Ted Hegemann, Author at Infinite Discs Blog

Best Disc Golf Grip Enhancers

July 16, 2024 Ted Hegemann 3 comments

How a disc feels in our hand is an important part of our game. Plastic type, rim width and depth, and whether or not it is beaded can affect our decision about which discs we throw. However, even when we are throwing discs that we love and feel great in our hand, our grip can be negatively affected by the amount of moisture on our hands.

Playing disc golf on a hot day or in a humid environment can make our hands wet with sweat. Playing in the rain can be a non-stop effort to keep our hands dry. Enter the grip enhancer.

Get a Grip

Grip enhancers are products which help us alleviate the problem of moist hands. They come in a few types. There are some who which absorb the moisture to keep our hands dry. There are some that have a powder to dry our hands. A final category is solids, which give our hands a little extra grip. Let’s look at some of the grip enhancers available.

Moisture wicking bags:

Osmosis Sport Bag and Sport Ball

Filled with moisture absorbing beads, the Osmosis Sport Bag will dry your wet hands. The Sport Ball is a round version of the bag and fits nicely in your hand.

Discmania, Infinite Discs, Trilogy, and Innova Sportsack

The Sportsack is also filled with moisture absorbing beads to keep your hands dry.

Powder or chalk bags:

Option Bag

The Option Bag is a grip enhancement tool that is filled with a blend of chalk and ceramsite with a subtle minty scent. It is also designed as a footbag, or a Hacky Sack.

This will help you to have better grip on your discs. Or, it can keep you entertained while you’re waiting for the card in front of you to finish.

Infinite Discs Grip Bag Mini

The Infinite Discs Grip Bag Mini is conveniently sized so it can be used as a legal mini marker. It is chalk- and bead-filled to help you achieve your perfect grip.

DryV Bagz

The Dryv Bags are made of a proprietary blend of three all-natural ingredients that will help you achieve the perfect amount of hand drying and “tack”, optimizing your grip on every drive. They come in three different sizes to fit any hand.

Mitten Bags

Mitten Bags help to remove moisture from your hands when you’re playing in hot, sweaty conditions or otherwise wet conditions. This will help to enhance your grip on the disc. Plus they come in a great selection of fabric designs and have a nice little loop that can be used to hang the bag on a bag or cart.

Infinite Discs Chalk Ball

The Infinite Discs Chalk Ball is a unique grip enhancement tool for disc golfers. Rather than being a bag of beads, dirt, sawdust, or other filler, it features magnesium carbonate grip chalk. The chalk ball comes inside a pouch which keeps the chalk from getting all over your bag and clothes while you carry it around. The pouch has pull-strings to keep it closed tightly and includes a carabiner which you can use to clip the pouch to your backpack, disc bag, belt buckle, etc. When needed, simply remove the chalk ball from the pouch to apply a solid dusting of grip-enhancing chalk to your hands. This is similar to the stuff you see rock climbers using to keep from losing a grip on their handholds, and many serious disc golfers have been looking for a similar product to help them handle their plastic in all weather conditions.

Whale Sacs

A Whale Sac is a whale shaped grip bag, that you can tie onto anything! It will keep your hands dry in the heat of the competition. The Whale tail ties onto your disc golf bag, or belt. The bag is filled with clay based stone/powder to knead into your hands or rub onto a disc!

Solids:

Dryv Bagz The Marker

The Marker, by Dryv Bagz is a unique hand grip product for disc golf. It’s a 2oz solid grip bar, taking the Dryv Bagz technology to a solid form.

Just gently drag the tips of your throwing fingers across the surface and you will notice increased grip immediately! The added grip will replace the need to lick or dust your fingers, and the grip will last the entire hole.

Max Wax Windsurfer Mini and Snap Stick

The Max Wax Windsurfer Mini is about to bring new grip to your game! This is the Original Disc Golf Grip Wax – a specially formulated grip wax used to apply to your hands for superior grip, control, and distance out on the course.

It’s a tournament legal mini marker, made out of 100% natural product. The specific grip formula was worked on for over a year to achieve the perfect, consistent disc golf grip. The Windsurfer Mini has a “citra-delic” scent, made from a blend of essential oils. Take the grip variable out of your game by using the Max Wax Windsurfer Mini.

The Snap Stick version comes in different blends that are better for different times of year. There is a Summer Blend, a Winter Blend, and their Original Blend.

Which one is the best grip enhancer?

Do your hands get a little sweaty? The SportSack will treat you just right. Its size and shape fits naturally in your hand and will keep your hand dry and ready to rip! Plus, it comes with the names or logos of some of the best brands on it, so you can always be reppin’ your favorites.

Looking for a little extra grip on your throws? The Max Wax Windsurfer Mini is what you need. It will give you extra grip in any condition. Wet hands? Dry hands? Cold hands? The Max Wax will give you a consistent grip and confidence in your throws.

Best Grip Enhancer Video

Be sure to check out this YouTube video about the best grip enhancers featuring Bodanza Disc Golf:

Testing 7 Top Grip Products For Disc Golf

Introducing Infinite’s Lykke Lorentzen

June 6, 2024 Ted Hegemann Leave a comment

In the southeast portion of Norway is the capital city of Oslo. South of Oslo is the town of Horten, Norway. That happens to be the town where Infinite Discs’ sponsored FPO player Lykke Lorentzen grew up. She has since moved to Tonsberg, just a quick trip away from Horten, where she currently has an apartment. Although she has the apartment, she says that as a touring pro it is difficult to declare a hometown. “Right now I tour full time and can’t really say I live anywhere,” jokes Lykke.

