Ready to advance your game to the next level? You came to the right place! After learning the basic rules of the game, the next challenge many new disc golf players face is learning the different types of disc golf grips. Just as there are different types of discs for different throws there are also different grips for different situations. Knowing the most common grips will give you an edge over the competition and help you achieve maximum distance and accuracy.
In this article, I’ll cover the 8 most common grips used in disc golf and discuss when to use them. If you know these grips you’ll be ready for every type of throw from the tee to the final put.
Keep in mind the pictures below are for a right-handed disc golfer, so just mirror what you see here if you’re a leftie. Also, don’t stress if your hand or finger placement is exactly like what you see me doing here. Everyone’s hands are different and you might feel more comfortable holding the disc slightly differently.
Check out this handy infographic for an overview of the most popular disc golf discs, or skip below for more details on each grip.
Backhand Disc Golf Grips
| Grip Name | Characteristics: | Best For: |
| Power Grip | Maximum Distance, Medium Accuracy | Drives Off the Tee, Long Fairway Drives |
| Modified Power Grip | Medium Distance, Medium Accuracy | Drives Off the Tee, Fairway Drives, Midrange Shots |
| Fan Grip | Low Distance, High Accuracy | Putting, Short Approach shots |
Most new disc golf players start with the backhand grips because they are the easiest to learn. If you’ve thrown a frisbee before, the grip and throwing motion will at least be somewhat familiar. Backhand grips are used for all types of throws from drives off the tee to putting.
Backhand Power Grip
The power grip is my go-to grip for long-range drives off the tee and long fairway drives. It provides an extremely firm grip which means you can get maximum power transfer to the disc during the throw. Although it’s great for getting maximum distance, it can be tricky to get good accuracy because it requires such a firm hold on the disc. However, with practice and correct form, you can develop a very long drive with decent accuracy.
The power grip is often the first grip new disc golfers will learn (at least it was for me) and is probably the most common grip used in the game. If you’re just starting out, this is the first grip to master.
Backhand Power Grip: The Setup
To use the power grip, press the disc into your hand with all four fingers wrapped firmly under the edge of the disc. Keep your thumb about 1.5 inches from the top edge of the disc. At the release of your throw, let the disc snap out of your fingers rather than just letting go of the disc. That way, you’ll impart the maximum amount of rotation to the disc and start to see your throws really getting good distance.
Characteristics – Maximum Distance, Medium Accuracy
Best for – Drives Off the Tee, Long Fairway Drives
Disc to use – Distance driver of fairway driver
Backhand Modified Power Grip
The modified power grip is great for long-distance shots that require a bit more accuracy than the power grip. With the modified power grip you don’t hold the disc as firmly as with the classic power grip. Notice how my pointer finger is not as firmly wrapped around the edge of the disc as it was for the Power Grip. So, you may sacrifice some distance, but you’ll have more control over the throw.
Backhand Modified Power Grip: The Setup
To use the modified power grip, hold the disc firmly and wrap your fingers around the edge of the disc. However, keep your fingers looser than you did with the power grip and let your pointer finger cheat up towards the edge of the disc-like in the picture below. Keep your thumb about 1.5 inches from the top edge of the disc.
The throw is the same as the power grip, but the release will be more controlled because the disc is not held as tightly.
Characteristics – Medium Distance, Medium Accuracy
Best for – Drives Off the Tee, Fairway Drives, Midrange Shots
Disc to use – Fairway driver or midrange
Backhand Fan Grip
The fan grip is ideal for short-range shots that require maximum accuracy. It’s the go-to grip for me when I’m putting or taking short approach shots. Instead of wrapping your fingers under and around the bottom edge of the disc, you’ll keep them extended along the underside of the disc. This means you’ll get maximum control, but minimal power, when you release the disc.it’s almost like you’re lifting the disc on a platter and lofting it toward the basket.
When using the fan grip, keep your fingers flat along the bottom of the disc rather than curled around the edge. Rather than burying the disc in the palm of your hand, keep it out between your fingers and hold it loosely. This helps to keep your wrist loose and fluid throughout the throw and lends to more accurate shot placement.
Backhand Fan Grip: The Setup
With the fan grip, your fingers support the disc from below instead of tightly grasping the edge of the disc, like with the power grip. Some people even like to extend their pointer finger along the rim of the disc for maximum control and finesse on release. This works great for short-distance shots that require lots of precision like putting because you can really control how much power and spin goes into the shot. That’s how I’m holding the disc in the pic above. I just feel like it gives me slightly better control when I’m putting
Characteristics – Low Distance, High Accuracy
Best for – Putting, Short Approach shots
Disc to use – Putter
Forehand Disc Golf Grips
| Grip Name | Characteristics: | Best For: |
| Power Grip | Maximum Distance, Medium Accuracy | Drives Off the Tee, Long Fairway Drives |
| Stacked grip | Medium Distance, Medium Accuracy | Drives Off the Tee, Fairway Drives, Midrange Shots |
| Split Grip | Low Distance, High Accuracy | Putting, Short Approach shots |
For beginners, the forehand disc golf grips will feel awkward at first. So, it’s important to take time and get used to them. Even just holding the disc in your hand using one of the grips below will help you get accustomed to the feel. However, mastering these grips will open a whole new aspect of your game. Like everything in disc golf, practice makes perfect!
