How To Disc Golf Putt: 5 Keys To Sink More Putts

Sinking putts in disc golf is the fastest way to lower your scores, yet it’s often the most frustrating part of the game. Are you tired of watching perfectly good drives go to waste with a missed 20-foot putt? Do you struggle with consistency, unsure whether to push, spin, or just hope the disc finds the chains? This isn’t just about throwing harder; it’s about building a repeatable system from the ground up.

To consistently disc golf putt, you must master five keys: choose a putter that fits your hand, build a powerful technique that starts from your legs, learn multiple putting styles for any situation, develop a strategic pre-shot routine, and practice with purpose to build unshakeable confidence.

Leveraging extensive analysis of expert techniques and established patterns, this guide unpacks a complete, proven system for putting improvement. We will move beyond simple tips and break down the fundamental mechanics, strategic mindset, and practice habits that separate amateurs from seasoned players. Get ready to learn how to disc golf putt not just with better aim, but with total confidence.

Key Facts

Official Putting Zone: Any throw from within 10 meters (about 33 feet) of the basket is officially considered a putt, and it comes with specific rules about maintaining balance behind your marker.

Power Comes From Your Legs: For longer putts, the majority of power should be generated by shifting your body weight, not by changing your arm motion, as highlighted in insights from Innova Discs.

Focus is Micro, Not Macro: The “Aim Small, Miss Small” principle is a core tenet of accuracy; focusing on a single chain link dramatically increases your chances of hitting the basket compared to aiming at the entire target.

Two Core Styles Dominate: The Push Putt offers a straight, consistent flight with minimal spin, while the Spin Putt provides more stability in wind and the ability to shape shots, according to analysis from DG Puttheads.

Confidence is Built at 20 Feet: Mastering putts in the 20-foot range is the critical foundation for scoring, as it builds the confidence needed to attempt longer 35-foot putts without the fear of a difficult comeback shot.

Contents show

Key 1: Understanding the Fundamentals and Choosing Your Putter

Before you throw, select a putter that feels comfortable in your hand, considering its rim depth and glide, and understand that a putt is any throw from within 10 meters of the basket. This foundational knowledge is the first step in learning how to disc golf putt effectively. Without the right tool and a clear understanding of the rules, even the best technique can fall short.

Many beginners grab any disc and start throwing, but the putter is a specialized tool designed for accuracy and control. Just as important is knowing what the game officially defines as a putt, as this impacts your stance and follow-through within a specific range of the basket. Let’s establish these core principles before we build your technique.

What Officially Defines a Putt in Disc Golf?

A putt is any throw made from 10 meters (about 33 feet) or closer to the basket’s base. This isn’t just a casual term; it’s a rule that dictates how you must play your shot from within this “putting circle.”

Any throw from within 10 meters or less, as measured from the rear of the marker disc to the base of the hole is considered a putt. A player may not advance beyond the marker disc until the disc is at rest and the player has successfully demonstrated full control of balance.

Understanding this rule is crucial. If your foot crosses your marker disc before your putt has come to rest in the basket, it’s a fault, and you’ll receive a penalty stroke. This rule is why developing a balanced, controlled putting motion is essential for competitive play.

How to Choose the Right Putter For You

The best putter is subjective; prioritize comfort, then select a rim depth and glide that matches your preference and putting style. Don’t get caught up in what the top pros are throwing. The single most important factor is how the disc feels in your hand. If it’s not comfortable, you’ll never develop a consistent release.

Does your current putter feel truly comfortable, or is it fighting your natural grip? Here are the key factors to consider when selecting your go-to putter:

Comfort is King: This is the number one priority. Hold the disc in your putting grip. Does it feel secure? Does your hand conform to its shape? If a disc feels awkward, put it down and try another.
Rim Depth: Some players prefer a deep-rimmed putter that fills their hand, while others find a shallower rim allows for a cleaner release. According to insights from DG Puttheads, if a deep rim feels uncomfortable, switching to a shallower model is a simple and effective adjustment.
Glide: Glide refers to a disc’s ability to stay in the air. A high-glide putter will carry farther with less effort but can be harder to control in the wind and may float past the basket on a miss. A low-glide putter requires a more powerful throw but will drop more predictably.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to try a friend’s putter. The best way to know what feels right is to hold it yourself. Resources like Infinite Discs offer a massive selection, allowing you to compare many different models and find the one that perfectly suits your putting style.

