Teepad Rituals

[General Scales]

So I know that everyone has a different pre-drive ritual once their feet hit the rubber or concrete. It's interesting to see what people do without even knowing it.

I have to walk to the front of every pad, snapping my wrist the way I want to release the disc. Then I'll take three steps back, snap my wrist three times, take another three steps back so I'm at the back of the teepad and snap my wrists three times again. Then I'll walk forward to where I'm going to start my forward motion for my drive, swing my arm three times with a snap in my wrist. Then I take one step back, close my eyes and put a vision to my throw. Open my eyes, look at my target and then let her rip. I stand off the front of the teepad till my disc hits the ground or hopefully basket.

I've noticed that I do this off every teepad regardless if I have to or not. It's a sub-conscience thing.

What are everybody's else's rituals off the pad? I have a friend that has to bust out a brush and sweep off each pad (he carries a travel brush with him in his bag)

[emmarose]

I had a friend tell me one time that my tee pad ritual nearly hypnotized him, but just like my grunt when I throw, it's not something i like to think about because it is so subconcious that if I start thinking about it, I forget how to properly do it and then I can't remember and then I forget how to golf. I have this same issue periodically with my grip...i'll not be able to remember how I hold my disc...it usually works itself out by the end of my round. I know my routine has a lot of rocking back and forth, spinning my disc until i find the right spot on the rim and lots of unnecessary hand flapping and funny finger rubbing. I'm a bit of a headcase...in both disc golf and life...

peace threw disc golf,
emmarose

p.s. the only part I can really put my finger on and make sure I do every time is at least three good deep breaths...I do this when I putt also.

[Lyounger]

I just gotta say I'm so relieved this thread was started. I knew I wasn't the only one with a somewhat unorthodox - verging on OCD - pre shot routine. One of my funniest moments ever was watching Brian Anders re-enact his interpretation of my quirkiness. It was horribly embarrasing but according to Jaymie and Melkers (who was video-taping the whole thing) it was spot on. I still beg to differ!! Needless to say the awareness made me work hard to simplify my run up. I'm still a freak about it but it takes about half the time now ;-)

[snap7times]

everyone knows mine... I try to visualize the line and then make an actual throw, except that the disc is still in my hand, fooled just about everyone with this one... I'm working on reducing this ofc...

[olydiscgolf]

I don't do anything out of the ordinary from the pad, but when throwing from the fairway, I always step off my run up like a FG kicker does.

Kenny Clark always gets me looking down the fairway for his forehand-fakeout-drive! He goes FULL SPEED!

[DexterHawk]

When I get to a big full throw after not throwing one for awhile (i.e. coming out of the woods at Whistlers or Adair, or after a long wait) I'll take a few full swings with a towel to groove my stroke before I throw the shot. It really helps.

PS it is really good to think about your run up and throw and try to get rid of extraneous actions... when I started I always took an extra step after my X step... it was totally sub-conscious. But to fix it I had to spend a couple of field sessions just really focused on a new foot pattern. Long story short if you can't say why you choose to do something in your throw you should ask yourself if it is helping. Good technique is about recognizing first and then changing.

[CarlitosBonitos]

everyone knows mine... I try to visualize the line and then make an actual throw, except that the disc is still in my hand, fooled just about everyone with this one... I'm working on reducing this ofc...

Yeah, that has gotten me a few times, only you need to add to your description that you do this 20 times in a row before usinga disc. just ribbing ya,

[Scott]

On the teepad I go through a mental pre-flight checklist. I first try to visualize the shot and then ask myself if I've chosen the right disc for the job. I then try to position the disc how I want it when it leaves my hand: nose down, disc flat, etc. Then I step back, pause, and begin my runup. Nothing too bizare.

However, when I throw an overhand shot I have a routine that is pretty noticable. I almost take three practice swings, complete with full run up. Since I do a walk up when I throw my practice swing looks just like my throw, except that the disc doesn't leave my hand. Several people have told me that I faked them out, but my son showed me that I have a "tell" that gives it away: Right before I throw I dip the disc to my side very quickly before throwing for real. I had never noticed it. The reason for this routine is because I rarely throw thumbers - maybe once or twice per round - and there is a good chance that when I go to throw one that it will be my first of the day. I do this routine to try to loosen those muscles.

And finally, when in the fairway I also practice my run-up 2-3 times to make certain of my footing.

[Sam]

Rub the dirt, chuck it and hope it don't hurt.

[Joshua Olmsted]

I've had numerous people comment on this, I have no teepad ritual, most of the time I get up off the bench and walk right into the throw. I always visualize the shot in my head clearly, but I typically don't stop once I'm on the pad. I've started to change this a bit, sometimes grabbing some dirt, but I only slow down when I make a conscious effort.

[SPIDER-DAN]

I guess i never thought about.......not sure what mine is. I have to ask anyone who has ever played with me.

Mike cain did tell me that i do "kick start" my back foot when putting. I guess the heel of my back foot drops down, touches the ground, and springs back up when putting. I thought most every one did that. I do miss alot more putts since he told me that now.

[Ode]

i dont do a "run" up, but i stand on the front of the pad and choose a line, walk 3 steps back and one step right, put my arm up and look down my arm to the line i want, pull the arm of my shirt back a little then shoot.

im gonna try to get a real run-up going this winter, i drag my back foot on every throw and it ruins my shoes really fast on the inside left toe.

