Round Not Going Your Way? Consider Slowing Down Your Game and Regain Control

If you ever feel that the round you’re playing is not going the way you'd like, the best thing you might be able to do to salvage it is to slow things down.

Many disc golf players fall into the trap of speeding up their game when things start to go wrong.

Rather than staying relaxed and slowing things down, they instead try to play more aggressively to make up for earlier mistakes, which unfortunately often leads to even more errors.

Instead of regaining control, they lose it further by rushing throws and letting their mind spiral with negative thoughts and emotions.

Think about driving a car.

If you lose control, you don’t press the accelerator harder.

You slow down first, regain control, and then carefully accelerate again.

This same and simple principle applies to disc golf.

Slowing down your game can help you reset both mentally and physically, giving you a better chance to recover and finish strong.

Here are three practical ways to slow down your disc golf game and regain control of your round.

Slow Down Your Mind

The first step to slowing down your game is to slow down your mind.

When things aren’t going well, your thoughts can race, filling with frustration and self-criticism.

This mental chaos makes it hard to focus on the shot at hand. It's too busy festering on what's already going wrong and how you're going to make up for it on the rest of the holes.

So instead of trying to fix everything at once, focus on calming your mind.

This starts with deep breathing and refocusing on your pre-shot routine if you have one.

Take a few slow, deliberate breaths to lower your heart rate and clear your head.

This simple action can reduce tension and help you feel more grounded.

Next, replace negative self-talk with positive or neutral statements.

Instead of thinking, “I’m totally sucking today,” try telling yourself, "It's done and over, win the next shot.”

This shift in mindset helps you stay present and avoid getting overwhelmed by past mistakes.

Focus only on the shot you are about to make.

Don’t think about the score, the holes ahead, or what went wrong earlier. Treat each throw as a fresh opportunity.

By simplifying your mental game, you reduce pressure and create space for better execution.

Slow Down Your Disc

When your round is off, it’s tempting to grab your fastest, most aggressive drivers to try and make up distance or save strokes by maxing out distance or throwing the craziest flex line.

Not only does this rarely help, but can end up making matters worse.

Instead of getting you back on track, this plan often backfires because high-speed discs require more precise timing and power, which can be hard to control when you’re already feeling tense or frustrated.

Instead, slow down your disc selection by choosing putters or mid-range discs.

These discs fly slower and are easier to control, allowing you to focus on smooth, accurate throws rather than power.

Using a putter or mid-range disc encourages you to aim for safer, simpler lines rather than risky aggressive shots.

For example, if you’re faced with a tricky approach shot that requires the perfect release angle to hit the flex line, switching to a straight flying mid-range disc and playing the conservative shot can ultimately help you land closer to the basket with less chance of a wild throw.

If the hole is wide open and you feel confident, you can still use a driver, but the default option on most shots should be to slow down your disc until you regain confidence.

Slow Down Your Body and Throwing Motion

The last step is to slow down your physical game.

When players get frustrated, they often rush their steps, speed up their run-ups, and try to throw harder.

Naturally, as you might expect, this usually leads to worse timing and loss of control rather than helping it.

Rather on trying to execute max power like a mad man, focus on smooth, easy step-throughs or even standstill throws.

These slower motions help you maintain balance and timing, which are crucial for consistent throws.

Avoid big run-ups or max distance attempts until you fully feel more in control.

For example, if you normally take a fast three-step run-up, try a simple one-step or standstill throw for a few holes.

This will help you rebuild confidence and control.

Once you feel more comfortable, you can gradually increase your speed and power.

Bringing It All Together

Slowing down your mind, disc selection, and body can help you regain control when your round isn’t going well.

This approach prevents the common mistake of speeding up and making things worse. Instead, it encourages calm, focused play that can turn a bad round around.

Once you start to feel more in control, you can slowly ramp back up to your usual style.

The key is to resist the urge to rush or force things.

By slowing down first, you give yourself the best chance to finish strong.

Next time your round feels out of control, remember the car analogy: slow down, regain control, then foot on the gas.

This simple strategy can make a big difference in your disc golf performance and save a round that will tank your rating.

Shop all your disc golf needs at Infinite Discs by clicking on the banner below!

***Some links are affiliate links meaning you may earn a small commission when you make a purchase with the links that we provide. You can read our full affiliate disclosures on our home page***