Disc Golf Putting — Improving in Month 2
If you read my last disc golf post about disc golf goals for 2022, you may remember that I set this goal:
- 70% putting from 25 feet
I’m working my way toward that goal by practicing. Simply practicing.
I have a problem, though: when the weather is bad, I’m not going out.
When I first started playing a couple years ago, I was out in all kinds of weather. But I’m over that now.
While I am fortunate to live in South Texas, and it was, in fact, a beautiful day to play here in mid-February, there were a lot of days during the past few weeks that were too cold or wet for me.
So I didn’t practice my putting as much as I wanted to.
While I was not actually putting, I did my best to visualize the act. I watched a lot of YouTube videos about putting. I played a few rounds during mild breaks in the weather.
But I didn’t practice my putting as much as I wanted to.
Despite that, I have noticed an improvement on my putting during rounds. In one recent tournament, I putted exactly 18 times, and won by a single stroke. I had zero two-putts, and some of those putts were not gimmes. I’ve been feeling pretty good about my putting.
Even so, when I finally had a nice day to do it, I approached my monthly putting measurement with guarded expectations.
Because I hadn’t practiced as much as I wanted to.
With mild trepidation, I set up my 15- and 21-foot stations, and started Round #1. (For my putting practice method, check out the article disc golf goals for 2022.)
Oof, the session started badly. In my previous practice sessions, a few weeks ago, I’d begun to regard the 15-footers as total gimmes. I was missing maybe one or two out of 25, and those were just lapses in focus.
This time, though, I only made two of my first five. What the heck? It wasn’t until my third turn that I was able to make all five from 15, so I moved to 21 … and hit 4 of 5. That’s more like it!
Sadly, that good fortune was not to last. My putting was a rollercoaster ride the first two rounds. I ended Round #2 by missing all five putts from 21 feet. Ugh.
I wish I could say that Round #3 went better, and it kind of did, because by that time I had dialed it in from 15 feet, but my 21-footers were hit or miss. Not consistent at all.
I took a longer break than usual, practicing approach shots with my Roc and Pig, but it was soon time to face the music, time for the Money Round.
I stepped up to the 15-foot station for a few warmups, and sank 4 of 5. Not perfect, but I figured it was now or never, so I stepped back to 21 feet.
2 of 5.
I did the math quickly and figured that to be 40%, which, I justified, is pretty close to last month’s 44%, so I just needed to hit three putts in my next turn to get back on track.
I did it. 3 of 5, for a total of 5 of 10, which is 50%. Suddenly things were looking pretty good, and I never looked back.
I ended up hitting 34 of 50 from 21 feet. 68%! That’s +24 points over January!
I’m not sure at what level I’ll make the move to get rid of the 15-foot station. I’m not there yet, but eventually I’ll need to make my goal distance — 25 feet — the long putt.
All things considered, I’m pretty excited by my improvement from last month. I hope I can keep the upward trend in March.
Please join me and compare your numbers with mine. Let’s figure out the secrets of disc golf putting together!
Running tally:
- January: 44% from 21 feet
- February: 68% from 21 feet