Key 2: Building a Consistent and Powerful Putting Technique

Develop a repeatable putting motion by focusing on five technical keys: aiming at a single chain link, using your legs for power, accelerating smoothly, following through completely, and fully committing to your shot. Your ability to disc golf putt effectively hinges on having a solid, repeatable mechanic that you can trust under pressure. This is where you build muscle memory and turn a hopeful toss into a confident stroke.

Quick Fact: Most of your putting power for longer putts should come from your legs, not your arm. This is the secret to repeatable accuracy. An inconsistent arm motion leads to inconsistent results, but by using your lower body as the engine, you can keep your arm swing the same for a 15-foot putt as you do for a 35-foot putt.

Aim Small, Miss Small: The Secret to Accuracy

Increase accuracy by aiming for a single, specific chain link instead of the general basket area. This is one of the most transformative pieces of advice for any disc golfer. When you aim at a huge target like the basket, your brain allows for a wide margin of error. When you aim at a tiny target, your misses become much smaller and often still land in the basket.

Aim Small, Miss Small

Instead of just tossing it toward the pole, pick one specific link and focus all of your attention on it. For a right-handed player using a standard putting style, a common and effective target is a single chain link just above the center of the pole and slightly to the right. This spot gives you the best chance of the disc catching chains and dropping into the basket.

Next time you practice, try aiming at the basket for 5 putts, then at one specific link for 5 putts. Notice the difference in your grouping. The focus required by the “aim small” method tightens your release and builds incredible consistency.

Generate Power from the Ground Up: Use Your Legs

For longer putts, shift your body weight from your back leg to your front leg to generate power, keeping your arm swing smooth and repeatable. One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is trying to “arm” their long putts. They use a small, gentle motion for short putts and then a huge, fast arm swing for long putts. This creates two entirely different putting strokes and kills consistency.

The solution, as championed by experts at Innova Discs, is to use your lower body. Your arm motion should remain almost identical regardless of distance; the power comes from your weight transfer. Here’s how to do it:

Load the Back Leg: As you begin your putting motion, rock your weight back onto your rear foot. You should feel the muscles in that leg engage.
Transfer Forward: As you swing your arm forward, drive off your back leg and shift your weight smoothly onto your front leg. This should be a fluid, athletic motion.
Let the Arm Follow: Your arm is just along for the ride. The power generated by your legs will propel the disc toward the target. Your arm’s job is simply to guide it on the correct line.

By making this your primary power source, you only need one putting stroke, which you can then fine-tune into a highly accurate and repeatable weapon.

The Follow-Through and Acceleration

Ensure a clean release by accelerating your hand smoothly through the putt and following through toward your target, keeping your eyes locked on it. The moment of release is critical, and two final pieces of the technique ensure you don’t sabotage a perfect putt at the last second.

Continuous Acceleration: Your putting motion should not be jerky. From the lowest point of your backswing all the way through to the end of your follow-through, your hand should be smoothly and constantly accelerating. This ensures your hand gets “out of the way” of the disc at release, preventing any last-millisecond wobble or misdirection. It’s a smooth push, not a sudden snap.
Focused Follow-Through: After the disc leaves your hand, don’t immediately look down or drop your arm. Keep your eyes locked on your target link until the disc hits the chains. Your arm should continue its path forward and upward toward your aiming point. A great mental cue is to imagine you are shaking hands with the chain link you were aiming at. This locks in your form and prevents you from pulling your head or arm away from the shot too early.

Try this: practice your putting motion without a disc, focusing only on that feeling of smooth, constant acceleration all the way to the top. This will build the muscle memory for a clean and powerful release.

