how to aim and shoot through trees

[Chef]

I was wondering if there is a technique on how to shoot through trees with disc golf. I have been going to White River a lot to practice and it does not seem to get any easier.

Also, any techniques to learn how to aim?

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Chef

I was wondering if there is a technique on how to shoot through trees with disc golf. I have been going to White River a lot to practice and it does not seem to get any easier.

Also, any techniques to learn how to aim?

One thing that I found helped me was to not look at the trees, but rather look at the GAP through the trees. This helps me avoid object fixation.

A good example of object fixation happens when we're driving our cars down the highway and we see something in the road. Being so focused on that thing in the road, causes us to look right at it, and as a result we often run right over it. Where we look... is often where we go.

Hope that helps.

Jeff

[Adam Schneider]

Don't just look at the gap; look at a point 100 feet beyond the gap.

[Chef]

I am having a hard time avoiding the trees with my drives. I know where I want to go... like I want to hyzer it through those two trees which will land in the fairway but it doesnt ever end up that way.

Another good example is when there is an A set up of trees all the way to the basket. If I drive it straight, it will naturally turn to the left. If I hug the tree line, I usually always hit a tree.

When you drive through trees and do your pull back, do you take your eyes off where you want the disc to go?

I get conflicting opinions on how to aim. Same say your shoulder aims, some say it is your front foot. I am confused about this.

[NWDiscer]

Tree's what Tree's i see no stinkin tree's

Think/See throw/line what you want your disc to do not where you want it to go..........

[Chef]

NW: what do you mean?

[NWDiscer]

Originally Posted by Chef

NW: what do you mean?

which part?

[Chef]

lining what you want your disc to do

[NWDiscer]

Originally Posted by Chef

lining what you want your disc to do

you have to "figure out/be able to see" the "line" of the throw before you throw it then there are no tree's....

[NWDiscer]

Originally Posted by Chef

lining what you want your disc to do

if you mean "learning" not "lining" then it is all repetition/practice in a field.

It can be boring, but you will get better and better.

[NWDiscer]

i would also like to clarify that i am not a "Pro Discer" nor do i portray 1 on TV.

I also did not stay at a "Holiday Inn Express" last night either....that is unless they want to pay me for saying that...

[proto something or other]

As for the pullback/follow through and taking your eyes off the target:

I usually try to throw through the trees with confidence. That being said, I try to execute my normal throw (since that's the one I am most confident with). To do that, I try not to change the mechanics of the throw.

I think what Jeff and others have said regarding trying to aim at a point 100 feet beyond the gap is a great piece of advice. At some point in your learning curve, your body and muscles know exactly what to do. You only task is to pick the disk and start the motion. The rest becomes muscle memory.

[Ol' Bob]

Fortunately, I never hit any trees. Nope, never happened to me.

Seriously, pin-point accuracy is just tons of practice, and not throwing too hard. If I want to lose my accuracy (such as it is), I just have to put a little more on the shot and I either yank it a bit, or it slips out early. I'd say it would be good to put yourself in a position that requires an accurate shot and practice hitting your marks. I still go through times when I can't miss the trees. I hit more trees on long uphill tight shots because I'm pulling harder on those shots (see hole three at Mud).

[Chef]

I cant wait for the muscle memory to kick in!!

It is frusterating.

When you "think" you have it, you dont.

Damn disc.

[JMan]

It will Chef, practice, even then 30 years later you'll still hit trees. Great thing about this game, you get another chance, sometimes sooner, sometimes later. Don't sweat it.

[Ol' Bob]

Yeah, but how do you get rid of them strokes, once you got 'em? The wonderful thing about those tree bounces, is the lie you usually get gives you more practice with the trees. The road to tripple bogies is lined with trees.

You know what I love? I love that term: "technical." From what I've seen, technical is just a fancy word for trees in the way.

You asked, Chef, about aiming. I don't know if you noticed the time we played, that I, being terminally stiff, take my eyes off the target for most of my driving stroke. Innitially, as I learned, I would pick out a point behind me to start my stroke. That was all well and good, if I was only playing one course, as I was. The late Dave McCaddon caught onto what I was doing and would stand back behind the tee pad, smile, and give me a cute little wave when I looked back for my marks. I realized I had to give up that crutch because I wouldn't always be on a familiar tee pad or even on the same course. I eventually had to trust my form and had to work on NOT seeing anything behind me when I rotated my upper body away from the target. So here, six or so years into this, I feel confident (on some days) that my drives are going somewhere near the direction I think I'm throwing.

[Dr. Zaius]

Originally Posted by Chef

Another good example is when there is an A set up of trees all the way to the basket. If I drive it straight, it will naturally turn to the left. If I hug the tree line, I usually always hit a tree.

When you drive through trees and do your pull back, do you take your eyes off where you want the disc to go?

I get conflicting opinions on how to aim. Same say your shoulder aims, some say it is your front foot. I am confused about this.

sounds like you need to learn how to throw a straight shot with a tbird or more exclusively a ROC. then learn an easy anhyzer and easy hyzer shot with the same disc.
i do take my eyes off the target entirely, and yes i visualize the shot. unlike some of the comments above, i do not focus 100ft pass the window, but actually aim precisely for the fat part of the window that i want to hit. I aim with my shoulder, visualize the shot, and if the disc is at the correct angle when it hits the window then your shot will be golden... let the disc do the rest of the work eh?
i don't know if that will help but it has helped me tremendously. give it a shot.

[Chef]

Interesting Dr. I do find my upshots more precise and straight then I find my drives.

[Dr. Zaius]

this might help what i'm describing. the circle is the fat part of the window i want to hit. I focus on the left side of the circle (next to the tree), visualize the shot as a "flat to very soft hyzer" and typically hit the right side of the circle. if the disc is flat to slight hyzer, and i hit that circle, i'm golden.
annie shots are the same way except i stand on the right side of the t pad. same aim, same visual but with an annie, hopefully the same result.

[Chef]

sorry for the dumb question, but wouldnt you want to go around that big tree that is in front of the circle? Maybe that is my mistake, maybe going to far with my throws.