Conventional wisdom tells us we improve by chasing greatness. We study the pros, mimic their form, and chase better footwork, better power, better everything. But what if our biggest breakthroughs came not from playing with better players — but from playing disc golf with beginners?
It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Surely improvement means surrounding yourself with elite players? Actually, no. Improvement — real, lasting improvement — often comes from teaching disc golf, not just observing it.
So if you’re tired of chasing your tail (or your rating), consider this: what if your sharpest skills emerged not in elite company, but when helping a new player figure out how to grip a putter?
Why Playing Disc Golf with Beginners Beats Watching Pros
You know that feeling when you watch someone throw a perfect flex line, then try it yourself and immediately cannonball your disc into a tree? That’s the problem with passive observation. You’re watching art, but you’re not learning technique.
That’s because you’re not being forced to explain anything. And improvement doesn’t happen by osmosis — it happens when you’re forced to translate what you know. Playing disc golf with beginners is the perfect forcing function.
Explaining a grip, a line, or a strategy to someone with no reference points means you must distill your own understanding into plain English. That process is more powerful than any tip from a YouTube pro. It highlights what you don’t fully understand — and strengthens what you do.
The IKEA Effect and Why You Should Teach Disc Golf
Let me introduce you to a psychological quirk called the IKEA Effect1 — the phenomenon where we irrationally value things we’ve helped build. Even when it’s uneven, missing a screw, or swaying gently like a hungover flamingo.
This doesn’t just apply to flat-pack furniture. When you’re teaching disc golf to someone new — showing them how to throw, how to approach, or just how not to treat their midrange like a baseball — you’re building something. Not just their game, but your own.
Helping others sharpens your own thinking. It forces mindfulness in shot selection. And it reintroduces emotional weight to the game. You’re not just throwing — you’re guiding, watching, cheering. And oddly, that makes your own lines cleaner and more deliberate.
You don’t improve in spite of the beginner. You improve because of them.
Playing with Beginners Reinforces Why We Really Play
According to Jobs To Be Done theory2, people don’t “hire” disc golf simply to get better at throwing discs. They hire it to feel progress, identity, connection, and control.
Now, think about what happens when you bring a beginner to the course.
You get to experience those jobs all over again — through someone else’s fresh eyes. Watching them land their first approach shot or sink a chaotic 15-footer resets your emotional relationship with the sport. It reconnects you with why you started.
When you become a disc golf mentor, you anchor yourself more deeply to the game. It becomes less about obsessing over missed birdies, and more about meaning — shared moments, small wins, visible progress.
And ironically, that makes you better. Your own nerves calm. Your confidence grows. Your focus sharpens — not because you’re competing, but because you’re teaching.
The Airbnb Effect and the Value of the Amateur
Airbnb didn’t explode by targeting top-tier hoteliers. It grew by empowering average folks with nothing more than a spare room, some folded towels, and a dream. The power wasn’t in elite hosting — it was in participation.
Disc golf thrives on the same principle. Growth doesn’t come from elite-only clubs or 500-foot bombers. It comes from making the sport accessible and meaningful to new players. From encouraging players like you to take on a quiet, unpaid role as a disc golf mentor.
The great irony? You’ll often learn more by teaching than by training. You’ll throw more mindfully, speak more clearly, and see the game with renewed clarity — because you’re viewing it through someone else’s learning curve.
How Playing Disc Golf with Beginners Builds Sticky Status
Status is a funny thing. Some chase it by flashing their rating. Others earn it more quietly — by being the person who helped someone fall in love with disc golf.
When you show someone how to throw a hyzer without impersonating a lawn sprinkler, they remember. You become part of their story. And there’s no trophy for that — just satisfaction, community capital, and often, a better round for you too.
And let’s not forget: explaining your thought process out loud — what disc, what angle, what wind adjustment — helps you internalise it. You start making smarter decisions without realising it.
That’s how teaching improves decision-making. That’s how guiding sharpens your game.
Mentorship Month Challenge
Here’s something concrete. Try this:
- Pair up with a beginner for a month.
- Play together once a week.
- After each round, jot down what you explained, what they improved on, and what you noticed about your own habits.
You’ll be surprised. Not just by their progress, but by yours. Because repetition may be the mother of skill — but explanation is the father.
The Unexpected Perks of Playing Disc Golf with Beginners
Some people fear playing with beginners will slow them down. But it often has the opposite effect. You focus more. You throw with intention. And you’re reminded to enjoy the process rather than obsess over the scorecard.
You also rediscover parts of the game you’ve unconsciously skipped over — basic footwork, grip pressure, mental routines. Things that matter far more than you remember.
In a sense, every beginner is a mirror. And what they reflect back is often more useful than anything you’ll find in advanced coaching.
So if you’re looking to improve your disc golf skills, don’t just chase tougher competition. Start helping others. It’s cheaper than lessons, more satisfying than solo practice, and scientifically proven to stick.
What to Know Before You Teach Someone Disc Golf
Absolutely. It forces you to articulate strategy, simplify mechanics, and re-examine your habits. It’s one of the fastest ways to strengthen understanding and consistency.
Yes. Teaching reveals blind spots in your own game and encourages more conscious decision-making. It enhances learning through reflection and repetition.
By leading, not copying. Demonstrate your technique, explain your reasoning, and you’ll naturally reinforce good habits — rather than dilute them.
Even one round a month is useful. But a consistent short-term pairing (e.g., once a week for a month) amplifies the benefits for both of you.
Simplicity. Controlled drives, reliable putts, and learning one disc at a time. As a mentor, encouraging clarity and confidence is far more effective than overloading them with form tweaks.
