Scientific Disc Golf
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Coach "MTL" Leonard's Q&A
For all disc golfers, especially junior and beginning players, where you can write in
to ask questions about disc golf and improving your game
See also MTL's Blog - on a wide range of disc golf topics.
For all disc golfers, especially junior and beginning players, where you can write in
to ask questions about disc golf and improving your game
See also MTL's Blog - on a wide range of disc golf topics.
August 24th, From Omar Williams:
How Do I Rip it Far?
MTL, I just wanted to say hi. i'm a young disc golfer too (i'm 14) i have a
question. how in the world does David Jr. rip it so far??? i maybe can rip it
400ft. can you give me some advice on how you launch it so far??? i want to
be the best teenage disc golfer in Louisiana . but i can't do that unless my
drive is at least 550-630... help please...
Hey Omar,
I can't speak for Dave, but I can say Dave has amazing form and control of
his disc. You can be big and strong and if you can't control the disc, it is not
going to go anywhere! My advice to increasing distance involves finding ways to
turn your hips more on your pull back. This increases the force the disc is
thrown with. If you watch video of Dave throw, you see he gets maximum pull
back on his throws. This is the key to his distance. However, all of that
doesn't matter if you can't control the disc. Learn how to throw with control
and flippier plastic with hyzer releases, this in the long run adds control and
then in turn allows you to add distance. As you get older and get bigger, you
will naturally get stronger and the distance will come. However, without that
control, it won't matter.
As far as you being the best teenage disc golfer in Louisiana, that is a
GREAT goal!! However, you don't need to throw 600 feet to do so!! Ken Climo
has won 12 world titles and doesn't throw more than 500 feet. I personally
have cashed at tournaments all over the southeast in the pro division and I
normally don't get over 400 feet in my throws. The way to become the best
in your area is the ability to make putts and staying out of trouble. Sure,
Dave is known for his distance but what makes him a great player is his
ability to putt.
Keep up the practice in the backyard at home with your basket. If you don't
have one, spend time at your home course putting instead of playing a round
one time or find ways to practice. When I was your age, my folks didn't
want to spend the 200 dollars or so on a basket for me, so I marked an area
on a pole the same size as the chains on the basket to practice putting. I'm
sure you could do this with something in the yard and I'm sure your folks
would help you out if you don't own a basket. No matter what you do
remember to always make goals for yourself and always have fun!!
Thanks for visiting www.scientificdiscgolf.com and feel free to ask anymore
questions!
Robert "MTL" Leonard
Scientific Disc Golf Team Coach
How Do I Rip it Far?
MTL, I just wanted to say hi. i'm a young disc golfer too (i'm 14) i have a
question. how in the world does David Jr. rip it so far??? i maybe can rip it
400ft. can you give me some advice on how you launch it so far??? i want to
be the best teenage disc golfer in Louisiana . but i can't do that unless my
drive is at least 550-630... help please...
Hey Omar,
I can't speak for Dave, but I can say Dave has amazing form and control of
his disc. You can be big and strong and if you can't control the disc, it is not
going to go anywhere! My advice to increasing distance involves finding ways to
turn your hips more on your pull back. This increases the force the disc is
thrown with. If you watch video of Dave throw, you see he gets maximum pull
back on his throws. This is the key to his distance. However, all of that
doesn't matter if you can't control the disc. Learn how to throw with control
and flippier plastic with hyzer releases, this in the long run adds control and
then in turn allows you to add distance. As you get older and get bigger, you
will naturally get stronger and the distance will come. However, without that
control, it won't matter.
As far as you being the best teenage disc golfer in Louisiana, that is a
GREAT goal!! However, you don't need to throw 600 feet to do so!! Ken Climo
has won 12 world titles and doesn't throw more than 500 feet. I personally
have cashed at tournaments all over the southeast in the pro division and I
normally don't get over 400 feet in my throws. The way to become the best
in your area is the ability to make putts and staying out of trouble. Sure,
Dave is known for his distance but what makes him a great player is his
ability to putt.
Keep up the practice in the backyard at home with your basket. If you don't
have one, spend time at your home course putting instead of playing a round
one time or find ways to practice. When I was your age, my folks didn't
want to spend the 200 dollars or so on a basket for me, so I marked an area
on a pole the same size as the chains on the basket to practice putting. I'm
sure you could do this with something in the yard and I'm sure your folks
would help you out if you don't own a basket. No matter what you do
remember to always make goals for yourself and always have fun!!
Thanks for visiting www.scientificdiscgolf.com and feel free to ask anymore
questions!
Robert "MTL" Leonard
Scientific Disc Golf Team Coach
August 24th, from Bo DeBruin
How Do I Teach my Son to Throw Backhand?
My 10 year old son and I started playing disc golf about a year ago. He has
a great forehand throw but wants to learn to throw backhand. Any tips?
Any disc recommendations? He currently uses a 165g Champion Beast.
