Disc Golf: All You Need to Know About the Game You Want to Play Paperback – September 1, 2003

O.K. I've written three reviews of this book but withdrawn every one because my reviews are longer than the book (and I'm conscientious, too). In essence, as a dedicated amateur and student of the game, I must advise beginners against this book, if only for one reason:The driving methods advocated by the author (namely the 180 degree and 360 degree turns) are antiquated and even counter-productive, rather than merely innocuous. The "X-step" or "scissors step" run-ups that are now used by the vast majority of good players are never even mentioned once in this book. To make matters even worse, the author illustates his run-ups by using footprints much as one might see in a dancing class. This important section is just plainly insufficient and out-of-date from start to finish.For anyone still with me, this book is written by a playwright, director, screenwriter and someone who is an "avid disc golfer". Is that it? Does merely loving a sport entitle you to give instructions to others? I think not. If he had other credentials, I'm sure he would have listed them but he doesn't. (I guess birds gotta' fly and writers gotta' write.) In fairness, some parts of the book aren't bad and even entertaining. However, the out-dated practical information, omissions and inaccuracies are too much to ignore. Folks, I must tell you that good disc golf just ain't easy. A good throw is as tricky to attain as a good tradional golf swing. It will take a lot of practice to get to the proficiency level many of you will want. Therefore, starting with ineffective or incorrect techniques will only force you to unlearn things later on. (The 180 degree turn driving technique is an excellent example.) This is, in essence, a cutesy and folksy little book that won't be of much practical help to a beginner (except in advising you to be polite, take along plenty of water and not be a "Chatty Cathy". Wow! A Chatty Cathy? How about that one.) Finally, and importantly, the drawings are often vague, give no sense of the dynamics involved and sometimes illustrate anatomical impossibilies.Try the internet (some good video stuff there), go to your local course and join a local club. See, in person, what works and what doesn't. I've found that people are usually very willing to help a beginner get started. (Especially with a little flattery.) Learning disc golf is true hands-on stuff! You have to see it and you have to do it. Reading about it and looking at static drawings just won't make you happy for very long. I promise.Well ... still a pretty long review but I guess I'll go with it. By all means give this game a try, though. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities and can be downright addictive. I promise you that, too.

This is the only book on disc golf that I have and it has really helped my game a lot. The most important thing that I learned from this book is that you do not throw a disc golf disc like you throw a Frisbee! This is very important to remember. I have always been a very good Frisbee player but found that I was having lots of trouble throwing a disc golf disc straight and level or to even get any distance from them. This book helped me fix those problems. I still do not throw perfectly every time but at least now when I screw up a throw I have an idea of what I did wrong.This book goes over the history of the sport which is very interesting and covered pretty well. It also covers the basic rules and customs of the game so you will not look like a fool when playing with more experienced players. Most importantly for me is that this book covers most of the different kinds of throws that you will see in the game and each throw is broken down into its basic elements (grip, approach, release, etc.). What I did not like and why I did not give it 5 stars, was that the drawing were not as clear as I would have liked. I found myself rereading the descriptions about things like how to grip the disc for a certain type of throw over a few times and wishing there were a few pictures showing a real hand holding the disc from a few different angles.This book also has a funny chapter on the Tao of disc golf which get funnier once you get more experience playing the sport.To sum up I would recommend this book for anyone starting out in the sport or for anyone like me that has been playing for a year or so with little real guidance as to how to improve their play.

I've been throwing for only 6 months, but I've been a spotter at the USDG Championship for two years, so I know the game both as a newb and as an official.Bottom line is the book is excellent. If I have one quibble it's the list of discs. The author barely scratches the surface of available discs, which change year to year, so this is something best left out of a physical book. That and, well, it's kind of a case of TMI because he can't list all the discs, just enough to be confusing. Innova alone makes more than 60 flavors of discs. Don't go there.Here's my advice to the new thrower: Forget about distance drivers. All you'll get is serious fade and not much distance. High performance discs will only perform when thrown really, really fast. Avoid them.Buy a fairway driver and a putter. For Innova I recommend a Leopard and an Aviar. For Discraft I like the Buzzz and Magnet. If you have the cash, buy 3 of each: 3 Leopards, 3 Aviars. That way, when you practice, if one disc flies weird you know it's you and not the disc.If I can recommend a companion book it has to be Zen Golf by Dr. Joseph Parent. It's about stick and ball golf, but the theory applies: Learn the basics, then trust your body to figure out the rest. Simple as that.Buy this book, buy a couple of discs, go out and have fun!

Before I read this book, I had never got a disc caught in a tree or saw anyone get a disc caught in a tree? I never had to clip a piece of jagged plastic and sand a disc? Reading is bad for you! My favorite part was the history of disc golf : - ) Today, during practice I got a disc caught about 20 feet up in a dead tree? I got it down with a rock on my first throw!!! Then I took it home and clipped off a piece of plastic and sanded it. I bought the book used and it was a good deal$$$$