Harper Lin
Disc golf, or 'frisbee golf', is a sport that is accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. The aim of the game is to get your disc into the basket (or 'hole') in as few throws as possible. Each hole has a par, and the discs used are smaller and denser than a typical frisbee, allowing them to fly faster and sharper. There are over 7,500 disc golf courses in the United States, and the courses can utilise a wide variety of terrain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Objective | Throw the disc into the basket in as few throws as possible |
| Course | Disc golf courses can use a wide variety of terrain. There are over 7,500 courses in the US. |
| Equipment | Discs are smaller and denser than regular frisbees. There are currently 1600 PDGA-approved discs. |
| Tees | Rectangular pads at the start of each hole. |
| Subsequent shots | Played from behind the spot where the previous shot landed (the "lie"). |
| Putt | A throw from within 10 meters of the target. |
| Out-of-bounds | Play from the last in-bounds location with a 1-stroke penalty or re-tee with a 1-stroke penalty. |
| Safety | Be careful of plants, animals, and other people. Only throw when the landing area is clear. |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right disc
Disc golf, like traditional golf, involves completing a course in the fewest strokes or throws possible. Disc golf courses can use a wide variety of terrain, and there are over 7,500 disc golf courses in the United States alone. Disc golf is accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.
Disc golf discs, or "golf discs", are quite different from regular frisbees. Golf discs are smaller in diameter and have a higher density, which makes them faster and sharper in flight. There are over 1600 PDGA-approved golf discs, with more being approved each week.
Golf discs fall into different classes, much like how golf clubs are specialised for different purposes. For instance, there are putt and approach discs, which are used for shorter shots to approach the basket. There are also discs for driving, or the first shot of a hole, which require a different type of disc.
When choosing a disc, it is important to consider the weight, stability, and rim width. Lighter discs tend to fly straighter and are easier to throw, while heavier discs are more stable in the wind. A wider rim generates more speed and distance, but requires more skill to throw accurately.
It is recommended to start with a mid-range disc that weighs between 165 and 175 grams. As you improve your technique and gain more power, you can move towards faster discs that are lighter in weight.
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How to grip the disc
Mastering how to grip the disc is essential to your performance in disc golf. The placement of your fingers and thumb can drastically change the disc's stability, power, and spin. The grip you choose will also depend on the type of throw, be it a backhand or forehand throw, and the type of disc in play.
Backhand Grips
The backhand throw is the most basic and is best suited for beginners and intermediate players. When driving, the grip is very strong and firm and is often referred to as the power grip. The strength of the power grip comes from one side of the disc being pressed firmly against the palm, with the thumb on top and the other fingers underneath. There are many variations of the power grip, but the most basic is the four-finger power grip, where the four fingertips underneath the disc are pressed firmly against the inside rim.
The modified fan grip is another variation where the disc is placed on the mid-line palm, with the fingers wrapped around the underside and the thumb on top, where the rim meets the top flight plate. This grip increases the speed of release and provides more stability.
Forehand Grips
There are several popular disc golf forehand grips, and the key is to find the one that works for you. The stacked grip, for example, involves placing the middle finger on the index finger and positioning both on the inside of the rim, where it meets the flight plate. The thumb is then placed on top of the flight plate, while the remaining two fingers offer support outside the rim.
The control grip is a combination of the fan and power grips. The index finger rests against the inside rim of the disc while the thumb runs parallel down the flight plate. The remaining fingers are fanned out, depending on comfort.
Putting Grips
The grip for putting is less firm and has a looser feel. The thumb and fingers pinch the disc instead of pressing it firmly. The best grip for putting is the fan grip variation where the thumb remains on top of the disc, the pinky is pinched along the inner rim, and the index finger is slightly wrapped under the birdie and fourth finger, both of which are extended towards the middle underside of the disc.
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Basic throwing techniques
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, involves throwing techniques that are quite different from those used in regular frisbee. There are five general types of throws in disc golf: backhand, sidearm or forehand, overhand, hyzer, and anhyzer.
The backhand throw is the most basic throw in disc golf and is used 90% of the time. To throw a backhand, stand sideways to the target with your body at a 90-degree angle to it. Place your weight on your back foot and point your dominant shoulder at the target, with your feet straight in front of your body. Hold the disc in your dominant hand, placing your thumb on top and your fingers underneath. Stretch your arm behind you and hold the disc flat at waist height. Then, quickly swing your arm forward and release the disc when your wrist is pointing at the target and your arm is fully extended.
