5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Playing Disc Golf

Disc golf has given me so much in the way of community and competition through the years. However, this was not always the case. I have been playing the sport for over two decades. The early years of my playing career were spent throwing whatever disc I was given or had found on the course. This led to bad habits, confusion, and frustration over how to get better. With the advent of YouTube and a burgeoning professional scene, it is now easier than ever to progress in the sport. What follows is a list of the five things I wish I knew when I started playing disc golf. This list is intended to help you avoid the mistakes and bad habits that I (and many of my friends) have fallen into.

5) Disc Golf is a Sport

It took me finishing my other competitive sports career to respect disc golf for being a sport. If I had viewed disc golf as a sport I would have trained and progressed in the sport much earlier. However, I did not do this and I learned poor technique and reinforced these movements through years of muscle memory. Viewing disc golf as a sport would have increased my attention to detail and allowed for more growth.

Another aspect of treating disc golf as a sport is stretching. My typical stretching before a round for the first 15 years of my playing career consisted of putting my hands over my head and leaning left, then leaning right, letting out a grunt, and then hitting the course. What?! No wonder I experienced discomfort after rounds in the early years! Stretching before and after rounds is key for your longevity in disc golf.

4) Play in Tournaments

I began playing disc golf at a time when I also played soccer and baseball competitively. As a result, disc golf was more of a hobby and a place to hang out with friends than a competitive outlet. I only knew my friends in the sport and did not grow much outside of this circle. 18 years after I began playing I played my first tournament. This changed everything for me. First, I saw skilled players firsthand. This motivated me to get better. And second, I melted into a community of disc golfers that were both supportive and competitive. The joys of going to leagues and tournaments on a regular basis have a family reunion feel. Simply going to my first tournament opened this world to me.

Through 15 years in the sport, I had no idea what the PDGA was. I had heard people speak of tournaments and local leagues but I was of the mindset that it was not for me. Boy was I wrong!! After playing my first tournament I was soon scrolling Disc Golf Scene for local tournaments. Entering my first tournament was the single best thing that progressed my life in disc golf. I learned A LOT and became part of a wonderful community, what else could you ask for?!

3) Learn Technique First and Then Apply It to Each Disc

I always threw frisbees casually with friends. I knew how to throw an ultimate frisbee on various angles and with different flight paths. However, the issue when trying to apply this muscle memory to disc golf is that it does not translate. I went into disc golf as an athlete from other sports and tried to “muscle” my way to distance. This led to many bad habits that were reinforced through years of playing this way. I also wanted to throw what the pros were throwing so I reached for overstable drivers and tried to overpower them. What really happened was these discs overpowered me! I adjusted my entire form to try to throw overstable plastic on flex lines to get the most distance.

A better way to start would have been to throw putters and understandable mids and drivers and organically gain distance. Learning to throw these discs forces players into sound mechanics as they reveal flaws via misguided flight paths. Once the technique takes shape it is then easier to apply to more stable discs in your bag. Learn to throw slow and smooth and distance is sure to follow.

One of the best ways to learn technique is to film yourself. It is easy to watch YouTube instructional videos and feel like you have it all figured out. It is another thing to watch a video of yourself and see exactly where you need to dial in your technique. Be honest with yourself and work on aspects of your game that need work. This will work wonders for your game for years to come.

2) Pick Certain Discs and Stick With Them

Keep it simple. Many new players want to try all of the hot discs on the market and end up with a little knowledge of a vast number of discs instead of a lot of knowledge of a few discs. Again, keep it simple. Try not to overwhelm yourself with learning all the terms and flight paths. Simply throw discs. Do some field work and get to know how your discs fly without needing to apply all the terms and descriptions to their flight. This vernacular will come in time and it is the muscle memory you are after, not the vast array of discs and terms.

Sticking with certain discs will also allow you to see how discs beat in over time. This will allow you to organically grow your bag by adding new discs of molds you already know how to throw. Make sure you have at least one driver, one midrange, and one putter. There is no need to go beyond this until you feel comfortable with each mold. Do not pack your bag with a bunch of discs that you do not throw! Many players do this and it adds confusion to their game. Keep it simple and learn your discs.

1) I Could Have Played on My Own

Throughout my first six years in disc golf, I played every round with friends. Whether it was one or five friends, there was always someone with me. I started playing as a sophomore in high school and this became one of our favorite activities when organized sports were in the off-season. It was also a great way to experience independence from our parents as some of my friends had begun driving. What freedom!

However, I wish I knew how beneficial solo time in the woods could be. Being a young athlete I liked to surround myself with people as much as possible. I was very social. However, a solo round of disc golf in the woods is truly a breath of fresh air. Had I known how beneficial a walk in the woods could be I would have pursued this endeavor years before. Solo rounds are also a great place to throw multiple shots from the same lie. It allows you to go at your own pace and pay more attention to your game, pay more attention to nature, and pay more attention to your mindset. Spend some quality time with yourself on the disc golf course, you’ll be in good company.

Bringing It All Together

Disc golf is a dynamic sport and we all bring a different approach. As I look back at my 22 years in the sport there are five things that I wish I knew when I started playing; disc golf is a sport, play in tournaments, learn technique, pick certain discs and stick with them, and I could have played on my own. In my early years in the sport, had I listened to my own advice from this article I would have progressed much quicker. However, I did not and sometimes the most difficult lessons bear the ripest fruit. May we all learn from my mistakes and allow disc golf to be our teacher.