Growing Up

Lykke with her mom and grandma, wearing a bunad, a traditional Norwegian dress worn at special celebrations. Hers was made by her grandma.

Lykke grew up with two younger siblings, a sister and a brother. She is close in age with her sister and they remain good friends. She is also close to her mom and step dad. When she is not on the road, she loves to spend time with them back in Norway.

Disc golf became part of Lykke’s life about seven years ago. She and a former boyfriend moved to a city where disc golf was popular. She played a few times, but didn’t really catch the bug. After another move, she agreed to join a weekly league. “After that I was hooked,” said Lykke. “I’ve always been a competitive person. Keeping score and getting a results helped me want to improve.” At that point she was all-in! She began putting every day and playing as much as possible.

Going Pro

Lykke’s move to professional disc golf would have happened a little sooner, we’re it not for Covid. She was supposed to start in 2020, but had to wait a couple years. She said, “I toured as much as I could in 2022 and 2023, but since I’m from Europe and I didn’t have a visa I couldn’t play all the events.” For the events she did play, she had to fly back and forth from America to Norway. “In January 2024 my athlete visa got approved and I can officially tour full time,” she said. Then she added, “Which is super exciting!”

Even in here first year as a touring pro in America in 2022, Lykke finished in the top-20 at several Elite Series events, including a 13^th-place finish at the Portland open. Last year (2023) she had several top-10 finishes, including Worlds, US Women’s Disc Golf Championship, and Idlewild.

This year, she’s already had top-five finishes in Jonesboro and Texas State, and got a win at the prestigious Las Vegas Challenge. “That felt awesome,” she said. “It felt great to finally have a win and play four good rounds.” She added, “It was a great experience and I learned a lot. Hopefully it will help me on the road to get my first Elite win.”

Winning LVC

As for how the win ranks in her career, she said it was big! “Winning my first Nationals back home was a big deal for me. So was playing good at Worlds last year,” she said. “But, the win in Vegas was definitely the biggest one so far.”

Despite picking up some nice finishes and a sweet win, she is still focused on getting the elusive Elite win, and improving her skills. “My goal is to play consistently better and play to my potential,” she said. “I want to have (an Elite Series) win, and I will work to learn as much as I can to get closer to reaching that goal.”

Keeping healthy is necessary to achieve her goals, and is something that Lykke takes seriously. “We are trying to be strict with our diet, and especially with eating enough protein every day,” she said. “I love to work out and we try to do it as much as we can. It gets a bit more difficult when we’re on tour, but we take our ab-workout seriously and go to the gym when we can.”

When asked who has influenced her career, Lykke offered a couple well-known players. “I look up to Kristin (Tattar) for her mental game and how she focus on playing as good as she can and not just results,” she said. “I look up to Bradley (Williams) for the way he tries to get better every year and not settle for being “okay”.

The Future

Not only does Lykke expect to see her game improve, she expects big things from the sport of disc golf. She expects the growth to continue into the future. “I hope it’s way bigger that it is right now,” she said. “We might see a separate MPO and FPO tour as the field grows bigger every year.”

Since Lykke has an open bag, meaning she can throw discs from multiple brands, she has a lot more options to choose from than many pros. Which discs does she like? “My favorite discs are the Maya, Emperor, Pharaoh, and the Dynasty,” she said. We like her choices!

The only thing she likes more than her discs is her fans. “My fans are amazing! I wouldn’t be here without them and appreciate every single one,” said Lykke. “Their support means a lot and every disc I sell really helps me to stay on tour!”

Best Throwing Putters of 2024

May 28, 2024 Ted Hegemann 27 comments

Whenever we post a blog about the best putters, we invariably get a few responses that point out we shouldn’t be including putters such as the Discraft Zone or the MVP Glitch on our list of putters. While these molds are considered putters because of their speed and dimensions, they are rarely used to actually putt with. Instead, these discs and others like them are typically used to throw off the tee or as approach discs. Although we may get a few people point out that they putt with the discs we will discuss, we will still consider them throwing or driving putters. With that in mind, let’s look at the best throwing putters.

Top 10 Best Throwing Putters

Let’s look at the top 10 throwing putters and learn more about them. Then we will crown the winner. The winner will be chosen by sales numbers and reviews. The top 10 list is presented in alphabetical order by mold.

Infinite Discs Alpaca

Descriptions Of The Best Throwing Putters

Infinite Discs Alpaca

The Infinite Discs Alpaca being sucked into a spaceship

The Infinite Discs Alpaca has been a hit since its release, and continues to be the top putting putter for Infinite pros. However, it is also widely used as a throwing putter, due to its ability to handle the power of a drive or approach. The Alpaca feels similar to the popular P2 putter, but is slightly faster. It is made in several plastic types, giving you the exact feel you need for your big drives!

Innova Aviar

A black Innova Aviar with a white stamp

The Innova Aviar is one of the few discs that your dad might have started with. It was one of the first discs made by Innova and has been popular ever since. In fact, it is one of the most popular putters of all time. The Aviar is beadless (although there are beaded versions) and has a stable to overstable flight. Many top pros have chosen the Aviar as their signature disc.

Kastaplast Berg

Yellow Kastaplast Berg with Black Stamp

This speed 1 mold will impress you with its consistency. And its amazing feel in your hand! Although it is widely used as putting putter, players who have discovered its great feel and performance off the tee swear by the Kastaplast Berg. You may not get your longest approach shots with a Berg, but if you want a disc for precision shots, consider this disc.

