PUTTING FUNDAMENTALS

Putting is the most important component of disc golf. Most people have heard the golf adage, “Drive for show, putt for dough”. This statement holds true for the game of disc golf. It does a player no good to be able to drive the hole and fail to make the putt. The ability to be consistent with “short range” putts, clutch pressure putts, and with some frequency, throw in longer range putts will directly transfer into saved strokes. A beginning player that learns proper putting technique gains a greater sense of satisfaction and enjoyment of the game. Putting forms and routines are highly specialized to the player yet all are grounded in putting fundamentals.

The sport of disc golf is set apart from other sports because while certain body features add to one’s success, not any one-body type predetermines success. Players need not be the tallest, fastest, or strongest of the class in order to succeed. Disc golf is the art of timing and technique; commonly experiencing players of different body types, gender, and ages competing together on an equal level of skill. As the PDGA’s first World Champion, Harold Duvall said, “Putting is the great leveler in disc golf that allows success to be shared by all”. Putting styles may vary differently from each individual based on comfort and personal preference. The following putting background and lessons will show the common principles found in the majority of successful putting styles. It is then be up to the student to find and establish their own putting style and rhythm that is comfortable for them.

GRIPS. STANCES. STYLES.

GRIPS

There are two basic grips in putting, the control grip and the fan grip. The control grip is most commonly used by 85% of putters. There is no correct grip since there is a 15% fan grip base that likes the feel of the index finger tucked in, plus the variety of finger placements that naturally occur between the two main grips. If you are not comfortable, you are not in the right frame of mind to make putts consistently. It is important students experiment with both grips to find what feels right to them.

CONTROL GRIP

The most widely used grip for putting.

Disc rim rests into the palm pocket under the thumb.
Fingers rest comfortably on the bottom flight plate, not against the rim.
Thumb comfortably rests on top.
Index finger rests against the outside nose of the rim either directly on the parting line of the top/bottom or slightly lower on the rim based on comfort.

FAN GRIP

The fan grip is very similar to the control grip with the exception of the index finger.

Disc rim rests into the palm pocket under the thumb.
Fingers rest comfortably on the bottom flight plate, not against the rim.
Thumb comfortably rests on top.
Index finger slightly tucks on the underside of the rim.

STANCES

A comfortable and rhythmic putt starts from a solid foundation. The feet should be well grounded as to provide a balanced base and traction while providing proper body alignment toward the target. There are three basic putting stances that can help form this solid foundation. These stances form a continuum. While each player will gravitate to a particular stance as their “go to”, it is imperative to be comfortable with all three styles. The reason is each stance have advantages in certain situations. Example: a narrow staggered putter finds a lie behind a tree that requires only a straddle style of stance to execute the putt. If the player dislikes or is uncomfortable with the straddle stance, they are already in a losing mental battle for a successful putt. Students should experience and practice the various stance styles to build that foundation.

Narrow Staggered / In-Line Stance

Wide Staggered Stance

The narrow staggered or in-line stance features the predominant throwing hand’s foot ahead of the other and pointed directly toward the target. The back foot is much narrower to the front foot and may even be directly behind the front foot if preferred. The foot itself can be anywhere from straight-ahead to a 90-degree angle based on comfort. Having the back foot pointed straight ahead takes some time to get used to, but the result is the push forward comes straight through the hips versus around the hips when the foot is angled. This helps reduce the overall rounding of the body.

The narrow staggered or in-line stance brings the beginning player earlier success since the player’s forward body motion (momentum) contributes to the putting power. This stance is well-suited for longer-range putts and putts on flat ground.

With the wide staggered stance, the predominant throwing hand’s foot is ahead of the other foot and pointed directly toward the target. Feet should be at least shoulder-width apart or wider. The back foot can be anywhere from toe-to-heel to farther back and can angled based on comfort between straight-ahead to a 90-degree angle. This stance is the happy medium between the narrow stagger and the straddle stances. It features a a strong, grounded foundation and provides a little of both worlds with the ability to push off the back foot while providing a wider range of negotiating objects and putting on various angles.

Straddle Stance

In the straddle stance, the feet are parallel to each other and shoulder-width apart or wider based on comfort and stability. The toes should be pointed toward the target or slightly toed in. The straddle style putt is good for shorter, uphill, or obstructed putts. The straddle stance putt is an advanced style requiring a bit more arm strength and wrist/finger pop to generate forward momentum. Because the legs are in more of a lateral position, the leg muscles must fire in a vertical motion to provide the body momentum. With larger obstacles, sometimes the straddle is the only stance available. The straddle stance pairs well with a spin or pitch style putt.

