Terminology
Basket, Pin, Pole Hole, Bucket, Chains
Terms used to describe a "hole" in disc golf.
Headrick
Named after the inventor of disc golf, Ed Headrick, a headrick is a
small metal loop that sticks up slightly above the rim of the basket of
a pole hole. The headricks surrounding the basket cause more missed
putts than any other factor about the design of a pole hole. Hitting a
headrick is very similar to rolling a golf ball around the rim of the
hole when putting in ball golf.
Marker
A marker, or "mini", is a miniature version of a disc golf disc. It is
used to mark the leading edge of the disc that was just thrown in
direct line with the target pole hole. The thrown disc can then be
picked up and the marker is used as a fault line for the next throw.
Putting Green
Even though there are no marked greens in disc golf. There is an
invisible 10 meter circle around a disc golf hole that is considered to
be the putting green. When in the putting green, a disc golfer cannot
step past his marker after throwing his disc until the disc comes to
rest on the ground, in the chains, or in the basket.
Hyzer
Hyzer is a term used to describe the most common type of throw made in
disc golf. The hyzer is so popular because it allows the player to use
more power and the natural flight characteristics of the golf disc to
get the most distance from a shot. A typical hyzer shot is a long,
graceful, arcing curve that turns left for right handed players and
turns right for left handed players. A hyzer shot needs lots of open
space to be truly effective.
Anhyzer
The anhyzer throw can be described as the opposite of a hyzer shot.The
player forces the thrown disc to "turn over" against the natural filght
pattern to get around obstacles that a hyzer would not be able to. The
difficult part of throwing an anhyzer shot is that too much power can
cause the disc to turn too hard and fly erratically in the wrong
direction.
Helix
The helix shot is a finesse shot that uses a little of both the anhyzer
and hyzer flight characteristics to create an "S" shaped pattern as the
disc flies through the air. This is often used to "snake" through
narrow fairways and in-between obstacles on the course.
Roller
A roller is a modified anhyzer that is thrown so that the disc turns
over hard in the air and hits the ground at an angle with a lot of
speed and rotation. This causes the disc to roll on its edge. Rollers
are often used when obstacles make it very difficult to throw a normal
shot in the air.
Hammer
Also refered to as a "tomahawk", a hammer throw is a high arcing,
overhand throw in which the disc is released at an almost vertical
angle with a lot of speed and rotation. This causes the disc to "barrel
roll" as it arcs, keeping the disc in an almost straight line path.
This is often used to power a disc over tall obstacles that do not
allow for normal hyzer or anhyzer throws.
Putt
Putting is what makes, or breaks, the disc golf game. A putt is
normally thrown flat, with a very smooth release, so that there is very
little hyzer or anhyzer aspects to the flight of the disc. Because of
the need for accuracy in putting, the style for throwing the disc is
very different from throwing a distance shot. Distance shots use a full
range of motion using the legs, back, stomach, shoulders, and arms to
create a "whiplike" explosion of power. Putting, on the other hand, is
very stationary (shoulders are typically squared up with the pole hole)
and relies almost entirely on the arms and wrists to get the disc to
the basket.
The Minnesota Frisbee Association
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