How far do you throw?

[RonTheWhip]

I'm sure you guys saw in the Jump Putt thread Vandiesel say "I think its time to work on your drives" and Bud say "I bet I can take you in a distance comp". Well I'm interested, how far do you think YOU can throw?

People tend to have a very over inflated view of how far they can throw. As Coates said to me a few years ago at Pier after an impromptu distance comp, "So did you find how who had the biggest D*ck?"

So, how far do you throw?

Why do you think that?

Has this ever been measured or recorded in any way?

What is your farthest throw to date, and what would you say you are capable of on an average throw?

[papatart]

Hey Whip! I agree that the standard is to totally exagerrate how far you throw. As I read the board here I can't believe how many people "throw regularly over 400-450 feet and that the new driver they just got added another 20 to 50 feet to their drive. So I will try to help start your thread with some possible sanity.

My longest measured throw was 489' 8" and that was during a distance comp in Seattle. It was good for the WA masters state distance record and was done with a--hold your breath--Cyclone!

As for normal distance, the longest hole I have ever deuced with an air shot on flat ground was 444' at Addison Oaks, MI. This is not including holes that are much longer and had throwins from 150 to 200 feet. I am talking park and putt here. To me that is the true test of distance for golfers as distance is not everything, just a part of the big pic.

I will say that I throw around 400' top end when throwing for disc golf accuracy. In other words, if a hole is around 400 feet or less and there is nothing in the way, I feel that I should end up with a putt somwhere close to if not in the circle. To me, that is how I measure how far I throw as throwing farther for less accuracy still nets the three on the scorecard and I like to play for birdies rather than "Dude, did you see how far that disc went in the wrong direction. It was awesome!"

Later!

Scott Papa

[General Scales]

400 feet is at the end of my comfort range which has to be in the open so I can milk the most out of my disc (side to side motion). I've thrown further then that but not comfortably and my shoulder has been thrown out more then once. Not this year though since I actually learned technique instead of just throwing as hard as possible.

With a spin throw (if I ever master it) I'm guessing I could hit 500 by the end of next year. This is of course if I keep up my 3-5 hours of field work every week and 4 plus rounds a week. Right now they fly good 1 out of 6 times. When they do it's amazing.

My longest distance ever thrown is with an SS Avenger!!:shocked: Now I throw my Force and Crush further more often but I've found that if I hyzer flip my SS just right I can keep it going for DAYS.

I've never bought a disc that immediately puts distance on my average. In fact just the opposite. Most of the time I hate whatever disc I buy. It takes me time to love them.

Cyclones rule :cheers:

[Adam Schneider]

I'll chime in as a representative of the noodle-arms: my solid drives on flat ground with no wind are about 320'. I know the distance because (a) I've had drives that landed, for example, 5' away from 325' holes; and (b) I've used Google Earth to check the distances between landmarks at the local park where I do test throws.

Farthest throw ever on flat ground was a flukey 400' throw with a 150g Valkyrie in a slight tailwind, at 3000' elevation. Farthest throw in any terrain would be at Whistler's Bend #14, of course, where I got one out about 550' from the lower teepad.

I see no reason to exaggerate; it is what it is.

[catalystdg]

my longest ever was 680 but that was slightly downhill with a sweet left to right tailwind
in a field i can throw 450-475 consistantly
on a course acuratly 425

[catalystdg]

I like to play for birdies rather than "Dude, did you see how far that disc went in the wrong direction. It was awesome!"

Later!

Scott Papa

but two 500 foot throws and a 50 foot putt on a 400 foot hole can still make par:laughing:

[bryan_luoma]

So, how far do you throw?
My long drives are 330 - 375 feet.

Why do you think that?
According to hole distances on course maps, etc...

Has this ever been measured or recorded in any way?
Nope.

What is your farthest throw to date, and what would you say you are capable of on an average throw?
My farthest throw is ~400 ft. I think my average drives are ~300 feet.
I have recorded a 372 ft. Ace according to the course map at Dexter (#15).

[runnaman]

Throwing at a football field, I measured my longest throw to be 416'.

Accurately, I throw ~350'.

[snap7times]

Hmmmm yeah for some reason alot of courses out there have exaggerated measurements but for me, I notice at least a 50 foot gap between averages on my throws from when I was working out hard in 2007 as to not working out since 2007. For now, I can throw my buzzes 225-250 consistently with a few perfect 300's... Driving easily 325-350 with maximum being in the 375-400 range. My longest drive for sure was in 2007 around 450-475 as I was reaching the trees on the far side of the fairway on hole 6w at milo. My most memorable drive in competition in 2009 was the sudden death hole at Eugene Celebration, from the picnic table path uphill to the practice basket, I am not sure how far that is, probably in the 325-350 range, but uphill and headwind for the park job birdie for the win!... Any dexter locals wanna give me a better distance estimate on that sudden death hole?

[sillybizz]

I
People tend to have a very over inflated view of how far they can throw. As Coates said to me a few years ago at Pier after an impromptu distance comp, "So did you find how who had the biggest D*ck?"

