Hitting the Reset Button, Looking for Disc Advice

I tried to pick up Disc Golf last year and became frustrated at my lack of progress (Frisbee-throwing alluded me as a kid, too). Eventually I ended up selling my discs for cash and haven't played since. Now I'm looking to hit the reset button and be more disciplined in learning how to play properly, rather than try to rush in to it.

That being said, I'm looking for a single beginner disc to train myself with. I am most familiar if Innova and was thinking about the Aero or Archangel. Can anyone offer advice?

[Brandon Swanson]

1 disc? Get something that flies straight so you can learn pure lines. The leopard that people were talking about is a great first DRIVER, but you shouldn't have a driver in your hands yet.

Get a straight midrange or putter. I think that Aero you mentioned would be a perfect choice (as it is a sort of hybrid between the midrange and putter) and it's only 8 bucks. Learn to throw that left, right and straight. When you have relative command with each of these shots, then pick up the leopard again and have fun.

[Michael G Hof]

That explains a lot of what happened this morning.

[Jeff Cowen]

Look, like a lot of people here say, forget the drivers. Get a mid range, there is tons of debate on what mid range is the best, but it all depends on the person.

For a dependable fade at the end of the flight, you can hardly beat a Roc, or a Wasp.
For a nice straight mid that holds the line you put it in a Buzzz, Core, or Mako tend to do very well, but aren't as stable to drive with.

Get a Roc or a Wasp for the time being. First off, they are slower and will not be as punishing when you make a mistake. You will with practice learn to put these things on a nice straight line 200+ feet, and will also during this time have learned to put the disc on Hyzer and Anhyzer lines when needed. Once you can consistently control this thing out to 200+ feet grab yourself a faster driver and a putter (Valkyrie, Tee-Bird, Crush, etc etc), throw the driver just like you would the mid range disc and watch her sail out to 300+ feet. Smile, walk out there, assess the distance to the basket, if over 100', pull out the old trusty Roc and set her sail toward the basket, if you sink it that's awesome, but at least try to leave yourself an easy putter toss, if the drive puts you within 100' of the basket pull out the putter and send it toward the basket. The putter is slower and goes shorter distances so you'll have less tendancy to over throw the basket too much.

As you develop skills your ranges out with putters, midranges and drivers will change.

I started with a Roc and playing daily, sometimes two rounds daily. Within a week I was throwing my Valkyrie, Crush, and Sidewinders 300+', my Roc 200+, and my putter upwards of 130' or so. From there on out it's been a much slower progression.

2 years later I am Maxxing at about:
420ish with a Valkyrie, Boss, Groove, and Katana
350 to 370 with a Sidewinder, Crush, Destroyer
300ish with a Stingray, Cobra
230ish with a Roc (with a good rip I can likely get 250s)
170ish with my Wizard

There are times when I will go out to Brahan Springs here in Huntsville and just throw a Roc to keep things in gear. When you start trying to throw harder sometimes you ingrain bad habits into your throw. Fastest way to get those back out, grab a mid range and concentrate on distance with control.

Well, that's what worked and works for me. I'm no pro though, your mileage may vary.

[Michael G Hof]

Wow, this really helps! Thanks, Jeff!

[Jeff Cowen]

Just don't do like me, someone gave me an old Roc to play with, I played once and went out and bought about $150 worth of discs knowing nothing about the game. Well after bragging about all of my new discs a guy we deemed "Crazy" Mike (He lived in his truck at the disc golf course) told me to put everything in my trunk except my Roc and NOT use them until I could consistently throw that Roc 200+ feet legitimately close to the line I wanted.

While I wasn't playing or working I was studying driving techniques online and on youtube.

I typically met up with Mike after work, and he'd keep my head right by telling me to calm down, don't over throw, concentrate to technique and accuracy not distance (Man I wanted that 200' mark so I could throw all my shiny colorful drivers). Within a week or so I graduated to my drivers.

Of all of those discs I bought that first set, I only have both Rocs, a Valkyrie, a Crush, and a Sidewinder left out of the original bunch. The rest didn't work that well for me so my girlfriend took the ones she liked, and I traded around the rest until I traded into a disc that worked for me.

Since then I have been hesitent to buy new discs until I have thrown them a couple of times.

My current bag: (can throw both backhand and forehand)
1st Run Katana (I love this thing!)
1st Run Groove (Been lonely since I got the Katana)
1st Run Boss (dependable as it gets.)
Star boss
1 Star Destroyer (Forehand driver)
Elite-z Crush (About to become a hand me down, but it is a beautiful tie dye. I might wall hang it.)
2 Champion Valkyries
1 Champion Sidewinder
1 Opto Line Riot
2 DX Rocs
1 Evolution Wizard
1 Medium Wizard

It took me 6 different types of putters before I found the Wizards, and I now have 8 166g Wizards, but only keep 2 on me at a time the rest are backups, I love this putter THAT much. It was about a year before I developed enough power to take advantage of the speed 13 Drivers (Boss, Groove, Katana) so don't be tempted by the thought of these new discs.

Make friends, and try out their discs when they aren't throwing them (With permission of course :D). Find out what works best for you, and call it a day. The hardest thing you will find is finding that putter that feels right and gives you the confidence to make runs at the basket rather than laying up for a close put.

[Michael G Hof]

I had a couple good rounds yesterday using my Aero. I held my own in a doubles game and went toe-to-toe with my more experience disc golfer friend (well, toe-to-toe for the first 9). Thanks for your help, everyone!

[Jeff Cowen]

I've never been able to throw a disc straighter then an AERO I just recently. lost. Didn't go much more than 150' or so, but would do it on a line. Loved that disc, I just outgrew it.

[Michael G Hof]

Yeah, my friends were amazed how straight I was able to get it. The most experienced of us (by far) said he'd probably go out and pick one up. Interestingly enough, I managed a few decent S curves through the trees with it, too!

[Brandon Swanson]

Glad you're finding success with that Aero. Learning a putter like you are doing is one of the smartest things you can do because it will make you a complete player and give you a solid short game for approaches. On long courses in the woods many players (myself included sometimes) reach for the driver thinking they need to get the farthest down the fairway they can. If it's 400' and you can't throw that distance, you're often better off throwing a midrange or putter 200' twice because you know it's not going to get very far off line. Keep learning, you're right on track (this time around). :-)

[Michael G Hof]

Thanks Brandon, I appreciate that.