Axiom Envy

An Axiom Envy in burst colors. Yellow rim and a black stamp

Although many people were aware of how great the Axiom Envy was for driving prior to James Conrad’s famous shot at Worlds, that Holy Shot boosted its popularity to another level. Also known as a putting putter the Envy is a shapeable disc that can handle the power of a world champ. With his recent sponsor change (as of this writing), you can add Eagle McMahon to the list of pros that reach for an Envy for their drives and approaches.

MVP Glitch

When MVP released the Glitch two years ago, the throwing mold was an instant hit. It makes a great approach disc and a nice mold to use to warm up. Its low speed means the disc is good for technical shots that require precise distances. With its low fade, you know the disc will sit where it lands. Try out the Glitch and see why Simon has his name on the mold.

Axiom Pixel

The first putter in the Simon Line of discs, the Axiom Pixel Is a straight-flying disc that has a micro-bead on its overmold rim. The Pixel is stable enough to handle a head wind, but easy to throw on specific lines. It has a deep rim and a micro bead.

Latitude 64 Pure

Peach colored Latitude 64 Pure with gold stamp

Perfect for players of all skill levels, the Pure can be used to cover a lot of ground off the tee. Many people find the Latitude 64 Pure is great for putting as well as driving. The beadless putter has a bit of turn to help you shape tight shots, and a little fade to help you flex out and fade.

Infinite Discs Tomb

Red Infinite Discs Tomb with a silver stamp

The Tomb is a popular approach disc that sports a flat top and a beaded rim. Its stability give it some beef in a wind, but not a crazy dump at the end of its flight. If you like the feel of a beaded putter you will be happy with the performance and feel of the Tomb

Gateway Wizard

Swirly purple Legacy Wizard disc with black wizard stamp

The Gateway Wizard has been around for longer than many of us have been playing disc golf. Few other molds have been available in more plastic blends. This beaded putter is as versatile as its plastic types. Not only can the Wizard be used for a variety of drives and approaches, you will feel just as comfortable finishing the hole with the same disc. The Wizard has been a best-seller for Gateway for decades.

Discraft Zone

Blue Paul McBeth 4X signature Zone with black stamp

A perennial favorite disc for driving and approaches, the Discraft Zone is well known for its ability to fight headwinds and handle powerful drives. The Zone is a beefy disc that can be used by pros and newer players. It is the disc that we get the most comments about when we list it among the best putters, because few people actually putt with them.

And the winner is…

I hate to say it, but there was a tie for the Best Throwing Putter. The top two discs, the Glitch and the Alpaca, had a sudden-death playoff. And emerging on top is the Infinite Discs Alpaca! The difference came down to headwind shots. The Alpaca can handle a headwind and still deliver a great drive or approach. The Glitch is a lighter disc and is more affected by a wind. Both are popular discs and are highly rated.

Runner-up-runner-up

While the Alpaca and Glitch are taking first and second, nipping at their heals is the popular Axiom Envy. Many disc golfers reach for the Envy for accurate and long drives or approaches. Even top pros rely on its stable, reliable flight.

Which Putter Do You Drive And Approach With?

We’ve told you what we think are the best throwing putters, based on sales and reviews. Now we want to hear from you! What is your go-to putter for drives and approaches? If you have more than one, which one do you throw the most?

We’ll pick a few responses at random and award them a $20 Infinite Discs gift card. One response per person to be eligible. All responses must be approved, to avoid spam, so give us a couple days to approve your response.

We’ll see how YOUR favorite driving putter compares to our out list.

Best Gifts for Disc Golfers

May 3, 2024 Ted Hegemann 2 comments

Gift-giving to the disc golfer in your life is something that can happen year-round. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and even weddings are life events that can be celebrated with gifts. What better gift to give a disc golfer than something that they will LOVE and actually use. We’ve put together this guide to give you some ideas for the best disc golf gifts for any event throughout the year.

Essential Gifts

Glow Accessories – It may come as a surprise that people actually play disc golf at night. ‘Glow rounds’ are a fun and popular activity for individuals and clubs. There are a couple different ways people can light up their discs for night play. If you have glow-in-the-dark discs, all you have to do is charge them up with a light, then let them fly. The best lights do accomplish that are UV flashlights. This type of flashlight not only charges a glow disc faster and brighter, but it’s easier on your eyes while charging the disc.

If you want to throw non-glow discs, you still have an options. Disc lights can be taped to the top or bottom of a disc and help you locate the disc after your drive. They also look pretty cool in flight! For discs that are opaque, you might want to put a light on the top AND bottom. Otherwise, if the disc lands light-side down, you might not be able to see the light through the plastic. Flightowel disc fob and towel

Flightowel – The Flightowel is an ingenious device that helps you keep your disc and hands dry, and also helps you warm up or keep warm during a backup. The towel part of the Flightowel is an absorbent honeycomb towel that is attached to a small portion of a disc called a fob. You can hold the fob and warm up using the same motion as when throwing a disc. The fob comes in a variety of colors and disc models.

Grip Enhancer – When disc golfers are out playing, they experience a variety of situations that might mean their hands are either too wet or too dry, and need a little help getting the proper feel and friction with their discs. That’s where grip enhancers come into play. There are different types of grip enhancers to ensure you get the grip you need.