I would say my average drives are right around 1500 feet or so, sometimes I can really let one loose and get around 1800. :laughing:

No seriously if I had to guess I would say my average drives are around 290-300 feet. At Terrace Creek I can throw as far and farther than hole number six and it is listed (and that has been updated recently) at 289 feet.

[Ken Smith]

I guess I'm calling my puny arm out. When I practice on a football field, I tend to throw from 270 to 295. Longest drive, that I could tell, on a flat range was 340 (Summer, hot).

[REDFIVE]

I think I can throw 450+ in an open field. On course I am comfortable at 420 or so. Never really measured but I have thrown from the track and hit field goals at the football field I practice at, about track to track. Add about 20-30 with a 360. Anybody know the yardage of football fields from track to track?

[olydiscgolf]

I guess my Average drive is around 350' (+/- 25') A great pull is around 390', If I hit 400' Im going down hill or down wind! We've got a couple of good holes at Yauger for gauging distance, there are 4 ball fields that measure 350' from home plate to the fence.

I don't know exactly what my longest drive would be, Im not sure the elevation of White Pass. Every time Im heading home from a tourney at Tri Cities, I always throw a disc from a lookout down into the valley. Its so cool! They fly for days!

[runnaman]

I think I can throw 450+ in an open field. On course I am comfortable at 420 or so. Never really measured but I have thrown from the track and hit field goals at the football field I practice at, about track to track. Add about 20-30 with a 360. Anybody know the yardage of football fields from track to track?

It actually depends on the track. I would guess around 430-450 though just to be safe.

[ChUcK]

I've never accurately measured a throw, but I'd say I max out at 370. I've had some good fluke drives that barely out drove hole 5 at Terrace (390') but nothing I could reproduce upon command.

[DMajor]

The new hole six at Juel has become the local measuring stick for long drives. It is very flat and very wide open and rarely gets windy. The front tee is 420' and the back tee is a little over 480.

I finally heard of someone parking the long tee a couple weeks ago and last week I played with him so I was inspired to throw most of my discs as far as I possibly could. My longest throw was about 40 feet past the basket throwing from the front tee with a sidearm 175g pro boss. The line was a little left of the basket and I would estimate about 450' on that throw. I threw one that may have been farther than that from the back tee (sidearm with a 174g flippy champion boss) as it looked about pin high but it was about 100 feet left of the basket so It's hard to estimate how far that one went. My farthest back hand was right online and about fifty feet short of the basket from the back tee with a 171g pro boss (about 430'). That was only my second day throwing the pro bosses and they both consistently go farther than any of my other discs. They are pretty flippy so I don't have as much confidence in their accuracy but they are definitely my farthest flying discs.

As far as consistent and accurate for a tournament shot goes a hard sidearm for me is usually about 380-410 feet. Backhand is more like 370-390 on a long drive.

The real question is how far does the thread starter throw?

[jevon]

My longest measured drive was about 320 on hole 10 at the Mud. I would say I'm usually in the 280-300 range and I'm happy when I get it to 300. Anything more and it's a bonus.

[sillybizz]

The real question is how far does the thread starter throw?

I've heard close to 600 feet from sources I feel good about.

[The Ombudsman]

I have parked the 6th at Juel (420') several times with a 175g Boss (even did it once with a 158g R-Pro model). I can get an Orc to go about 380 with ease. I throw my 175g Aviar up to about 310'

[The Ombudsman]

I've heard close to 600 feet from sources I feel good about.

Crystal Mountain, I presume?

[DMajor]

I've heard close to 600 feet from sources I feel good about.

I've heard the same thing but I'm curious how far the longest measured throw went?

[General Scales]

If you goto the videos section and watch my posting of the long distance finals from this year, you can see how far the thread starter throws, which I'm guessing since he was in the USDGC Distance Finals, is much further then any of us posting:jumpspin:!

Btw, my longest measured throw was 418 and 6 inches. Average is about 380-400.

What about thumbers and tomahawks?

300 for me for the thumber. Which is the max and I don't think I'll ever throw further then it. It hurts to throw overhands that far.

[Bruce]

450 is getting close to my top end with maintaining accuracy. Though I have thrown a few throws right around the 540 range, granted with little to no accuracy, other than keeping it in the wide fairways of McIver's field holes. The 540's were paced off at the course, and I average right around 2'9" to a pace.

[OneDarkRebel]

In Central Oregon (3400ft elevation) I can drive 380ft-420ft accurately and consistently. My longest measured open field throw is 575ft with a Pro Destroyer...I haven't tried to get any good open field hucks with the Pro Boss yet. However in the Eugene/Salem/Portland area I find that the discs have more float and I can get more distance but I also have a harder time adjusting to the disc understability.

[sillybizz]

Crystal Mountain, I presume?

Nope, Dion can crush em'. I have heard numerous stories of him throwing 550-600 feet.

[snap7times]

bonus side activity at BSF, either hole 6 or 13, have painted 1 foot spots at 25 foot intervals from 300-600 feet so during off time, dg'ers can test their distance?

[Ol' Bob]

I can vouch for Bruce. I found his glow TeeBird that he threw from the pond campfire almost all the way to the NFH's place (NFH=neighbor from hell).

