This is a fantastic question. I would say if you can’t throw a putter 225 or a mid 275 then it might not be worth moving up discs. I’ve found it helps to think of everything in increments of 50 ft. If you can comfortably throw mids 275, then you should be able to throw a fairway over 300 with more control. It’s not just about reaching a certain distance, rather reaching them comfortably and with control! Hope that helps!
Higher speed accentuates left and right movement and also tends to hide more flaws because they stabilize quicker... If throw with wobble they flatten within 50-100ft compared to a putter that will wobble til it hits the ground. A competent beginner with a good throw could expect 100-150ft putter 150-200ft midrange 200-250ft fairway 250-300ft distance Each increasingly difficult to maintain accuracy. Add roughly 50ft every "skill level" intermediate, advanced, open
@@FormerAmericanIdol This is a very reasonable set of distances. As long as you have some control, you don't have to throw super far to make use of the disc. I mean, even someone as good as Robbie's challenged for 400.
I always found it hilarious when I throw my FD further then people using destroyers, cranks, wraiths, and DD3s. They always ask the question "what disc is that?" Like I found a magical disc that's faster than theirs. People think they need really POWER distance drivers and their form breaks down. Slow is smooth and smooth is far. So drop that 12 speed and pick up something slower.
Hey now the FD is magical!!! Don't you say otherwise!!! 😋 My buddy calls my FD the F***Disc... As in "how the F did that Disc go so far and so straight?" or "that Disc really F's" 😁
@@nathanfrazier8525 Ah I never bought a d-line when they were still being made, love my s-line and old beat in c-line that is a wonderfully neutral flyer when dialed back that just glides forever... definitely becoming a FinesseDisc
My Fairway Driver is dependable and I can keep it low and -spinning it far distance and relatively straight. Just a basic Escape from a Dynamic Disc starter pack I got for Christmas.
Hey Robbie! My friends and I started playing disc golf casually a little over a year ago, and started taking it more seriously recently (while still having fun of course). Just wanted to say I found your channel this past spring and it has helped me out a ton. This video in particular really validated a lot of what I've been practicing and experiencing. I have a bunch of distance drivers in my bag which I can throw about 300ft reliably, but I've been throwing fareway drivers a lot more lately and it's been exposing weaker areas in my form that I should work on. I might not have been aware of that if I hadn't watched your series on distance and this video. I tend to throw on that anhyzer line with distance drivers but now I'm gonna work more on my lower speed discs to try to build up that distance. Thanks for all of the great videos, Robbie!
Fastest disc in my bag is a 9 speed, and the fastest disc that I throw is an 8 speed. 9's are for practice/checking my distance/form. This is because if I don't make that self-limitation, I'd put ALLLLLLL my 12 speeds in my bag. Trying to take it slower and find my form "correctly" (for me).
I like that you’re checking your form with your 9 speeds, making sure your nose angle control is good is very important. I’d definitely recommend a GStar Wraith when you want to step up your speed. They break in quickly to become a bit flippier than a usual wraith, I found that I could throw about 60-75% power for a smooth hyzer flip that would glide out over 400’ if I got the angle right. The fact that it’s only 11 speed helps it be more forgiving and less power-intensive, and the GStar plastic grants an easier break-in and buttery smooth shots with relative ease at intermediate arm speeds.
@@jacksonpalmer8955 Thanks! I didn't start like that. I have way too many discs to sound "good". But, I finally came around to trying to control my shots as well as try for distance.
99% of disc golfers, myself included, could gain 40ft just with mobility training. Mobilize your spine and hips, just as with golf flexibility will give effortless distances
For me, a thunder bird is overstable, but my son can take the same disc and hyserflip it dead straight and 100 ft farther. For me, I get the best distance with roadrunner, Valkyrie and Jade, and that's 280-300 ft. The Truth or Roc3, I throw just 20-30 ft less. A champion destroyer, I throw about 225 ft putting anhyzer on the release, lol.
One of the best things to do is know how the discs fly for you, does not matter the speed or the angle you go with if you can always throw it that way. I was never big on throwing drivers till I got a Shryke as a gift, which opened me up to throwing more types of discs and helped my game a lot in the end. Thanks for the vid as always.
