On January 19, 2023, Infinite Discs hosted new team member Erika Stinchcomb (Emstinchcomb7) on our Discord server where she answered your questions. Here is a transcript of most of the questions:
zin the zinny: Do you play disc golf valley? What video games do you play?
Emstinchcomb7: Yes disc golf valley! Getting an Erika Sword on there was a dream come true. I only have a Switch, so Mario Kart and Fortnight mostly. I’ve been playing ghosts of Tsushima on my friend’s ps4, it’s amazing
Rivalmejr: Hi Erika! Welcome to discord. For my question, how are you liking your new sponsors? Will we see more of you on tour this year?
Emstinchcomb7: I like my sponsors a lot! I’ll be doing a similar amount of tournaments as last year (20ish dgpt), but I think my new sponsors will help promote me more
Semomu: Have you settled on any discs to replace the mainstays of your own bag? Found anything new you’re enjoying that you had nothing like that before?
Emstinchcomb7: New stamp and my original drawing hahahaha
Lord_Mortivore: Hello erika! Have you joined the #tombgang yet?
Emstinchcomb7: I’ve thrown a tomb, I like the stability but I’m not sure I am into the bead. I’ll keep trying it!!!
RSP: Can we get an (Erika Stinchcomb) Aztec?
Emstinchcomb7 I’ve only thrown an Aztec a few times! I am not sure what to do for my tour series
Beef Lips: Erika! favorite new mold??
Emstinchcomb7 Big question! Peach and Wild Honey for Clash, Praxis and Mana for TSA, Maya and Cohort for Infinite. It’s early
Myle: You were know from your sword. sword staying bag or something else like emperor?
Emstinchcomb7: Sword staying for now, it’s a great discs and my hybrids are my babies, I just have a lot of trust. I haven’t found a replacement immediately but I want it to happen naturally. Also being open bag means I don’t have to switch!!!
Rivalmejr: In what ways can we support you this year? (Drop plugs!)
Emstinchcomb7: Skybreed discs has all my trilogy stuff, so buy AmErika Swords and Tursases and whatever else!!! Later I’ll have stuff on Infinite as well!!!! I’ll be vending with Eric and James at every DGPT event too
N8rtot73: why are your Tour of Amerika and Hot Goose stamps so fire always? more of a compliment but still lol
Emstinchcomb7: My guy Levi Whitpan is a genius! He takes what’s in my brain and makes the best art!
N8rtot73: do you have a favorite dish or something you consider your signature dish you make when you are either touring or home for the offseason?
Emstinchcomb7: I make a turkey chili type thing, a jambalaya-ish thing, a lot of stir fry, poke bowls, spam musabi, pearl cous cous with veggies, Italian sausage/kale/mushroom/potato soup
N8rtot73: have you come across any that have surprised you? maybe you were not super sure you would like or something that gave you that “whoa…” moment?
Emstinchcomb7: Kon Tiki is the weirdest shallowest disc… but I think I like it
Lord_Mortivore: You should try a Cataclysm from Doomsday Discs.
Emstinchcomb7: I’ve got a few Doomsday to try! The Landmine looks crazy hahaha
SuperBone: Not really a question but I think we need a GOOSE Berry from Clash!
Emstinchcomb7: OMG
Zack P: Have you tried out any DGA discs?
Emstinchcomb7: Not yet, but doing commentary for Catrina makes me want to try a Sail and a Bonzai for starters
Deuce2223: How does the Wild Honey and Maya compare. I am still looking for a US Control driver. I have a C Blend Maya but just ordered 2 Wild Honey
Emstinchcomb7: Wild Honey is just as flippy as a Maya but with a bit more finish. The Maya has effortless drift for me, but not much fade. They fulfill different roles I think, Maya is more touchy/woods, big turn overs, Wild Honey is big distance on open shots (without wind haha)
Rivalmejr: Will you be featured on more videos this year? I’d love to see more of you on tour be it in competition or in videos with say Tina and Eric
Emstinchcomb7: Yes! Lots of stuff with Eric and James I think, working with Connor for Infinite and Bobby for Clash
HeroesNeverQuit: Who are your top two players to have on your card when playing?
Emstinchcomb7: Ohn scoggins #1 all the time. I love playing with Missy for her positivity, and Callie so I can talk smack
Baja: favorite chip ?
Emstinchcomb7: Oh man. Ummmm do Flaming Hot Cheetos count? It’s my favorite road snack because it’s a whole activity: eat, pant, repeat, try to clean fingers, eat more
Thanks everyone! I think got most people! I’ll come back! Erika
This post on disc golf grip, is the third post in a series designed to help you elevate your game. Read the tips clearly laid out for you in writing then reinforce them by watching videos created by professional disc golfers. Read, watch, practice, and improve!
Okay everyone, go ahead and grab a disc…
As a matter of fact, while you’re there, you might as well get a disc from each category (putter, midrange, fairway driver, and distance driver) so we can test out some different grips on each.
This is one of the few disc golf activities you can do in your home without fear of broken lamps and the like…
We might as well take advantage, right?
In today’s post, we are going to look at some specifics on how to properly grip your disc in order to improve performance and stay consistent out on the course.
These videos will NOT get into all the minutiae that can be found on the intricacies of each grip. Rather, they will collectively give a good overview, as well as provide some concepts that you may not have considered yet.
Also, this post will mainly focus on backhand throwing grips. If you are interested in looking at the forehand grip, you’ll be able to find it in this video on forehand approach shots.
As a matter of fact, this post ties in nicely to some of the other posts in this series on accuracy and approach shots. If you haven’t already, be sure to give those a look as well.
