DISC GOLF FRISBEE FUNDAMENTALS
by Craig Sward

Since Disc Golf is so inexpensive to play, you can teach children to start enjoying it from an early age, and then they can continue to play it for a lifetime. Another reason to teach children, is that they can create a disc golf course nearly anywhere, and yet free permanent courses are in many communities throughout the United States with more springing up every year. Lastly, disc golf uses the same etiquette as regular golf play- so you can teach it as a gentle recreation that is played with much
consideration for others, even when competing.

There are over 100 discs being made for driving, approaching and for putting. However children should use a disc that is easy
to control and easy to throw. The FRISBEE Fastback has proven to be one of the best discs for getting children started.

Obviously the throws are crucial to one's success in disc golf. Although the following tips are assuming that instructions have already been given for throwing a disc, here are some valuable insights about teaching others how to throw. 

A. Children naturally use one, very limited throw called a backhand "toss," when starting out. However there are three basic throws which they should be instructed to use on a disc golf course. These are The Forehand, The Backhand and Skips.

B. These throws should be taught as a "pitch" rather than a "toss." Children frequently overlook the aerodynamics they have available with a disc, which allows them to throw it in a straight line, for long distances. So before graduating children to the game of disc golf, a few lesson plans should be spent on simply turning good "tosses" into good "pitches." 

C. One of the best tools for teachers to use to explain correct throwing technique is a 25 minute Instructional Video for FRISBEE throwing called "Heave H.O.E." (Heaven On Earth) Basic Instructions For All FRISBEE Flying Disc Students. Each 5 minute segment will demonstrate all the Do's and Don'ts behind a particular throw, saving the teacher a lot of
breath, and helping the children catch on much faster than when learning without these valuable tips on the video.

3. TEACHING FUNDAMENTALS OF THE DISC GOLF GAME

PRACTICE COURSE: (TWO PUTT)

When your class is ready to graduate to playing "a round," then a mini course can be set up in minutes either indoors or outdoors. For the sake of suggestion, here is one way to pop up a temporary 9 hole course in minutes.

A. TARGETS: If available, utilize eight goal markers used for soccer as your disc golf targets. If you need to make a set of inexpensive targets, it is easy to do with a nine 6 foot poles of slender (½ inch) bamboo or other similar material. If using poles, it is best to tape a 12 inch by 12 inch plastic flag on the end which will hang to be the actual "target" to hit. The way to use the poles is to push one end of the pole into the ground at a 20 -30 degree angle (see targets.gif) so that the top (flag) end of the pole is able to hover about 3 feet above the ground with the flag hanging straight down.

B. POSITIONS OF TARGETS: If available, a fenced (or walled) corner should be utilized in the positioning of the targets. The reasoning is that a course that makes it's way beside a high fence line (or a wall) will reduce a lot of chasing for errant discs. To accomplish this the first set of targets should be placed at one end of the fence line and simply follow it around for all but the last few targets.

C. PLAY: First show children to throw from the start towards the first target (Hole 1), and that the goal is to simply touch the flag (or target) with the disc. Then demonstrate how to move to the next hole when done, by simply taking a few steps beyond the first target, towards the next target (Hole 2), and then throwing at Hole 2. Show how they will move all the way around and end up at the start line again. You can then put 9 children on the course at once. When a child putts out at hole number nine, then he or she hands their disc to the next child waiting in line to get on the course. This method keeps the flow going quite well. If a child is having trouble, just advise them to make no more than three shots, then move on to the next hole. To do this, you would obviously need 9 discs. You can get wholesale packages for discs at www.motodom.com

Cont'd in next column

PUTTING: 

The practice course suggested above will be one type of practice for long putts. In the normal game of disc golf it is common for a new player to be faced with, and really desire to make, long putts.. when in actuality, he or she should be attempting to make a good "lay up." The goal is to have the simplest putts possible. So after a couple of rounds in the manner mentioned above, the teacher should now go on to make it clear to children that "putting" is a very short shot that is used after a good approach, and that when faced with a "long putt" it's just best to consider making it another approach shot (lay-up) to land at the base of the target.

In attempting to impress children with this strategy, either you or a child can demonstrate the differences in thinking- and the differences in the results. For example, take a long putt (13 paces or more) and show what happens when attempting to make the putt with a dead-on shot which nevertheless sails past the target - creating yet another long putt of similar distance- which can then turn into another long putt, ad infinitum. Then conversely demonstrate what happens when the player thinks instead about making an easy "lay-up" shot onto the ground right next to, or underneath, the target. In this example you are obviously explaining the concept used in golf called "two-putting." 

To practice this, the children should be placed back on a course with this "new" goal to make perfect lay-up shots onto the ground next to the target- with no intention of actually hitting the target on the lay-up shot (unless at the base). In doing this, you are teaching a vital element to having far greater success on an actual disc golf course.

Actual putting motions and methods vary greatly from player to player. In a future article we will describe the simplest motion for putting which is neither a forehand or a backhand, and suggest exercises for teaching youngsters how to use this motion for highly accurate putting within 10-15 feet. But for the sake of revealing the fundamentals in this article, it is time to stress the tips behind the most important shot in disc golf...

THE APPROACH and / or LAY-UP 

Even on the professional disc golf circuit, the game of disc golf is almost always won or lost on a good (or bad) approach shot. Let's assume that by using the example made above for two putting, you have impressed this point on the youngsters you are teaching.
Now here is one fantastic tip to teach your children about the approach shot which will, again, save them oodles of strokes every time they go out onto an actual disc golf course. 

A. PICK THE CORRECT SIDE OF YOUR TARGET: 
Unbeknownst to almost every new player, an approach shot can be landed on one side of a target and the frisbee disc will then proceed to move away as it comes to a rest. OR it can land on the other side of the target and come to rest closer to the target! Like magic, this knowledge often results in the difference between having subsequently a very short putt -or a very long putt ! So you will simply want to advise your children to first think about which side they should be aiming for, and of course to tell them which side is best. Right hands and left hands, plus the throw they use, will determine which is the preferred side for each child. Once a child is taught which side to aim for, they need to be told to remember (memorize) which side is best for them. 

BACK HANDS.....
FOREHANDS.....
Righty-Backhand = Right of base
Righty-Forehand = Left of base
Lefty-Backhand = Left of base
Lefty-Forehand = Right of base

DRIVING:
The majority of public disc golf courses have Par Three Holes. Which means that most of the "greens" are reachable in one drive- if done well. This can best be taught through lesson plans specifically for teaching distance throws. However, the chances of a perfect drive every time is minimal for new players because of the high-velocity-motion that is needed for gaining distance. The added power wreaks havoc on the flight pattern of every disc. So the harder it is thrown, the harder it is to control.  So the point here is that as a teacher of disc golf, you will want to de-emphasize the focus of distance drives and long putts, and replace it with an enthusiasm for fantastic approach shots. No matter what sort of drive one has, two good approach shots and one putt, almost always beats out a bad long drive and a bunch of long putts back and forth. So launch your future disc golfers with these concepts and they will soon "DISCover" how valuable your lessons are when they see their names at the top of a disc golf tournament Leader Board-(many tournaments do have a Children's Division!) For more information about PE Packages for FRISBEE Discs and FRISBEE Disc Lesson Plans and the Instructional Throwing Video "Heave H.O.E.", see www.Motodom.com