The four-finger power grip is the go-to grip for backhand distance drives.
The first time you take a new disc golfer out to the course and introduce them to the idea of snapping a disc, as opposed to lobbing a Kan-Jam fastback, it’s the four-finger grip that takes center stage. I’ve been in disc golf for just shy of two decades, and I have no idea why …
It should NOT be standard protocol.
For many, the three-finger power grip is the superior way to grab hold of a golf disc …
I’m one of those people.
I discovered this by complete accident. The first time I went disc golfing, my more experienced buddies told me to wrap my fingers around the edge of the disc. So, that’s what I did. Years later, after watching a YouTube tutorial, I found out most guys tucked all four fingers under the disc.
Figuring more fingers meant more distance, during my next round of disc golf, I went with four fingers. By the end of the round, I was committed to sacrificing distance to stick with the three-finger stuff. It felt WAY better. And as a result, my frisbees flew better, too.
Maybe you’ll notice something similar.
For starters, here’s how you make the grip:
- Step No. 1 – Make a four-finger power grip.
- Step No. 2 – Remove your pinky from the disc.
- Step No. 3 – Tuck it against the palm of your hand.
It looks like this…
Next, here’s why it might prove better for your game …
First, each golfer finds comfort in different things. That goes for form and frisbees. It goes for grip, too. If you never even knew the three-finger power grip was an option, dedicate five seconds of your next round to finding out if it at least feels superior to what you know.
* Note: I don’t have big hands, but I’ve been told three fingers are good for this, as well.
Next, griplock …
Let’s talk about it.
Griplock isn’t a grip problem – rounding is to blame. If this is news to you, click here. Still, if the plan isn’t to lay everything you’ve got into a shot, but you’d like to power-grip the disc, it can get in the way. If you often find yourself in this situation, the three-finger option helps.
Best of all, though?
The three-finger grip is a built-in fix for keeping the nose of the disc down – I’m serious.
Let’s do an experiment:
- Parallel to the floor, extend your arm and grip a disc with four fingers.
- Now, slowly remove your pinky finger from the underside of the disc.
- It’s subtle, but the nose of the disc should automatically drop.
You’re welcome.
Ultimately, go with what works.
Whatever you do, though, don’t let what the masses prefer dissuade you from trying out (and sticking with) a three-finger power grip. It won’t lead to overnight distance, but Drew Gibson uses it for his TRUE bomber throws. In and of itself, that speaks volumes of its capabilities.
What do you have to lose?
Give it a try – it might just stick.
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I always think about the “Ips” when it comes to distance. (G)rip, (H)ips, (Wh)ip.
Oh, this is good …
Might turn this into an article – or tweet.
Regardless, you should do the same – thanks!
You made some pretty baseless claims. And since disc golf is a sport it can be backed by science and not personal feel and opinions. So the rounding is the problem not grip, completely baseless and incorrect. Rounding causes problems but if you round more than likely your forcing a turnover. If you grip lock a hyzer you will still get a hyzer flight but you’ll be anywhere between 10 & 500+ feet to the right of your target. Pinky under creates nose down is only correct for your hand. And since everyone has different shape and size hands you can’t say it is the fix. My pinky isn’t flexible enough to bend it like you have it, therefore creates no difference in nose angle but does give more of a hyzer angle and your supposed to keep the disc flat in your hand changing angles with the torso. But I guess 2 decades of doing something wrong can make you an expert in why doing it right is wrong.
wrong answer dummy!
Maybe you should chop off your pinkie and then you coul duse the pro 3 finger power grip?
Is this Scott Stokely?
All the guy said was try it as an option, not “though shalt do this”…why do people get so upset simply reading a different way than their own? Are you that fragile you can’t possibly be introduced to something different than what you’re used to?
If your way works for you, that’s fine…no need to be a fragile child about it.
I have really big hands. When I first learned to throw I used four fingers and could never ‘snap discs’, my fingers always seemed to cause weird releases (as if they could not move out from under the disc consistently). I went to the three finger and got considerably better at making consistent releases, but I felt down on power.
Glad to hear it’s (kind of) working for you …
Bummer about the distance, though.
How long ago did you make the switch?
Nice to find some information on this topic. I’ve recently discovered that I get all the distance of my four finger grip, but throw more accurately when using the three finger grip. Been playing for 27 years.
Oh, that’s a good point …
Same here: It’s simply more accurate.
(should probably see to it that that’s added to the article)
I recently took my pinky off to try to get my disc nose down more. This helped. I think because my pinky is short. I now drive with this three finger grip. Glad to hear others do, too!
Happy to hear it’s working for you, Mike 🙂
I use the 2 finger power grip.
My average drive distance improved from 380 ft to over 500 ft.
What on earth …
Yeah I use a 2 finger power grip too. For forehands 🥸
Great article Lucas, thank you. I am fairly new to disc golf, and just recently switched from four fingers to three for many of the reasons that you cited.
In the back of my mind occasionally there’s a nagging thought that this isn’t right because it’s not the “traditional” grip. After switching back and forth multiple times I learned that three fingers is best for me so I am sticking with it. I have never been very good with traditional anyway. 😂
Doug, had the same mental battle way back when …
It feels (and performs) so much better.
Our numbers are growing 🙂