For now, disc in hand, let’s get right into some of the particulars of how some of the best players in the game grip a disc.
That way, you can feel confident and secure in your own grips and know that you are taking yet another step to put yourself in position to succeed on the course!
Power Grip versus Fan Grip!
In the first video, we are not only going to take a look at how Infinite-sponsored pro, Eric Oakley, grips a disc for his backhand throws, but we are also going to consider why he alternates grips in a given situation out on the course.
As you watch him alternate between the power grip and the fan grip, I highly recommend you pause the video and try to emulate his grips on the discs.
The video does a good job of showing you close-ups so you can make sure you are getting the grips (fan and power) Oakley recommends for backhands.
But the real take-away, in my humble opinion, comes a bit later on with the following tip…
Grip Tip # 1 – You can diversify your shot selection by changing your grips and keeping the same line!
In other words, you can throw the exact same line on a shot, but get a different result (mostly in the ground play) by switching between power grip and fan grip.
As you watch the video, notice how Oakley keeps the flight path of his two shots similar. Then, watch how he gets distinctly different ground play when the discs hit the ground.
For a fan grip, you can expect less ground play. This can be helpful when you are trying to stop the disc where it lands.
For a power grip, you can expect more ground play, or skipping. This helps when you are asking the disc to go around obstacles and continue traveling towards the target after it hits the ground.
Now, have a look and see for yourself!
Oakley’s last line sums it up well: “if one really needs the ground play, I’m probably throwing a power grip. If one doesn’t, and you want it to sit soft, [I’m] throwing that fan grip.”
In this way, he tells us, we can add diversity to our bags and keep dropping scores out on the course!
Shot Consistency with Grips!
Next up, we have some tips on how to keep your shots consistent.
We do this by keeping your disc golf grips consistent as well.
Our teacher is the one and only Paul Ulibarri.
The video we’ll watch is an entire clinic, but the part on grips comes at the very beginning.
Early on, Ulibarri drops a helpful nugget on keeping your shots consistent…
Grip Tip #2 – For consistency in your throws, place the disc in the crease, or fold, of your hand.
If you press your pinky and thumb together, this “fold” of your hand will reveal itself in your palm. (But you will definitely see it when Ulibarri discuss it at the 1:20 mark).
By putting the disc in that crease each time, he explains, he is virtually guaranteeing himself the same grip for each shot. He also assures himself of that highly coveted consistency for each shot as well.
The added benefit of placing the disc in this crease, he continues, is that it will also greatly help you with your angle control.
We’ll get into angle control in a future post. But if you ever wondered what the pros do in their pre-shot routines (when they hold the disc in front of them at an angle), then definitely continue watching…
That should help add some more consistency to our game with our disc golf grip.
Now, let’s look at how we can use grip to add a little distance.
Grip Tip for Distance!
Last but not least, we’ve got Connor giving us a post for throwing far.
“Finally!” you say! “Bout time!”
And Connor, when talking physics, is going to be the first to admit that he’s got a few of the terms mixed up. When he says “kinetic energy” he means “potential energy”.
And when he says “grip energy” I’m pretty sure he means “grip pressure.”
But don’t let that take away from his key point.
Grip Tip for Distance – For distance throws, put 95% of your grip pressure between your pointer finger and your thumb.
By putting the pressure at the front of your grip, you are allowing the disc to pop, or spring, out of your hand. This gives it more speed, spin and thus, distance.
He also tells us, with regards to pressure, “You gotta grip that sucker!”
By putting the pressure at the front of your grip you are preventing the disc from coming out too early, and losing a lot of it’s speed/spin.
An important distinction, as I see it, is being able to grip your disc with pressure WITHOUT tensing up your arm.
When you can do that, you can have the fluidity we want in our arm. We can also keep the disc secure so it can burst forth and propel out of your hand.
This takes practice, but is well worth the work you put in.
Give his video a watch and let it crystallize…
Disc Golf Grip Tips – In Summary
There’s a lot of different information out there on grips.
In this post, we tried to give you some disc golf grip tips that would help you stay consistent on the course. They also present some ideas that you may not have considered.
3 Crucial Grip Tips:
Disc Golf Grip Tip #1 – You can diversify your shot selection and determine how much ground play you want, by alternating between power grips and fan grips.
Disc Golf Grip Tip #2 – For consistency in your shots, place the disc in the crease, or fold, of your hand.
Distance Grip Tip (#3) – For distance throws, put MOST of the pressure between your pointer finger and your thumb.
There you have it! Those are three helpful tips on grip! We certainly hope they aid you in your progress!
But maybe you have some disc golf grip tips as well? If so, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments below. Which grips do you use in different situations? Do you have any tricks to help you keep your grips consistent? Let us know this, or anything else in the comments!
The President of the United States issued the State of the Union address last night. Now it’s time to find out the State of Disc Golf.
The State of Disc golf survey is conducted annually by Infinite Discs to help us find out trends and opinions among the disc golf community. After survey results are gathered, analysis of the results are published here weekly on our blog.
By taking this survey you are gathering fun information and helping out stakeholders within the disc golf industry. Results are valuable to disc golf companies, sponsors, tournament directors, course designers and local communities.
Win Awesome Disc Golf Prizes!
By taking the survey you’re also available for a variety of different disc golf prizes. In the past we’ve given away disc golf bags baskets carts, gift cards and lots of discs.
Prize winners are randomly selected and all you need to do to be eligible is to take the survey!
Read Previous State of Disc Golf Results
According to the 2022 survey results, Paige Pierce was overwhelmingly the most popular FPO player. We have a feeling this years results will be much different. With disc golf trends and popularity changing so quickly it’s fun to compare the different year by year trends.