My longest is down to about 280. I've further torn my right rotator cuff and even backhands are hurting now. I guess I'm needing surgery.

[sillybizz]

If you goto the videos section and watch my posting of the long distance finals from this year, you can see how far the thread starter throws, which I'm guessing since he was in the USDGC Distance Finals, is much further then any of us posting

Could you send a link?

[General Scales]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vugH971mvK4&feature...x=0&playnext=1
There you go. I think Dion only has two throws that are on this video and they are towards the end. Robbie Bratten, Double G and others. Included are a giant ass sidearm all the way across the pond (first one ever to make it to dry land

[RonTheWhip]

So, how far do you throw?
Distance Competition: Mid 500'
On a Course: Low 500', but most courses only have holes in the upper 400's, so that is a more reasonable answer.


Why do you think that?
Hole 12 at Adair (in the middle pin) is potentially the longest 2 I have in PDGA competition (Like Papa said, park job, not throw in). It plays high 400'. I also birdie Hole 3 at Willamette regularly with the high turnover route which plays about 450'.

Has this ever been measured or recorded in any way?
Yes, on numerous occasions by myself with a range finder, and at various distance competitions

What is your farthest throw to date, and what would you say you are capable of on an average throw?
594', thrown at USDGC this year during the distance qualifiers in order to make it into the distance competition. In the actuall competition itself, I only threw 540' and sadly only beat one other person. I did get to throw across the lake which was super amazing.

On an average distance pull, I'm not happy unless I break 500'.

I have yet to go to a Big D in the Desert competition, where I have been told I am gaurenteed to break 600'. I don't count elevation achieved distance throws, as far as I'm concerned, we should throw out all the distance records and hold competitions at sea level with less than 10 MPH of wind.

Real quick, ask me if I'm more proud of my distance accomplishment at USDGC, or my finish in the tournament...oh, I bet you can answer that question for yourself. Like Coates said...

[Joshua Olmsted]

I've always spent too much time focusing on my power, it has long been a quandary for me. I've switched grips, run-ups, reach backs and the like, yet I've had the exact same average drive distance for 4 years now, albeit with much greater precision. At the same time I'm pretty happy with my current drive on the whole. My longest recorded throw was 3 weeks ago on an artificial turf football field, I put it to 375' to the dot, it was with a beat in 166 FLX Surge, at the same time I threw 10 throws that night and all 10 fell between 360' and that 375'. What I like about my drive is that while my max on a course is right about 375 my average drive, with full accuracy is 340' I don't throw big towering flex shots, and I no longer throw huge hyzer flips. I found that my scores are the best when I focus on getting my shots low and straight consistently.

[Parks]

How far do I throw? Honestly, not far enough (and not accurate enough).

On days when my timing is down I can get some pretty good effortless distance, but I'm still working on that. My form completely comes and goes. Today I was struggling to hit 400 with bad accuracy, but other days 420' with a distance driver feels like nothing and my throws that far are pretty accurate.

I would make a distinction between golf/accurate D and distance throws, but it honestly makes little difference.

My longest throws ever on flat ground without a tailwind have been 450ish.

I know this from a few different sources. I've done quite a bit of throwing across a football field that lets me get decent measurement accuracy (360 feet from the back of each endzone to the other, +15 feet behind, +30 feet beyond to a fence, then + whatever I step off beyond). I've also Google Earthed some long flat holes here (their listed distances are longer than they really are) and a couple fields that I've thrown at.

[Iowa]

My farthest throw is around 400-ish. Average is about 350-ish. But there is no need to throw that far at my home course seeing as the farthest hole is 322 feet. I went to a football field and threw from track to back of end zone. I'm guessing that is around 400 feet.

[Reichard]

280 give or take but it sure looks good getting there. I can't think of one person in my division that I can out drive.

[DexterHawk]

I've been measured at about 500' but I'm more of a 400-450 range guy... On a golf course I will generally "go for" any hole that is 420 ft or less.

Though I'll say here distance without control can be more harmful than helpful and anyone who can comfortably throw 400 (not that far by comparison to the true big arms) can be competitive in any division on any course.

[Jester]

0-330 is my average golf D. I will sometimes will reach 350 but not with any consistency. As an old guy, I need to be warmed up to reach 330 consistently.

[Magilla]

Farther than MOST my age....:D

Undefeated in WFDF sanctioned comp. :blush:

4x California State Champ.

578' in '96 with a Cyclone is my furthest measured throw in Comp.

:cheers:

Cant wait another year to go to Big D in the Desert and break the GM World Record.

:rockon:

[ahukingacehole]

I'm guessing that on a good day I can hit 475 or so. I have parked 13 at Adair in the long several times which I think is about 425 and slightly up hill.

[GettinBetter]

My average drive on an open course (say Steily SE) is a comfortable 400'. Anything i throw farther than that is prolly because I shanked it.

My farthest drive on a course is SE 14. The hole is around 515' and I had a circles edge putt, so that drive was about 480'. But I think distance is totally overated. All throwing far accomplishes is that sometimes some noobs will be on the course and see you throw and be like "Ohh my God! you must be a pro or something" when obviously they have never seen anyone any good what so ever.

