Should I bother with the faster discs?

I have been trying to step up my game this last year and had a question.  I currently use a star Teebird as my primary driver.  I love the control I get and the versatility that it allows when throwing on hyzer, anhyzer, and straight line shots.  The only drawback to using this disc is the distance I am getting with it.  I can throw it about 300' with pretty decent accuracy though I am not really able to push it past that.  I know that form and practice will help me achieve more distance.  I have seen the results of that in the last season alone.  But, most of the guys I play rounds with use distance drivers as their go-to discs.  I have tried many of these discs and find them much harder to control.  They do add a little more distance sometimes, but the accuracy seems to suffer because of it.  I have heard people talking about getting the discs up to speed for them to fly as they are designed to.  So, if I am not throwing distance drivers accurately, am I just picking the wrong distance drivers or is it more of a "I don’t have the snap to be using discs rated much faster than a Teebird" kinda thing?  I got a few distance drivers for Christmas to try out.  I heard the Striker is a little longer than a Teebird, but similar.  Should I just wait until I am throwing my Teebird a little longer before moving on to faster discs?  I have seen guys throw Rocs 350' and it makes me think I should just concentrate on form for a while rather than looking for a faster disc to add to my distance. What do you think?

[harold king]

exactly

[Mark Cuban]

We have a winner! I would also recommend a Pro Wraith , start with something in the mid to high 160's.

[Adam Briggs]

Valkyrie from Innova. Maybe?  Worked for me.

[Mike McFarlin]

I really like the Valkyrie.  I started with the Innova DX starter set which I did not like, then got a Beast which was ok but not consistant for me.  My next purchase was a DX Valkyrie.  Turned out to be a great disc that is still in my bag and has broken in to become my flip disc.

My goto disc from the tee is now my Star Valkyrie.  Although my new Wahoo has kicked the Valkyries but in practice sessions, I still depend on my Valks for distance on the course.

[Bruce Brakel]

In my opinion, if you are only getting 300 feet with a t-bird, and you are young and healthy, you will get more distance by learning better distance form than you will by switching to a faster disc.  It is not an either-or.  You can do both.  But you have a lot more to gain by learning good distance form than you have to gain by throwing faster discs.   

 

In your area, your state coordinator, Brett Comincioli, gives lessons.  Chances are, he could show you a few simple things and pretty soon you'd be throwing your t-bird 350 feet.  Brett lives in Round Lake Beach and is in the phone book.

[mark ellis]

"Reply by Bruce Brakel 10 hours ago

In my opinion, if you are only getting 300 feet with a t-bird, and you are young and healthy, you will get more distance by learning better distance form than you will by switching to a faster disc.  It is not an either-or.  You can do both.  But you have a lot more to gain by learning good distance form than you have to gain by throwing faster discs. " 

 

 

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Bruce is right, you can do both: throw with good form and throw fast discs and the combination gives maximum distance.

 

There is not a whole lot of difference between throwing a putter or a midrange or driver or a wide rimmed driver in terms of good form.  Good form allows the disc to fly flat and straight during the middle portion of the flight of a disc.  (How the disc finishes is a function of the stability of the disc.  How far the disc glides is a function of the shape of the disc and the power of the thrower.)  But the key to throwing well is to be able to make any disc in your bag go flat and straight during the middle portion of the flight and controlling the line (the direction the disc flies).

 

I don't think a player needs to learn on putters in order to develop basic form so he can graduate to midrange discs, then refine that form so he can move up to drivers, then finally perfect that form so he can move up to wide rimmed drivers.  A player can and should learn how to throw all kinds of discs and learn how to make the adjustments necessary to make any of them fly flat and straight.  Most of us learned this way and it did not harm our progression or limit our potential.

 

The wide rimmed drivers create risk and reward.  The reward is if you throw them well they go farther than anything else.  The risk is that if you miss your line they are less forgiving.  But golf is filled with risk or reward situations and all golfers need to understand their strengths and weaknesses in order to make wise choices. 

 

So is a Nuke the best disc for a beginner?  Probably not for a poor athlete or a child but just fine for a beginner with good athletic skills and strength, especially with basic instruction included.

[Bruce Brakel]

In my opinion, if you are only getting 300 feet with a t-bird, and you are young and healthy, you will get more distance by learning better distance form than you will by switching to a faster disc.  It is not an either-or.  You can do both.  But you have a lot more to gain by learning good distance form than you have to gain by throwing faster discs. " 

 

 

*******************************************

 

Bruce is right, you can do both: throw with good form and throw fast discs and the combination gives maximum distance.

 

There is not a whole lot of difference between throwing a putter or a midrange or driver or a wide rimmed driver in terms of good form.  Good form allows the disc to fly flat and straight during the middle portion of the flight of a disc.  (How the disc finishes is a function of the stability of the disc.  How far the disc glides is a function of the shape of the disc and the power of the thrower.)  But the key to throwing well is to be able to make any disc in your bag go flat and straight during the middle portion of the flight and controlling the line (the direction the disc flies).

 

I don't think a player needs to learn on putters in order to develop basic form so he can graduate to midrange discs, then refine that form so he can move up to drivers, then finally perfect that form so he can move up to wide rimmed drivers.  A player can and should learn how to throw all kinds of discs and learn how to make the adjustments necessary to make any of them fly flat and straight.  Most of us learned this way and it did not harm our progression or limit our potential.

 

The wide rimmed drivers create risk and reward.  The reward is if you throw them well they go farther than anything else.  The risk is that if you miss your line they are less forgiving.  But golf is filled with risk or reward situations and all golfers need to understand their strengths and weaknesses in order to make wise choices. 

 

So is a Nuke the best disc for a beginner?  Probably not for a poor athlete or a child but just fine for a beginner with good athletic skills and strength, especially with basic instruction included.

[Donny Olow]

Champion Destroyer if you can Afford one !!!

[Skipper H / Ripdiscgolf.com]

Sounds like this was well covered! It's all about what works for you, and it sounds like you would like to keep up with your friends, so a faster disc is needed... and as said, keep the TL but pick up another disc... and practice alot!