There are a variety of ways to throw flying discs, regardless of size. But, all of these methods have some things in common:

  • The throw imparts spin
  • The throw imparts velocity
  • The disc is released at some angle of elevation (aiming up, down or horizontal)
  • The disc is released with some hyzer or anhyzer angle
  • The throw is in some direction

If you can manage to control these to some degree you can throw a flying disc.

But, small golf discs are too small to throw the same way we throw their larger counterparts.

Nobody is an expert in throwing small golf discs yet, so there is plenty to discover. And, in any case, some kinds of throws will naturally be easier than others, so if one kind of throw isn’t working for you, try some of the others.

The hardest part of throwing small golf discs is imparting enough spin. No disc flies well if it isn’t spinning enough. If it tumbles or flutters it needs more spin. It is almost never the case that you have put too much spin on the disc.

A given disc will be have differently depending on how much spin it has. More spin makes the disc more stable. Imparting consistent spin is a challenge but that is the path to more repeatable throws.

Here is 44 seconds on how to get enough spin on your discs.

Here is a video demonstrating four different ways to throw small golf discs:

Twelve minutes on throwing small golf discs.

By comparison, speed is very easy to impart. Most indoor golf holes are shorter than you can throw an indoor disc. I can easily throw a Sabre over 100 feet. The challenge with distance isn’t the long throws, but the short ones. The discs are light and you want to impart enough spin for good control without imparting too much velocity. You have to fight to separate delivery of spin with delivery of velocity until you have separate control of these. It is something to learn.

But, also, different kinds of throws lend themselves better to short distances or to long distances, just like in regular disc golf.

Different Kinds of Throws

Here are some kinds of throws you can try and you can invent your own:

  • Underhand Backhand
  • Traditional Backhand
  • Two-Fingered Backhand
  • Thumbnail Forehand
  • Shoulder Forehand
  • Pinch Roller
  • Slider

Underhand Backhand

I think this is the easiest way to throw small golf discs. It is most like a traditional backhand throw but instead of your arm crossing over your body, it stays on the same side as its shoulder. You throw the disc next to your side sort of like an underhand softball pitch, but you spin the disc like a traditional forehand throw.

Here is a short demonstration video:

Underhand Backhand

Traditional Backhand

Like the name implies, you throw the small golf disc the same way you backhand throw a regular golf disc. I find it difficult to get a consistent amount of spin this way and it tends to never have as much spin as I want, so the flights are wobbly and unstable.

Two-Fingered Backhand

The Two-Fingered Backhand is like a traditional backhand but with a grip better suited to small discs. I put the disc between the two big fingers on my throwing hand. The index finger is under the disc and follows the inside rim. The pointer finger is on top of the disc. The disc is between them but neither finger is ahead of the other.

Pull the disc into your palm.

Use your arm to impart all the velocity you need. Use your hand to spin the disc. Don’t hurt yourself, but pulling back immediately after the throw can create a whip-like effect that delivers more spin.

Again, you don’t need that much power for most shots. But, more spin generally means more control and a better way to shape shots. If you can get good spin this way, it’s a versatile throw.

Here is a short demonstration video:

Two-fingered Backhand

Thumbnail Forehand

This throw leverages your thumbnail. If you don’t have a thumbnail on your throwing hand long enough to catch the underside of the disc, or your disc doesn’t have an underside edge to be caught, you won’t be able to throw this way.

I put my thumbnail under the edge of the disc. My thumb knuckle is near the middle of the disc. I put my index finger on the outside edge of the disc, mostly opposite of my thumb.

That is where it gets interesting. You can position your finger slightly ahead or behind the thumb or even with it. And, you can pinch the disc exactly in the middle or slightly off the middle.

Then you snap your fingers while throwing your hand forward and that creates a forehand throw. It is a forehand throw from the standpoint that it spins in the opposite direction from a traditional backhand throw.

You can practice different positions for the thumb and finger until you narrow down how to be accurate with this throw. It isn’t the easiest of the throws.

Here is a short demonstration video:

Thumbnail Forehand

Shoulder Forehand

Of all the throws, this is definitely the one most likely to knock over something important or lead to a hand injury.

I learned this when I used to play Ultimate. It is a forehand spin generated by a backhand grip. It is a forehand throw from the standpoint that it spins in the opposite direction from a traditional backhand throw.

Start by gripping the disc with your throwing hand as if you are going to throw a traditional backhand throw. Except, hold the disc upside down.

Now hold your arm straight out from your shoulder with the disc level to the ground. Remember this position because this is approximately where you will be releasing the disc.

Now point your hand back by bending your wrist as much as possible, as if you’re trying to hide the disc behind your hand.

Now pull your arm back as far as it will go without hurting. If your arm hasn’t moved yet because it already hurts, try a different throw.

Look around you for things your arm or hand might hit.

Pull your arm forward and release the disc while flicking your hand forward to impart spin.

This method isn’t as easy to impart spin as backhand methods, but you can impart plenty of velocity and this is a throw that can be controlled much more reliably than the thumbnail forehand.

Here is a short demonstration video:

Shoulder Forehand

Pinch Roller

Rollers can be a great way to bypass obstacles that would affect flying, but you give up some control with a roller. It is hard to control their distance because stability requires velocity so a short roller is especially hard to control. Use the heaviest disc you have. For example, a Longsword. I use the same grip I use for the two finger backhand, but oriented just off vertical to get the longer rolls. It looks like I’m opening my hand. I always get low to the ground before throwing one of these.

Slider

Frankly, small disc rollers are impossible to control well. It might be your best shot when you have a narrow space to get through, but a small disc roller will almost never go where you want. Part of the problem is that the disc is so light, small obstacles on the ground have an outsize effect. It’s too chaotic to be effective the same way it can be with larger golf discs, where the roller is important tool for low clearance holes.

When you play small disc golf indoors, the slider is the go-to short-range upshot if the floors are smooth. It’s a lot easier to control. It is Jue de Boules, but with discs.

Unlike other throws, spin is not very important. In fact, the less spin on the disc the more it may end up straight instead of curling at the end as spinning disc almost always do.

You throw a slider near the ground with a completely flat hyzer angle and as horizontal as possible. It should land flat on the ground somewhere in front of you and slide from there. It works great on smooth wood floors, but not on carpet. It works on most tile floors.

The challenge is all in how much velocity you impart. Sliding has a lot more friction than flying, so you will need more power than if you were going to throw it there. It takes some practice but this can be an accurate throw that always goes straight even for people who have a hard time throwing the disc in the air.