If you have problems with wet hands due to sweating, morning dew, or rain, check out the Whale Sac. It fits easily in your hand and wicks away any moisture you are experiencing. Looking for a grip enhancer that can also double as a mini? You’ll want the Infinite Discs Grip Bag Mini. It is the exact size of a PDGA-approved mini. Mark you lie and get perfect grip with one product.

Chain Suppressor – If your disc golfer likes to practice but has neighbors or house mates that don’t want to hear the rattle of chains, the Chain Suppressor is the perfect gift. This neoprene sleeve wraps around the pole and helps keep your putting practice quiet. It is reversible so you can choose to have targets, or all black.

Apparel

Alpaca Hat

Alpaca Hat – If you’re looking for a stylish gift that is sure to please then check out the Alpaca hat. This hat features a colorful version of the famous Alpaca mascot, decked out in a frilly, logo-emblazoned blanket. Keep the sun out of your eyes while playing, and show the world that you like the amazing Infinite putter! (or at least the awesome logo!)

James Proctor Signature Hat– The James Proctor signature hat is a bright pink dad hat that features the Infinite logo and an embroidered Proctor signature. Made of Dri-Fit material, the James Proctor hat will keep you cool and protect your eyes.

Hoodie A hoodie is the perfect apparel for a chilly round of disc golf. It will keep you warm and the hood will keep your head and neck out of the wind. You can where a hoodie for function or style. Check out one of the many Infinite logo hoodies or support the brand you love. Look good and stay warm.

Polo Shirt – Infinite Discs makes looking good on the course a breeze with our selection of polo shirts. Check out the cotton polo or the performance materials. With a variety of colors and designs, you’ll be sure to find a polo for the disc golfer in your life.

Umbrella – An umbrella is a gift that is a great blend of function and form. Infinite offers some good-looking designs whose function will be appreciated during a wet round. Don’t forget how useful an umbrella can be on a hot, sunny round. Help the disc golfer in your life tame the elements with an umbrella from Infinite Discs. Pick an umbrella from MVP, Axiom, Trilogy, or Innova.

Jerky – A bag of jerky from Double- G Jerky is a great snack to carry on the course for a quick and convenient protein boost. Choose from a variety of flavors, some of which are supported by various touring pros. Are you a PaulMcBeth fan? Check out Paul’s Max Weight Original or McBeast BBQ Style jerky. Better yet, grab a bag of each flavor for the variety.

Premium Gifts

Apex Rangefinder

Apex NP600 Help your disc golfers choose the correct disc to throw by knowing exactly how far it is to the basket. The Apex NP600 give the distance in feet for more accurate shots. The Apex rangefinder has many other features that are useful for disc golfers, including distance compensation (how far the shot will be when taking into effect the elevation change) and height measurement (measure the height of obstacles that you need to throw over).

Retriever – If you’re looking for a gift that will be used a lot, consider giving a retriever. An errant shot in a river, lake, tree, or over a fence are often reachable and retrievable with the proper device. The Max Stick Carbon Fiber retriever can help you reach far out into a body of water or high into a tree. The suction cup head sticks to the disc to aid in returning it to your bag. The Max Stick comes in a variety of lengths, from the 16-foot models to the gargantuan 29.5-foot retriever. Infinite has other retriever options for you to choose from. Check them out HERE.

A Rack disc holder

Disc Storage – For people who have a few discs that they would like to keep organized and easy to sort through, a disc golf storage solution is just the ticket. The A Rack is a beautiful wood rack that holds a bunch of discs and looks good doing it. It comes in several different sizes to accommodate any size disc golf collection. Get a gift that looks amazing and helps keep your disc golfers stash of discs organized.

Divergent Discs Lite Basket – The Divergent basket is a lightweight basket that is easy to assemble/disassemble and a piece of cake to move around. There is no better way to improve your short game than to have a basket around for regular practice sessions. Divergent baskets come in a choice of colors. They make a great gift that will help your disc golfer level up their game.

Elite Gifts

Training Net – It is always fun to head to a field to practice some drives and upshots. However, that is not always practical. Having a Visionary Practice Net around ensures you can get some reps in without having to leave your yard. Simply set up the net and fire away. The net is portable and can be used to warm up before a round. Or keep it set up at home for regular practice sessions. The Visionary Net was designed for disc golf and makes retrieving your practice throws more convenient.

DGA Mach Lite – The Mach Lite is a portable disc golf basket that is a step above regular portable baskets. Its clever design makes it easy to collapse, transport, and set up again to make sure you can take the basket anywhere you need to be. It comes with a storage bag to make transport even easier, and to protect the cloth basket. The Mach Lite is relatively quiet, making it a good choice for the backyard or for use as a temp basket on a course.

Cart – Carts make for a much more enjoyable round of disc golf because they make hauling a bag around a breeze. Plus, carts allow you to bring extra discs, apparel, and accessories without expending any more energy. Infinite has some great cart options for your disc golfer.

Rovic RV1C Disc Golf Cart

Rovic – The RV1D is a three-wheel cart that holds any bag for ease of transport around a course. Your bag sits high on the cart for easy access to discs, water bottles, or storage pockets. The Rovic has optional accessories such as an insulated bag for cold drinks, or attached mittens for use in cold weather. When not in use, the Rovic is compact and folds up to fit in any trunk.

Zuca – With a choice of car models, Zuca is the big name in golf carts. They offer models that hold bags, so you can easily remove your bag and discs from the cart when playing a course that is not cart-friendly. Other models hold discs inside the frame for ease in moving around a course. Some have a built-in seat for relaxing while waiting to tee. All of their models are easy to move around and make toting your discs and equipment easier.