Key 3: Mastering Different Putting Styles for Any Situation

Learn multiple putting styles like the spin, push, and straddle putt to adapt to any on-course challenge, from high winds to awkward stances behind obstacles. There is no single “best” way to disc golf putt. The most successful players have several tools in their bag and know when to use each one. By understanding the core mechanics and ideal situations for different styles, you can turn a difficult lie into a routine par save.

The two primary styles are the Spin Putt and the Push Putt, but situational styles like the Straddle Putt are essential for navigating the course. Insights from both DG Puttheads and Innova Discs help clarify the purpose of each.

Style	Best For…	Key Mechanic
Spin Putt	High winds, low ceilings, shaping shots	Uses wrist snap and finger spring to generate spin, stabilizing the disc’s flight.
Push Putt	Maximum consistency, straight flight	Tossing the putter with minimal spin, using a hip snap and finger flick for a pure flight.
Straddle Putt	Putting from behind obstacles, limited space	Facing the basket with feet straddled, using a hip thrust to limit joint movement and increase consistency.
Turbo Putt	Getting over high obstacles from close range	An overhand throw with the thumb under the disc, thrown like a dart for a high, arcing flight.

The Spin Putt often feels more natural to new players and is excellent for generating power and fighting the wind. However, the multiple moving parts (wrist, elbow, shoulder) can sometimes lead to inconsistency.

The Push Putt, in contrast, is designed to remove variables. By keeping the wrist locked and using the lower body and a finger flick, it creates a very straight, repeatable flight path that is less likely to spit out of the chains. It can feel less natural at first and may be harder to generate power for long-distance putts.

The Straddle Putt is a non-negotiable skill for scoring well. When a tree or bush is directly in your line, a straddle stance allows you to get a clear look at the basket and execute a clean putt.

Which putting style feels most natural to you? There’s no single ‘best’ style—only the one that’s best for you and the situation at hand.

Key 4: Developing Your Strategic & Mental Game

Improve your putting success by creating a pre-shot routine where you strategically assess environmental factors like wind and obstacles, then fully commit to your putt with confidence. The best putting technique in the world is useless if you aim it at the wrong spot or hesitate during your throw. Great putters are great thinkers. They analyze the situation, create a plan, and then trust that plan completely.

Before you even step up to your marker, take a moment to perform a quick strategic assessment. This mental checklist will inform every decision you make.

Obstacles: Are there any trees, branches, or bushes in your direct line to the basket? Will you need to use a straddle putt or shape your shot around them?
Wind: What is the wind doing? A headwind will make your putt drop, requiring more power. A tailwind will give it extra lift and glide, requiring less power. A crosswind will push your disc sideways, forcing you to adjust your aiming point.
Elevation: Are you putting uphill or downhill? Uphill putts require significantly more power, while downhill putts require a delicate touch to prevent the disc from sailing far past the basket.
Hazards: What happens if you miss? Is there water, an out-of-bounds area, or a steep roll-away hill behind the basket? Sometimes the smartest play is to “lay up” and guarantee your next shot is easy, rather than risking a bogey or worse by going for it.
Temperature: In colder weather, discs tend to be more stable and have less glide. In warmer weather, they may become slightly less stable. This is a minor factor but one that top players consider.

Once you’ve assessed the environment and chosen your line and putting style, it’s time to commit.

The moment you decide on your shot, commit to it 100%. Hesitation is the number one killer of good putts. If you find yourself doubting your choice mid-swing, it’s better to step back, reset, and start your routine again.

What’s one thing you could add to your pre-putt routine right now to improve your focus? Whether it’s taking a deep breath, visualizing the disc going in, or simply picking your target chain link, a consistent routine builds a mental fortress around your technique.

Key 5: The Power of Practice and Building Confidence

Build true putting confidence through consistent practice, focusing on mastering the 20-foot range to eliminate the fear of attempting longer, score-changing putts. All the technical and strategic knowledge in this guide comes together in one place: the practice basket. There are no shortcuts. Consistent, focused practice is the only way to build the muscle memory and mental fortitude required to disc golf putt at a high level.