So if you want to be bothered by everyone and their mother, go ahead and practice launching all your drivers in an open field all week.

Just dont be upset when you 4 a 190' hole in the woods.

[Nathan]

I throw right at 400' with ok accuracy. I can throw farther but I don't count it unless it went where i meant for it to. I threw my farthest drive the other day on Steily NW 11, 420'. Hopefully I'll add another 50' when I'm full grown.

[papatart]

I throw right at 400' with ok accuracy. I can throw farther but I don't count it unless it went where i meant for it to. I threw my farthest drive the other day on Steily NW 11, 420'. Hopefully I'll add another 50' when I'm full grown.

Nope, that's as far as you will ever throw. Sixteen is the prime age and you just get worse every year....really...now stop getting better than me or I'm kicking you off my course!:biggrin2:

Your ever-so-good-friend-that-you-never-want-to-beat,
Scott

[runnaman]

Broke my distance record today with a throw of 423.

170g Pro Boss

Measured with a combination of a football field and paces.

[T-Bird]

I would be interested in also knowing:

How far could you throw when you first started?
How long did it take to reach 300, 350, 400, etc...?

[sillybizz]

I would be interested in also knowing:

How far could you throw when you first started?
How long did it take to reach 300, 350, 400, etc...?

Well it's taken me 6 years to get to 300 feet. My friend was throwing backhands farther than me his second time out, he can out drive me with a tomahawk. I hate people that pick this game up right away. :headbang:

[mazza]

Well it's taken me 6 years to get to 300 feet. My friend was throwing backhands farther than me his second time out, he can out drive me with a tomahawk. I hate people that pick this game up right away. :headbang:

first time i ever threw a disc. was at steli in the ball field with ray giving me pointers. he gives me a #1 flyer from lighting and tells me to laugh off the home plate pad. so i do and i hit the light pole in dead center field about 20 ft up the pole. but it wasn't for a couple years later that i broke the 400' mark. i can hit over 400' all day long. but i give up some distance for accuracy so my disc my hit around 300'-350' but nows its almost where i wanted to be. i've been trying to hit the 450' mark but haven't gotten there yet:headbang:

[General Scales]

I've been playing since April 2008.

It took me about three months of playing to break 300 feet.

It took about three more months to break 350.

It took about 6 months after that to do it consistent.

When I first started I was throwing a DX Viper and Pro-D Challenger. They WERE NOT BEGINNER FRIENDLY!:mad: I had to work to hit 200 consistent. Then I bought a Viking and a Cro and 250 was normal. Thats about a week after I started.

I have a huge sports background, Baseball, Football, Hockey, Martial Arts, etc. So learning to keep my body in form for throws was quite easy. It was learning how and what to throw that was hard. :headbang:

P.S. I've played at least 10,000 holes since last year. I got the disc golf bug bad. :yay:

[sillybizz]

I've been playing since April 2008.

It took me about three months of playing to break 300 feet.

It took about three more months to break 350.

It took about 6 months after that to do it consistent.

When I first started I was throwing a DX Viper and Pro-D Challenger. They WERE NOT BEGINNER FRIENDLY!:mad: I had to work to hit 200 consistent. Then I bought a Viking and a Cro and 250 was normal. Thats about a week after I started.

I have a huge sports background, Baseball, Football, Hockey, Martial Arts, etc. So learning to keep my body in form for throws was quite easy. It was learning how and what to throw that was hard. :headbang:

P.S. I've played at least 10,000 holes since last year. I got the disc golf bug bad. :yay:

3 MONTHS!!!!!!!

Should I just quit playing? lol

See post number 44 in this thread....

[Will of Doom]

So, how far do you throw? See bottom question as they will contain the same answers.

Why do you think that? I base distance on the tee sign.

Has this ever been measured or recorded in any way?Not technically No.

What is your farthest throw to date, and what would you say you are capable of on an average throw?530' ish. Hole 5 at Bryant park. Pin high but to the right. On an average throw 375-450 is pretty easily done.

[Lund]

I guess my Average drive is around 350' (+/- 25') A great pull is around 390', If I hit 400' Im going down hill or down wind! We've got a couple of good holes at Yauger for gauging distance, there are 4 ball fields that measure 350' from home plate to the fence.

I don't know exactly what my longest drive would be, Im not sure the elevation of White Pass. Every time Im heading home from a tourney at Tri Cities, I always throw a disc from a lookout down into the valley. Its so cool! They fly for days!


Well now I know how far I throw.
Average: 351
Great Pull: 391
And with the right wind: 401

[snap7times]

I started out in the 100-150 range, took me a year to get over 200 consistently, then after the winter of 2006, in the spring of 2007, after countless hours of studying forms and grips and the sacrifice of everything I claimed "worked" for me and to just start over, I could throw 300 consistently all of a sudden and now just had to work on control and other areas of the game other than distance. Too many players out there play with bad form and grip and are hard headed in accepting that they need to start over at square one. I'll be entering my 4th year of competitive disc golf next year and am thankful for everyone's help on my game and my willingness to accept advice and adapt; I just feel bad for those people who wont do the same. Like one of my friends who has plateau'ed for quite a while said to me recently, "dude, this teerex flies straight for me, I know what I am doing!"... this was on hole 3 at De Laveaga... sigh... anyways thought that would apply to some of us who have plateau'd at low distances... you don't have to be stuck...