350 forehand flip up raider every time. But lucky to get a roadrunner to fly flat on half my shots backhand. Got some work to do but having fun every day
Great video Robbie! I've got a great example. When I got back into disc golf the highest speed disc I had in my bag was a 9 only to find out the game had moved up as high up to 14 speeds. So early on I went up to 12 13 and tried some 14's just to get a feel finally I settled on the 11 speed Wraith and 12 speed Tern as what really worked for me as far as feel and where my max potential was repeatable. Then falling back to those 9 8 7 speeds where I feel that my accuracy + distance control really fill the bag in shot selections.
I've only been playing for like six weeks. I still keep that halo wraith in my bag because it looks cool...and then throw my 5 speed off the tee. They both go the same distance for me in a field, anyhow.
I agree 100%, although as a beginner I didn't know and bought an Innova tern, and went from throwing my fairways around 280' to throwing the tern around 330-350
I enjoy your tips and have used many of them. I would like to see a video on standstill driving. I'm 56 and new at the game and have trouble with running up and my standstill is inconsistent. I've worked backwards on my game with putting and then upshots. Just need to focus on my driving now.
The first time I did field work and saw all my distance drivers chilling with my fairway drivers...I knew distance drivers were, at that time, pointless discs taking up space in my bag. The moment I removed them and put in more of my favorite fairway drivers in different plastics...I started seeing my overall score drop on the course. 8 years later...I only bag 6 distance drivers. 3 Shryke's (Halo, Star, G-star), 2 wraith's (beat in champion and Pro) and a beat in PFN Star Destroyer I found in a lake years ago. ( I am damn near 50 and fully aware I will most likely never throw over 400' with out ripping something.)
I throw distance drivers depending on wind. I can throw mids and FDs 300-320 to a 315ft hole, but in strong head wind I could end up 60-70 far left or right because it doesn't fade. I'll take out a Destroyer just so I can land closer to the basket
I think its a good general rule to stay clear of distance drivers early primarily because MOST of them can be an expensive and discouraging experience at first. But I may disagree that the disc speed ratings should have the final say in what is good to throw. I think some low-weight and high speed drivers of specific plastic can be a worthwhile tool for a beginner. I can't for the life of me average over 250ft. on my mid ranges so I have alot to yet figure out. But the last 10 years my DX Orc and DX Wraith have treated me better than any other driving disc despite their 10/11 speed. I'm still heeding the advice to go back and develop my slower discs, but when I get nowhere I pull out my wraiths and remind myself there is hope. So I do think there are good discs of particular plastic and of a particular weight that can give even a beginner some fun hope, but granted probably not the best way to build foundational skills.
Great advice here, Robbie. Using hyzer lip regularly has been a real boon. For me, the forced turn over has pretty big error bars. When it works, it's great, but it's easy for me to over do it, and that's no good. Hyzer flipping understable discs is the way to go for me. I love my leopard and archangle discs for this purpose. For the record, I don't bother throwing anything faster than a 9 and my go to discs lately are 6-8 and I can still throw them 320+. I have a lot of form improvements to make and dial in before I even bother trying to throw something like a wraith or a destroyer... if I ever do.
I think distance driver are good as soon as you feel your form coming into place. Now while i personally think its fine i do think you should start with something pretty understable or lighter as something like a destroyer is gonna be imposssible for a newer person to throw properly.
Then, knowing, as it is happened at me today (😊), that with this Sapphire I reached the (very relative, ok) farthest distance two times (throwing 3 distance - including the Sapphire - and 4 fairway drivers) gives a pleasant and spurring feeling, 😊
not only lighter discs, but different plastics can be HUGE. i have a 167g dx destroyer AND it's beat in pretty well so i can get legit distance out of it.
Lighter disk has faster speed for the same power… but you still have to have right Technik to get that speed… just like lighter car can accelerate faster than heavy car if they have equally strong motor… but if you waste that better acceleration to bad road tyre contact aka have bad technic… Well you don`t get that extra speed…
How much does the x-step add to a throw? Currently working on a standing pull back in practice but I use the x step when I'm on a course because it's more fun.
My aim is not to push discs much beyond 300 (given most of the courses I play, there's not much need), but to get to 300 with slower discs. My eventual goal would be speed fives (Buzzz, Reactor, or Hex). I screwed something up in my form last year, but I'm beginning to get it again. I got a 7 there (Streamline Drift).
I’m a bigginner and have about 300ft power behind 7 speeds like the River and Maverick. I decided to get the Captain as my first distance driver and man that thing gave me an immediate 50 ft of distance with a natural flex line from a hyper flip.
