Disc golf: Heavy woods? You need a flare-skip frisbee

Do you play lots of woods golf?

You need a flare-skip frisbee in your bag.

Off the tee or as an approach, the instant a flare-skip disc touches turf, it rockets right or left.

And not by accident, either …

This is intentional.

The shot is useful for quickly rounding corners, especially with the low ceiling most wooded courses provide. Furthermore, though more of a utility shot, given the tight quarters wooded layouts offer, this isn’t one of those once-in-a-blue-moon throws – it’ll see some action.

If you’ve yet to add a flare skip to your arsenal of throws, do it. Not only can it become a serious stroke-saver for your game, even better, if you can throw a hyzer, it’s VERY easy to learn.

That’s all that’s required.

First, the disc you’ll need.

Even for short-range shots, you’ll want to use a fairway or distance driver. The speed and movement synonymous with drivers make for extreme groundplay. In the woods, this usually isn’t ideal – for flare skips, it is. In the fairway slot, Dracos, Felons and (flat-top) Firebirds are solid options. And for distance drivers, Nukes, Bosses and Destroyers will get the job done.

If you hate those molds, go with something similar.

You get the point.

Next, to make the shot happen, identify the spot on the fairway where you’d like the skip to take place. Whether it be 50 feet or 250 feet, however far you need the disc to travel, power up on it. 

More spin leads to more post-skip movement. Naturally, you’ll need to take into account the angle at which the disc hits the ground, as well – keep the following in mind for this:

• Moderate hyzer angles lead to longer skips.
• Steep hyzer angles skip higher, but travel shorter.
• Instead of skipping, flat-flying discs will ride the ground straight.
• Conversely, ultra-spike hyzers are likely to dig when hitting the ground.

* Note: Take topography into account, too. For example, upslopes lead to straighter skips.

Also, a quick word to the wise …

Clear debris before throwing a flare skip – and watch for roots.

Grenades? Ouch. Thumbers? Instant pain. Tomahawks? Certain retirement.

As far as utility shots are concerned, relatively speaking, this one’s stoopid simple …

It’s pain-free, too.

And it’ll (finally) give you a use for that Tilt, Stego or Baobab you shouldn’t have bought.

Happy skipping.

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

Editor’s Suggestions:

• Why ‘stable’ is such a complex term in disc golf
• Disc golf: The ‘What the f*ck, Richard?’ video is overrated
• Disc golf: Try this (simple) mental trick for improving your putt

Real quick, if you happen to buy something through a link in this article, there’s a chance we’ll get a small share of the sale. It’s how we keep the lights on. To learn more, click here.