This post on disc golf approach shots, is the second post in a series designed to help you elevate your game. Read the tips clearly laid out for you in writing then reinforce them by watching videos created by professional disc golfers. Read, watch, practice, and improve!
Approach shots are an undeniably important part of any successful disc golfer’s game.
Often times, however, they get overlooked in favor of more “intriguing” elements of the game.
The last post in this series gave great tips from pros on accuracy. Check it out here if you haven’t already.
Accuracy, combined with these tips on approaches can blend nicely to make a potent cocktail out on the course.
By shoring up your approaches you can consistently put yourself in position to putt once and start walking to the next hole.
Let’s get right into it, with some excellent advice on approach shots straight from the game’s experts!
Our first tip on disc golf approach shots, has to do with a mental strategy that can greatly reduce the holes where you put up a high number. Let’s look!
Approach Tip #1 – Aim to land your disc in a 25 foot radius circle (instead of always aiming to park it).
Kesler Martin succinctly explains the very important logic to this tip.
Basically, players that always try to park their disc will often be forced to take much more difficult/riskier lines to the basket.
By expanding to a 25 foot radius (or more) you greatly open up your options on various flight paths and dramatically increase the likelihood you’ll take a more sensible line to the basket/landing zone.
This leads to far fewer scrambles and far less strokes added on the course!
Give it a look for yourself below and see if you agree!
After you have this vastly expanded landing zone for your disc golf approach shots, here’s a tip to help you lock in those back hand approaches even more…
Approach Tip #2 – Keep your eye on the target while you throw (especially with backhands).
This tip, provided by Joel Freeman, applies mostly for backhand shots.
For forehands, he explains, you should already be looking at the target so it’s somewhat of a moot point.
Also, because the term “approach shot” can be somewhat broad in nature, this tip applies more to the shorter approaches (Joel tells us to do whatever is most comfortable for you).
For his own backhand approaches, Joel makes it a point of emphasis to be looking at the basket (or target). This helps him hone in much more effectively.
Have a look at the video below, and then try it for yourself!
Now let’s look at some tips for disc golf approach shots that is more tailored to the forehand…
Forehand Approach Shots
Now that we’ve discussed some strategies for the backhand approach shots, or upshots, let’s shift gears to the forehand approach shot.
Having a forehand approach shot in your bag of tricks can be critical to expanding your options for lines to the basket.
Our next series of tips from Dallin Blanchard, will help you to lock in your forehand approach shots so you can feel more confident out on the course.
Dallin starts out the video by stressing how he appreciates that, with a forehand upshot, you are facing the basket and that you use minimal motion (not a lot of moving parts) to complete the shot.
The motion is straight back and straight forward. Then he gets to his first tip…
Forehand Approach Shot Tip #1 – Use your typical forehand “stack” grip for forehand approach shots.
Dallin goes on to explain that he usually holds his disc a little more loosely for approaches, but he is sure to keep his grip the same.
This is just one less thing to think about on the course, and quite helpful to know!
His tips come fast and furious in this short video. After discussing forehand grip, he gets right into alignment for the next tip.
Forehand approach shot Tip #2 – Keep your shoulders, body, and feet lined up parallel to the line you want your shot to follow.
For a RHFH, he explains, you will usually want to make sure this line is aiming to the left of the basket (so the disc can naturally fade right towards the basket at the end of its flight).
This brings us to our third and final tip in this 2-minute video.
Forehand Approach Shot Tip #3 – Keep your palm and forearm pointed towards the sky throughout the entire shot.
By doing so, you are eliminating the possibility that your wrist will roll over and send the disc flying way off-line at an unwanted angle.
This is a very common problem for players attempting forehand approach shots. By keeping your palm and forearm pointing to the sky throughout the shot, you take this undesirable wrist-roll out of the equation.
Now, have a look for yourself so you can start incorporating these tips into your forehand game!
Now that we’ve gotten a look at some excellent tips for backhand and forehand disc golf approach shots, let’s take a look at upshots from a very common distance on the course, and see if we can’t dial it in to save some serious strokes!
The 100-Foot Approach Shot
Now you are in for a treat!
Follow me into the time machine as we go back many years to Infinite’s first video in collaboration with the one and only Paul Ulibarri!
In the video below, Paul runs a clinic on 100 foot approach shots.
At the start of the video, when he’s addressing the group, he says this: “I think it’s probably the most important part of the game; getting up and down from 100 feet.”
That’s a strong take from a strong player. Probably a good thing you’re here reading and watching then!
In the footage, he will focus on backhand approach shots, but it’s not too much of a stretch to keep the forehand approach shots in mind as well.
He’ll also briefly mention 150’ and 200’ approaches as well, so be sure to work those into your practice routine too!
Most of his instruction is at the beginning of the video, but he’ll throw in nuggets throughout so it’s worth a full watch. At 1:17, Ulibarri gets right into his first tip.
Ulibarri Approach Tip #1 – Get into an athletic position.
For this one, it’s less about what he says and more about what he does. What he says is that he squares his shoulder towards the target.
What he does is spread his legs a little wider than his shoulders with his knees slightly bent and his weight on his forefeet.
As you watch, look how he bounces subtly to accentuate that athleticism and engage his leg muscles.
This is the athletic position you want to be in for your upshots (and any other shot really).
Quickly afterwards, he moves on to his second tip…
Ulibarri Approach Tip #2 – Keep Your Eye on the Target.
We’ve heard that tip before from Joel Freeman earlier in this post!
Nice to know that other top pros are doing the same thing. Must be a good tip that we should probably all incorporate!
