Are you wondering how your disc golf drive distance compares to other disc golf players? You came to the right place! We asked over three-hundred discs golfers of various skill levels how far they can drive. Then, we compiled the results into an easy-to-understand infographic so you can see how you level up.
Things to Consider
For this poll, we asked participants for their average controlled disc golf drive distance along with how long they’ve been actively playing disc golf. The idea was to understand how far people could drive with decent accuracy and consistency. Anyone can throw a lucky shot downhill with a tailwind and hit 400 ft, so we wanted to make sure people gave honest answers.
Keep in mind, that most of these players are active in the sport and play or practice one or more times a week. So, we wouldn’t classify someone who played once two years ago as having two years of experience.
Lastly, these numbers are averages, So, if you fall above or below the drive distances you see here, don’t worry! Just keep at it and you’ll get there! Check out this article with our best tips to level up your game now. Also, check out our disc golf driver recommendation article to get the driver that will work best for your experience level
Things We Learned From this Study
We learned a ton from this study and here are a few things that stood out.
1. If You Can’t Throw Far at First, Keep Practicing
We’ve all been that beginner who can barely throw 150 ft – even when putting everything we’vee got into the throw. It’s so easy to see someone who’s been playing for a few months throw almost double that distance and get frustrated! It’s only natural to think that you’re lacking some natural talent or don’t have what it takes!
However, the graph above clearly shows what a few months of practice and dedication will do. In just a month, most beginners have added 100 ft to their drive and will most likely pass the 300 ft mark if they keep it up for a year.!
The moral of the story is – stick with it and you’re disc golf driving distance will increase. It might not match the numbers here exactly, but most players will see a dramatic increase in the drive distance after only a few months.
2. Practice is Key
Practice makes perfect…or in this case, practice increases your disc golf drive distance. Remember, these players were playing or practicing on a fairly regular basis. We’re not saying you need to be spending hours a day working on your game, but try to get in at least a round a week or a few hours of field time each weekend.
3. It Takes Time to Consistently Drive 400 ft
While most players can hit the 300 ft mark in 6 months to 1 year, it takes time to develop the muscles and technique to reach 400 ft with any kind of consistency. Sure, we had some people say they’ve been playing for a year and managed to throw 400 ft once or twice. However, according to our data, it will take most players around 10 years before they can expect to throw 400 ft with control and consistency.
4. Throwing 300 is Much Easier Than Throwing 400 feet
If you study this infographic, you’ll notice there’s something interesting that happens once you reach the 300 ft mark. Once your disc golf drive distance reaches 300 ft it will take twice as long to gain the next 20-30 ft.
For instance, someone who has been playing for 6 months with a drive of 311 ft, won’t reach the 333 ft make until they’ve played for a whole year. And someone who’s played for a year and can drive 333 ft, won’t reach the 354 ft mark until they’ve played for another year.
For you nerds out there, you might have noticed that this is a logarithmic behavior. Indeed, when we plotted the data we found the best fitting curse was a logarithm function.
Anyway, the point is this, focus on developing other parts of your game (like putting or approach shots) instead of constantly chasing after more distance. Those facets of your game are just as important as your drive distance – if not more! The distance will come, just give it time.
5. People Who Played Other Throwing Sports Are More Likely to Throw Far
One last note – beginner or intermediate players with an above-average disc golf drive distance were more likely to have played another sport involving throwing things, like baseball or ultimate frisbee. In fact, most of the players who were hitting the 400 ft mark with only a year or two of experience fell into this category. Obviously, this makes sense, but it was interesting to see that play out here.
Disc Golf Drive Distance: Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this article and infographic. We sure had a lot of fun putting it all together! If you fall above or below the drive distances you see here, don’t worry! Just keep at it and you’ll get there!
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