NEFA DISCussion

I was talking to Keith Burtt lastnight about how he practices putting. He mentioned his strategy, which made me wonder how other disc golfers practice their putting. I'm talking about really practicing (not just standing around the practice basket before a round). Do you set up distances? Do you toss your discs out into the yard and putt from where they fall? Is there a better way than others to practice?

Pozzys practice game is always good.
Practice like you putt in reality, dont just stand and fire 10 putts in 15 seconds. I place mine at various distances and angles and go putt them all out randomly, mixing in straddle and normal putting stances

I prefer to putt repeatedly from the same spot. That way I can make adjustments with each missed putt. This helps illustrate what I'm doing wrong and introduce minor tweaks that improve my stroke.

I try not to never putt from the same spot twice (you only get one from there in a round). I usually grab the pile of them and scatter them all over the yard, then putt them all until every one is in the basket, I go through the routine on every putt too. Mark it with the mini etc, try to make it as much like I am on the course as possible....repeat.

Shawn Mullen wrote:I try not to never putt from the same spot twice (you only get one from there in a round). I usually grab the pile of them and scatter them all over the yard, then putt them all until every one is in the basket, I go through the routine on every putt too. Mark it with the mini etc, try to make it as much like I am on the course as possible....repeat.

Thanks for the input...I would think, however, that one of the benefits of practice is that you can re-putt the same location to get it "perfect". This is why I asked the question because I want to know if there are things I could be doing that I'm not or things I shouldn't be doing when practice putting.

Pozzy's Putting Game can definitely be good practice, especially if you've got someone there to compete with and compare scores to. Maybe I got bored with it (been playing it for 12+ years at this point), but I'm not a fan of it as a regular solo practice technique.

I'm more of the school that quality is better than quantity. I don't practice with more than three putters, usually only with two. I find that putting with a stack of discs leads to rapid-fire putting, which is a bit counter productive. You're never going to be putting on the course with a stack of discs in your hand nor are you ever going to throw one putt right after another. Practice like you'd play it on the course.

When I practice, I do one of two things. I will either pace off marks for 10, 15, 20, 25 feet and work from there or I randomly pick spots around the basket from 10-30 feet and putt from them. What I try to do in either case is concentrate on each putt as if it's the only one I'm going to throw. I set up, go through my normal routine, and throw a putt. Then I stop, often take a step to one side or the other, set up and go through the routine again, then throw the second disc. I stop when I start getting fatigued, rather than with a particular goal in mind. Tired practice is bad practice.

I rarely ever practice putting outside of 25-30 feet, and often I don't get much further away than 20 feet. The more confident I am within that range, the more aggressive I can be with the attempts from outside it (because leaving a 10-15 foot come-backer isn't daunting at all). Also, the number of times I find myself in the 30-60 foot range in a round (far fewer than inside 30 feet) and the probabilities of making even half of them at that range leads me to believe that more practice is not necessarily going to improve my make percentage greatly enough to make a notable difference in my overall scores. Whereas, I'm going to face far more putting opportunities inside the circle, and those are the ones I *should* be making most of the time, so I should be dedicating more time into getting better at those.

After all, is it the misses from 40-50 feet that make you say "if only those had gone in, I'd have crushed that round" or is it the misses from 10-20 feet that frustrated the hell out of you?

Josh Connell wrote:I'm more of the school that quality is better than quantity. I don't practice with more than three putters, usually only with two. I find that putting with a stack of discs leads to rapid-fire putting, which is a bit counter productive. You're never going to be putting on the course with a stack of discs in your hand nor are you ever going to throw one putt right after another. Practice like you'd play it on the course.

I disagree. "Rapid fire putting" can help build muscle memory so that when it comes time to do it on the course, it's second nature.

I think there's value to both styles and mixing it up may be the best option. Use some repetition to hone your stroke and build muscle memory, then scatter your putters to practice it in "real time."

There's no reason to limit yourself to just one practice technique.

2 sets from the same spot from 15', 20, 30,

scatter for about 20-30 minutes

then one final set from 15 (cant stop until i make all of them)

if i go further than 30-40 I take a couple of putts from there but then eventually add the distance to the 20 minute scatter

for the most part i stay inside 40

Brad Harris wrote:

Josh Connell wrote:I'm more of the school that quality is better than quantity. I don't practice with more than three putters, usually only with two. I find that putting with a stack of discs leads to rapid-fire putting, which is a bit counter productive. You're never going to be putting on the course with a stack of discs in your hand nor are you ever going to throw one putt right after another. Practice like you'd play it on the course.