I keep a couple of star wraiths in my bag, but I only throw them when I’m feeling froggy. I almost exclusively stick between speed 7-9. I do field work with faster speed discs, but I know better than to throw them on the course.
as far as getting discs to flip up, plastic can make quite a difference. A star teebird is a meathook for me while a DX will flip right up, often with some turn.
Like the vid. I'm a real newbie at DG (less than 2 months) and I know I'm definitely not focusing right with learning it. DG kind of fills a bit of an aspect of 1: being casual with the game, and 2: something neat to collect with the styles and plastics.. Yet I do still have a bit of a competitive aspect. I had as a main sport, bowling. Ran 208 average. Got several pieces of equipment (balls) for different lane conditions. Did some amateur tourneying. So it's kinda easy to think about matching the ball to the lane/condition for best response. So when I got to DGing.. I looked half at it as understanding my approaches and drives bodily (learning releases, how to get power to the disc well, and so forth) and then having equipment that "can do" the things I want it to. I'll be honest... I've never thought of the commented aspects that those initial speed ratings are more determining what kind of power is needed to throw to get the result as opposed to a general measure of how far. But I'm learning. I kind of worked it backwards with using those 14 drivers and figuring out what I did to limit them or the fact that it's likely my lack of power keeping them going too inaccurate at times. And yes, how I can maintain better a 9 or so out there. But this all is definitely giving me something more to consider. Instead of just a specific disc for "conditions" or for a specific flight plan... There's a 3rd aspect I'll have to consider for. General self. Thanks for the vid...
I'm so glad I just watched this before I went out and got 4 more destroyers. I thought my issue was not enough consistency in field work ( too many molds). Turns out I should still be throwing fairways. 🤣😂🤣. Oh and the hair (or lack of) looks great brother! First time I've seen it short. Been absent for a while. Glad to be back though!!
Question for you guys. Im totally new to the game, so still working on my basic form. In throwing Escape and Truth, I'm consistently throwing Truth further. Is this common for a newbie? Am I just dealing with my form issues on throwing drivers?
our local course doesn't support many lines for even using a distance driver. off shooting beyond the hole will get you in the swamp on some of the most 'open' shots... and I'm finding Distance drivers in the hazard areas (lost) .. kind of confirming they shouldn't have been used probably due to lack of experience in general. I can't reliably use them but I do practice with one when I feel like doing some driving practice in the most open section or a field... - those days where I don't feel like an old man 😅 Thanks for the clear demonstration and discussion of this topic.
I just tried Disc Golf for the first time about 2 months ago and definitely fall into the category of “not ready for distance drivers”…but I have a follow-up question… When should a beginner like me start thinking of upgrading discs from a beginner set? FYI, I’m currently using the Discmania Geo Evolution starter set (Link, Origin & Essence). I like them, but I’m wondering if a better quality set of 3 discs would help. Thanks Robbie! Love the channel!
I really only throw my star destroyer when I need a flex line. Other than that, I stick to my star teebird for tee shots at the moment. Perhaps I'm doing a disservice to my game progression by using the destroyer though.
Pretty sure I'm not ready for drivers, lol. I throw a Savant in the yard once in a while to remind me to go back to my ITs and Leo3s. Currently I throw my IT about 210 to 225 feet, with my best throw being 255. I can throw my Rhyno 180 feet. I've been playing about 5 months, being 45 years old and 5'6 isn't doing me any favors, but I think I can still get better.
Haven't watched yet, because I wanted to first say that I KNOW I am not ready for distance drivers. I honestly don't think I am ready for the 9 speed fairway drivers I have now. But I do feel like I am getting close to to speed 7 fairways I am currently using the most.
If you can throw understable on a hyzerflip, then there are some fariway drivers that'll give distance drivers a pretty good run for their money in the distance department. My Discmania Essence flies almost as far as my Tern, the furthest flying disc in my bag! (I currently throw ~350 for reference.) In my experience glide has a lot more effect on distance than speed. P.S.- Sweet haircut!
My max average distance is 290’. I throw putters 240’ max. In other words, I throw distance drivers further, even though I don’t have 320’ average max power. I do throw light (avg 158g), understable (Mamba, Bolt, etc.) and am able to hyzer flip them….but they still go only 300’ on my best throws. I have over 300 discs, so have tried a wide variety of discs, and I keep about four distance drivers in my bag. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you shouldn’t make guidelines into rules, as ymmv.