This tip, from Ulibarri’s perspective, seems to be from that 100’ range. He goes on to explain “from this distance, you don’t want to be turning away from [the target] and then coming back.”
That would just introduce more variables and extraneous movements.
Moving on, we quickly get a different bit of advice we haven’t heard yet.
Ulibarri Approach Tip #3 – Get The Nose Up on your Disc!
Ulibarri explains, “Getting the nose up means that I’m going to have touch going into the basket…”
He says that coming in nose up makes it far less likely that you’ll be soaring the disc way past the target for a far more difficult up and down.
And for those of us that like to make a run at the basket from this distance, if you do so nose up, you can potentially have your cake and eat it too!
By running the basket nose up, even if you miss you can help ensure the disc is landing softly past the basket without leaving yourself a lengthy putt.
Later, at 9:07, he confirms that this nose up shot is specific to the closer approach shots (about 150’ and in).
“When you move out,” he explains, “and you start feeling uncomfortable with that nose up, stop doing it.” He re-emphasizes, however, that he “really highly suggest[s] it,” for those closer approaches.
So, how do you keep your nose up on an approach you ask? Paul’s got you covered!
Ulibarri Nose Up Approach Tip – Keep Your Wrist Above Your Elbow!
“What that does is it forces you to get the nose up,” he explains.
With your wrist above your elbow, he demonstrates, it’s impossible to throw the disc without getting the nose up.
Now, with these tips, Ulibarri tells us we are ready to throw the shot. He reviews his previous tips (athletic position, eye on the target, and disc nose up) before adding one more into the mix!
Ulibarri Approach Tip #4 – Be Sure to Follow Through!
“Now in order to throw any shot [the] most important thing is follow through…” he tells us.
Later in the video, at 5:45, Paul comes across a player that isn’t following through yet.
“When there’s no follow through, it’s all arm,” he informs us. He goes on to elaborate that this can put undue strain on the arm, which can eventually lead to injury.
“Your whole left side of your body needs to come over the top of your right,” he explains as he physically demonstrates it to this player.
Always follow through,” he tells us. Whether it’s a 10-foot putt or a 500-foot drive, we should always be following through on our shots.
A Few More Thoughts Before You Watch!
For a good portion of the video (starting at the 3-minute mark) Ulibarri puts it on the players and has take practice approach shots.
“Now I want you guys to do it,” he says.
As each player in the clinic steps up to try out their shot, a few points jump out to me in the viewing. Look for them yourself as you watch, because I think it will be helpful.
The first thing that jumps out to me is the alignment. In tip #1 Ulibarri mentions lining up parallel to the target.
But, as each player steps up to take the shot, Paul is consistently adjusting many of their shoulders to better align them.
That tells me that the players think they are aligned, but may not actually be.
This is best demonstrated with the 4th player to shoot (the gentleman in the purple shirt at the 3:50 mark). This player will take 3 shots. In the first two, watch the alignment of his shoulders and where the shot goes.
Then, on the third shot, Ulibarri physically adjusts his shoulders, and the shot goes right on target!
Bringing it to our own games, if your shot is going off the line that you were aiming for, it’s probably worthwhile to take a moment and film yourself to see if you have an alignment issue like this player did.
We’ll come across other points of emphasis while watching the players throw (like the importance of follow through) but at the 5-minute mark, Ulibarri drops another nugget for us.
Ulibarri Approach Tip #5 – Before any event (or round), Play Catch!
“If you play catch from 100 feet and in before every round, those strokes are going to disappear,” he explains.
“Cuz it’s practice, and it’s fun practice. How often do you get to play disc golf and you get it thrown back to you?” he speculates. “Right?” he finishes.
As usual, you’re very right indeed Paul!
Finally, at the 7:45 mark, one player asks Ulibarri about grip and he weighs in with his last tip…
Ulibarri Approach Tip on Grip – Do What Works for You!
He explains that he was told many times that fan grip is best for approaches.
But then he watched McBeth win multiple World Titles in a row using a power grip approach.
Shortly after, he decided to switch back to the power grip himself for his approaches, because that is what he preferred all along.
Rather than force the fan grip, because he was told it’s better, he went with what he felt most confident with (hence his tip).
He notes that a lot of his fellow pros use power grip for the approach, while others use the fan grip.
What it boils down to, he opines, is picking a grip that you feel comfortable, confident and consistent with.
“Put it in your hand, [and] the way your hand naturally goes around the disc,” he says, “that’s your natural throw, and I say stick with that.”
Now, let’s synthesize all Ulibarri’s advice by watching him run his clinic below. Afterwards, be sure to practice these tips and apply them to your own games!
Disc Golf Approach Shots – In Summary
That was certainly a lot of information!
Approach shots are so important, however, that we feel it’s absolutely worth it.
Here’s a quick run-down on the tips we covered in this post regarding approach shots.
Tip #1 – Aim to land your disc in a 25 foot radius circle (instead of always aiming to park it).
Tip #2 – Keep your eye on the target while you throw (especially with backhands).
Tip #3 – For Forehands, use your typical forehand “stack” grip for approach shots.
Tip #4 – Keep your shoulders, body and feet lined up parallel to the line you want your forehand shot to follow.
Tip #3 for Forehands – Keep your palm and forearm pointed towards the sky throughout the entire shot.
Go out and practice those and see how they feel! Then come back and look at some of Paul Ulibarri’s tips on the 100-foot approach shot.
Here those are as well…
Tip #1 – Get into an athletic position.
Tip #2 – Keep your eye on the target.
Tip #3 – Get the nose up on your disc by keeping your wrist above your elbow.