Disc Storage – Most disc golfers have a lot of discs that they aren’t throwing at the moment, but they still want to keep. Although most won’t buy their own storage racks, most disc golfers would love to have one. There are storage solutions for people with just a few discs, to large numbers of discs that need a home. Check out the storage capacity of the MVP Disc Station VI for the ultimate high-capacity storage solution and help your disc golfer organize their collection.

VIP Club Logo

VIP Club – A unique disc golf gift is a membership in the Infinite Discs VIP Club. With this gift your disc golfer will receive a new disc EACH MONTH! The discs are a surprise, but they all have unique stamps and colors, plus they are numbered so you can see how many were made world-wide. In addition to the fun surprise of a new disc, VIP members get access to the VIP store, where they get the first shot of some discs, pro merchandise, apparel, free shipping from the VIP store, and more. If you want a gift that truly keeps on giving, check out the VIP store and select the gift option HERE.

What Gifts Do YOU Recommend?

Let us know what disc golf gifts you suggest for another disc golfer. We’re curious what you would pick. Comment and we’ll pick a few responses and send out an Infinite gift card!

One response per person, all responses must be approved to avoid spam. Give us a few days after you comment to get it approved.

General

Improving At Disc Golf

May 1, 2024 Ted Hegemann 4 comments

One of the question I hear asked a lot when there is someone new to a disc golf group is, how long have you been playing disc golf? I’ve often asked that question and have been asked it many times myself. It’s fun and interesting to learn how and when people started playing. It’s also interesting to see people’s skill level based on how long they have been playing, and what they are doing to improve at disc golf.

Some people have impressive amounts of skill, even though they haven’t been playing long. Others are at about the level we would expect them to be, based on how long they have been playing. There are a couple reasons why there might be a difference. First, some people just have more athletic ability than others. Second, the courses and people we play with can influence how much and how rapidly we grow. Third, some people want to get better while others are content to just play at their current skill level.

Survey From Remix Outdoors

How does your growth and skill level compare to others? Our friends at Remix Outdoors shared the results of a survey they conducted among disc golfers which shows the average driving distance and the length of time playing for survey participants. This gives us an idea where our skills match up with others who have been playing as long as us.

disc golf distance survey results

According to the survey, after starting out as a beginner, the average disc golfer doubles their driving distance in just six months. Then the average distance gains slow quite a bit. The longer we play, the more difficult to add distance to our drives. I’ve seen this trend among a lot of disc golfers that I know. Although the arc seems accurate, the distances seemed a little lower than I’ve seen.

I would have guessed that the average disc golfer would have picked up a little more distance in the first year or so. After people learn the basics of form, quite a lot of growth can occur. Then the progress might slow down. Even so, the growth/plateau arc is close to what I’ve seen a lot. Is there something we can do to speed up the growth?

Improving at Disc Golf

There are several methods we can use to improve our skills in disc golf. Some cost money but most are free. They all involve investing time to improve our skills.

Watch Youtube Videos

YouTube logo

One of the great benefits of social media is that people with a lot of knowledge can impart that knowledge to the masses easily and cheaply. There are many disc golf coaches who post videos that walk you through every aspect of disc golf. Watching the videos, doing the drills, and following suggestions can help us improve our skills. We can see every detail of good form, then work to implement that form for ourselves.

That method of improving does have a few drawbacks though. First, not everyone learns just by watching a video. Some need to be told how to make our body do the moves in the videos. We might assume we are doing what is suggested in the video, but really just creating new bad habits. Which leads us to the second drawback: A video can’t give feedback. Unless we know we are using proper form, we can’t really correct our issues. Which leads us to the second method we can use to improve:

Take Video of Our Form

If you watch good tutorials you can get a good mental image of what proper form looks like. If we then record and watch ourselves doing the same moves, we can compare our form to the proper form to see what areas we need to work on. This still requires us to be able to make changes to the way our body moves, which may or may not be easy for us. That is where the last improvement method comes into play:

Get Some Coaching

cartoon image of a coach

Having a knowledgeable coach watch our form and give immediate feedback, including ways we can correct any issues we’re having, is a great way to speed up the learning curve. This takes more than just pointing out problem areas. This means finding someone that can teach us how to change our muscle memory and lay the foundation for good form and good habits.

When it comes to coaching, there are several options. Some coaches have monthly subscriptions that include video form reviews. Others offer single lessons with feedback. If you are lucky enough to have a good teacher in your club, you can get some one-on-one coaching or maybe some feedback if you’re playing a casual together.

Practice!

Regardless of the method you choose to improve your skills, if you don’t plan time for practice, you are making the road to getting better a hard one. I mean, even the pros practice. We need that body/brain connection on a regular basis to cement the neural pathways so we can duplicate the correct form on a regular basis. Practice!

What is YOUR experience with driving distance vs Experience?

As I said in the before, the general trajectory I’ve frequently seen with new players fits nicely with the results of the survey by Remix Outdoors. How we fall on the scale and how fast we want to advance is up to us.

How about you? How fast did you gain distance? Are you taking steps to improve your disc golf game?

How to Putt: Disc Golf Putting Techniques

April 29, 2024 Ted Hegemann Leave a comment

a man putting disc golf

Unless you get an ace or a throw-in from the fairway, you’re going to putt on nearly every hole. Sometimes those putts are drop ins from a few feet away. Other times you have to work for them by letting the disc fly from great distances. How you choose to putt is up to you, but in this blog we will discuss different disc golf putting techniques and styles that disc golfer use to get the disc to the basket.