Forehand Power Grip
The forehand power grip is best for long, open drives, just like the backhand equivalent. However, it’s also difficult to control and isn’t best for shots where a lot of accuracy is required. In general, the power grip is used for drives off the tee or long fairway shots.
Forehand Power Grip: The Setup
Hold the disc between your thumb and index finger. Your thumb will be on the top of the disc and your index and middle finger will be on the bottom of the disc. Keep your middle finger straight and curl your pointer finger to grab the inside edge of the disc. Tuck your ring and pinkie fingers out of the way.
Characteristics – Maximum Distance, Medium Accuracy
Best for – Drives Off the Tee, Long Fairway Drives
Disc to use – Distance driver of fairway driver
Forehand Stacked Grip
The stacked grip is great for long shots and tens to be a bit easier to keep under control than the power grip. However, for many players, it just comes down to preference and what feels most natural. The stacked grip is great for drives off the tee, and midrange or fairway shots.
Forehand Stacked Grip: The Setup
To use it, hold the disc between your thumb and index finger (like with the power grip). However, this time, keep your index and middle finger pointed straight. You’ll want your index finger pressed against the inside edge of the disc with your middle finger “stacked” on top of it. Keep your ring and pinkie fingers tucked out of the way just like we did with the power grip.
Characteristics – Medium Distance, Medium Accuracy
Best for – Drives Off the Tee, Fairway Drives, Midrange Shots
Disc to use – Fairway driver or midrange
Forehand Split Grip
The split grip is best for short accurate approach shots and putts. It is basically the backhand equivalent to the fan grip. Instead of gripping the inside edge of the disc, the index and middle fingers support the disc from below. This provides maximum control at the moment of release.
Personally, I try to avoid putting sidearms at all costs. but that might just be because I’m bad at it. However, when I’m in a situation where I absolutely have to put a sidearm, I always use this grip.
Forehand Split Grip: The Setup
To use it, hold the disc between your thumb and index finger. Point your index finger straight toward the center of the disc-like a hand on a clock. Rest your middle finger along the inside edge of the disc at about a 45° angle to your index finger. Tuck your ring and pinkie fingers out of the way.
Characteristics – Low Distance, High Accuracy
Best for – Putting, Short Approach shots
Disc to use – Putter
Specialty Disc Golf Grips
| Grip Name | Characteristics: | Best For: |
| Tomahawk (or Hammer) | Straight, Arching Flight, Medium Distance | Navigating over obstacles or out of thick cover |
| Grenade | Straight, Arching Flight, Medium Distance | Navigating over obstacles or out of thick cover |
If you learn the six disc golf grips described above you’ll be ready for almost every scenario you could encounter. However, there are a few specialty shots that are good to have in your toolbox. While not used often, they can save a few strokes or help get out of a tight spot in certain situations.
Tomahawk Grip
The tomahawk is great for throwing out of the thick brush or navigating wooded areas. Think of it as the hail marry of disc golf. It might not always work, but when it does it’s a thing of beauty. It’s thrown overhand like a baseball and doesn’t usually have great distance. But, it can be a huge lifesaver to get out of tough situations or navigate over obstacles. It’s also referred to as the hammer and get’s its name from the throwing motion which resembles hammering or a tomahawk throw.
Tomahawk Grip: The Setup
The actual grip is just like the forehand power grip or stacked grip. However, you’ll want to throw it overhand (like you’re throwing a tomahawk!) with an upward trajectory. If you don’t throw very hard the disc will stay perpendicular to the ground and start rolling when it lands. If throw hard enough, the disc will flip mid-flight and land upside down with hardly any skip or roll.
I use the tomahawk when I need the disc to follow a high straight ark or when I don’t have room to throw a normal forehand or backhand. for instance, when I’m throwing over low trees or trying to throw out of thickets or wooded areas – which happens at least once a round…
Characteristics – Straight, Arching Flight, Medium Distance
Best for – Navigating over obstacles or out of thick cover
Disc to use – Distance driver of fairway driver
Grenade Grip
The grenade is useful for the same type of shots as the Tomahawk. It uses the typical backhand form except you hold the disc upside down. It tends to land with very little roll and is good if you need the shot to stick where it lands.
Grenade Grip: The Setup
There are a couple of different ways to perform the grenade grip, but I recommend what you see here. From my experience, I’ve found hooking my index finger over my thumb like this helps to get a smoother release.
Characteristics – Straight, Arching Flight, Medium Distance
Best for – Navigating over obstacles or out of thick cover
Disc to use – Distance driver of fairway driver
Wrapping Up
There’s a lot of variation around disc golf grips and the definition you get may vary based on who you talk to. I’ve tried to abide by the most common definitions in this article, but what may be a fan grip to me may be a modified power grip to another player. So, just keep that in mind, and don’t be too dogmatic about what you think is the “right” grip for a given shot.
If you’re new to disc golf and looking for discs, these are our top recommendations to get started!
Innova Leopard3
A solid fairway driver and my personal favorite when I started out!
Discraft Buzzz
One of the best selling discs of all time for good reason! The Buzzz is a bag staple of beginners and pros alike.
Innova Aviar
Consistent and straight, look no further than the #1 best-selling putter of all time.
If you’d like more information, check out our guide to the best disc golf discs for beginners. See you next time!