Tip #4 – Be Sure to follow through!
Tip #5 – Before any event (or round), play catch!
Tip on Grip – Do what works for you!
There you have it folks! Those are some great tips on approach shots from some of the top experts in the game!
We hope that you find them to be useful, and that they take some serious strokes off your scores.
Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Which tips did you find most useful? Which tips do you plan to use right away?
Are there other tips you find helpful for disc golf approach shots?
This post on accuracy in disc golf, is the first post in a series designed to optimize your opportunities to absorb and learn the content that will elevate your game. This series will have tips clearly laid out for you in writing which will then be reinforced with videos by professional disc golfers. Read, watch, practice, and improve! Let’s begin!
If you are reading this post, I applaud you. You are serious about taking your game to the next level!
We all love the distance (and don’t worry, we got you there too!).
But the last time I checked, the object of the game was to get the disc into the basket in the fewest strokes possible.
And how much good is that 475 foot bomb going to do, if you smack a tree 50 feet in front of you and send it careening off into the bowels of the woods? Not so much help there…
Same thing if you throw that 475’ shot out of bounds, or 150 feet off line. That’s no good either.
No, if you’re serious about low scores, then throwing your discs accurately is what’s going to get you there. Then, once we’ve got a firm handle on accuracy, we’ll add that distance in. Then, you’ll be a true force to be reckoned with!
So let’s get going and start getting you that pinpoint accuracy to drop your scores.
This post will give you videos AND lay out the written highlights for you to review. That way you can be sure you’re downloading these lessons into your brain and carrying them with you onto the course… Let’s get started!
In our first video on accuracy, we meet one of disc golf’s rising stars in Cole Redalen.
Cole starts us off by highlighting the importance of accuracy to scoring those birdies. (Like I said, you’re in the right place!).
As you’ll see in the video he is working on a straight shot in a direct line with the basket. For this shot he is using a neutral putter. This brings him to his first tip for accuracy.
Accuracy Tip #1 – Make your walk-up be in a straight line with the direction of your release.
For a straight shot, you want to be moving your body along that straight line to the target. That means your walk up, and X-step are all along that same straight line.
If you are throwing a hyzer line, you’ll be going diagonal from the back left of the tee box to the front right (for RHBH). And the opposite is true for an analyzer line (Back right of teebox to front left for RHBH).
But really, it all boils down to one thing: Make your walk-up be in a straight line with the direction of your release!
Cole does a good job of demonstrating this tip before getting to his second tip on accurate shots.
Accuracy Tip #2 – On your reach back and follow through, keep your disc in a straight line with the basket.
After Cole shows you two examples of his pure form, throwing the disc straight and true, he goes on to emphasize this second tip on accuracy. He also gives a helpful visual on what not to do (note: this is a prime visual example of that dreaded term we call “rounding”) and shows how problematic it can be for accurate shots.
Logically, it makes sense. If you want your disc to follow a straight line to the basket, you should keep it on that very same straight line the whole time.
Otherwise, If you pull it back behind you and off that line, it is going to be far more difficult to release at the precise time that will get it heading towards your intended target.
Now that you’ve read up on these two tips, have a look at Cole’s explanations and let it crystallize in your mind!
Those two tips should help tremendously. But there’s more information to be had!
In our next video, there is a very important tip that is closely related to the previous two tips.
It has to do with foot placement so you can ensure that you won’t round and will be able to keep that disc on a straight line as you pull through towards the basket.
In this video Eric Oakley talks about 3 things that all pros are doing on tour. The first “thing” leads us to our third accuracy tip.
Accuracy Tip #3 – Do NOT keep your feet parallel to the line to the basket.
As you watch the video (this tip starts at the 4:30 mark) it all makes sense. If your feet are in a parallel line with the basket, then when you reach back, your body will be in the way of that straight line you want to pull through on (tip #2). This leads you to twist and contort during your shot and seriously hampers the likelihood you’ll keep that disc on your intended line.
Instead, Oakley explains, put your front foot forward. This allows you to create space for your disc to go back and follow through on that line to the target.
Watch the whole video, because it’s helpful (and funny!), but if you want get right to the spot where tip #3 resides, start watching at the 4:30 mark.
We’ve got one more tip for you on disc golf accuracy, but I don’t want you to worry about holding it all in! We’ll be sure to review all the highlights at the end of the post for you as well… For now let’s check out this last tip for you to take with you!
Another video that is going to help you with your accuracy (and distance) helps stress the importance of your follow-through.
In this video, Infinite Discs sponsored pro, Eric Oakley, really stresses the importance of follow-through for effective backhand driving accuracy (and distance).
At the start of the video, Oakley gives a nod to pro legend JohnE McCray, whose very deliberate follow through helps demonstrate its importance to accuracy and distance. This brings us to our next tip.
Accuracy Tip #4 – Keep your follow-through continuing forward on the same line as your pull-through.
When you are practicing this tip, play around with really exaggerating the straight-line follow through. In this way you can find the amount that works best for you in your new and improved form.
Some of you may be wondering: How does this help with power as well as accuracy?
As it turns out, this tip has multiple benefits because it adds power to your form as well.
Eric Oakley explains how by saying, “it really takes all of my momentum and puts it into the disc…”
Now, watch Eric Oakley for yourself and see how keeping that follow-through in line with your pull-through will keep those shots accurate, with an added boost of power as well!
Disc Golf Accuracy – In Summary
As we said at the start, accuracy is an oft-overlooked, but absolutely crucial part of any complete player’s disc golf game. With so many obstacles on the course, how could it not be?
And while most players are looking to add that coveted power, you’re here and looking to drop your scores. Well played.