Although we will list a lot of techniques that are used in the disc golf world, we are going to focus on two different stances, and two different putting styles. These represent a bulk of the putts that you will see on any given day, and are tried and true techniques. Let’s start with some putting techniques that are a tad more unorthodox. Some of these unusual styles are used out of desperation or because you are in a situation with few choices, rather than using them on a regular basis.

Disc Golf Putting Techniques

TURBO PUTT

a turbo putt

The turbo putt is commonly called a pizza putt. It is accomplished by holding the disc flat with your thumb under the putter and your fingers around the outer rim. The motion is made by pushing the disc forward, then adding a ton of spin by snapping your wrist. That motion, when mastered, can give the disc enough spin to hit long putts.

Although the turbo can create a lot of spin, it is usually used for shorter putts on an elevated basket, or putting over a obstacles such as low bushes. It is fun to watch a good Turbo putter, but the technique is usually reserved for close putts or out of necessity.

BASKETBALL PUTT

This novelty putt sort of mimics a shot with a basketball. It is accomplished by holding the disc upside-down at an angle, then flicking your wrist like shooting a basketball. That motion gives the discs some spin and it flies in an arc to the basket. Although I have never seen this putt used, there is video of a few pros (like Ricky Wysocki) use that technique.

basketball putting technique

Another variation of this shot is to flip the disc so it doesn’t spin, but rather rotates slowly, then hits the chains on the full flight plate or bottom. Jennifer Allen has used this technique for short putts, usually on elevated baskets.

SCOOBER

Seen in tournament videos of Brodie Smith, the scoober is a method of throwing Ultimate discs in order to avoid defenders and progress downfield. It is thrown with the disc upside down and at an angle, so the disc will float toward the basket. It is just a short motion with the elbow and a flick of the wrist in a sort of reverse-forehand action. One of the great things about this putt is that the disc drops out of the sky, so if you miss, you won’t have a long comeback putt. Brody posted an instructional video on YouTube HERE

the scoober putt

Although the scoober could be used in a situation where you have an obstruction that you need to get around or over, most people lack the skill to pull it off. Unless you practice that putt, or have a lot of Ultimate experience, you will likely be more successful with another type of putt. If you have the skill to pull it off, you might save yourself a few strokes. And you will definitely impress your card mates!

KNEELING

A kneeling putt is another technique that is typically reserved for specific situations. If you are attempting a wide straddle putt, try dropping to one knee instead. You can usually kneel a little wider than just straddling. Plus, you might be more stable balancing on one knee (carry a foam mini to use as a cushion!).

There are a couple situations where a kneeling putt might be the best option: If you are behind an object and need to maximize your stretch to give yourself the most lateral distance possible. Or, if you have a very low ceiling that you need to get under, and don’t want to be bending down to attempt to putt. I recommend practicing these two scenarios so you can see how you need release to disc to get the direction and distance you need from those stances.

STEP

Although the step putt is fairly common in disc golf, the exact execution of the technique can vary from person to person, and depends on the situation. It is used to get a little more distance/power from a putt. The step putt can only be used outside of 10 meters from the basket, otherwise a foot fault could be called.

To execute a step putt, begin stepping toward the basket and make sure to release the disc before your foot hits the ground. Timing is important to maximize the power and ensure you don’t hit the ground before you release and get a foot fault. Although step putt can give you more power, it introduces more movement into your putts and requires more skill to properly execute.

JUMP

The big brother to a step putt is the jump putt. Instead of stepping forward, you jump toward the basket with both feet. As you are leaving the ground you release the disc, to optimize the power you transfer into it. It takes accurate timing, but can add a significant amount of distance to your putts.

Putting Stances

Now let’s look at the most popular putting stances, and talk about how to use them.

STRADDLE

Straddle Putt

While some of us use the straddle when needed, others make it their go-to stance. Think Nate Sexton or Kevin Jones. By using it as your regular stance, you’ll be much more comfortable if you are forced to straddle around an obstacle.

The straddle is typically used with a push put, although a spin putt works as well. Facing the basket with your feet parallel to each other, you can get extra power by implementing a jump putt out of your straddle stance. Or just stay planted on the ground and get your power from your legs and arms.

STAGGER

a stagger putt

The stance that you see most people putt from is the stagger stance. Although there are a lot of moving parts to a stagger stance, it can generate a lot of power. It is an athletic stance that allows you to get power from your legs, hips, shoulders, arms and wrists. You can use your back leg to push off and counterbalance your body.

The stagger stance is executed by placing one foot in front of the other, with the lead foot the same as your dominant hand (right foot for right-handed players). Most of your weight is on your back foot to start, then the weight is transferred to your front as you release. Your back leg then rises into the air to counterbalance your body, giving you more distance. If you want to see a gymnast try this technique and get the highest back-leg kick of anyone, check out a video with Jennifer Allen!

SPIN

Although both the spin and push putts each include some spinning and some pushing, the difference is the emphasis. In the case of the spin putt, the emphasis is to create a lot of spin on your disc. This is accomplished by bringing the disc near your body and snapping it toward the basket. That motion creates a lot of spin and is useful for many different disc golf scenarios.

When you use your elbow and wrist to create a lot of spin on your disc, it allows you to get longer distances from your putts. It also allows you to have a higher success rate in a windy situation by cutting through the wind. However, this putting technique also has some disadvantages.