I disagree. "Rapid fire putting" can help build muscle memory so that when it comes time to do it on the course, it's second nature.

I think there's value to both styles and mixing it up may be the best option. Use some repetition to hone your stroke and build muscle memory, then scatter your putters to practice it in "real time."

There's no reason to limit yourself to just one practice technique.

I just can't see the benefit of rapid fire putting. Mostly because the muscle memory it is building isn't necessarily correct. My experience with it and observing it is that when you have a stack of putters and go rapid fire, your technique gets sloppy as you get to the fifth and sixth and seventh throws in a row. The focus almost becomes "get these discs out of my hand NOW" rather than on repeating proper technique. The later shots don't really resemble the early shots in the group, so which are you committing to your muscle's memory?

If you can be disciplined enough in your practice to set the stack down rather than hold five discs in your off-hand, and take the time to set up and focus on technique with each throw, there can be a benefit to standing in one place and throwing a stack of discs (repetition IS good). But what I find is that the patience needed to do that often loses out to the desire to throw as many putts as possible in as small a window as possible.

To me, it's the difference between playing Pop-a-Shot and shooting a free throw. Basketball players don't go to Dave & Busters and drop coins into the Pop-a-Shot machine to practice their free throws. In the same way, I don't think disc golfers benefit much from practicing their putting in rapid-fire fashion.

I do agree that there is no reason to limit one's practice techniques, though. As long as you can accomplish your goals, there really aren't wrong techniques to utilize. Like if your goal is to be the Pop-a-Putt champion of the world, rapid-fire practice is the way to go.

Josh Connell wrote:I just can't see the benefit of rapid fire putting. Mostly because the muscle memory it is building isn't necessarily correct. My experience with it and observing it is that when you have a stack of putters and go rapid fire, your technique gets sloppy as you get to the fifth and sixth and seventh throws in a row. The focus almost becomes "get these discs out of my hand NOW" rather than on repeating proper technique. The later shots don't really resemble the early shots in the group, so which are you committing to your muscle's memory?

If you can be disciplined enough in your practice to set the stack down rather than hold five discs in your off-hand, and take the time to set up and focus on technique with each throw, there can be a benefit to standing in one place and throwing a stack of discs (repetition IS good). But what I find is that the patience needed to do that often loses out to the desire to throw as many putts as possible in as small a window as possible.

To me, it's the difference between playing Pop-a-Shot and shooting a free throw. Basketball players don't go to Dave & Busters and drop coins into the Pop-a-Shot machine to practice their free throws. In the same way, I don't think disc golfers benefit much from practicing their putting in rapid-fire fashion.

I do agree that there is no reason to limit one's practice techniques, though. As long as you can accomplish your goals, there really aren't wrong techniques to utilize. Like if your goal is to be the Pop-a-Putt champion of the world, rapid-fire practice is the way to go.

Fair points. I guess I'm not advocating rapid fire putting, but repetitive putting. I always set the stack down and take a deep breath and focus on each one. By staying in the same spot, you can make adjustments without worrying about how your look has changed.

Who gives a crap? Just step up with confidence and bang the putt. If you've hit a putt before, you can hit it again. Just practice whatever way makes you feel confident when you step up to your lie. That is all.

Bear Dunn wrote:Who gives a crap? Just step up with confidence and bang the putt. If you've hit a putt before, you can hit it again. Just practice whatever way makes you feel confident when you step up to your lie. That is all.

HA! But bear, I want to know the BEST techniques that are "tried and true". Maybe I over analyze, but I have realized in this game that technique is huge! Some days I'm hitting huge putts and others I'm not. It could be a mental thing, but I'm trying to figure out what is best. I don't practice putt enough that's for sure. To be honest, most of my putts happen during a round. I have a practice basket and I want to utilize it the best I can.

What about that Gateway basket with the smaller center?

Bear Dunn wrote:Who gives a crap? Just step up with confidence and bang the putt. If you've hit a putt before, you can hit it again. Just practice whatever way makes you feel confident when you step up to your lie. That is all.

Well said. It's a skill that is mostly between the ears.

Matt Grayum wrote:

Bear Dunn wrote:Who gives a crap? Just step up with confidence and bang the putt. If you've hit a putt before, you can hit it again. Just practice whatever way makes you feel confident when you step up to your lie. That is all.