[Darr]

People tend to have a very over inflated view of how far they can throw.
I think a few of these posts might illustrate your point. :whistler:
I have never measured or compared a long drive to a hole length. I am going to throw for some D in our soccer field this Saturday and take a few measurements

[olydiscgolf]

Well now I know how far I throw.
Average: 351
Great Pull: 391
And with the right wind: 401

How many days in the air off of White Pass?

[blang11]

I throw far enough.

[Ol' Bob]

Sometimes my fourth shot goes too far.

[Reichard]

3 MONTHS!!!!!!!

Should I just quit playing? lol

See post number 44 in this thread....


Distance isn't everything. You can be very competitive in all Adv divisions throwing 280-300 feet.

[Lance]

Not far enough.

[gwillim]

Too far.

[snap7times]

Distance isn't everything. You can be very competitive in all Adv divisions throwing 280-300 feet.

Now that is hilarious my friend.... now if you are accurate at 300 and accurate putting 50 feet and in, then maybe on the shorter courses yes that would be true... But if majority of the holes are 350+ then no way jose... I would say 350-375 is needed to be competitive in adv anywhere...

[Joshua Olmsted]

Now that is hilarious my friend.... now if you are accurate at 300 and accurate putting 50 feet and in, then maybe on the shorter courses yes that would be true... But if majority of the holes are 350+ then no way jose... I would say 350-375 is needed to be competitive in adv anywhere...

Oh, haha, how wrong you are, I know several very competitive MA1 players who only drive 300, sometimes less. Even in advanced, if you're playing a course with average distance 400' per hole, with a decent amount of foliage, if you have the accuracy, consistency and short game to shoot par on every hole, you're diong pretty darn good. I think most people put way too much focus on distance. If I had spent all that time as a newer player when i was injuring my shoulder trying to gain more distance and i spent it putting, I know I'd be a better player right now.

And on the flip side of the coin, I know several players who drive 500', even with decent accuracy and consistency, who can't break out of MA2 because of putting, up shots and management. Sure, do you need good distance to reach the top echelons of the game? Yeah, I guess so. But on the whole I'd say putting is a much, much better indicator for what division you're most likely to play in. One shift in my putting game along with some practice, boosted by game by 2 full strokes this summer, I don't think any change in my driving game has ever had that quick and profound an effect on my scores.

[sillybizz]

Oh, haha, how wrong you are, I know several very competitive MA1 players who only drive 300, sometimes less. Even in advanced, if you're playing a course with average distance 400' per hole, with a decent amount of foliage, if you have the accuracy, consistency and short game to shoot par on every hole, you're diong pretty darn good. I think most people put way too much focus on distance. If I had spent all that time as a newer player when i was injuring my shoulder trying to gain more distance and i spent it putting, I know I'd be a better player right now.

And on the flip side of the coin, I know several players who drive 500', even with decent accuracy and consistency, who can't break out of MA2 because of putting, up shots and management. Sure, do you need good distance to reach the top echelons of the game? Yeah, I guess so. But on the whole I'd say putting is a much, much better indicator for what division you're most likely to play in. One shift in my putting game along with some practice, boosted by game by 2 full strokes this summer, I don't think any change in my driving game has ever had that quick and profound an effect on my scores.

I can make most of my putts within 30 feet, anything inside of 20 is a gimme for me and I can't seem to go under par on courses like Lakewood and Terrace Creek because I don't have the distance to hit birdies. My midrange game is pretty good too and usually I don't have to putt much. This is a normal hole for me:

First Shot: throw it 280 feet right in the middle of the fairway
Second Shot: throw it 100-150 feet to the basket
Third Shot: 0-25 foot putt.

Players with a 400+ foot drive can birdie a hole like I described most of the time. At some point I am going to have to drive 400 feet to compete at anything above Intermediate.

[Joshua Olmsted]

Players with a 400+ foot drive can birdie a hole like I described most of the time.

First off, If any player is birdying 400 foot holes "most of the time" odds are they're playing pro.

Second, what if that player with the 400' drive doesn't have that matching short game, sure he might make some 400 foot birdies, but what if he hits a tree, and can't get up and down reliably from 200'. He might not pick up all those pars.

Now some of these concepts may stem from the fact that I learned to play in Oregon, most courses have significant course obstacles, take the first course I learned to play on, Pier Park, for example; in all longs, the course averages around 385', if you play that course very smart, make good shots to the best parts of the fairways and consistently make your 25' and in putts, it's very feasible to shoot around even with a max drive of 300'. Especially if you can capitalize on a few of the shorter holes like #2, 3 and 4. Pier is also a course where having that 500' drive is really only useful on a few holes, like 1 long, 15 long and 18 long. Even though it's a long course, there's a lot more to it.

I'm just saying, distance is nice, but it is NOT the determinant factor in competitive divisions.

