Disc golf is a game of inches. Sometimes you find yourself on the receiving end of good fortune from the disc golf gods. Conversely, plenty of other times you are in disc golf jail behind trees and all manner of obstacles. Luckily, there is a multitude of utility shots to get you out of trouble. Listed below are 10 shots that can get you out of (nearly!) every situation the course presents.
Each shot will have a description followed by a video tutorial. Watch each video for a more in-depth breakdown by professionals who demonstrate proper mechanics for each shot. They have invested many hours into fieldwork to develop these skills. Luckily, the off-season is the best time to develop utility shots for your game. Let’s get to it!
Distance Shots
Tomahawk
The setup for this shot is similar to a forehand. Line up with your throwing arm furthest from the target. Grip the disc the same as you would for a forehand. Bring momentum forward and release the disc by your ear similar to a baseball throw. The difference is the height of the release as you want to get air under your disc. This is a utility shot that gets you a specific flight and around obstacles. If you are ever in a situation where you are stuck behind obstacles, look to the sky for a gap. For righties, the flight of the disc will take off to the right, flatten out, glide, and finish to the left.
Thumber
The exact same setup and release as a tomahawk. However, the difference is in the grip. Grab the inside of the rim with your thumb (hence the name thumber!) and snap by your ear just like a baseball throw. The flight will be the opposite of a tomahawk. The disc will first move to the left, flatten out, glide and finish to the right. Look to the sky to see which flight path is most desired and know your distances with both the tomahawk and thumber. These shots get you out of trouble.
Roller
A roller is thrown so that the disc “rolls” along its rim in an upright position and gets maximum distance out of its momentum. The key to this shot is the angle at which the disc lands and rolls. This shot can be thrown both forehand and backhand with the same grips as you would throw your normal shots. The difference is in arm angle and release angle. A roller is a great distance shot or a utility shot to get you out of trouble. The utility side of this shot is great when you have a short distance to your target with an obstacle in your way. It is also a great shot for low ceilings. Experiment with various stabilities of discs to see how each one rolls.
Grenade
This shot is thrown using a thumber grip or a modified version gripped between the knuckles of your index and middle fingers. Throw the disc directly in the air at a vertical angle using a backhand hyzer motion. The idea of this shot is to go straight up and straight down. This shot is designed to get you over a vertical obstacle directly in front of you.
Skip Shots
Skip shots can be thrown forehand or backhand, on the bottom or top of the disc, off the grass or dirt, or even off the water! Be creative and see how various stabilities of discs react after the skip. This is a useful utility shot to get left or right in a hurry. Overstable discs will flare hard after skips while understandable discs will glide forward throughout the turn. This shot is great when there are low ceilings.
Patent Pending
A patent pending shot is thrown when there is an obstacle directly in your path and the player must lean out to throw. It is a backhand throw without a run-up. For a right-handed thrower, your left foot is placed behind your disc with your right foot out in a straight line parallel with your lie and your back to the target. This allows you to get speed on your disc from an uncomfortable lie. This shot utilizes nearly all arm and can be an extremely awkward shot to throw. However, with practice, this shot will be utilized multiple times per round at challenging courses.
On and Around the Putting Green
Jump Putt
The jump putt can be thrown anywhere outside of 10 meters. This shot is useful to use your momentum to your advantage around the putting green. With one foot behind your disc and the other off to the side or staggered in a balanced posture, crouch and “pop” forward while releasing the disc with a compact putting stroke. Many pros utilize this putting style to make long putts outside circle one. Kevin Jones is a legend for his jump putts. You don’t earn the nickname “Jump Putt Jones” for nothing!
Horseshoe Putt
A horseshoe putt is extremely effective at getting around an obstacle on the putting green. WARNING: this is a very awkward putt! Use a straddle stance and lean out to the side of the obstacle. Bring the disc back past your hip and under your armpit. Then snap forward to release the disc.
Turbo Putt
Hold the disc slightly above shoulder level like you might hold a tray of food. Have your thumb under the disc with your other fingers on the rim for support. Load your body and bring momentum forward as you spin the disc out of your hands. This shot is effective for getting over an obstacle that would block your normal putt.
Scoober
The scoober is released similar to a tomahawk but with a much slower disc at a slower velocity. The disc will pan one direction instead of flipping and gliding like a tomahawk. The idea is to pan the disc around an obstacle and have the disc land flat and limit rollaway possibilities. This is a GREAT tool to have in the bag. Brodie Smith has made this shot famous in recent years.
Bringing It All Together
No matter how good you are at disc golf you will sometimes end up in precarious situations on the course. One of the main differences between professionals and amateurs is their ability to get out of trouble with creative shots. Professionals have spent countless hours practicing these shots so they can utilize them when necessary. Make proper use of your off-season and add utility shots to your bag. All you have to lose are more strokes!
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