Thinking about it further, this is a far more logical sequence to follow. Once you have the accuracy, then you can focus on adding distance. The reverse just leads to bad form and more headaches.
So, let’s quickly review our tips on disc golf accuracy. Then, you can feel confident hitting those tight lines the next time you’re on the course.
Disc Golf Accuracy Tips:
Tip #1 – Make sure your walk up is in a straight line to the basket.
Tip #2 – On your reach back and follow through, keep your disc in a straight line with the basket.
Tip #3 – Do NOT keep your feet parallel to the line to the basket. (Instead, have your front foot staggered out in front or forward).
Tip #4 – Keep your Follow-Through continuing forward on the same line as your pull through.
There you have it folks! Combined with practice, those tips are sure to help you navigate past trees, through mandos and around any other obstacles that are constants in our beautiful game!
If you need a refresher on any of these tips, be sure to come back to this post and reread/re-watch the content any time!
Also, we want to know your thoughts, so be sure to comment on this post as well.
Were there any tips that you found helpful or new to you? Are there other tips you find helpful for your own disc golf accuracy? Did any of these tips result in some tighter lines for you on the course?
Be sure to let us know this and more in the comments!
Putters are the type of disc that we use on nearly every hole we play. They can be used as drivers or approach shots. And they are used almost exclusively inside the circle to finish a hole. Some putters are used just for drives and approaches, while others are used for both driving and short putts. Their rim profile is larger than other types of discs, and they can have beads or be beadless.
Let’s look at the top selling putters from 2022 to see which ones you might want to check out for 2023.
Two straight-flying Infinite molds top the list of best-selling putters. The beaded Tomb and the beadless Alpaca have been popular since they were released. These two molds, along with the third-place Zone, make up 20% of all putter sales at Infinite. The Zone is the most overstable of the top three, and is widely used as an approach disc and throwing putter.
Best Putters Monthly Trends Chart
It’s fun to watch the trends of putter popularity. By following the monthly living chart you can see when the best putters were newly released or were simply restocked as they climb up the sales chart in popularity.
Hot New Putt and Approach Discs to Watch
Several molds that made the top 50 were PDGA approved just last year. Those include the Thought Space Athletics Temple, MVP’s Glitch, and the Doomsday Discs Land Mine. The MVP Glitch’s position on the top charts is especially impressive considering it was released near the end of 2022. We’ll have to see if those molds move up the rankings with a full year of sales.
Top Putters Sorted By Brand
Despite Infinite Discs having the top two spots, Innova was the brand with the most molds in the top 50. Their popular Aviar family (Aviar, KC Aviar, Aviarx3, and Aviar Yeti) accounted for almost half of their top 50 molds. MVP and Discraft tied for second with five molds each. There were a total of 20 different brands in the top 50, and a whopping nine manufacturers that had one mold on the list. Those molds include the Divergent Discs Golem and Viking Discs Rune.
Best Putter Brands Sorted by Percentage of Sales
When it comes to market share, Infinite Discs dominates the putter category, selling almost 6% more than the next brand. The top three brands account for almost one out of every three discs sold! Half of the brands on the list sold less than 2% of the total putter sales.
Top Throwing/Approach Putters
Although any putter could be used for short putts, there are many discs that are usually only used as throwing/driving/approach discs. These are usually overstable molds that can handle a solid drive. Here are the top ten best throwing putters according to 2022 sales data.
The Zone is the popular throwing/approach disc that regularly does well in the sales rankings. It can handle a lot of power, and still finishes reliably. It is similar in flight characteristics to the Innova Pig, which was recently reclassified as a midrange.
A couple ticks behind the Zone is the disc that got a huge boost from James Conrad at Worlds, the Axiom Envy. Not quite as overstable as the Zone, the Envy is still a great approach disc that can be thrown by people of all skill levels.
Putter PDGA Approval Dates
Mold
Approval Date
Rank
Gateway Wizard
9-Jan-02
4
Discraft Zone
28-May-08
1
Westside Harp
28-Oct-13
7
Axiom Envy
12-Jan-14
2
Kastaplast Berg
27-Mar-15
3
Discraft Luna
28-Dec-18
5
Lone Star Disc Penny Putter
29-Sep-20
10
EV-7 Penrose
21-Nov-20
9
Thought Space Athletics Muse
27-Sep-21
8
MVP Glitch
27-Jun-22
6
Checking out the PDGA approval dates and comparing them to their mold rating, we see that the oldest two molds, the Wizard and the Zone, finished at or near the top of the overstable/approach discs. Two newer discs, the Muse and the MVP Glitch, were approved in the last couple years, but still made the chart.
It is interesting to see that the top ten molds represents seven different brands. As mentioned above, Infinite’s two best selling putters make up a bulk of the sales, followed by the Aviar and Judge. After that, the numbers level out.
PDGA Approval Dates
Mold
Approval Date
Rank
Innova Aviar
1-Jan-84
3
Dynamic Discs Judge
7-Dec-12
4
Dynamic Discs Warden
14-Oct-13
10
Prodigy PA-3
25-Mar-14
6
Axiom Proxy
24-Sep-14
5
Streamline Pilot
22-Feb-17
8
Infinite Discs Tomb
29-Mar-18
2
Infinite Discs Alpaca
16-Nov-20
1
Dynamic Discs EMac Judge
5-Jan-21
9
MVP Nomad
22-Mar-21
7
The mold that has been around longer than many of the disc golfers throwing it, is the Innova Aviar. Approaching its fortieth birthday, the Aviar has been used by disc golfers of all skill levels. The Aviar got a podium finish behind the two Infinite molds. The MVP Nomad and the EMac Judge are the newest molds. They’ve only had a couple years to gain some traction in the disc golf world.