My form was going accidental anhyzer all the time built from muscle memory of my first disc being a Wraith and always having distance drivers in the bag. So a couple months ago, I took all the distance drivers (except one for wind) out of my bag. Because I took them out, I’ve been able to actually work on form and I can now throw FURTHER with a Stag (8-speed) than I used to be able to with 12 speed. If I throw well, I can break 320 on a good throw, and have actually gotten the hang of what a hyzer flip is. Thanks so much for this - now I have a threshold for when some of those high speeds can go back in the bag (when I can RELIABLY get the Stag to go over 320ft)
I was throwing my Valkyrie about 250 and needed about another 20-30 ft to get birdies ops on many of my home course par 3's. I decided to try a Mamba and did pick up the extra distance. Admittedly, I do use 155-160 gram discs and clearly don't have great arm speed. They are both flippy by consensus, but they don't dive right for me which they probably would if I had more speed. The Mamba has worked out for me, but I do now wonder if I am ingraining some bad habits.
What if I throw a putter around 150 ft, a mid around 225, a fairway around 265, and distance driver around 290ft? I usually throw my understable distance driver for my distance shots and my stable stuff for big head winds. Also, pretty much all my stuff is light weight air plastic. My form is not bad. I'm just old and don't have much flexibility so my arm speed is not very good. I do see more distance with each level of disk.
My bag has a huge gap. Backhand max speed 9 but on forehand if I need to go 300 or more I use a 12 speed. Should I disc down on my forehand? Am I hiding technique problems? When thrown flat the 12 speed does flex like the chart says, but it doesn't go much past 360 feet. Am I fooling myself?
I am an old (59 year old) newbie to disc golf. My first round I played was in May this year. I thought I could throw any disc anytime. I was wrong!! So, now I just use mid range and putters on the local course/practice areas I go to. My question is what makes the disc go further - the speed with which you throw it, the amount of spin you put on it when releasing it or a combination of the two? On a side note I think I am catching on pretty well so far as I have one eagle and several birdies in the limited amount of rounds I have played (under 20) plus a bunch of bogies!
This was an awesome video. I threw only putters/mids for the last three months. Working on smooth throws and flat releases. I only just a couple weeks ago added 9 speed fairway drivers. I don't plan on adding distance drivers for quite a while. Just last week was I hyzer flipping the fairway drivers. I'm going to stick with them as I've only broken the 300' mark a couple times with them. Played with a friend and his son several weeks ago. He walked by my comet (which flew dead straight and was parked on a 240' hole). He asked me why I was throwing a mid. I said, "Do you see where that landed? That's why." Mids are by far my favorite to throw. They fit my hands great, and I find that throwing 250-260 is pretty fine for most courses.
The fastest useable drivers for me are 9 speed with the exception of the discraft avenger ss, and innova beast. Both are 10 speed but fly straight with some fade at the end. The best disc for beginners in the driver category is the latitude 64 diamond. It’s an 8 speed, but it’s so easy to get turn out of it. You don’t have to put very much power into it, and you get nice s turns. The only distance driver in my bag currently is the infinite discs czar in glow plastic. It’s my headwind fighter, and boy does it fly good for me into the wind.
It's simple. You throw distance drivers or any disc when it has a flight that you want more consistently than the other options. You dont know until you try them. Best advice, try it, practice it, and evaluate it fairly against your other options that you are also practicing. I think its a disservice to tell people not to use one until they reach a certain arm speed or a distance. Buy 2 or 3 misprints or F2s and try them out. Also, learn your plastics. Something like a Gstar boss is great for slower arms, but a halo boss flies like a rock
A lot of these tips have helped a lot and got me to take those 12-13 speed drivers I couldn’t throw out of the bag. Finding way more success with mid ranges and fairway drivers.
Real beginners start throwing distance drives right away. Then disc down and throw better, then revisit the distance driver, then back to disc down, then just carry the high speeds in your bag but never throw them. this is the way.
Can you add even more meters when reffering to feet. Sometimes you do but most of the times you talk only about feet. Helps me/us to not google that much. Thanks. Good content tho
Robbie, after watching some of your vids for just a couple days, I went out with all your tips in mind and absolutely crushed a course that had been given me so many problems. My score still wasn’t great on paper, it’s an unforgiving course and I missed putts early on, but as the round went on I started throwing some bombs and my putting turned automatic, even nailing a 60 footer for birdie to cap it off. Thanks for doing this man, you’re a resource I’ll recommend to anyone just getting in to disc golf
Ngl, I just throw what I want and feel like throwing. I do try to throw a lot of different discs (for my own amusement) but always tend to stick with a few discs and just go throw with em for a few weeks.