Teacher Tip (Elementary) Students should feel stable, comfortable, and relaxed in their stance before initiating their putting motion. Some elementary students may not have the physical strength or motor control to incorporate the above stances with their putting. They may want to spin putt with an adapted approach shot style where their body is at a 90-degree angle from the target. This allows more arm swing to aid in the shot. Accuracy may be lowered, but the disc will get to the target which gives it a chance and avoids frustration until more skills are developed.

Teacher Tip (All Grades) One of the constant form checks throughout putting is that the shoulders and hips are squared to the target. Often times, a player who is consistently missing to the right or left fails to notice their body is not positioned in line with the target, which causes a rounding of the disc. This creates an inside-out or outside in flight that tends to be inconsistent. No matter which stance is chosen, the disc should start from a line below the students’ chin, their heads are up and arms relaxed. Now the students are ready to putt.

PUTTING STYLES

With bodies balanced and feet firmly planted, it is time to address body positioning or alignment as it relates to putting styles and their related motions.There are three basic putting styles: the Spin Putt, Pitch Putt, and the Push Putt. There are no right and wrong as there are World Champion disc golfers that use each style and have profound success. It is more like each style has advantages and disadvantages. Couple in body type, personal preference, changing conditions, and you might see each style and variations in between during a round or even players switch from one to another depending on circumstance. The main differences between the three styles boil down to arm movement, body motion involved, and amount of spin to carry the disc.

SPIN PUTT

The Spin Putt, as the name implies, is a putt with a higher amount of spin. The Spin Putt is the putt beginners gravitate toward. Any of the three putting stances may be used, it is easy to learn, and easy to teach. A similar wrist snap is used for approach shots so students enjoy the ease of overlapping skills. The disc gets its spin from an arm curl and wrist snap. With the staggered stances, its momentum starts with a weight shift and push from the back leg. The arm and hand movement is like a “shooing flies” motion. The weight shift is about creating a fluid rhythm. As the student’s body shifts backward, the arm and wrist curl inward between the chest and abdomen on a horizontal plane. When the weight shifts forward, from a push off the back leg, the arm extends up and out towards the target with an accelerated snap of the wrist and finger pop towards the target. The Spin Putt requires a confident snap of the wrist and pop of the fingers to project the put

Advantages of Spin Putt

Easier to learn and teach
Easier to gauge height and distance because it’s a direct line to the target
Putts reach the target with ease
Ideal for longer-range putts, negotiating low-hanging branches, or fighting win

Disadvantages of Spin Putt

More spin equals more energy and carry creating potential “spit outs” or longer comeback putts
Harder to control due to many variables that may affect the amount of spin

PITCH PUTT

The Pitch Putt may have as much spin as a spin putt, but its motion is almost like tossing horseshoes with discs. The Pitch Putt uses fast upward arm and waist motion to propel the disc in contrast to the straight ahead motion of the Spin Putt. The goal is to control the distance and line of the putt on a vertical plane. The body shifts weight backwards then forward. As the weight shifts backwards, the arm and upper body follow. Think of the movement as a slight forward bend at the waist and legs with the putting arm falling low in rhythm with the bend. When the body shifts its weight forward, the arm starts its movement up and pitches momentum towards the target and into the wrist and fingers that pop the putter out of the hand. The bend and push off in the legs aid in power, but it’s more of the down and upward pitch motion that accelerate this style of putt.

Advantages of Pitch Putt

Think of the arm movement using a natural pendulum swing
Easier to control the distance with less spin
Less spin means shorter comebacks and “spit outs”
The pitch often features a nose down disc which assists in keeping the disc near target

Disadvantages of Pitch Putt

Advanced technique to gauge the vertical component
Misses tend to be high or low
Harder to control in the wind

PUSH PUTT

The Push Putt is an advanced style of putt that relies on the larger leg muscles and hips to generate power with just enough spin to get the job done. While all good putters use some weight transfer to initiate a good putt, true Push Putters need to really emphasize the legs to create momentum and position the arm for a push to the target. A lot boils down to the elbow. As body weight is loaded onto the bent back leg, the putting arm is brought naturally to the side of the body bending the elbow inward. As the back leg pushes the body forward, the arm also extends straight through the elbow joint toward the target like pushing open a door. As the elbow and arm straighten out, the acceleration continues with the timed snap of the wrist and springing extension of the fingers that propel the disc on the intended line. Power breakdown is 60% legs, 10% arm, 30% wrist/fingers.

