| Every disc golf player dreams of stepping onto the tee and ripping a 450 foot drive straight down the gut of a tight wooded fairway and leaving yourself a drop-in putt for birdie. The reality is, for most players, rather than getting that birdie they will be fighting their way out of the woods hoping to simply save par at best. That's an example of not using good strategy on the course. I would say I would fall into the category of the "average" player. I have average length on my drives and average consistency on my approach shots. Because of that, "strategy" is probably the most important aspect of my game. No matter what level golfer you might be, if you want to make the most out of every round you play you will need to make smart decisions concerning getting ready to play, which disc to throw, which route to play, and most importantly how much risk to take. Those are the aspects of proper disc golf strategy. |
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| When should you as a player begin thinking about strategy? For me, before I ever step foot onto the course, I mentally play each hole of the course in my head. I consider which disc I would use off the tee based on all kinds of different conditions. What disc would I use if there are perfect conditions, if its windy, if its wet etc., as well as where do I want to locate each of those shots in the fairway. Then I do the same for each approach shot and putt. This way when I actually get into that position I have a base of information to draw from. The next time to think about strategy is during your warm-up before the round. If you're like me, over time you have developed certain injuries and aches and pains that require some warm-up before a round to overcome. Use that warm-up time to practice shots that you know you will face during the round. |
| Practice the shots that perhaps you struggle with or don't feel as comfortable throwing as much as others. Most importantly, practice shots that you know you will face during the round. Its great during practice to get up and rip your drives as far as you can into the open field, but make sure you take the time to practice getting your shots into proper position! One very helpful strategy to always keep in mind was explained to me by my good friend Mark Steddom. I tend to listen when he gives advice about disc golf, since he is the current Worlds GrandMasters Champion is both singles and doubles! His strategy is the "10% Rule". For him to consider a shot successful it must land by the target within 10% of the total distance thrown. For example, if the shot is 100 feet it must land within 10 feet of the target. From 250 feet it needs to end up within 25 feet of the target and so on. So when warming up, practice getting within this 10% range of your targets. This is the proper strategy during warm-ups! |
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| Finally its time to step to tee and make your first shot of the day! From the moment the first player on your card tosses his first shot you need to be making decisions about more than just ripping your disk as hard as you can throw it. Consider how the other players shots ended up. Are they safely in the fairway or are they going to be fighting to get out of trouble? Many times an "average" player can pick up strokes by making par on a hole when the "better" players try to do too much and get themselves into trouble. This will be the same for every shot on every hole throughout the round. Now don't get me wrong, you definitely want to play your own game and stay within your own limits and abilities. What this does mean however is that at times if the other players are struggling or on the flip side doing very well, it may affect the decisions you may need to make when choosing a certain shot. If the players your with are having one of those days when nothing goes right for them you have more freedom in your decisions. But if they're having a great round, how does that affect your strategy? |
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| One of the most important aspects of strategy and probably the toughest to help a fellow player with is the "risk vs. reward" decision. Basically what this means is that each player will at times have to decide whether to attempt a more risky shot or to play it safe. I personally believe there are three specific times when a player will be faced with this dilemma, and each one can have a profound effect on the outcome of their round scores. First there is the risk vs. reward decision on which shot to use when your safely in the fairway. This will come up on almost every shot you make during your round. Here's an example. Your drive left you about 200 feet out, with two large trees between you and the basket which is tucked near a creek running along the right side. The creek is out of bounds but you could throw a big hyzer out over the water and hope it comes back enough to stay in bounds for a short birdie putt, or you could play to the left of the trees and land about 30 feet away for a much longer birdie putt but it takes away all out of bounds chances. What would you do? There are several factors to take into account before ever throwing a disc. What's your lie look like, do you have better footing to make one shot or the other? Would the wind direction make one shot easier than the other? What shape are the other players' in on the hole with you, are they in trouble or have an easier shot where if you went for it and it didn't work out would you loose more than one stroke? Most importantly, how are you playing? Do you feel more comfortable making one shot over the other and have you had success with one shot more than the other? Only you can make this decision. Sometimes its worth taking the risk and at others it better to play it a little more safely. |
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| The second type of "risk vs. reward" decision happens when you have to make a shot to get yourself out of trouble. This situation is one of the toughest strategic decisions to make because most people find it difficult to play for a bogey! Its just not the way we think. No one wants to score over par on a hole, any hole! But it happens and it happens to everybody and the risk reward decision here can help you limit the damage or possible make a bad decision even worse. Here's an example. You get off the fairway and into some woods and you're still 200 feet from the basket. You look overhead and there's a small gap in the canopy of trees and if you can get a good shot through, you could get within putting range of the basket. If you don't hit the gap however, you end up back in the woods and in an even uglier spot. Your other option is to play a short shot back into the fairway for a wide open 100 foot approach and a guaranteed bogey, but just a bogey. With the overhead shot you could take a three or a five (or worse!). Another lesson my buddy shared with me is that he always plays to the "biggest gap". In the situation described earlier he would play into the open and take the bogey. As he explains it he'll always play to the least trouble because its easier to make up a four than it is a five, and over eighteen holes most players will try the hail mary shots much too often so making up a stroke isn't difficult to do. Plus the consistency of always playing around par puts pressure on the other players and often leads them into making bad decisions and giving strokes away. |
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| Finally, the third and final (and I feel most difficult) risk vs. reward decision is made when you are running out of holes and have to make up a couple strokes! This is the toughest because if something doesn't change you're going finish second by a stroke or two. In this situation you might have to take more chances, or throw shots you might not be as comfortable with in order to get that much needed birdie rather than a par. If it works you can pick up that stroke, but if it doesn't you not only finish second you could possible drop to third or worse. This is where the individual players personality comes into play. Some people would look at second place as an overall positive thing while others feel if they don't win it doesn't matter whether they're second or tenth. Each person will have to look at the specific situation and make that decision for themselves, but personally I feel in the long run making the smartest shot every time rather than trying for that one miracle shot will benefit me more by building a stockpile of successes I can carry with me. Why, because even if you hit that one in a hundred chance shot you might win one time but I win 99! |
