Most disc golfers don’t give their approach shots the practice they require. Players go out to the field to learn their drivers. They film themselves to tweak even the smallest aspects of their form. They grind on the putting green, repeating hundreds of putts from the circle’s edge. But when they get out onto the course, the seemingly routine, 150-foot upshots get in the way of an otherwise great round. Though it may not be as fun as unleashing drives, and may not make as satisfying a sound as sinking putts, practicing upshots is every bit as important as practicing the other aspects of your game.

Assess Each Lie as if You are on the Tee Pad of a New Hole

If your tee shot lands out of position, reassess and play for bogie if the percentages say to play for bogie. Smart golf wins tournaments. Each time you step up to a lie, ask yourself what you would throw if that was the tee pad for a new hole. If you wouldn’t try to park that new hole, don’t try to park the upshot. Players who are too set on trying to save par are likely to make mistakes that turn easy bogies into doubles or triples. Each shot on the course is worth the same; once you have made a mistake off the tee, take your medicine, minimize the damage, and move onto the next hole. 

Have a Routine

You should have a consistent routine for every shot you throw. First, assess your lie. Move any objects in your stance. Feel and adjust for the wind. Pick your line. How long will your chosen route play? Line up your shot. Pick an aim point in the sky where you want to release the disc; often this aim point is not the basket. Get your shoulders and feet in line with your aim point. If you want a short run-up, practice the footing to make sure your plant foot lands behind your disc. Take a deep breath. Lock your eyes onto your aim point. Throw and follow through, keeping your eyes fixed on that aim point. Do this same routine for every upshot, in every round, no matter how easy the shot feels. And when you practice in the field, go through your routine for each shot you throw then too. 

Keep an Eye on Your Aim Point and Shorten Your Reachback 

Keep an eye on your release point. When throwing a 150 foot upshot, there is no good reason to look away in your reachback. Upshots are not the time to sacrifice accuracy for distance. By shortening your reachback, you can more easily keep an eye locked on your aim point. This will also help with distance control, as a shorter…