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Playing disc golf in the wind sounds more like torture than fun to most disc golfers.
I’m not going to lie there have been a few times I’ve considered leaving early or driving to a more wooded course when the wind started to pick up.
No one likes having their putter pushed off course by the wind and missing the chains by a couple feet.
Hopefully, after reading this article you’ll have a better understanding of how the wind can affect a disc’s flight and ways to use the wind to your advantage.
We’ll talk about how headwinds, tailwinds, and crosswinds affect your discs differently, what you can do to counteract the effects and how to use the wind to your advantage.
Headwinds
When facing a headwind you’ll want to grab an overstable disc with more fade.
A headwind will cause the disc to act less stable and tends to push the disc up. Using an overstable disc with more fade will help counteract the discs tendency to turn.
You’ll want to release the disc lower than normal to go against the upward push on the disc.
It’s also very important to keep the nose down, if the disc is released with even a slight nose up it will get caught in the wind and the disc will move up and back.
You’ll lose distance if you don’t keep the noise down.
Another tip for throwing in a headwind would be to use a faster disc. You’ll want a fast disc because relative to the wind, the disc is moving faster than normal without increasing your release speed.
This will ensure the disc flies as it should.
If you didn’t catch all that, in a headwind, you’ll want to throw a fast, overstable disc and release it low to the ground.
Check out this article for great overstable driver options.
Tailwinds
When throwing a disc with the wind at your back, the disc will tend to act more overstable.
The wind will also cause a downward push on the disc, causing it to lose height faster than normal.
To counter these effects, throwing an over unstable disc is recommended. You’ll also need to release the disc higher.
A bonus for throwing in tailwinds is the disc will tend to carry farther. So if you throw your drive correctly and properly take advantage of a tailwind, you should see some added distance.
In a tailwind, you’ll want to throw a slower disc than normal. The disc is moving in the same direction as the disc so relative to the wind the disc is moving slower than normal.
Picking a slower disc will ensure the disc files as intended.
To sum it all up for a tailwind, you’ll want to use a slower, understable disc. You’ll want to release the disc higher than you would in calm conditions.
Check out this article for some great understable fairway driver options.
Crosswinds
Wind moving across the fairway will have a different effect on your disc depending on how you release the disc and whether you are right handed or left handed.
Making adjustments to your throw to counteract these effects are recommended. You also might be able to change your shot to take advantage of the wind.
Left to Right Wind
For a right-handed player throwing backhanded in a left to right wind, if releasing the disc with hyzer the disc will tend to drop more than normal.
This makes sense because the flight plate is tilted in a way that catches the wind.
When throwing an anhzyer, the disc will be pushed up and move more to the right than expected.
If you are releasing the disc flat, you will notice the disc carrying to the right.
In a crosswind you have two options, you can play for accuracy or distance.
For accuracy, you’ll want to release the disc on a hyzer if the wind is moving left to right.
The disc will get pushed down and you’ll distance but it’s a more consistent shot.
If you want distance, you’ll want to throw an anhyzer. This will allow the wind to pick up your disc and carry it.
Right to Left Wind
If the wind is moving the opposite way across the fairway, we can expect the opposite to happen.
When throwing a disc on a hyzer, the disc will tend to lift and move more toward the left.
If the disc is released with an anhyzer angle, it will get pushed down and toward the right.
A disc released flat will get pushed to the left since this is the way the wind is moving.
You have the two same choices in the right to left crosswind.
If you are going for accuracy, you want to release the disc on an anhyzer. You’ll see disc will get pushed down by the wind resulting in less distance but more accuracy.
If you’d like more distance, you’ll want to use a hyzer release. With this release, the wind will get under the disc, left if up and carry it forward.
Putting in the Wind
Knowing how your putting style is affected by the wind can help you make a better decision when putting on those windy days.
In general, a push putter will be more affected by the wind than a spin putter.
While it may not be worth it to every push putter, learning how to spin putt may be a great alternative putting a style to pull out when the wind picks up.
If you are releasing your putters flat, the wind will have a similar effect on your putter as they do on your drivers.
In a headwind, the disc will tend to get pushed up. For a tailwind, the effect is the opposite and the putter will get pushed down.
When putting in a crosswind, the putter will get pushed the direction the wind is blowing.
Something else to think about is not everyone is going to release the disc flat.
For instance, when push putting the disc will have a slight nose up.
This could cause the putter to get pushed up higher when putting in a crosswind as well as to the left or right to take that into consideration when facing a windy putt.
Disc golf Wind Tips
Wind can blow in different directions
When considering a shot in the wind you need to realize that wind doesn’t just move in one direction.
Off the tee, wind could be moving one way but down the fairway, it could be moving another direction.
Keep this in mind when planning your shots on windy days.
Lower your expectations
You’ll need to come to the realization that you probably aren’t going to play your best in the wind.
There are too many factors to consider and unpredictable items that come into play to make all the right decisions.
Hopefully, this will allow you to relax and play better golf.
Practice in the wind
There is no substitute for practice and playing in the wind isn’t an exception.
To get better at playing in the wind you’ll need to expose yourself to it more often.
If you’ve been shying away from wind play consider it a learning opportunity instead.
Windy days are also a great time to get in some field work.
Change your Perspective
Think of playing in the wind like using nature to your advantage.
If you have it in your mind that wind is a disadvantage or an obstacle to overcome, it might be hurting your play.
While your shots are going to be less consistent on windy days, if you play the wind right you might see more distance.
Working with nature, instead of against, will lead to lower scores.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article has helped you get a better understanding of how the wind will affect your disc golf play.
Hopefully the next time the wind picks up on your home course, you won’t run screaming to your car. Playing in the wind is something all disc golfers have to learn to deal with if they want to improve their game and get better.
With my tips, you should be able to make better decisions and see improvement when facing windy conditions.
Happy throwing in the wind!
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