Thanks.
Hey Bo,
First off, welcome to disc golf!! As Dave Sr. has said in many interviews, the
time he has got to spend with his son Dave Jr. on the course has been great
for the two of them. I know I always enjoyed it when my father would come
with me out to play (I started at 9) mainly because I would beat him!
As far as your son, the forehand normally is a shot that you see newer
players throwing further at first. It is a much more natural motion; this is
why you see tennis players using it as their primary shot. However, every
distance competition and every distance record you will see in disc golf comes
with the backhand. I remember when Dave Jr. was around your son's age, he
threw mainly sidearms. Now, he is pretty much 100% backhand. Learning
that backhand is critical to improving your game and it seems like you realize
that.
The number one problem most people have when they first start throwing
backhand is to throw with their arm starting around their hips and moving up
to an eventual release around chest level. All this does is teach bad habits
and cause pretty much every disc you own to fly the same way.
The first step in developing a good backhand is try not to start the disc too
low to the ground because it is natural for your arm to come straight up if
you do that. Try having your son stand still and hold his arm straight out
covering his upper chest area. Then guide his arm across the front of his
chest with the elbow leading the throw. After a few times, let him throw it.
Then after he gets it, then start adding a step. Then when gets that, add a
run up to it.
As for discs, I typically start players with nothing but putters and
midranges. Most people grab a driver to buy at first because it says
"Distance" on it but in reality you won't be able to control it at first. Once
he has gotten the hang of throwing putters and midranges somewhat straight,
move up to a slower controlled driver. I would recommend for someone his age
a very light (nothing heavier than 160G) RoadRunner or Monarch. When he
begins to flip that, move up to a Leopard. And then a Teebird, so on and so
on.
I also think it is very important to note that a kid his age may have no
interest in actually practicing this way. The most important thing for a kid
his age is to have fun playing the game and the most important thing for you
is to enjoy this time with your son. If Disc Golf is the way for that to
happen, then great. If it's Boy Scouts, thats OK too. My father never
really got into disc golf, but he played and watched me play because I loved
it.
If he truly finds a love for disc golf as he gets older, he will naturally gain
the desire to get better and compete which then draws out the desire to
practice.
Thanks for visiting www.scientificdiscgolf.com and feel free to ask anymore
questions!
Robert "MTL" Leonard
Scientific Disc Golf Team Coach
How Do I Teach my Son to Throw Backhand?
My 10 year old son and I started playing disc golf about a year ago. He has
a great forehand throw but wants to learn to throw backhand. Any tips?
Any disc recommendations? He currently uses a 165g Champion Beast.
Thanks.
Hey Bo,
First off, welcome to disc golf!! As Dave Sr. has said in many interviews, the
time he has got to spend with his son Dave Jr. on the course has been great
for the two of them. I know I always enjoyed it when my father would come
with me out to play (I started at 9) mainly because I would beat him!
As far as your son, the forehand normally is a shot that you see newer
players throwing further at first. It is a much more natural motion; this is
why you see tennis players using it as their primary shot. However, every
distance competition and every distance record you will see in disc golf comes
with the backhand. I remember when Dave Jr. was around your son's age, he
threw mainly sidearms. Now, he is pretty much 100% backhand. Learning
that backhand is critical to improving your game and it seems like you realize
that.
The number one problem most people have when they first start throwing
backhand is to throw with their arm starting around their hips and moving up
to an eventual release around chest level. All this does is teach bad habits
and cause pretty much every disc you own to fly the same way.
The first step in developing a good backhand is try not to start the disc too
low to the ground because it is natural for your arm to come straight up if
you do that. Try having your son stand still and hold his arm straight out
covering his upper chest area. Then guide his arm across the front of his
chest with the elbow leading the throw. After a few times, let him throw it.
Then after he gets it, then start adding a step. Then when gets that, add a
run up to it.
As for discs, I typically start players with nothing but putters and
midranges. Most people grab a driver to buy at first because it says
"Distance" on it but in reality you won't be able to control it at first. Once
he has gotten the hang of throwing putters and midranges somewhat straight,
move up to a slower controlled driver. I would recommend for someone his age
a very light (nothing heavier than 160G) RoadRunner or Monarch. When he
begins to flip that, move up to a Leopard. And then a Teebird, so on and so
on.
I also think it is very important to note that a kid his age may have no
interest in actually practicing this way. The most important thing for a kid
his age is to have fun playing the game and the most important thing for you
is to enjoy this time with your son. If Disc Golf is the way for that to
happen, then great. If it's Boy Scouts, thats OK too. My father never
really got into disc golf, but he played and watched me play because I loved
it.
If he truly finds a love for disc golf as he gets older, he will naturally gain
the desire to get better and compete which then draws out the desire to
practice.
Thanks for visiting www.scientificdiscgolf.com and feel free to ask anymore
questions!
Robert "MTL" Leonard
Scientific Disc Golf Team Coach