💡 you just made me realize I need to throw the hyzer flip more often and that is going to help me get more distance what a great video. Also I love your intro I just barely got passed that feeling but distance drivers only go 20ft further than fairways . Maybe soon that will change
Dude! I just DISCovered disc golf like a month ago…and I suck, but I love it! This is literally my biggest point of confusion: “throwing a disc the speed it is intended to be thrown”…and simultaneously not having a clue if I’m doing that or even getting close. My fastest disc (beginner set) is a 8,6,-2,1 Discmania Essence. I keep peeling it out to the left (RHBH). I’m just trying to throw straight or that beautiful S-line. I don’t even know if I’m supposed to release flat, hyzer or anhyzer (assuming target is straight ahead). Who knew disc golf would be this confusing? Anyways, really like the channel and appreciate the help as I learn. Thanks for making great and helpful content for beginners. 😎👍
If you are fighting the natural tendency of the disk to fade left (RHBH on an overstable disk) you're not reaching the speed needed to throw it. Take a hard look at some 4-6 speeds. Look for neutral to understable discs to start. Buzz, Mako3, leopard, wombat3, sol etc. They will yank left if you're underthrowing them, but go very strait if you hit their intended speed. I am just starting as well, and am throwing a Mako3 about 200 feet with just a bit of left fade at the end. I can hit 225 is with an IT or Leopard3 and also have a bit of left fade just at the end. Starting, all those disks went about 150 feet and hauled off left. Mako3, Buzz or similar discs will really work well for a long time. And then you can work on hyzer ( / turns left RHBH ), anhyzer (\ turns right RHBH) and flat throws.
My thing right now is that my throw with Fairway and Distance drivers fly more straight than my throw with Mid and Putts at a distance even if they go the same distance
I just recently got my first distance driver. I could get my F3 to 310-320’ pretty consistently, and on the line I wanted. So I went out and got a star wraith. I’m definitely still learning it and not able to get everything I want out of it yet, but I can flip it up to flat. So I guess it’s a start.
The flip to flat distance driver line is the hardest shot in disc golf for me lol, I struggle mightily to get a disc that’s the right stability 😂 my photon is too stable and my Gstar destroyer is too flippy unless I back off it a little bit
By distance drivers... what do u mean? Cuz my highest speed is 13 but it is very understable so I can hyser flip is pretty easily. Other than that and my thrasher which is also very flippy, I stick to the 9-11 range with my "distance" drivers
Talking about the speed classifications. Most companies would label anything 11 speed and higher as a distance driver! Understable distance drivers are certainly easier to start throwing sooner, but I’d be curious to hear how a stable-overstable 8-9 speed flies when you get a proper flex line out of it rather than your super understable distance driver?
@@RobbieCDiscgolf well I tried a thunderbird (not very beat in star plastic) flex line a couple hours ago and I got decent height on it but it never came out of its anheizer (unfortunately cuz I was counting on it to lol). I suppose I probably put too much anheizer on it
Beginners should just learn to hyzerflip anything imo, understable fairway drivers (get one below max weight) are probably the best. Putters and mids can fly "decently" nose up, making you ingrain bad habits.
Yo Robbie, who's the stunt double?...lol!! Nice look brother, I buzz my hair as soon as the weather gets hot. Great for aerodynamics on those long drives...lol!!
Been playing for 3 years and just now put a disc in my bag over a 9 speed. If you get to know your discs, you'll know when your form and arm speed has improved enough to step up the disc speed. Great video!
Yes I keep things minimal and light - and get to know my discs.. and it pays off in several ways. I'm not carrying around 30 discs ..but no big deal if others do. Plus I'm not a pro or competitive circuit but I do compete when I play others.
Yeah, I use an Archangel because I'll never get the "arm" speed to throw anything over 9 (it's 8/6/-4/1). I have short arms, short legs, and bad knees that limit an X step. I have to play within my limitations but have a great time playing.
So, I'm older (mid 40's), shoulder surgery, no ligaments on my left ankle so I toss with steel toes for ankle support ( form could be considered sus). I can toss my River about 280ft Just started to get into hyzer flips, and I can hit 310-330ft on a real good toss with my mamba 149g, I have a 134g DX Sidewinder but it flips over crazy fast, I have a F2 Sidewinder but it's 167g-170g and doesn't hyzer flip at all. Should I find a 140-150g Sidewinder or a disc that's less understable? Just checking for some guidance on that. Really enjoy the content.
