a better athlete," Dave says, with "physical training and self discipline." He recommends "any routine that does a full body workout." I've been a member of a couple of local gyms over the past decade or so, and have recently contacted a personal trainer. I've not moved forward on the personal trainer route. Yet. But it's burnin' a hole in my brain. Last time I had a personal trainer they kept referrin' to their computer program and I thought they were referring to their knowledge base. They certainly had a bevy of certificates to back them up as being what they said they were. I guess I just don't trust computerized programs. Though I haven't been very disciplined in the physical training area, I know it's a direction I have to move towards.

It's a worthwhile read that shouldn't take more than ten minutes. Check it out! Here's hopin' your self-discipline is strong, your drives are far and your putts are for birdies or par!

Disc Golf Putting

As in ball golf, putting is where the dough is. As they say, "Drive for the show. Putt for the dough." This and the next two or three posts will focus on putting.

Here's a pic of the forefinger position on the disc edge.

Here's a pic of the fan grip on the underside of the disc.

A putting stance is different than a driving stance in that a player should squarely face the basket and putt from the centerline of the body. This involves Weight Transfer of the body from front leg to rear leg and back to front leg. The three photos below illustrate Weight Transfer.

1) Start of the Putt on the front leg.

2) Transfer of weight to the rear leg.

3) Transfer of the weight back to the front and release of the disc.

When putting be confident. Don't think about missing the basket. Even if you miss the basket. Most likely you'll be right next to the basket for an easy hole out.

Scott Papa puts it all together in the following video.

Disc Golf Overhand Tomahawk Throw

Another overhand shot, known as the Tomahawk, has a little different grip than the thumber and flies differently as well. Like the Thumber, the Tomahawk can be a get out of trouble shot as well as a good shot to get around obstacles. As a Tomahawk throw is released, for a right handed player, the disc will come around to the right and finish left. The opposite will happen for a left handed player.

The grip involves placing the disc between your thumb and index finger with the flight plate facing towards you. Next, place your middle and index fingers along the inside rim of the disc and pinch the disc with your thumb. Your ring and pinky fingers are curled against your palm and do not contact the disc.

Here's a look at the thumb placement on the top of the disc.

Here's a look at the placement of the fingers on the underside of the disc.

The following video shows a modified grip for the Tomahawk. If there's one thing to take away from any video it's this - just as everyone is different making modifications and variations to any grip or throwing technique.

Here's a very short video showing the throw in slow motion. (Wish they'd captured more than one throw.)

You've seen this video in the post about the Thumber. As you might recall, it contains good information about both the Thumber and Tomahawk throws.

Disc Golf Overhand Thumber Throw

A Thumber throw is similar to an overhand baseball throw where "...the thumb pad is hooked on the inside of the rim and the rim is squeezed between the thumb pad and the crook of the index finger. The index knuckle is on the top of the outside rim. Hand position resembles using a disposable lighter." (source http://www.innovadiscs.com/home/disc-golf-faq/glossary-of-terms.html) This throw will typically turn out to left and come back in to the right for a right handed thrower. Left handed throwers would see the opposite - turn out to the right and come back to the left. This and the tomahawk throw (which is covered in the next post) are good for getting out of trouble shots or shots where a player needs to get around obstacles.

Here's a look at the thumb position on the underside of a disc.

Here's a look at the finger position on the top of the disc.

GoHam's Thumber video. A very humble player telling like it is for him throwing a thumber with some good looks at his throws as well as the landings of the disc.

The following Discraft video shows three pros explaining their overhead shot selection plus the science and/or physics behind the throw and what happens with different release angles.

Next post - the Tomahawk throw.

Some Disc Golf Definitions

While researching material for the various posts to this blog, I remembered some of the Clock Tower Disc Golf League's members would ask various questions during the course of play over the last two years. For the benefit of those who still wonder or have questions about various aspects of Disc Golf this post contains some definitions gathered from Innova Discs FAQ Glossary of Terms page found at http://www.innovadiscs.com/home/disc-golf-faq/glossary-of-terms.html.

A couple of terms that show up in some of the previous posts as defined on the Innova Glossary of Terms page include shots such as Hyzer which is defined as "...an angle of release where the outside edge or left edge of the disc is tilted downward for a RHBH thrower."

RHBH is "Right Hand Backhand Throw - All INNOVA flight descriptions are based on players throwing right-handed with a back hand style."

Anhyzer is defined as "...an angle of release where the outside edge or left edge of the disc is tilted upward for a RHBH thrower."

Disc types include: Stable - "The tendency of a disc to remain straight through most of the flight."

Understable or Turnover - "The tendency of a disc to turn to the right during the high speed portion of the flight for a RHBH thrower."

Overstable - "The tendency of a disc to turn to the left at high or low speeds for a RHBH thrower."

A question about the numbers printed on Innova discs come up, too. These numbers refer to a disc flight characteristics or ratings and "...are broken into four main categories: Speed, Glide, Turn, & Fade. These characteristics can be used to rate various aspects of each disc's flight. Each disc has a distinct "personality"; the flight path that makes that disc unique. Flight Ratings can be used to compare our discs. Flight Ratings are based on a backhand throw. ... To learn more about what each of these characteristics mean, refer to" http://www.innovadiscs.com/home/disc-golf-faq/flight-ratings-system.html.

The Innova FAQ page also contains overview information on Disc and Plastic types.

Next Post back to grips...

Disc Golf Live Episode 43: Part 2 - Throwing Tips

This video is Part 2 of Episode 43 on Throwing Tips. It has some insight on the forehand throw provided by Mark Ellis starting off the video. At approximately the 14:05 timecode, David Feldberg discusses the importance and difference of the power grip versus the fan grip.

Here are some stills from the video of the modified Fan Grip and the Driver Grip.

Fan Grip

More fingers on the plate to provide control.

Pinkie is stacked.

Driver Grip

Two fingers in the middle with fingertips tucked against the inside of the rim and the other two with the fingerpads tucked flat on the rim.

Disc Golf Live Episode 3: Part 1 - Throwing Tips

This Disc Golf Live episode on throwing tips provides insights by several pro players. One is Chris Sprague of the Quad Cities.

Chris' segment starts at approximately the 17 minute timecode on the video. He provides some tips on beginner tips on keeping the swing plane and what flight angles/planes provide. Chris lives in the Quad Cities. Besides being an active pro disc golfer he also provides instruction in the sport. Chris' contact information can be acquired from Iron Lion Disc Golf Supply in Moline, IL

Phone (309) 757-7685

Email: store@ironliondgs.com

Website: http://www.ironliondgs.com

Here is a series of comparative stills showing three angles (hyzer, turnover and roller) from the video.

Here's the video

Back Hand Disc Golf Drive Grips - Avery Jenkins

My apologies for this post being a day late. Sometimes life gets in the way.

Back Hand Drive Disc Golf grips are an important technique to develop as a disc golfer. Below are a look at Avery Jenkins' recommendation for the backhand grip. First up is a look at the thumb position on the top of the disc.

Next is a look at the fingers on the underside of the disc and what is sometimes referred to as the Berkley Power Grip for teepad and fairway distance driving.

The next pic is of the Fan grip which is used for midrange, approach or putting shots.

Here's the video where the pictures from above originated with Avery Jenkins explaining the grips.

Next video is Avery Jenkins again but this is a more recent video from the Discmania Deep In The Game Series. This video is very thorough as it goes into much more detail about the back hand drive.

Three Key Tips for the Backhand Drive

1) Control the angle of the disc

2) Body Alignment

3) Timing