Practice

How to Improve Your Approach Shots - Putters only

September 24, 2022
2 min read

Approach shots are an important part of the game of disc golf. They can make or break your score, so it’s important to practice them as much as you can. Here’s one way to improve your approach shots. Stand 75 to 150 feet out of your target. Use about 5 of the same putters. Get the disc as close to your target as you can and repeat for 45 minutes.

Why This Works

This drill works because it forces you to focus on your accuracy and try something that you may not practice often. The closer you get the disc to the basket, the more points you’ll score. The more points you score, the better your chances of winning. By practicing this drill, you’ll be able to improve your accuracy, and not just for approach shots, and increase your chances of success when it really counts.

How to Do It

To do this drill, all you need is a few putters and a basket, or any kind of target. Start by standing 75 to 150 feet away from your target (udisc “measure throw” is handy here). Then, using about 5 putters, thrown the disc as close to the basket as you can. Repeat this for 45 minutes. Start with what is comfortable, but also try:

  • hyzers – high and low
  • forehand flicks
  • anhyzers
  • layups
  • throw ins
  • fan grip
  • power grip
  • stand still
  • run/walk up

Notice the differences in each shot. You might find that low hyzer get the closest, but high anhyzers have the best chance to go in. Note the tradeoffs. Repetitive practice is key here. For a bonus to you practice, putt in your shots in.

Practicing approach shots is a great way to improve your game. By focusing on accuracy, you can increase your chances of success when it really counts. So next time you’re at the course, take some time to practice your approach shots. You’ll be glad you did!

Ryan Milani

Written by

Ryan MilaniFounder, Disc Golf Dojo

Ryan Milani started throwing at light poles with an Ultimate disc in the 1990s and found real golf discs around 2000. He founded Disc Golf Dojo in 2016, started competing in 2020, and captains the Napa team in the NorCal Team Challenge. He writes about disc flight, gear, and the parts of the game that happen between throws.

More about Ryan

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Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash... Be water my friend.

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