[General Scales]

I totally agree, I can crush drives and I'm pretty damn good on my approaches from 100 feet to 200 but if I'm not within 15 feet of the basket, it's about 50/50 if I'm gonna make my putt:headbang:

It's embarrassing to throw a beautiful 380 foot drive, be 25 feet from the basket and still par. It's even more embarrassing when your friends only throw 300 and they still par the hole because their putt game is far superior to your own.

Still, it is a lot of fun to watch a disc stay in flight for so long that you don't think it's ever coming down.

Joshua Olmsted
"Second, what if that player with the 400' drive doesn't have that matching short game, sure he might make some 400 foot birdies, but what if he hits a tree, and can't get up and down reliably from 200'. He might not pick up all those pars."

[sillybizz]

First off, If any player is birdying 400 foot holes "most of the time" odds are they're playing pro.

Second, what if that player with the 400' drive doesn't have that matching short game, sure he might make some 400 foot birdies, but what if he hits a tree, and can't get up and down reliably from 200'. He might not pick up all those pars.

Now some of these concepts may stem from the fact that I learned to play in Oregon, most courses have significant course obstacles, take the first course I learned to play on, Pier Park, for example; in all longs, the course averages around 385', if you play that course very smart, make good shots to the best parts of the fairways and consistently make your 25' and in putts, it's very feasible to shoot around even with a max drive of 300'. Especially if you can capitalize on a few of the shorter holes like #2, 3 and 4. Pier is also a course where having that 500' drive is really only useful on a few holes, like 1 long, 15 long and 18 long. Even though it's a long course, there's a lot more to it.

I'm just saying, distance is nice, but it is NOT the determinant factor in competitive divisions.

One person I play with regularly can drive 380-400 feet. I know I am a better putter and I am slightly better at upshots and getting out of trouble than him yet he is consistently at or under par while I remain over par, he probably beats me by five to eight strokes on average.

I just introduced this game to a friend of mine who has been playing for about four months now. He was out throwing me his second time out, he can throw it 350 feet but the rest of his game looks like a noobie so I can still beat him while he out drives me, but it won't be long before he gets more consistent and starts killing me. Point being I might be able to beat someone who is still new that can out drive but someone who has played for five years and developed his drive to 400+ feet along with average putting and upshots skills will kill me on the course because of the 100 extra feet of distance.

I would like to prove this to Mr. Scales sometime on the course.

[Huk-DMC]

I think this snippet of an interview with Avery Jenkins sums it up pretty well
here is the link to it (11th paragraph from top) http://www.averyjenkins7495.com/2009/10/12/quad-cit-disc-golf-com-interview/

QCDG.com: Where do you feel distance off the tee falls in the overall success of your game? What facet of the game do you feel players, especially newer players, should concentrate on to improve their games?
Avery: Distance off the tee alone has brought me into the upper echelon of the sport. I actually build a majority of my game around my ability to throw far for the fact that it sets up everything to follow. Having the ability to throw far greatly increases the scoring opportunities on many of the courses that we play for tournaments. The opportunities are related back to many more chances at scoring along with avoiding possibilities of taking bad scores. So it gives you the chance to improve your score with birdies as well as helping not to worsen with bogeys.

Driving distance is a definite skill that a player needs to acquire in order to play better golf, like I said it sets up everything that is to follow. An errant shot off the tee sets up a bad lie, which sets up a difficult approach, which leads to an upshot left short etc…..But the fact of the matter is that not everyone can throw 500+ and that’s when a player must rely on the accuracy rather then the distance of their drives in order to play better golf. Therefore I believe that new players should really concentrate on improving their overall technique/form and learn the basic of angles/release timing. Accurate and controlled distance is something that is acquired through lots of repetitions and lots of field practice.

[snap7times]

Oh, haha, how wrong you are, I know several very competitive MA1 players who only drive 300, sometimes less. Even in advanced, if you're playing a course with average distance 400' per hole, with a decent amount of foliage, if you have the accuracy, consistency and short game to shoot par on every hole, you're diong pretty darn good. I think most people put way too much focus on distance. If I had spent all that time as a newer player when i was injuring my shoulder trying to gain more distance and i spent it putting, I know I'd be a better player right now.

And on the flip side of the coin, I know several players who drive 500', even with decent accuracy and consistency, who can't break out of MA2 because of putting, up shots and management. Sure, do you need good distance to reach the top echelons of the game? Yeah, I guess so. But on the whole I'd say putting is a much, much better indicator for what division you're most likely to play in. One shift in my putting game along with some practice, boosted by game by 2 full strokes this summer, I don't think any change in my driving game has ever had that quick and profound an effect on my scores.

There is a difference between the player who can accurately drive 350 versus the one who drives 280-300. Since many courses have most of their holes in the 300-400 range, the person driving farther will have more "opportunties" to birdie, even if their short game is not as good as the 280-300 footer.
For general scales - dont be embarrassed, think this way, an "opportunity" to birdie a hole is better than no "opportunity" at all, even if both players par.
For the players who can drive 325-375 consistently and accurately, now all they need to do is work on their putting, as opposed to the player who drives less than 300 has to work harder on putting to make up for lack of distance and has fewer opportunities to birdie as well...
bah whatever... just work on every part of your game regardless.. back to the thread topic...

