| Starting with Discs That Are Too Fast | You didn't make this mistake because you read my "Disc Golf in 90 sec" 😃 Don't throw anything above a 9 speed for the first 3-12 months. Distance comes automatically when form cleans up |
| Disc Selection Based on Name Instead of Flight Numbers | Throwing a Destroyer because pros do, even though you need something like a Leopard3 or Teebird |
| Gripping Way Too Tight | Grip pressure 6–7/10 max. Relaxed hand = clean release. Thumb pressure is crucial as it dictates how fast your arm must move to fly out of your hand. When releasing you want the disc to rip out of your hand as opposed to you opening your hand. |
| Throwing Nose Up | The disc will drag, stall, fade early, and not go very far |
| Trying to Throw as Hard as Possible | Focus on timing and snap. Standstill throws in field work until 300 ft is easy → then add run-up (x-step). Smooth = distance. |
| Curved Arm Throw | Pulling the disc around your body in a big curve instead of pulling straight through on a line. This robs power and accuracy. To practice this face the wall and pull your arm across your chest |
| "All arm" Throwing – No Hips/Lower Body | Rotate hips first → shoulders → arm snaps last. Brace hard on front foot. "Weight shift" is everything past 350 ft |
| Neglecting Putting & Short Game | 60–70% of shots are inside 150 ft, but beginners practice drives 90% of the time. Putts win rounds. Daily 15–30 ft practice. 80% of score gains come inside 10ft-circle from basket |
| Only Throwing Backhand | Never learning forehand or turnover shots limits your ability to shape shots and get out of trouble |
| Reaching Back Too Far or Too High | Reach-back past 90° or above shoulder height collapses timing and reduces power |
| Over-Rotating the Shoulders (Spinning) | Shoulders open too early, causing off-axis torque (OAT) and wobble |
| Early rotation / Spinning Instead of Bracing | Hips and shoulders spin together instead of hips leading and bracing against the front leg |
| Dropping the Front Shoulder | Common on hyzer flips and anhyzers; causes nose-up and weak releases |
| Not Finishing the Throw | Stopping the follow-through early (especially on putts and approaches). Your belly button and chest should face the target |
| Poor Weight Transfer | Weight stays on the back foot or you “fall” backward after release instead of shifting forward onto the front leg |
| Ignoring the Wind | Always check the wind conditions before throwing. Adjust your throw angle and power accordingly. Use a hyzer or anhyzer release to combat crosswinds |
| Not Aiming | Good players don’t aim at the basket (except on very short putts). They pick a specific, tiny target along their intended flight path and aim at that |
| Poor Course Management | Take a moment to assess the course layout and plan your shots. Consider the safest and most efficient route to the basket |
| Mental Game Weaknesses | Disc golf is as much a mental game as a physical one. Common mental mistakes include:
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| Looking at The Ground | Focusing too much on the ground or the disc can cause players to lose sight of their target and throw inaccurately |
| Doing Too Many Practice Motions | Some people rehearse their throw >5+ times before they actually throw. One good rehearsal usually helps a lot, and usually helps more than 5 |
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TO IMPROVE: Fix the big ones first:
BONUS: Watch tutorials on YouTube |
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