The forehand throw is similar to the motion of a sidearm baseball pitcher. It primarily uses the wrist and arm, and allows you to see your target as you throw. To throw a forehand, hold the disc with your thumb on the underside of the disc and your fingers along the rim. Throw the disc with a flat release, i.e. with the circular flat part of the disc parallel to the ground, so that it flies straight.
The hyzer and anhyzer throws refer to the angle of the disc at release. A hyzer throw involves releasing the disc with the outside edge tilted downward and the top angled away from you, causing the disc to fade hard to the left. For an anhyzer throw, the outside edge of the disc is tilted upward and the top is angled towards you, making the disc turn to the right and finish by fading left.
Some other tips for beginners include:
- Grip the disc correctly, with a balanced grip that is not too tight or too loose. The disc should feel like an extension of your arm.
- Focus on your footwork and hip rotation. Open your hips forward, which will pull your torso and arm.
- Throw understable discs, not overstable discs.
- Focus on the nose angle of the disc. If the nose is angled above horizontal, the disc will glide high and the flight path will be more overstable.
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Rules of the game
Disc Golf, also known as Frisbee Golf, is a flying disc sport played with rules similar to traditional golf. The objective of the game is to complete a course with the fewest throws of the disc. The course typically consists of nine or eighteen holes, each of which is a separate unit for scoring. Each hole begins with a tee throw, which must be completed within or behind the designated tee area. The player must throw from behind the front of the teeing area. The spot where the player's previous throw has landed is called the "lie", and each subsequent shot is played from this spot. It is important to mark each lie with a mini marker disc or leave the thrown disc on the ground where it landed. A run-up and follow-through are allowed, but the player must release the disc before stepping past the lie. A putt is a throw from within 10 meters of the target, and the player must not step past the lie until the disc comes to rest.
The hole is completed when the disc comes to rest in a disc golf basket or is suspended in the chains. The disc golf targets are composed of a metal basket supported by a centre pole, with chains hanging from an upper band. They are designed to catch the incoming discs, which then fall into the basket. The number of throws a player uses to reach each basket is tallied, and players aim to complete each hole in the lowest number of total throws.
It is important to maintain safety and courtesy while playing. Players should be careful of plants, animals, and other visitors, and only throw when the landing area is clear of people, including other players. Permanent water hazards, public roads, and most park boundaries are almost always out of bounds. It is also important to respect fellow players, allow the person with the lowest score to go first, and remain quiet while others are throwing.
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Disc golf courses
There are a variety of disc golf courses to choose from, each with its own unique features and challenges. For example, the Tomahawk Disc Golf Course in Michigan is a privately owned, 18-hole course set in a beautiful 35-acre forest. The course features three tee layouts per hole: Long, Short, and Junior, offering different levels of play. The Long tees, in particular, encourage strategic play, forcing players to weigh risks and rewards. The course is intentionally designed to incorporate natural features, such as elevation changes, water hazards, and old deer hunting lanes, providing a varied and engaging experience.
Another course, Lions Den, is set in a nature park and offers an 18-hole layout with scenic holes. Players have noted that the lack of a map for this course adds to the fun, as each hole is a surprise. The ideal disc golf course for some is one with longer holes, as they require more skill, offer more challenges, and provide more scoring opportunities.
Loris Nature Park is another course that has gone through multiple iterations, with at least four different versions of the course. The current 18-hole layout features long and short tees on most holes, with the exception of hole #17, which has a single tee. Hole #10, throwing along a creek, is particularly scenic and considered the best hole on the course.
When playing on any disc golf course, it's important to prioritize safety and courtesy. Players should be mindful of plants, animals, and other visitors, and only throw when the landing area is clear. Additionally, if a shot goes out-of-bounds, there is a 1-stroke penalty, and the player can choose to play from the last in-bounds location or re-tee.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need at least one disc per player and some targets, such as nets, buckets, or a frisbee golf course. Discs are inexpensive, ranging from $10 to $25.
The rules are simple: throw the frisbee from a designated point to the target area. The person who throws the frisbee into the basket in the fewest tosses is the winner.
The most popular throwing technique is the backhand throw. You can also try the forehand throw, which involves flicking your wrist to release the disc when it's pointing at the target.
Discs used in disc golf are smaller, denser, and faster than regular frisbees. The word "disc" is used instead of "frisbee" because Wham-O, the inventors of the frisbee, own the copyright for the word.