[sillybizz]

There is a difference between the player who can accurately drive 350 versus the one who drives 280-300. Since many courses have most of their holes in the 300-400 range, the person driving farther will have more "opportunties" to birdie, even if their short game is not as good as the 280-300 footer.
For general scales - dont be embarrassed, think this way, an "opportunity" to birdie a hole is better than no "opportunity" at all, even if both players par.
For the players who can drive 325-375 consistently and accurately, now all they need to do is work on their putting, as opposed to the player who drives less than 300 has to work harder on putting to make up for lack of distance and has fewer opportunities to birdie as well...
bah whatever... just work on every part of your game regardless.. back to the thread topic...

Exactly.

[olydiscgolf]

I always say...The difference between a good drive and a great drive....the putt!

[REDFIVE]

To compete at the professional level you have to be well rounded. It helps to throw far but being good at distance and great at putting you will still compete with someone that is great at distance and good at putting. Practice everything.

[Dr. Zaius]

not far enough. but i'm lifting weights this winter. and meditating. :D

[smobro]

I throw far enough.

ain't that the truth. :rockon:

[smobro]

Distance isn't everything. You can be very competitive in all Adv divisions throwing 280-300 feet.

Listen to Obi Wan on this one. He kicked Adv. Masters A## all year with 280 feet dead straight forehand and backhand. He can putt a little too.
So you want to get to at least a 950 rating. learn to throw 300 forehand and 300 backhand. then manage the course well and smack talk your fellow components with no temper tantrums and quiet, concentrated shot making. thats my boy Reichard. he will tear you up with it all day long.
Get down with your bad self. Can't wait till our next showdown.:chug:
Peace out my brother

[RonTheWhip]

I think a few of these posts might illustrate your point. :whistler:

The term is "message board distance". That is, how far do you say you throw when you chat online.

I personally don't believe anyone when they say they throw over 450 until I witness it for myself. Even 400 is a stretch for me to believe. It takes a real understanding of flight and technique to push the upper 400s. There are only a handful of guys in Oregon that can hit 500 legit. Whatever though, maybe I'm just a distance snob...

Distance is only a small part of the game, and there are very few courses where it makes a difference. Put yourself close to the basket and make your putts. If you do that, then you can be competitive in ANY division.

I have a range finder and would love to help take accurate measurements of throws for people. Next season I'll bring it with me to all the tournies.

D

[Bruce]

Dion, what's your schedule like the next week or two, I'd enjoy getting your range finder out just to see how far I can really throw. Maybe we can get Nate and play a round at Dexter or Addair as well.

[RonTheWhip]

Dion, what's your schedule like the next week or two, I'd enjoy getting your range finder out just to see how far I can really throw. Maybe we can get Nate and play a round at Dexter or Addair as well.

Make a team and come play the turkey trips at Willamette, they've got a good pair of soccer fields to measure at. maybe we could do team distance as a side event. all three guys throw and add total distance together :)

[Huk-DMC]

Ill just say that I wouldn't want to throw any plastic over water more than 375ft. especially if i want to keep it :laughing:

I have aced 18 at Riverfront which is 406ft and I have had a couple short (10-15ft) birdie putts on 16 at Whistlers Bend, measured at 508' (My distance accomplishments :trophy:)

I would say that my average is somewhere in the 390' range.

the winter weather is another obstacle for my distance. Mainly slipping on the teepad.

[Huk-DMC]

Make a team and come play the turkey trips at Willamette, they've got a good pair of soccer fields to measure at. maybe we could do team distance as a side event. all three guys throw and add total distance together :)

I'm gonna be there and would love to get some throws measured.:drool:

[catalystdg]

when i first started playing i could drive 350, and was driving 400 a year in. however it took me 4 years to consistantly beat my uncle who can only drive 275-300 tops, only driving 300 he would still shoot par or better at most courses in fact his first round ever at downriver ( which is a fairly long course) he shot 2 under. most courses ive played over half the course is less than 325
with very few holes 400 or better and other than the top pros anyone who says thay birdie a 400 foot hole consitantly is a lier or just isnt very good at math

[Nate Sexton]

I have won many tournaments as a Pro, some of them without a single birdie on holes over 400ft. and also without a single putt made outside the 10m circle. While it is rare these days that I don't at least make one or two flashy shots in a tourney sometimes it happens. To be competitive in the pro division, and obviously any Am division, does not require perfect play by any means. I just let the flashy guys do their thing, I say nice shot when it works and I keep my mouth shut when they are deep in the rough. I just try to execute my game plan and thereby avoid bad mistakes. This way when I am on my game, I usually win, and when I am off my game, I still cash.

Two things I try to do at every tourney, execute smart shots, and hoist trophies. :trophy:

[Nate Sexton]

Also more on topic with the thread:
I think I throw about 450 with a reasonable degree of consistency and command. Probably about 350 with a sidearm. If Dion's throw was 590+ at the USDGC then I must be able to throw about 540-550 though I am skeptical of this fact.