Advantages of Push Putt

Creates a consistent motion and release point
Easier to go for longer putts since misses stay close
Less spin means shorter comebacks and less “spit outs”

Disadvantages of Push Putt

Advanced technique that takes some time to get used to
Less spin means tougher in wind conditions
Lack of spin limits range

Jump / Step Through Putt

The rule 806.01.B states that within 10 meters (32.8’) on a released putt, “the player must demonstrate full control of balance behind the marker disc before advancing toward the target.” Failure to do so is a stance violation or “falling putt” that adds a penalty throw to the players score on that hole. At what point in the playing experience the teacher starts enforcing this rule is subjective to the teacher, student, and goals of the disc golf experience. That set-up was to address the Jump or Step Through Putt. Outside of 10 meters, players are allowed to jump or walk through their lie as long as the disc is released before the lie’s contact point leaves the ground. The Step Through putt is very beneficial as the added weight transfer and propulsion forward can dramatically lengthen a players putting range. The easiest way to describe this skill is to align it with the previous preferred putting style and add a deeper momentum push off the back leg, more spin, slightly higher release point, and a bit more extension of the follow through. With practice, the Jump Putt can strengthen the ability to score birdies or save pars beyond the green.

PUTTING CONSIDERATIONS

Putting directly relates to success in disc golf. Therefore, proper putting techniques and mental awareness should be at the foundation of any disc golf program. Putting is a motor skill that is characterized by kinesthesis, sense awareness, balance, mechanical aptitude, and coordination. While various styles and stances offer discrete motor skills, the process of becoming a great putter can develop both open and closed systems allowing the player pure execution and the ability to adjust upon sensory input. The following considerations assist in further refining putting skills.

follow through

In all putting styles, the follow through is a key component to successful putting. The term is called “finishing the putt”. If the putt doesn’t finish, the intended line is never achieved making the desired outcome less than guaranteed. To finish the putt, the dominate hand extends forward, toward the target, and fully commits the wrist snap and finger extension through the intended line of release. A general physical reference is to release the putt with the hand extended up and open from chin to nose. The follow mantras that assist in cueing students would be to “shake hands with the chains” or “putt through it, not to it”. A specific pitch putt visual is “painting the pole”. These analogies draw the image to extend and reach out through the target. It is easy to diagnose lack of follow through as the arm and fingers show less than full extension and putts tend to fall short or hit target cage.
A fully committed putt will usually require a back leg counter balance extension in order to maintain body control. This is a natural occurrence that should be encouraged and practiced.

The Sweet Spot / Strong Side

The first order of making a putt is knowing what to aim at. From farther distances, the target is itself is the target. Once a player gets to a range where they feel confident, it is important to start narrowing the focal Sweet Spot based on science and spin. A (RHBH) right-handed thrower’s eyes should be fixed on a single chain link close to right of the pole and about three quarters up the chains. The (LHBH) left-handed thrower aims to the left side of the pole and three quarters up the chains. The reason being, all thrown discs for (RHBH) right-handed students fade from right to left due to the clockwise spin. By aiming at the “sweet spot”, the student is trying to have the putt hit the greatest amount of chain surface area to absorb the disc’s momentum and land in the bottom of the target. By the RHBH player hitting the right side sweet spot or Strong Side, the disc’s natural clockwise rotation spins toward the center pole and catches more chains. That same spin when hit on the left or weak side keeps moving left and misses a series of chains to grab. Hitting the weak side greatly reduces the chances of a strong putt staying in the target.

Wind

Wind can be the golf discs best friend and aid in flight and distance or its worst enemy and take the disc on unintended adventures. The key is to understand wind and how it affects the disc in order to use the wind to one’s advantage. For putting, in general, a head wind tends to lift the putt so lowering and centering your focal point and putt will help. Tailwinds tend to drop the disc. Putting the disc with a higher than regular release point accounts for the extra air space needed for the tailwind drop. The higher release point allows the disc to drop into the target because the drop was accounted for.

Imagery

Putting is an acquired skill through trial, error, and adjustment. The student must adjust their stance, alignment, body and arm movements, focus and follow through until they find what works for them. The idea is to conform to a style that allows for consistency. Kinesthetic imagery is a great way to allow the players/students to “feel” what is happening rather than by watching. The ability to memorize and learn the proper technique by feeling has a far greater impact than the feedback of just watching the disc land in the target and knowing you did something correctly.

From the perspective of the pre-shot, the focus should be on the throw not the result. Eliminating the consequences of a miss reduces the pressure of the shot. During the throw, the focus should be entirely on the feel of the disc. This kinesthetic imagery aids concentration as it provides a central focus and it reduces pressure by blocking out negative or distracting thoughts. The player is allowed to focus on the one thing that really matters during the shot – What’s happening to the disc?

Focus

A good putting performance is dependent on the proficiency to analyze the given task at hand. The proficient putter is able to focus on pertinent cues and disregard distractions. It is important to realize focus cannot be forced. Focus is effortless. The easiest way to regain focus is to step away and take a deep breath. Highly effective putting comes with a connection to an established routine. A deep breath before the putting routine is an excellent centering tool.