MA4 Tip: Embrace Change

As you improve at throwing the disc, you will have to constantly change how you throw the disc.

For instance, when I first started playing, I didn't throw anything faster than a mid-range. And even mid-ranges I'd have to flex to get full flight out of them. I could not just put a mid on a hyzer line and let it rip for 280 feet on a straight line with a perfect finish. With the slow speed I was releasing the disc, even a mid on a hyzer came out sawed off.

But as I refined my tee shot, and the disc speed out of my hand increased, I had to adjust how I was throwing my discs. Putting a mid on an anhyzer or even neutral resulted in turning everything over. So I started throwing my mids nice and straight with a hyzer line release and I began flexing my fairway drivers. Now I'm flexing distance drivers and putting fairway drivers on hyzer lines to get a nice straight flight path for 300 feet.

So to all new players, don't be rigid, always be adjusting how you throw based on your new skills. Eventually you'll reach a point where you're game isn't radically improving every three months, but until that happens, be flexible. I found this aspect of learning disc golf to be the most challenging, because it's not just the release angle that needs to change.

As I smoothed out my tee shot and developed a whip, I had to redo all of my approach angles. I attribute most of these lining-up-the-shot changes to unwinding habits I learned while compensating for bad form. Then as I developed better form, it really simplified my approach angles. Consistency also helps make lining up shots easier. Until you get your body doing the correct stuff to throw the disc, I wouldn't even think too much about lining up shots. Do your best, but know that as you refine your throw, you'll need to rethink all of these angles and approaches and releases.