[Reichard]

execute smart shots:

:yay:


Hey Smo, thanks for the nice words. I look forward to playing some golf with you in 2010!

[chris7graham]

well longest throw is 400 hit it three times now on mesured 400 foot holes at courses but i average about 380 but its not how far you throw its the putts you make and for the reason i know this to be a fact cause i play everyday sometimes like 5-8 hours worth and i watch and consume everything around me in tournaments and in local playing after nate gave me and my friends lessons my game went up so much in eugene I had my best recorded round ever dexter long placements -1 996 rated it felt great ty nate for your help and to all the disc golfers out there .oregon rocksssssssssssssss:yay::trophy::rockon:

[Parks]

If Dion's throw was 590+ at the USDGC then I must be able to throw about 540-550 though I am skeptical of this fact.

Why do you say that? Was it downhill or something?

[Ol' Bob]

...consume everything around me in tournaments...

Yeah, even my cat's dish was empty after he was here for the last FernBurner.

[Nate Sexton]

Why do you say that? Was it downhill or something?

It just seemed like the numbers were a little too big. I don't know if it was a range finder issue or what, the throwing area has very minimal slope. I just know my throw was about 40-50 short of Dion's and I felt like it was an above average throw but not the throw of my life or anything. Not to say Dion can't throw that far, because I think he could. Who knows, maybe I throw longer than I think I do, but I just think there was something fishy about the measurements that day.

[emmarose]

I think I throw pretty far for a girl...

I can just barely on my best drives ever put it maybe 320 ft... probably averaging 280 with good accuracy...

I'm going to start paying way more attention, tho, and after this weekend's rounds I may have to come back and edit this... I'm fairly spacially retarded so I'm not sure if these are accurate numbers... I know I've parked it under the basket on various holes that were listed around/just under 300 feet.

[Ol' Bob]

Geez, Rosie, ...didn't 'spect ta see you over here in the "Mine's Bigger" thread. But there you are, right after threatening to kick my geezer butt over in Lost and Found, telling me your average drive is the same as my longest. I better be working on my short game some more.

[emmarose]

Geez, Rosie, ...didn't 'spect ta see you over here in the "Mine's Bigger" thread. But there you are, right after threatening to kick my geezer butt over in Lost and Found, telling me your average drive is the same as my longest. I better be working on my short game some more.

well, shoot... I'd been waiting for another lady to pipe up first, but no one did (I've been told before I'm a little competitive for a girl) so I thought it was about time someone represented for the ladies... plus, I recently added a good 30 feet on average to my drive so I just couldn't help myself!

[Sam]

Graham... your average is 380 but your longest is 400? Something is wrong with your math, friend. That is, unless all of the rest of your throws are between 361 and 399. ALL of the rest of them.

I would say your average is probably a lot closer to 330 than 380. Same with me, probably. Well... maybe 335 for me. ;)

[Bruce]

235 Sam, 235.

[Adam Schneider]

Graham... your average is 380 but your longest is 400? Something is wrong with your math, friend. That is, unless all of the rest of your throws are between 361 and 399. ALL of the rest of them.
Your logic's off too, Sam. If 90% of someone's solid drives are between 370' and 390', it's entirely plausible that the longest is 400'. Besides, it's not even close a normal distribution; a graph of anyone's drives is going to be skewed significantly, because it's much more common to shank one than to come close to a new personal distance record.

There are at least three ways to define "average": mean, median, and mode. And when people are talking about an average throw, they're likely to think of it in terms of the oft-forgotten mode.

[runnaman]

Yeah, I know when I talk about average distance it's the mode.

[bvdisc]

Wow, I've been off the board for a little while since I was traveling. Didn't realized I had stirred the pot and started a thread.

So, yeah, people definitely over estimate their distance. I'm with Dion, if I hear 400+ I want to see it. Having said that, with no wind and flat ground I'm looking to throw between 400-450. I have to really uncork one to reach 450 without any assistance though.

Recently I've changed my drive form a bit and I've seen some extra d come with the change, so that's sweet.

[Ol' Bob]

Having a marked driving range right out front of this cabin on the tenth fairway, I'm reminded every round how wimpy my drives are. Those who are lucky enough to throw over 300 feet can take advantage of a slight downgrade to 400+. Before a couple of injuries I was just getting over that 300 foot hump to about 325. Here in winter, I'm happy to get it over 250.

I see lots of second, third, and fourth drives tossed here on number ten. Any course with a clear flat long fairway can have markers driven in at 50 foot intervals where you will get to check your distance every round. I used stakes (which I have to mow around), but just a spike with a flat plate with the feet written on top that won't interfere with a mower would work. It's an easy thing to do and a plus for any course it would work at.

[Sean Phillips]

7

:chinscratch:

[Rolly]

I'm with BV on this one.. If you got it, then put up. There are several variables that come to mind with this question, but the one thing you can control is form.Weak form can be easy to spot.Anways, if I'm throwing well and the conditions are no wind, I have easily cleared 475+ with all kinds of drivers.

[Ol' Bob]

Rolly
The Dick Butkus of DG

There's no place for defense in disc golf. Just my opinion. I hate getting sacked at the back of the tee.