There are three different ways to putt in disc golf.
If you’re at all familiar with the sport, you know what they are:
- Method No. 1 – The spin putt.
- Method No. 2 – The push putt.
- Method No. 3 – The spush putt.
* Note: If the above is new to you, click here for more detailed information.
There are also a few “outlier” putting styles, though …
The turbo putt is one of ‘em.
And wouldn’t you know it, it might be the most effective of the lot.
In disc golf, a turbo putt is a shoulder- or head-level putting style in which the thumb pivots on the underside of the disc, while the remaining four fingers fan out along the outer edge of it. If you think of the way a waiter holds a tray of food at a restaurant, you’ll get the basic look of it.
Here’s a traditional turbo-putt grip:
And here’s an alternative style …
It’s weird, but you’ll sometimes see variations of this:
From there, similar to the way fingertips interact with a basketball while shooting, the golfer’s four fingertips push just right or left of the disc to generate spin and move the frisbee forward. If you’re a right-handed disc golfer, they’ll push right. And if you’re left-handed, they’ll push left.
JohnE McCray is known for his world-class turbo putts …
Listen to him:
Turbo-putting should NOT be your go-to putting form.
You should use it, however, in the following situations:
- Situation No. 1 – If you’re directly underneath an elevated basket.
- Situation No. 2 – If a close-up tree or bush is hindering your putt’s swing.
- Situation No. 3 – If the yips have your putting hindered: Queue Jennifer Allen.
As far as the type of disc you’d use is concerned, there’s not much of a need to carry a disc specifically for turbo putts. Generally speaking, the putting putter you use should get the job done. However, shelf-like putters give your fingertips more surface area to push off of. So it pains me to say this, but the Innova Polecat or Doomsday Discs Land Mine both work well.
You don’t have to stick with a putter, though …
Given the obstacle you’re likely dealing with, even a short-range putt might necessitate more left-to-right or right-to-left movement in the air. Should you find yourself in this kind of pickle, bust out a driver. Again, a master of the turbo putt, McCray has done this – it’s even on film.
Don’t be the weirdo who putts exclusively this way – it’s not a good long-term solution. As such, hours of turbo-putting practice are hardly warranted. But should you work a serviceable turbo putt into your bag, come tournament time, there WILL be a putt for which you’ll need it.
And if nothing else, it’ll prove an awesome parlor trick to bust out on the course …
Mr. McCray from (literally) 100 feet:
TikTok gold.
Make it happen, captain.
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