Disc Golf Disc Wobble

If you have been disc golfing for long enough I think that you will experience a throw that comes out with wobble as it goes through the air. I have been disc golfing for about five years and this is my third season playing in tournaments. I'm starting to get more of a feel about what causes wobble and how it affects the game.

First off, wobble is the tendency for the disc to move up and down opposite the axis of rotation of the disc. It is caused by off-axis torque being applied to the disc when throwing.

Almost all of my putts inside the circle, or within 33 feet fly very wobblily. I used to call them my, "wounded duck putts." Having a bit of wobble in a shorter throw is not necessarily a bad thing. I've been getting a bit better at reducing the wobble though.

I've often wondered how a professional disc golf player can throw a putter disc a long way. Whenever I try to throw one with a lot of power they turn over on me. (Turn hard under power and land as a cut roller.) I think the wobble has a lot to do with this.

Searching for the perfect disc throw:

(This image was produced using the StarryAI program and my original photography.)

What Wobble does to Disc Flight

I think a disc will glide through the air with less resistance and go farther if it is not wobbling in the flight. It seems to fly with more stability as well.

As well as robbing distance, wobble can affect the accuracy of the throw because of unpredictability. For example, if you are used to a large degree of wobble in your circle one putts moving to a putter without as much wobble can cause you to throw over the top of the basket or hit the band.

With all other factors the same having a bit more off-axis torque can cause a throw to wobble and move differently depending on how much it wobbles.

Reducing wobble helps to learn how to throw far and many people recommend practicing hard throws with putter discs to gain distance and accuracy. These types of discs will show problems in how you throw.

What causes Wobble

The throwing motion has some amount of off-axis torque produced from rolling the wrist or arm slightly off from the direction of disc flight. The spinning mass of the disc reduces the wobble through gyroscopic force. I think air turbulence can also be a factor.

Forehand throws often wobble more than backhand throws because they come out with less spin as compared with how fast they travel in a forward motion.

Reducing Wobble

You can always try throwing a heavier or more stable disc to reduce wobble but that might not gain you much more distance. These types of discs will fade faster if not thrown with enough power.

I like to take this route when throwing forehand because it gives me more consistent results.

A heavy stable throwing putter will also work well for distance throws. I hesitate to use anything else in tournaments.

For casual rounds and practice, or distance throws on backhand I like lighter weight less stable discs. If you can throw these well it helps improve your throws.

You can also try altering your grip. I've found that front-loading your grip more can be helpful. I think it helps put more spin on the disc. It is worth experimenting with different grips at times when you're practicing. A grip change when you are not used to it can cause some real issues like hitting the first available tree.

You could try slowing down a bit in your throw and working on smoothing out your movements. Once you see that smooth buttery flight it gets addicting.

For me, this is a work in progress and I'm certainly no expert in throwing a disc. It has been fun to keep trying for the perfect disc flight and if any tips work for you feel free to chime in.