Disc golf is growing in popularity, and it’s becoming so popular that many parks are starting to add disc golf for residents. There are even courses that are tracked by the Professional Disc Golf Association. Chances are, there is a course near you waiting for you to join in on the action.
This fun past-time is played by people of all ages, and it’s a great way to get out of the house and have some fun.
But when you’re a little competitive, like me, you know that to have fun, you also need to win, or at least be good at disc golf.
Your first time playing, you’ll find that while disc golf looks easy, it’s actually really hard. There is finesse and skill involved that will make a lot of difference in your game. Unless you’re extremely talented, you’ll need to improve your game.
I’m going to tell you about five methods I used to improve my disc golf game.
1. Practice, Practice, Practice
If you want to be good at any sport, you need to dedicate time to it. Practice, practice and practice some more. You’re not going to be World Champion like Paul McBeth overnight, but you can hone your skills with repeated practice.
See McBeth practice below:
But you do need to practice with a purpose. This means concentrating on your:
- Form
- Accuracy
- Distance (when needed)
Practice makes perfect, but always make sure that you’re practicing with a purpose.
2. Assess Your Weaknesses and Work to Improve Them
Everyone has weaknesses, and your weaknesses are what’s holding back your game. You first need to start practicing and refining your technique, and then you need to start assessing. Through proper assessment of your weaknesses, you can practice to strengthen your game.
A few areas that may need improvement are:
- Drive. If your drive is underpowered, you’ll need to focus on practicing your distance. WikiHow states that if you can drive over 200 feet, you’ll be on your way to becoming a pro.
- Accuracy. Inaccurate drives lead to failure, and if you want to succeed, you need to put a major focus on drive, form and accuracy. All three components lead to success when playing disc golf.
After a few days or weeks of practicing your game, you’ll have a much better understanding of what you need to work on.
3. Wear Disc Golf Shoes
There’s a reason the professionals wear disc golf shoes: they’re designed specifically for the sport. These shoes are often waterproof (a major bonus), and they offer an anti-slip design and traction for all sorts of terrain.
The great thing is that a lot of these shoes can be worn off the court, too.
Disc golfers need disc golf shoes if they plan on being serious. Casual players that only play once a year and don’t care about their game may find the investment to be too steep. But for frequent players, it’s a quick way to improve your game.
4. Record Your Practices
I know it’s tempting to sit on your phone and troll Facebook, but you need to be recording your practices. Why? Simple: it’s the best thing that you can do to make a lasting and notable improvement in your game.
You can use your smartphone or any recorder you like, but make sure you record your practice sessions.
Mind Body Disc suggests that this is the single most important thing you can do to better your game. The key is to:
- Watch the videos
- Note mistakes you’re making
- Adjust your form and actions
Sometimes, it’s simply a reality check when you look at your session and realize that you’re not doing what you thought you were when practicing. Small adjustments from this point onward will make a world of difference in your game.
5. Work With a Partner
I’m a quiet, reserved person, so I know it’s difficult to work with a partner. But a partner will provide companionship and is vital to your success when you first start playing. Why?
- Partners keep you motivated.
- Partners can see flaws you can’t.
- Partners will help you get better.
And when your drive is way too far, a partner can help you scour the course to find your disc.
There are also other things you can do to improve your game, like buy your own outdoor set that you can use to practice while you’re at home. There are disc golf bags, too, which will allow you to carry all of your gear when out on the course.
If you practice often and follow the tips above, the rest is up to consistency and determination.
The key most important thing is to remain consistent and allow your skill to advance over time. With the right amount of effort and practice, you’ll soon find that your disc golf game is getting better and you’re able to compete on courses rather than practicing on your own.