HA! But bear, I want to know the BEST techniques that are "tried and true". Maybe I over analyze, but I have realized in this game that technique is huge! Some days I'm hitting huge putts and others I'm not. It could be a mental thing, but I'm trying to figure out what is best. I don't practice putt enough that's for sure. To be honest, most of my putts happen during a round. I have a practice basket and I want to utilize it the best I can.

Technique is important, but I think Bear is correct that confidence is important as well. Practice improves technique, improved technique breeds more confidence, more confidence leads to better results on the course. It's all related.

I've always felt that putting practice is most important because it's the only thing you have to do on every hole, and better putting can lead to improvements in your driving and approach games even if you don't practice them as much.

They always say that in ball golf, you want to aim at the green rather than at the pin (bigger target, easier to hit). Same principle can apply to disc golf. Imagine if instead of trying to nestle every drive/approach within 10 feet of the basket, you can comfortably aim to be within 20 feet instead. Instead of aiming for a roughly 300 square foot area, you're aiming for something four times the size (~1250 square feet) just by adding 10 feet to the range at which you feel confident you will make the putt 80-90% of the time or better.

Shawn Mullen wrote:

Bear Dunn wrote:Who gives a crap? Just step up with confidence and bang the putt. If you've hit a putt before, you can hit it again. Just practice whatever way makes you feel confident when you step up to your lie. That is all.

Well said. It's a skill that is mostly between the ears.

2nd.

Josh Connell wrote:

Matt Grayum wrote:

Bear Dunn wrote:Who gives a crap? Just step up with confidence and bang the putt. If you've hit a putt before, you can hit it again. Just practice whatever way makes you feel confident when you step up to your lie. That is all.

HA! But bear, I want to know the BEST techniques that are "tried and true". Maybe I over analyze, but I have realized in this game that technique is huge! Some days I'm hitting huge putts and others I'm not. It could be a mental thing, but I'm trying to figure out what is best. I don't practice putt enough that's for sure. To be honest, most of my putts happen during a round. I have a practice basket and I want to utilize it the best I can.

Technique is important, but I think Bear is correct that confidence is important as well. Practice improves technique, improved technique breeds more confidence, more confidence leads to better results on the course. It's all related.

I've always felt that putting practice is most important because it's the only thing you have to do on every hole, and better putting can lead to improvements in your driving and approach games even if you don't practice them as much.

They always say that in ball golf, you want to aim at the green rather than at the pin (bigger target, easier to hit). Same principle can apply to disc golf. Imagine if instead of trying to nestle every drive/approach within 10 feet of the basket, you can comfortably aim to be within 20 feet instead. Instead of aiming for a roughly 300 square foot area, you're aiming for something four times the size (~1250 square feet) just by adding 10 feet to the range at which you feel confident you will make the putt 80-90% of the time or better.

I found this to be helpful while playing my rounds at AM worlds last year. They had the 10 meter circle painted on the ground and I found myself just aiming to get inside the circle because I felt comfortable putting that. Great point to remember.

Confidence is probably the second biggest thing besides technique. Without it or not enough of it the putts will miss more often than not.

Disc-A-Bowl!!!

This is a putting game that I invented two years ago. Copyrighted by me!!

How this work....its similar to bowling...

1) Set up the paper to have 18 "frames" or using regular 18-hole scorecard.
2) Set up 3 or 4 "hole" areas to be putted (between 10' to 50') by using minis (or rocks or whatever).
3) Limit 3 putters per players.
4) A player makes three putting attempts and score the # of discs in the basket in the first "hole" frame. Then the next player's turn to putt.
5) Players who has the most scores in the first or recent frame goes first in the next frame (hole) and so on.
6) Keep playing each "frames" until 18, then add the totals.
7) The winner who has the highest putting scores gets the bragging rights.

Me and my friends played this game for almost two years now. It works for outdoors and indoors. Its popular during after tournaments or at friends' house parties.

There's another fun and quick putting game called "DiscGolf Horse"

Just like Basketball "H.O.R.S.E" but use "D.I.S.C.G.O.L.F" instead. Only one disc per players and the first player picks any spots to be putted. That player that makes the putt, then the rest of the players must putt from the same spot. Sometimes it might require specific putting forms like must putt with left hand, or putt from behind your back, or must putt with a thumber, etc. If the player missed the putt, he/she will gets the letter of a "D" and so on. Any players that got full "D.I.S.C.G.O.L.F" are out. The remaining player that have the least letters are a winner.

