To understand the answer of how to throw the Hyzer you’ll need to know a couple of things. First, what is the Hyzer? Second, what are the best discs to use throwing the Hyzer, and last, the technique itself.
The simple answer for how to throw the Hyzer is to angle the discs outside lip down and follow through on the Hyzer line. This throw is typically used off the tee and is perfect for situations where the disc should fly towards your backside and angle back to the basket.
However, this not so simple technique can take a lot of practice to master, often causing new players a bit of frustration. Below we provide a few quick tips to get you started and improve your Hyzer throw.
So, What is a Hyzer Throw?
The Hyzer derives its name from H.R. “Fling” Hyzer, who was a disc sports guru back when disc golf was in its early stages. It refers to the angle of the disc, but could also be used interchangeably with the overall throw itself.
Now, I won’t go into the physics of how a spinning object thrown with velocity reacts to wind resistance and stays “afloat”. It has something to do with what is known as the Bernoulli‘s equation (google it to your heart’s desire). You can also read a nice dissertation here if you really want to understand the mathematics behind a frisbee flying through the air: The Aerodynamics of Frisbee Flight.
But, for our purposes we just need to understand that every disk behaves differently in the air. Having an understandable disc can make all the difference in learning and using the Hyzer throw to your advantage…
Best Discs for Throwing the Hyzer
All discs listed below are in no particular order or rating. They each have been selected due to their unique quality for being able to throw the Hyzer but also because they are great beginner discs. Make no mistake though, experienced players and even pro’s still use these discs. Basically, we’re providing you with a nice “can’t go wrong” list for practicing and throwing the Hyzer. Enjoy!
Latitude 64 Diamond (8, 6, -3, 1)
The Latitude 64 Diamond is one of the best discs for beginners. It has just the right speed, turn and glide to maximize distance for new throwers. It’s also available in light weights which make it more accessible to new disc golfers. It comes in durable Opto Line plastic, giving it longevity. It won’t wear out easily and will maintain its flight characteristics for many years to come. The rim size makes it perfect for the power grip giving you the ability to drive off the tee, or make great fairway and approach shots. Latitude developed an excellent product that has a good price and it can help you to improve your game. So if you are new to the sport and want to dominate, we recommend buying one of these now! LT 64 Diamond
Innova Valkyrie (9, 4, -2, 2)
Innova describes their disc as “a turnover distance driver with great glide. A great choice for tailwind or downhill drives.” The Valkyrie is considered a great distance driver for beginners. But, don’t let that fool you…most experienced players have this disc in their quiver as it’s easy to flip and will give you some fade in the end. You will have to put some power behind it and give it some speed to get the flip but once that’s been mastered it should glide well and perform even better. For a great starter Hyzer disc pick one up here: Innova Valkyrie
Infinite Discs Sphinx (9, 6, -3, 1)
The Sphinx was out of stock at the time I wrote this article. Understandably so, as it’s one of the more popular beginner discs made by Infinite discs. It’s designed to give the beginner a maximum amount of distance and perform well as a hyzer throwing discs. It’s rating shows it doesn’t fade much, giving you a lot of extra glide. Much like the Valkyrie you will need to put some power and speed behind it to perform as expected. For me, it’s a toss up between the two. I have the Valkyrie and my friend has the Sphinx. We often swap them out to see if one is a whole lot different and then proceed to debate over a beverage or two. However, this disc is worth having and will certainly remain in your bag for years to come. Get yours here: Infinite Discs Sphinx
Innova Leopard (6, 5, -2, 1)
We’ve mentioned the Leopard before in our article for the 5 best beginner discs, so it shouldn’t come as a shock to see it here on this list as well (and probably a few others). The love for the Leopard comes from it having less speed and yet keeps the same characteristics as the other discs on this list. For a beginner, that means you don’t have to put as much speed behind it too for good performance. This is arguably one of the better discs to start learning and throwing the Hyzer with as it just makes it easier than others…Grab a Leopard here: Innova Leopard
Update: Innova has updated the Leopard a few times, with the latest version being the Leopard 3. This disc is such a classic that they wanted to improve the speed rating up a notch for the stronger more experienced player. It doesn’t mean the original is bad, outdated, or shouldn’t be used…its a preference and ideal for those of us that our huge fans of the Leopard. I bag both the original in the entry level DX plastic and now my new Leopard 3 in the higher end Gstar plastic.
The Choice Is Yours…
Westside Discs Underworld (7, 6, -3, 1)
Besides the awesome design/stamp on the front, the Underworld is a great control driver and Hyzer Flip disc. Much like the Leopard, it doesn’t take as much power to get up to speed and could be a better choice for the beginner for that reason alone. It glides with the best of them, on this list, and will turn over easily. Finally, the low fade on the backend will help you understand the flight path better and keep you coming back to it for testing your Hyzer throwing ability. I don’t personally own this disc, wish I did, but again, one of my best friends can’t praise it enough and therefore it had to be added to our list. Westside Discs Underworld
The Subtle Art of Throwing the Hyzer
The technique for throwing a Hyzer is similar to that of an Anhyzer, but it’s done at a different angle. A Hyzer throw will be thrown at a 30-45 degree angle, which will send it down and to your left or right depending on if you are left-handed or right-handed.
The main difference between this throw and an Anhyzer is that with this one, you want to make sure your arm is angled downward through the throwing motion, whereas with the Anhyzer we keep the arm above the shoulder. This will cause it to fly out in the direction of your backside ever so slightly, straighten out (hopefully), and then curve back to the basket. (see our article on throwing the Anhyzer here)
Try angling your upper body to lean over your toes a bit more than changing your grip or angle of your arm. I like to think of the Hyzer as a golf swing…maybe not quite that much but as if my disc was a golf club. You might have to reach down lower and aim at a point in the sky a bit higher than if you were throwing a flat shot.
Aim the disc slightly off the path of the basket, trusting the disc to come back on the hyzer line. FYI, aim is best achieved by adjusting one’s feet direction, as true with most sports. Angle your feet off to the side a bit from the line of direction.
Check out this great explanation of the Hyzer throw here from DGA:
Now you know…
I wanted to keep this post shorter and to the point. Hopefully you get the idea of throwing the Hyzer and are ready to go outside and practice. It should be noted that even though many players like to use this technique off the tee, you may not see as much distance with it at first compared to other types of throws…however, it can also be effective in the mid-range game.
Now get out and practice, practice, practice…
Take Care,
Corey