Whenever you introduce additional moving parts into an equation, you have to rely on consistency among all of those parts. Any variations and your chances of a successful putt diminishes. That is the down side to spin putts. On the plus side, it can be used in either a straddle or stagger stance.

PUSH

The push putt has its emphasis on lofting the disc into the air with minimal spin. The disc floats to the basket with much less power. This softer approach means that missed putts won’t have as long of comeback putts. The arc of the putt can be useful in getting over obstacles. Plus, they are also less likely to spit out or bounce out since they don’t have as much speed.

That lack of speed can also be a downside, since you can’t get as much distance. Another disadvantage is that in windy conditions, the push putt can be difficult to properly execute, since your disc will be affected by the wind.

Summary

No matter your desired putting technique, the bottom line is to practice it enough to be effective. If you aren’t confident with your technique, it doesn’t really matter how you stand nor how you putt. Whichever style fits your game, get good at it through repetition. I also recommend spending a few minutes each putting session trying out other techniques, in case you have to use one of them out of necessity.

Get out hucking and throw what you love!

General

Go Green: Recycled and Eco Friendly Disc Golf Discs

April 22, 2024 Ted Hegemann 2 comments

Environmentally Friendly Disc golf Logo Today’s disc golf discs come in a variety of colors, shapes and materials, and most are made with some kind of plastic. Synthetic plastic has been around for over a century and has shaped the way we live. However, this amazing invention does come with some baggage. First, most plastic is made from crude oil or other non-renewable resources. And second, it does not easily break down, meaning it will be around for a long, long time.

In this blog we will look at the environmental aspects of disc golf discs and discuss ways to minimize the impact. We’ll look at what some manufacturers are doing to reuse and recycle plastic discs. Plus we will talk about other ways that we can be environmentally conscious as we participate in the sport of disc golf.

Long Live Plastic

If you grabbed your go-to driver and buried it in your backyard, your great-great-great grandchild would be able to dig it up and it would still be mostly intact. It might be more pitted and have a rougher feel, but it won’t have broken down much in that time span. That is just the nature of plastic. If you throw away an old disc, you essentially are burying it, and it will be around for hundreds of years. What other option do you have?

Plastic Blends

Most discs are made with a blend of plastic types. While this makes them feel awesome in our hand, it becomes problematic if we want to recycle the disc. Products made from a single plastic type come with a recycle logo and include a number that tells you which type of plastic types that product is made from. They can easily be recycled. Multi-type plastics don’t have that luxury. But there are still options for recycling.

Manufacturer Response

Manufacturers saw a couple possible solution to recycling their blemished plastic. First, they sold discs as factory seconds at a discount from their regularly priced discs. Some discs only have minor blemishes but still have the flight characteristics of a new discs. Those discs could be sold for less that retail, keeping the plastic on the market without adding any additional processing.

If discs were in worse shape than factory seconds and not resalable to the public, manufacturers still have an option to use them instead of tossing them in a landfill. They could shred the plastic and use it to make new discs. Since they formulated the plastic, they would know its properties and know what other plastics it would be compatible with. Many different brands offer discs with pre-consumer recycled plastic.

Brands With Eco Friendly Plastics

Recycled Plastic Emblem

Innova has its Echo Star line which is made of at least 50% recycled materials.

Dynamic Discs offers discs in recycled plastics such as BioFuzion, BioGold, and Revive.

Latitude 64 reuses their discs in their BioGold and Recycled plastics.

Westside has Revive plastic, and MVP has R2, both of which use blemished plastic to create new discs.

Doomsday Discs has it’s Biohazard plastic which is partially made from recycled material. They also have Landfill plastic. Landfill is made from recycled / regrind plastic that would normally go to the, you guessed it, landfill.

Discraft has been saving discs that didn’t pass their quality control measures, and now they are using the plastic from those discs to make new molds. Check out their Recycled ESP and imagine what discs those molds were made from.

Yikun now offers the Eco-Friendly Inner Colour Ultimate Frisbee. It is an Ultimate disc made from recycled plastics, for the environmentally conscious players.

The above plastic types are good examples of using existing plastic to make a new disc. Other brands use more eco-friendly plastics to begin with to produce a disc that doesn’t use as much non-renewable resources.

Discs Made from “Environmentally Friendly” Materials

Euro Disc is a German brand that makes ultimate and discs golf discs. They are demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. Embracing eco-friendly practices, Eurodisc produces its range of frisbee discs, including Ultimate, Kids, and Mini models, from 100% bio-based organic plastic, derived from renewable resources. This approach ensures that the discs are sustainable and can be recycled through normal household waste systems.

AGL has its hemp blend, which used the amazing renewable resource of hemp to produce some of their discs.

Gateway has its Organic plastic, which uses recycled rubber and a corn-based bio-polymer to produce an amazing feeling plastic. They also off Hemp blend, which combines recycled rubber and hemp. Hemp is a renewable, natural, versatile plant that can be made into many different products.

Aerobees is Frances first disc manufacturer and their focus is biosourced materials, which are materials made from organic biological origins.

Not Recyclable

Although the aforementioned efforts by manufactures help reduce the amount of natural resources used when making the discs we love, most of today’s discs have one issue in common: Their multi-plastic ingredients make them mostly non-recyclable. That is the environmental cost of making disc golf discs with the current plastic choices. However, one company is trying to change that cost.