[erp]

I get up, look at my aiming point, pull through the arm motion once or twice, start to hum the opening bars of "Flight of the Valkyries," fart (if necessary) then plow it into the nearest tree.

I would say it works for me, if it did...

[emmarose]

I suppose to be totally truthful, I burp a lot on the tee box...because I'm a lady I save the farting for little private fart-walks by myself when I'm walking to my disc...

[snap7times]

:shocked::bowing:

[Trozzle!!!]

I see people going through their throws over and over again, except not releasing the disc of course. I do the same thing, but i do it all in my head. I step up, imagine my release then throw my disc and then go for it. It annoys me to see people going over their throw over and over on the tee pad. 4-5 times throwing a fake throw is way too much. i know what my throw is going to do if I release it right, so why run up 4-5 times and practice it? If you are dong, maybe 1 time to feel the release is ok, but beyond that is just lame to me.

[General Scales]

Yeah, I'm trying to eliminate all my pre-huck rituals from my game. It seems to me however, that if I don't do these things every single time I'm on the pad that my game goes to poo :headbang:. Damn OCD!!!! I guess I've done it since I played team sports though. Like in basketball, I'd have to spin the ball in my fingers like 10-15 times before I'd take my free throws. Same in hockey. Always had to put on the left side of my gear first, i.e. elbow pads, shin pads, skate. Then the right. Then the left glove yada yada yada.

My overhand ritual is simple. Line it up straight where I want it to land, walk backwards on the tee pad while snapping my wrist in the same line I want it to travel, take a step off the pad with my lead foot, run and huck. 300 foot thumbers rule.

Putting is the only thing I don't have a ritual for. Since I never know if I'm going to have to ballerina (one foot up like a fairy), squat or shoot from my knees. Maybe I should start having one...:whistler:

[LakeStevensBA]

When it's my turn, I like to use the attention I get by telling a joke or a funny story. Not a short joke, but a long, drawn-out, slow to develop, something too big for even reader's digest to publish, type of joke. Sometimes these stories take so long, the group behind us can catch up so I can share this joke with them too. The Aristrocrat joke (google it) can sometimes cause a 3 or 4 group backup at my tee box....
:laughing:

["Over the Hill" Bob]

When it's my turn, I like to use the attention I get by telling a joke or a funny story. Not a short joke, but a long, drawn-out, slow to develop, something too big for even reader's digest to publish, type of joke. Sometimes these stories take so long, the group behind us can catch up so I can share this joke with them too. The Aristrocrat joke (google it) can sometimes cause a 3 or 4 group backup at my tee box....
:laughing:

Ok, that's just funny as heck.:laughing:

Bob

[Matt B.]

When it's my turn, I like to use the attention I get by telling a joke or a funny story. Not a short joke, but a long, drawn-out, slow to develop, something too big for even reader's digest to publish, type of joke. Sometimes these stories take so long, the group behind us can catch up so I can share this joke with them too. The Aristrocrat joke (google it) can sometimes cause a 3 or 4 group backup at my tee box....
:laughing:

THE ARISTOCRATS! snaps fingers

(Everybody does the finger snaps, right?)

[Twitch]

As Emmarose so reminded me in another thread,

I mostly get the 'yips' and see my disc sail toward any other occupied teepad that is in range; followed by a loud curse, 'fore', ducking, screaming, and finally innocent whistling and finger pointing to my buddy while his back is turned.

-Mark

[Ol' Bob]

I try to keep my eye on the driver's disc as an aid to finding it if goes astray. I like seeing a great shot too. I always flinch when the person on the pad lets go. The bad part is, I always flinch when they DON'T let go too. That drives me nutz. I probably do a little of that too, though at least I don't run up. I know there's nothing to do for my flinching problem. At least a ball golfer takes warm-up swings to the side of the ball. I get jerked around by those dry runs.

[emmarose]

I read a lot of Harvey Pennick's books (The Little Red Book, For All Who Love the Game, And if you Play Golf You're my Friend, A Game for a Lifetime) and find them quite transferable from ball golf to disc golf...I try mostly on the teepad to "take dead aim" which is one of his recurring themes throughout all of his lessons, and thus,while I know I'm doing weird little semi-autistic type behaviours, what I remain concious of is deep, calming breaths and taking dead aim...not just where I want the disc to end up, but also the path I want it to take.

peace threw disc golf,
emmarose

[tomw]

I usually do 1 dry run step threw on the tee pad with the disc held in my left hand, im rhbh. This allows my to eyeball/aim at my targeted flight path's AND get proper location on the tee pad.
Dirt, rock,concrete, rubber pad, flypad, carpet, etc. It seem's to like to do it on most all drive?? Don't ask about my putting ritual:slapface::nono::explode::laughing: TW

[KG_MCDGC]

When I first saw this thread I said to myself, "Self, you don't have any rituals." But after consciously keeping tabs, I definitely have a ritual.

For the last few years I've played a lot of golf that have natural tee pads. So I tend to "test" the spot where my right foot will pivot at the release point. Now I do this on any type of tee pad, concrete or other. I also grab some dry dirt and rub it my finger tips and Disc, and proceed to piss my wife off by wiping the excess off on my right pant leg. Love ya babe!

[thebakedone]

Kenny Clark always gets me looking down the fairway for his forehand-fakeout-drive! He goes FULL SPEED!

Ha ha,

No doubt on that! He didn't learn that one from me and although I play with him everyday I still "expect" him to misfire it atleast once and it hasn't happened yet. I've shortened my approach alot but it still probably seems excessive to anyone watching