Pretty simple and fun for all ages. I did successfully (lucky) putt under my leg from 10'. Other were dismayed and tried to the same but failed and got the letters!!

PUTT ON!!

couple of us CTers have been playing P-U-T-T ...

1. two putters per player
2. first person picks a spot
3. if they make one and at least one other player makes BOTH, the first player gets a letter, if no one makes both, first player gets to choose a new spot
4. if the first person makes both, then every other player has to make both or they get a letter
5. if the first person misses both, the next person gets to choose

definitely puts the onus on making quality putts rather than trick shots

My buddy and I play this game where we take five putters any style. And pick an approach spot then approach to the basket. After that you putt in from where you lie and you both get points for however many putts you make. Who ever makes more putts than the other gets to keep the point over the other persons putts. And "aces" count as 2 points. First to 10 points wins.

I remember playing a putting game in Southwick's basement. You get 5 putts from a given spot, 1 point each. The 5th putt is the "money" putt. If you make it, you get 5 more putts. If you miss, it's the next person's turn. First one to 100 wins.

We play 21 as well.
- Each player gets two putters, play with as many people as you want
- Flip to see who goes first, then continue in an alternating order
- goal is to score 21 exactly, go over you go back to 11, first to 21 wins
- metal hit is worth 1 pt
- pole is -1 pt
- chains 2 pts
- made putt 3pts

Bear was right.

To me, confidence and commitment is all it takes...

Dave Jackson wrote:Bear was right.

To me, confidence and commitment is all it takes...

So you don't practice?

Set two baskets between 25-40 feet apart, depending on how long you want the game to go. It is played with 2 people and four putters. Players stand at opposite baskets. The first putt made is worth 1, each [b]consecutive[/b] putt is worth an additional bonus point, so if you hit your first putt, the second putt is worth 2 points, if you hit that the third is worth 3 points etc. If you hit all four you receive a total of 10 points. If you hit the first two, miss the next and hit the fourth you get 1+2+1 for 4 points. If you miss the first and make the next three you get 1+2+3 for six points. Huge comebacks are possible. If you play to 21 change sides after someone makes 11. The game will condition you to face pressure. A third putt for 3 points will turn your knees to water. The fourth will test the fabric of your very soul. And its fun, too.

Matt Grayum wrote:

Dave Jackson wrote:Bear was right.

To me, confidence and commitment is all it takes...

So you don't practice?

I dont, and putting is my strongest tool on the course. Confidence is a HUGE factor well at least for me.

Play H.O.R.S.E with people who are sick putters.

Matt Grayum wrote:

Dave Jackson wrote:Bear was right.

To me, confidence and commitment is all it takes...

So you don't practice?

As much as possible. But I play W.H.O.R.E.'s like Charlie said and the putting game Tom described.

Maybe we should find out how Tom practices putting, since he is the local putting champion 'round these parts

Obviously his technique is better....

Technique definitely is necessary to putt well, but there are so many different techniques that work, as long as you aren't handcuffing yourself and what you're doing feels natural, then by all means putt how you putt.

I do practice putting a lot, but now that I've been playing for a few years, I have thrown thousands of putts from all different distances, and I've learned how to make them go in.
So the way I tend to practice is I take my putters and just go to random distances around my basket, wherever I stop basically, and just focus on hitting the putt. I really concentrate and know that when it leaves my hand, it's going in, right where I'm aiming. The putting game really is more about repetition when you're first starting out, but once all of that has been instilled, it takes confidence, and nothing but. When I practice putting, I don't practice putting, I practice the confidence it takes to make putts.

I agree. Although, my original post had nothing to do with techniques for putting. It was how people practiced putting. Apparently people don't practice. Ha, not sure why I see most of them putting before a tournament or league round. If its to "warm up" then why not just do some jumping jacks or something else if practicing putting isn't needed.

I agree 100% that confidence is key. Without it you will miss even the shortest putts, however, I often hear people complain about being rusty from the winter (lack of play) which makes me think that practicing is important. I may play 1-2 times a week maybe 3 when I'm lucky with time constraints from work and family so I'm thinking putting practice will help keep up my confidence.

I watched Tom Southwick put his heart out at Charlton woods putting league and something tells me that he putts outside of a league or tourney play. I have a feeling that an ongoing putting league would do everyone good.

The original question I asked though was with intent to see how the good putters practice. If you're good and don't practice I don't wanna hear it!