Trash Panda Disc Golf

Trash Panda Racoon Logo

I was able to visit with and interview Jesse from Trash Panda Disc Golf several years ago in Colorado. At the time, Jesse had an ambitious goal to make disc golf sustainable. He wanted to make discs out of recycled plastic, and make them recyclable, too. How has he done since then? I reached out to Jesse for an update! Here is what he said:

“Since we chatted last in my garage, we’ve released two molds made from 100% recycled plastic – the Inner Core and the Dune. With the success of those two molds, we’ve diverted 15,000 lbs of plastic from landfills and continue to exceed even our own expectations of what is possible.

“In 2023 we proudly became the first disc golf company to ever achieve B Corp certification – which is a month-long assessment that ensures companies meet the highest ethical and environmental standards.”

In addition to achieving his goal of producing a recyclable disc out of recycled plastic, Jesse and the crew at Trash Panda have set up a great program for recycling discs. Disc golfers can send in their unwanted/damaged/broken discs in exchange for a discount at Trash Panda. Those discs will then be either ground up am made into discs or other plastic products, or they will be donated to youth programs to grow the sport. Either way, the life of the plastic will be extended and will be kept out of the landfill. As of this writing, they have received over 11,500 discs and turned them into discs, minis, and Disc Dots.

What Can You Do?

Plastic Waste needing to be recycled

What you can do to be environmentally conscious?

Buy environmentally friendly plastics – Make an effort to look see what recycled options are available. Many of the recycled plastics have an amazing feel and are still durable. By voting with our wallets, maybe was can get more options in ‘green’ plastics.

Buy used – Premium discs have a long life and we can usually get a used disc much cheaper than new. As an added benefit, used discs are sometimes already broken in. That will give us a seasoned disc immediately, instead of having to play with it for a long time.

Donate your discs – If you can trade discs with other disc golfers, or sell them to a retailer, we can end up with discs that we like or want to throw without the cost of buying new. If those options aren’t available, check out Trash Panda’s recycle program and give your old discs a new home.

There may be many aspects of our life where it is difficult or impossible to make a difference for the planet. Disc golf is not one of those things. Our sport comes with an environmental cost, but the steps we’ve outlined will help make disc golf more sustainable into the future. It always feels good to help with the environment, and if we can be helping while playing disc golf, that is a win-win for everyone.

Disc Flight Numbers Explained

April 16, 2024 Ted Hegemann 3 comments

When disc golfers are eyeing a new disc, their number one question often revolves around its flight behavior: “How does it fly?”

Understanding a disc’s flight characteristics is crucial in deciding whether it’s a worthy addition to one’s bag. While various factors like wind conditions, elevation, and the thrower’s skill influence flight, what matters most is how the disc will perform for them. This curiosity is often satisfied by examining the disc golf flight numbers.

Flight Numbers Decoded

To address inquiries about a disc’s flight, I typically delve into the widely used flight rating system and gauge the customer’s skill level to tailor my recommendations. Let’s unpack those flight rating numbers and explore some key variables I discuss with customers, including the more precise Infinite Discs flight rating system. For this discussion, let’s consider a right-hand, backhand (RHBH) throw.

Understanding the Four-Digit System

The four-digit flight rating system, pioneered by Innova, serves as a standardized way to characterize a disc’s flight. While other brands have experimented with their own methods, this system remains predominant. Here’s a breakdown of the four characteristics:

Speed
Glide
Turn
Fade

Speed

The first number signifies the speed at which the disc must be thrown for the subsequent numbers to hold true. It’s a crucial factor often misunderstood by beginners. A higher speed rating doesn’t guarantee the disc will fly faster; rather, it requires a greater throwing velocity for optimal flight. Beginners often struggle with high-speed discs, finding lower speed ones more manageable.

Glide

The second number indicates the disc’s ability to stay aloft. While maximum glide is desirable for long drives, experienced players may opt for lower glide discs for better control over landing zones. If you are a beginner, get a disc with as much glide as possible.

Turn

Also known as ‘high-speed stability,’ this number predicts the disc’s behavior during the initial phase of flight, when it is traveling its fastest. Negative values imply a tendency to turn right (for RHBH throws), while positive or zero values resist turning, and are suitable for headwinds. ‘Understable’ discs exhibit more negative turn values, while positive values indicate ‘overstable’ discs.

Fade

The fourth number is the discs fade, or ‘slow-speed stability,’ and it indicates how the disc behaves as it slows down. Higher values result in quicker descent and leftward movement, while lower values maintain a straighter, level trajectory.

Infinite Discs Flight Ratings

While flight numbers offer a general idea of a disc’s flight, Infinite Discs introduced a more inclusive method which is based on user reviews. By aggregating reviewer feedback, this system provides a broader perspective on a disc’s flight characteristics. Users can filter reviews by skill level to find insights relevant to their game.

Let’s check out an Infinite Discs mold for an example. Looking at the page for the Sphinx we see two flight ratings: The manufacturers rating, and an Infinite flight rating. You can see that there is a slight difference between the manufacturer and reviewers numbers. In this case, there are 169 reviews (as of this writing).

Additional Benefits

Scrolling down the Sphinx’s page a bit we see some Sphinx data that might be useful for potential buyers. Below that are the reviews that Infinite flight rating for the Sphinx is based on. You will also see the option to sort the reviews based on certain criteria, such as reviewer’s skill level or driving distance. These options allow you to see the opinions of people with similar skills.

Looking Ahead

While the four-digit flight number system remains popular among players and manufacturers, future innovations may introduce even better methods. For now, the Infinite Discs Flight Rating system, supplemented by user reviews, serves as a better option. It is a valuable tool in choosing the perfect discs for your game.

disc golf

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