After you’ve been out on the course and played a few rounds, distance is the skill most players lack and want to improve on. So how do you throw a disc golf farther becomes the single most important question on any new player’s mind.
Since there are a lot of factors that go into increasing the consistent distance you can reach I’ve broken down the most important ones below. If you’re having trouble getting farther throws then check below and see if any of the areas can help you out!
Will This Help Me Reach My Target Distance?
Everybody who plays disc golf can always find some way to improve. I find that a lot of times there are small changes you can make especially when working on form which can turn into farther distance throws.
Think about everything that goes into throwing a simple backhand. You need to find a grip that works for you, have a comfortable approach and footwork, nice consistent release, followed by a smooth follow through.
Phew, that’s a lot to focus on right? No worries though we just need to take it step by step until you reach that target distance.
Ok let’s get into it!
Disc Selection
The disc that you’re throwing with plays a huge part in the distance that you can reach when throwing. Down below I’ll go over how changing the type of disc you throw can positively affect your maximum distance.
Go Understable
Disc selection plays a big part in any round of disc golf, and knowing which disc to throw for which hole is tough. One idea I like to focus on is just how effective understandable distance drivers can be and how using them might unlock the extra distance you’ve been looking for.
If you are a beginner learning how to throw a backhand chances are your arm speed isn’t yet quick enough for high speed overstable drivers. The great thing about understable drivers is that they will fly as overstable even if you can’t get the correct speed.
So while you focus on grip, stance, and follow through, make it easier on yourself by throwing understable discs that will carry farther and keep pushing you forward.
Add More Glide
A lot of the time trouble with distance is connected to the glide on the discs you throw. If you see your disc falling short on every throw it might be time to switch to a higher glide driver.
Glide works the same way as an understable disc so that even if you don’t have insane arm speed you can get the disc to carry very far. Look for a disc in your bag with a high glide value and go give it a couple throws.
You should start to notice that even when throwing softer the disc will counter and give you more distance. If you only throw high glide for a while it’ll help you get the feel for what might be going wrong when you throw other discs.
Pick A Lighter Disc
Throwing heavy discs can be useful, especially if you need to cut through some stronger winds. Most of the time you don’t need a heavy disc to get good distance, and in this case might be limiting you.
There is a power level that you need in order to get the full flight pattern out of all drivers. Newer players might go out and buy the fancy disc that all pros throw hoping to get a similar distance, but it doesn’t work like that.
Take your time to go through the motions with a light disc, and I guarantee you can rip them fast enough to get the full distance. This also works as a sort of training wheels exercise. Once you finally feel comfortable going back to heavier discs it’ll feel like you can throw them so much faster.
Footwork
Footwork might be the most important factor and a lot of the time people don’t focus on it. Mastering the x-step is a sure way to slow down your game and increase how far the disc will go.
Momentum
You would be surprised just how much power your legs generate when throwing a disc. It might feel like most if coming from your arm or wrist, but not if you want maximum distance.
If you want to feel the difference in power, do some stand still throws outside and then compare it to how far you can throw with a full routine. It’s not even close.
There are some ways to increase your momentum while going into a throw. Work on adding a consistent approach where you focus on planting your foot and getting strong hip rotation.
X-Step
The x-step is the best way to perfect your form. A successful x-step approach means that you now understand how to be consistent, how to open up your hips and get a full rotation while throwing.
You’ll get so much value by working on footwork, even though it might now feel like the most important. But remember, the first step to throwing farther is to make sure your first step is perfect!
Grip
If your grip is either too tight or too loose, you’ll never be able to throw as far as you could with the correct grip.
Backhand Power Grip
For throwing backhand, power grip is the grip you want to focus on. This technique will make it easier to get the power behind each and every throw.
If you aren’t sure what a power grip is, it’s when you have your four fingers under the disc rim with only the thumb on top. This allows you to get a good snap out of your hand and generate a lot more spin on the disc. A smooth release and more spin will end up generating a lot more distance.
Forehand Power Grip
Power grip is the one I like to recommend for forehands. It took me a while to feel comfortable using it but once I did I saw the benefit right away. So even if it feels a little bit weird at first I would say to stick with it because it will pay off.
If you want to start using this grip you’ll want to have your pointer and middle finger on the inside of the rim. The only other modification is you want to slide your pointer finger back, so that the middle finger is completely straight and the pointer is bent on the inside of the rim.
Release
Focus on a clean release point and watch as the disc will easily fly out of your hand and continue on its flight path.
Smooth Is Far
Another top reason that you might be struggling to throw far is you might be trying to power the disc out. If you are tense when trying to throw it won’t get very far.
Make sure you hold the disc strongly enough so that it won’t fall out, and now work on the disc flying out on a clean smooth path. You should be able to add a little bit of distance just by remembering to be relaxed when approaching and throwing.
Whip It
You don’t want the disc to fly out of your hand, you want it to snap out! A lot of players call it the “whip” and what they mean by that is the sound you hear when the disc comes flying out.
Keep a nice relaxed grip but focus on the last split second you are holding the disc. You want that last possible second to resemble a whip, where you exert all the power in your body into the disc right before you let go.
Follow Through
Lots of players seem to forget just how important a follow through is. If you don’t have a good follow through you’re missing the last 20% of what it takes for a great throw.
After having the disc snap out of your hand, keep your natural position and let your body finish rotating. If you haven’t been completing the follow through, your body is definitely slowing down and leaving some distance to be had.
I recommend working on stand still throws and over exaggerating the follow through until it happens without you thinking about it.
Conclusion – How to throw disc golf disc farther?
Well I hope you learned something here today that can help you improve your distance. I found that my progress was made by adjusting a bunch of smaller things instead of one drastic change. So stick with it and keep trying these out until the one day you reach that target distance you know you can throw!
FAQ’s
How can I improve my disc golf throw?
You can improve your disc golf throw by focusing on each step required for a good throw. Strong grip, comfortable approach, consistent release, and smooth follow through.
How far should a disc golf driver go?
The average distance for a casual player is around 70-100 yards or 210-300 feet.