Confidence is not something you hope for; it’s something you earn. And you earn it by seeing the disc go in the basket, over and over again.

As noted in authoritative advice from Innova Discs, “Developing confidence in 20-foot putts…can significantly improve overall scoring.” Consistently making these putts builds the confidence to attempt longer 35-foot putts without fear of a difficult comeback.

Why is the 20-foot range so important? It’s the distance where putts transition from “should make” to “could make.” By turning 20 feet into a high-percentage shot through practice, you remove a massive amount of stress from your game. You’ll be more aggressive on approaches because you know you can clean it up. You’ll run longer putts because the fear of missing and leaving yourself a 20-foot comeback is gone.

View longer putts not as challenges, but as opportunities. This mental shift alone can transform your game. Every 35-foot attempt is a chance to save a stroke, and when you miss, you’re confident you’ll be tapping in from close range. That confidence is forged in practice, one 20-foot putt at a time.

Investing in a quality set of putters allows you to practice more efficiently without constantly retrieving your disc, helping you build muscle memory and confidence faster.

FAQs About how to disc golf putt

What is the trick to putting in disc golf?

There is no single “trick,” but the secret is building a consistent, repeatable system. This involves choosing a comfortable putter, using your legs for power, aiming at a specific chain link, developing a pre-shot routine, and practicing consistently. Consistency in your technique and mental approach is what sinks putts.

How do I step putt in disc golf?

A “step putt” is a putting motion where you step past your marker disc after releasing the disc. This is only legal for throws outside the 10-meter (33-foot) circle. Inside the circle, you must maintain balance behind your marker until the disc has come to rest. The step putt allows you to use forward momentum to generate more power for longer putts.

What’s the main difference between a push putt and a spin putt?

The main difference is the amount of spin imparted on the disc. A spin putt uses significant wrist and finger action to create spin for stability and distance. A push putt aims to minimize spin, using a “shove” or “toss” motion from the lower body and a finger flick for a straighter, more direct flight path with less potential for deviation.

How do I get more power on putts from longer distances?

The key to power is using your legs and body weight, not your arm. Load your weight onto your back leg and then transfer it forward explosively as you swing your arm. This weight shift is your engine. It allows you to keep your arm motion smooth and consistent while generating the velocity needed for putts from 35 feet and beyond.

Why do I keep missing short putts?

Missing short putts (inside 15-20 feet) is almost always a mental error, not a physical one. It’s often caused by a lack of focus, commitment, or a poor follow-through. To fix this, stick to your routine, pick a specific chain link to aim at (“Aim Small, Miss Small”), and make sure you follow through toward your target until the disc is in the basket.

Final Summary: 5 Keys to Sinking More Putts

Mastering how to disc golf putt is a journey of building a complete system, not just finding a single tip. It’s the integration of the right equipment, a sound mechanical technique, strategic versatility, a strong mental game, and dedicated practice that truly lowers scores. By focusing on these five keys, you create a holistic approach that builds consistency and confidence from the ground up.

Let’s recap the definitive path to sinking more putts:

Key 1: Fundamentals First: Understand the 10-meter rule and choose a putter that feels comfortable in your hand. This is your foundation.
Key 2: Build Your Technique: Generate power from your legs, aim for a single chain link, accelerate smoothly, and follow through completely.
Key 3: Master the Styles: Learn the spin, push, and straddle putts so you can adapt to any situation the course throws at you.
Key 4: Develop Your Strategy: Create a pre-shot routine to assess wind, obstacles, and elevation, and then commit 100% to your shot.
Key 5: Practice for Confidence: Focus your practice on mastering the 20-foot range to build the unshakeable confidence needed to run longer putts without fear.

Take one key from this guide and focus on it during your next practice session. Start building better habits today and watch your scores drop

Last update on 2025-09-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to Disc Golf Putt: 5 Keys to Sink More Putts