Off-hand throws are mentioned in the headline, but it’s more than just that:
- Jennifer Allen turbo putts.
- Kevin Jones popularized the grenade.
- Simon Lizotte has the 360 on lockdown.
- Jeremy Koling made the thumber matter.
- Ricky Wysocki throws rollers like no other.
And the “off-hand throws” previously mentioned?
You have a right-handed Eagle McMahon using his southpaw to thank for that craze.
Here’s what blows my mother-freaking mind, though …
Each of the above shots is helpful. Still, there’s a massive skill set that only a few of disc golf’s active greats have made a real effort to master – and this’ll actually “move the needle,” too:
If you usually push putt, learn to spin putt.
If you usually spin putt, learn to push putt.
And with confidence, of course.
The logic here is pretty simple: Push putts lead to short comebackers, but they’re easily affected by the wind. Spin putts are great in the wind, but if they’re off, things get ugly really fast …
And while you’re at it, learn to do both from a staggered and straddled stance. Seriously, think it through – next to nobody out on tour does this. A few key names do come to mind, though …
Ricky can do both – and quite well. K.J. grew frustrated with his straddled push putts getting dominated by the wind. He spin putted multiple times from a staggered stance during the first round of WACO. The most famous example is Nikko Locastro. He does both, too. In fact, watch closely, and you’ll see him rotate multiple times between the two in the same round.
A shot to save his tournament!
— Disc Golf Pro Tour (@DiscGolfProTour) March 14, 2021
Nikko Locastro hits a headwind 77 footer for birdie on difficult hole-17 to keep his razor-thin lead at WACO!
#discgolfprotour#discgolfnetwork#dgpt#dgn pic.twitter.com/NJXm8magNZ
Strangely, this is not the norm …
Every pro push putter stands to benefit from this, but a few more than others:
- Gregg Barsby’s circle-two push putts are deadly – when the wind’s down.
- Garrett Gurthie’s circle-one push putts are deadly – once or twice a year.
- Nathan Queen’s push putts immediately fill the soul with anxiety.
- Eveliina Salonen.
On the spin putting side, it’s not difficult to find YouTube clips of spin putters like Simon and Anthony Barela putting back and forth at the same basket over and over again – it’s brutal.
You’re not a “push putter.” And you’re not a “spin putter,” either. One’s not better than the other. Feel free to lean on one more, but they both serve a purpose out on the course.
To any professional disc golfers reading this (relax – there are none), your fans love the circus shots, left-handed hucks and shirtless Instagram workout videos, but it’s hard to beat a few extra hours putting with the practice basket in your backyard – and this is hardly just for them …
This is PDGA ratings-resurrecting advice for you and me, too.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
