Driving & Distance

Distance Control

Dial in throwing shorter, controlled distances on command.

Why it matters

Almost every hole asks for a specific distance rather than a maximum. A player who can throw 300 feet but only one distance is worse off than one who throws 250 on demand, because the second one can leave themselves a putt and the first one is always scrambling. This is the skill that turns driving ability into scores.

How to do it

Change the disc before you change the throw. A slower disc at full form is far more repeatable than your driver at a guessed effort.
When you must power down, keep the same form and shorten the reach back rather than slowing the arm. Slowing the arm changes the nose angle and the spin.
Learn three distances properly: your comfortable putter distance, your comfortable midrange distance and your comfortable fairway distance. Those three cover most holes.
Pace out the distances you actually achieve, rather than estimating them. Nearly everybody overestimates.
Pick the shot that leaves the next one, not the one that gets furthest down the fairway.

Common mistakes

Throwing every shot at maximum and taking whatever distance arrives.Pick a target distance before you throw. A drive that goes 40 feet past into trouble is not a good drive.

Powering down by slowing the arm, which changes nose angle and spin at the same time.Shorten the reach back and keep the arm speed. One variable instead of three.

Guessing your own distances.Pace them out once. The gap between what people think they throw and what they throw is routinely 50 feet.

Key points

Power down with the same form rather than changing your swing.
Practice hitting target distances, not just max range.

The drill

Drill · Hit the number — 10 throws each at 150, 200 and 250 ft (30 total). Mark three distances in a field and throw ten at each, aiming to land ON the mark rather than past it. Score how many finish within twenty feet. This is tedious and it is the single most score-reducing field session available — most players are shocked at how poor their control is at distances they thought were easy.

Watch: 3 Tips for Learning Distance Control! | Disc Golf Tips — Gladiator Disc Golf