Why you should experiment with ‘one-grip’ rounds of disc golf

You’ve heard of a “one-disc” round, right?

On occasion, most disc golfers will give it a go.

More often than not, these are putter-only rounds – maybe a midrange. The concept will work for any disc type, though. The idea is to use one disc for every shot you’d encounter during a normal round. By so doing, you’re able to see what a disc is truly capable of beyond what a well-crafted marketing message has told you. I’m a fan of one-disc rounds; they’re good at what they do.

The “one-grip” round is solid, too.

The one-grip round is exactly what it sounds like: You use a single grip for every throw, not including realistic bids at the basket. For those, stick with your normal putting grip, as there’s no sense in messing with it. By and large, you’ll be opting for some form of a forehand or backhand grip. I suppose you could grenade or turbo-putt your way through 18 holes of golf, but man …

That’d be dumb.

I will say, however, that I’ve witnessed this exercise performed with thumbers and tomahawks, and with great results. If your shoulder’s not up to the task, though, I’d suggest you pass on this.

Here’s why the one-grip round is a great idea …

Most disc golfers think as follows:

• “New discs mean new lines.”
• “More discs means more options.”
• “Here’s my credit card – take my money.”

Yes, there’s a particle of truth to this …

But not much.

In reality, the way you throw the disc can open up new lines – and with the gear you already have. Your power, footwork, reachback and angle of release can all make a sizable difference.

So can grip.

Better yet, it’s the easiest of the bunch to learn – and the results are none too shabby, either. Here’s Will Schusterick talking about how the fan grip transformed his game back in 2010 …

Watch the first 40 seconds:

The fan grip might not make you the youngest champion in USDGC history, but without a doubt, it’ll 1) improve your accuracy, and 2) open up some completely new uses for the discs you bag.

For example, have you ever considered fan-gripping a Firebird for a short, 215-foot, hit-and-stick spike hyzer, as opposed to, per usual, opting for a power-gripped, straight-at-it putter approach?

Get wild with this.

Assuming you’d normally use a midrange, do the same thing with an understable 12-speed straight down the gut of a tight, wooded tunnel – go with your preferred version of the fan grip. If it works, great – test it a few more times. And if it doesn’t, who cares? No harm, no foul. 

There are plenty of other unique, fan grip-disc combos you can play with, as well.

To figure out the best fan grip for you, see what the pros do – then mimic them. Paul McBeth’s approach (click here) is strange. Michael Johansen’s fan grip (click here) is one of the best in the world. Drew Gibson (click here) has his own style, too. From them, you’ll find yours.

It’s more of the same on the sidearm side of the aisle. The traditional, two-finger power grip is great, but there are variations of it worth tinkering with – the one-grip round is perfect for this. Back for more, McBeth’s take on bombing Forces 400-plus feet is somewhat different:

Also, for flicking the slower stuff …

Split grip or bust.

Click here to see how it’s done.

I don’t care if it’s a putter, midrange, fairway driver or distance driver – and I don’t care how far away you are from the pin, either. For ONE round, commit to a grip and see what it can do for you. Trust me on this one: Come the end of it, your bag will feel bigger than ever before.

And without having added a single disc to it.

It’s a beautiful thing.

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