Highest Rated Disc Golf Putters
Our new website features highest rated pages that can show you exactly what the highest rated discs are based on reviewer ratings. Check out this link to see the top 20 highest rated disc golf putters.
What does Professional Disc Golfer Think of the Best Disc Golf Putters of the Year?
In this video, touring professional disc golfer Erika Stinchcomb tries out each of the top putters and lets us know which ones she likes best.
What are the Best Disc Golf Putters for You?
What will be the best putter of 2023? Will it be an existing mold, or a new one?
What are your favorite throwing molds? What is your go-to putting and throwing putters? Are there putters on our list that you consider approach discs or approach discs that you putt with? What putters do you think will be the best selling in 2023?
In a recent blog we took a look at the top disc golf discs in each category (Distance Drivers, Control Drivers, Mid Ranges, and Putt and Approach). In this blog we wanted to focus on the Distance Drivers and take a deeper dive into the most popular molds in that category. We’ll look at the top 50 molds, some of the manufacturers on the list, and the best over- and understable drivers.
The top 50 list is based on the sales at Infinite Discs for 2022. They show which discs are in the most demand for the year. Here is the list of the top 50, and what percentage they sold of all distance drivers.
Top of The Class
Nearly one out of every four distance drivers sold in 2022 were either an Emperor, Wraith, Destroyer, or Pharaoh. That’s a pretty impressive domination of the market! After the top four, the numbers drop off sharply, and then continue a slow decline in percent of sales.
Thoughts Space Athletics was the first manufacturer to break the Infinite/Innova streak, and the top ten, by finishing 8th and 9th. Those two molds represent 4.4% of all distance drivers. TSA had a couple other molds that made it into the top 15. In fact, there were quite a few brands that had multiple molds in the Top 50 List. Here are the numbers:
Best Distance Drivers by Month
It’s always fun to see how the sales trends come and go. At the beginning of 2022 we were still affected by pandemic supply chain issues and so many popular distance drivers were unavailable or only available at limited quantities. In this living chart you can see the sales trends of the best distance drivers by month and can see the rapid accelerations of popular new releases.
Top Manufacturers
Long-time manufacturer Innova came out on top with over one-fifth of the top 50 molds. Five brands only had one mold. But that is one more than Prodigy and Legacy had. Lone Star and Dino Discs are two newer brands, but they each had a couple molds in the top 50. Now let’s see what percentage of distance driver sales were held by the top 50 molds:
Innova molds sold nearly one in every four distance driver discs in 2022. Infinite sold nearly one in five molds. Over half of all discs in this category came from Innova, Infinite, or Discraft! Innova and Discraft are well-established names in the disc golf world. And Infinite is, or course, our own brand. Although not quite up to the top three levels of sales, there are several newer brands that have made huge gains in the market in recent years. We will talk more about those brands in a future blog.
Now let’s take a deeper look at the Top 50 and break it down into stabilities. We will find out the top 10 overstable molds, and the top 10 understable molds. See how many of these YOU throw.
Top Overstable Distance Drivers
Overstable (and Very Overstable) discs will be defined as molds that have a flight rating Fade of more than 2. The Turn can vary, but is usually 0 to -1. Molds with those flight numbers are favorable among skilled players because they can be thrown very hard, not flip too much, and still have a reliable finish. Here are the Top 10 overstable discs:
The top 10 Overstable list is divided among four brands. Innova and TSA have three molds each on the list. Infinite and Discraft have two molds each. The first and second molds account for more sales than the last seven combined.
Overstable Discs Approval Dates
I pulled up the PDGA approval date for the Top 10 Overstable distance drivers and there is quite a range of dates. Here is the list:
Disc
PDGA Approved
Innova Orc
Jan-04
Innova Wraith
Aug-05
Innova Destroyer
Jun-07
Discraft Nuke
Oct-09
Discraft Zeus
Dec-18
Infinite Discs Emperor
Feb-19
Thought Space Athletics Animus
Jun-20
Thought Space Athletics Synapse
Jan-22
Thought Space Athletics Omen
Mar-22
Infinite Discs Czar
Oct-22
The oldest three were approved in 2004, 2005, and 2007. The most recently approved molds just got the PDGA nod last year! The Czar was just a couple of months ago as of this writing. That is an impressive start in a very crowded field of discs.
Top Understable Distance Drivers
Now let’s check out the understable distance drivers. This sub-category includes molds that have at least -2 Turn. That is typically a good number for beginners or more advanced players who want to shape their shot a little more.
The Mamba and the Maya were the clear leaders for understable distance drivers. Those had double the sales of the third-place Avenger SS, and nearly as many total sales as the remaining molds in the top 10. Let’s take a look at the PDGA approval dates for the top 10 understable molds:
Understable Driver
PDGA Approved Date
Discraft Avenger SS
Feb-08
Innova Katana
Oct-09
Innova Mamba
Jan-12
MVP Inertia
Feb-14
Axiom Virus
Dec-14
Infinite Discs Maya
Jun-20
Discraft Scorch
Apr-21
Lone Star Disc Tumbleweed
Mar-22
Dino Discs Pterodactylus
Not Approved
Dino Discs Tyrannosaurus Rex
Not Approved
The top two oldest molds are the Avenger SS and the Katana. And once again, there is a mold that sold enough to make the top ten, yet was approved less than a year ago. The Tumbleweed was approved in March of 2022. Nether of the Dino Discs have been approved by the PDGA. They are lightweight discs that are designed for beginners. (Learn more about Dino Discs HERE).
