Disc golf: Is an audible ‘snap’ a sign of good form?

Some disc golfers produce tons of this.

For others, it’s there, but not as violent-sounding.

And for a final few, they might as well be throwing cotton balls …

Nothing.

“Snap” refers to the sound produced when throwing a golf disc. It can occur on a forehand toss, but it’s most often associated with backhand hucks. Some think the snapping sound comes from the fingers snapping (duh) off the disc at the time of release. In reality, however, the sound comes from the pointer, middle and ring fingers smacking the palm after the disc leaves the hand.

The result is an audible snap.

It sounds cool, but is it a worthwhile pursuit?

Is snap a key element of solid backhand form?

In short, no.

Not in the slightest.

But it’s maybe a good sign. I say “maybe,” because things that travel fast frequently make loud noises: boats, planes, bullets, balls off baseball bats, etc. At best, though, the strength of a snap is loosely correlated with an impressive arm speed in disc golf. I’m not a scientist – neither are you.

Take none of this to the bank.

What IS a factor is grip.

The rim of the disc you use matters, too.

Think about your own game …

How often does a fan grip produce much audible pop? It’s not the golfer’s fault – the grip simply produces less rim pressure, which leads to a softer sound. The power grip, however, is firm and compact. Also, it’s most commonly used for throwing wide-rimmed drivers. Seriously, throw a putter or midrange as hard as you want with whatever grip you want, and what’ll you hear?

Not much.

And with a fan or stack grip, even more so.

Case in point?

Gunshot snap drops jaws.

But it’s NOT required for good form, shots or distance.

Looking for real-life proof of all this?

Ezra Aderhold bombs. Rumor has it the snap his backhand produces can be heard from space. On the flip side of things, Brodie Smith throws far, too. But his backhand drive for distance is as quiet as a church mouse. There are loads of these examples on the Pro Tour, but I reference these two dudes, because they frequently appear in the same YouTube videos – watch and listen.

If the snap is there, congrats …

It’s sexy.

If it’s not, though, don’t lose any sleep over it.

It’s the basics of backhand form that matter.

Not this.

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