Next Up: Control Drivers
That does it for our look at the Top 50 Distance Drivers. Next up we’ll take a look at the Top 50 Control Drivers.
What are the Best Distance Drivers for You?
What will be the best distance drivers of 2023? Will they be new discs, or the same traditional classics. A new distance driver the Innova Charger was just announced that will likely make next years top list.
What is your favorite distance driver? What is the disc you have thrown the farthest? What distance drivers do you think will be the best selling in 2023? Comment below to help others find the best disc golf drivers for their game.
In this blog series we have looked at the top disc golf discs for 2022 according to sales. Then we focused on each the top distance drivers and the top fairway drivers. This time we’ll look at the top 50 midrange discs. We’ll also find the top overstable and understable mid’s.
Midrange discs fill the gap between short shots and putts, and longer distance throws. Their slower speeds make them a good fit for beginners, and valuable tools for skilled players. They don’t skip like faster discs so they make great approach discs. Like the other categories, midrange discs come in different stabilities to help you achieve the flight you need. Let’s look at which molds were the most popular, and which ones you might want to check out for 2023.
Far and away the most popular mid range disc is the Discraft Buzzz. The Buzz has been a hot seller for Discraft from the beginning. It has a straight flight and comfortable beadless grip. Plus, it comes in a variety of plastic types. The Buzzz sold almost three times as many discs as the second place Mako3. The Infinite Discs Anubis was in third place.
Best Selling Midrange Discs by Month
This fun graph helps to visualize the hot selling brand trends. Some months saw more obscure selling discs like the Doomdsday Discs Frag, and the Mint Discs Lobster.
Not only did Discraft own the number one spot, they have the most molds in the top 50. The ‘most molds’ title has been held by Innova in the Top 50, Top Distance Drivers, and Top Fairway Drivers. In the midrange category, Innova had to settle for second place.
Top 50 Mid Ranges Sorted by Brand
There were a total of 19 different brands in the top 50. Discraft and Innova are old-school brands, so it’s not a surprise to see them on the top of the list. How many names on the list are new to you? We’ve seen a lot of pros switch sponsor brands this year, so it will be interesting to see how much of an impact those changes make for their brand. Now let’s look at the sales percent.
Top 50 Mid Ranges Sorted by Sales
As expected, the brands with the most molds in the top 50 had the highest percentage of sales. Discraft was boosted with the huge numbers from the Buzzz. Innova had four molds in the top 10, which helped their numbers. Infinite Discs also had top-10 molds to add to their total.
Top Overstable Mid
Innova takes the podium when it comes to the overstable midrange discs. Their Pig, Roc3, and Roc accounted for about 8% of all midrange sales. There were six different molds in the top 10, although Innova and Discraft still made up half the brands. Let’s take a look at the PDGA approval dates to see if some which newer molds are taking a chunk of the market.
Mold
Approval date
Rank
Innova Roc
Jan-87
3
Discraft Drone
Feb-05
6
Innova Pig
May-08
1
Discraft Buzzz OS
Jul-14
4
Kastaplast Kaxe Z
Oct-14
10
Dynamic Discs Justice
Mar-15
5
Dynamic Discs EMac Truth
Mar-16
9
Innova Roc3
Aug-17
2
Axiom Pyro
Feb-19
7
Elevation Disc Golf Interceptor
Dec-20
8
Although the Pig has been around for many years, it got a nice boost when Ricky Wysocki started throwing the mold. It has kept up the momentum ever since. The Innova Roc is celebrating its 36th birthday this month. It is by far the oldest overstable mold in the top 10. It was in the bag when Ken Climo dominated the 90’s, and remains a staple of the top Innova pros today.
At the other end of the timeline, the Elevation Interceptor (one of the staples in MY bag!) is just a couple years old, but still managed to land as the 5th most popular overstable mid range. The silicon disc is like Velcro when it hits the ground.
Top Understable Mid Range Discs
Discraft leads the pack when it comes to understable mid’s. Three out of the top four molds come from Discraft. They also have four out of the top 10 discs. Dino Discs is the only other brand with more than one mold in the top 10. There were six different brands in the top 10. Here are their approval dates:
Mold
Approval date
Rank
Discraft Comet
Oct-95
3
Discraft Meteor
Sep-06
4
Discraft Buzzz SS
Feb-08
1
Westside Tursas
Apr-16
10
Discraft Sol
Nov-18
6
Infinite Discs Kon Tiki
Apr-21
8
MVP Uplink
Jul-21
7
Axiom Paradox
Jul-21
2
Dino Discs Brachiosaurus
N/A
9
Dino Discs Stegosaurus
N/A
5
The two oldest molds, the Discraft Comet and Discraft Meteor, are in the top four. The two most recent approvals, the MVP Uplink and Axiom Paradox, are less than two years old. Although it is apparent that some of the older molds are still selling well, it will be interesting to see how they hold up against the barrage of new molds on the market recently. Dino Discs‘ don’t have an approval date because they are not PDGA approved. Dino decided that it wasn’t worth the cost, since their target market is beginners, and they are unlikely to compete in sanctioned tournaments.
In the next blog will look at the top putters.
Highest Rated Midrange Discs
Sales are one thing, but how much do disc golfers really like a midrange disc. Do they like it enough that they are going to want to come back to our website to leave a five star review? Our new website “highest rated” feature sorts discs based on these customer ratings. View the highest rated midrange discs here.
What are the Best Midrange Discs for You?
Will Discraft stay on top, or will a dark horse arise and claim the top spot for best midrange next year too?
We all have different throwing styles and preferences. What are your favorite overstable, understable and straight flying midrange molds?