Roller Shots in Disc Golf: When Flying Isn’t the Best Option
A good roller almost feels like cheating. We get it — discs are designed to fly through the air, not roll across the ground. But if you’ve played long enough, you’ve probably realized that sometimes the smartest throw isn’t one that flies at all. Once you learn how and when to throw a roller, you’ll start seeing fairways and escape routes that most players completely miss.
Back when we ran the shop, we used to tell people that rollers are the least understood shot in disc golf, but one of the most rewarding once you figure them out. It’s part science, part touch, and a whole lot of field work. There’s a learning curve, but the payoff can be huge.
When a Roller Makes Sense
Rollers shine when the air is not your friend. If the hole has a low ceiling with hanging branches, rollers let you skip the frustration of trying to force a low-flying driver through a tunnel of leaves. When the wind is howling, especially a strong tailwind, rollers can give you distance and predictability that an air shot simply can’t. And when you’ve got a wide, open fairway that’s dry and firm, a well-thrown roller can add 50 to 100 extra feet compared to your best air distance.
Rollers are also lifesavers for tricky lies. Maybe you’re behind a tree with no clean throwing lane, or you’ve got to get around a corner with a hard finish at the end. A roller lets you bend the fairway on the ground instead of in the air. You can make the disc turn hard right, finish back left, or even travel almost perfectly straight depending on the angle and the disc you use.
Once you start watching top-level players, you’ll notice rollers show up more than you think. Pros use them not just for distance but for placement — to get the disc to stop in a predictable spot or to land flat near the basket instead of skipping. On the right course, a roller is a high-percentage shot, not a last resort.
Especially Useful For Those With Less Arm Speed
Let’s face it: different disc golfers have different athletic and natural abilities. It’s not sexism or ageism — it’s simply reality that kids, women, and seniors often don’t have the same arm speed as young athletic men. Learning to throw rollers is especially beneficial for this group of disc golfers as a way to give them extra distance and help them compete with those who can throw farther.
Understanding How a Roller Works
When a disc flies, it’s controlled by lift, drag, and spin. When it rolls, it’s all about momentum and friction. The goal is to get the disc to hit the ground at an angle that makes it stand up and keep rolling forward. The magic happens when the disc transitions from flying to rolling smoothly, without bouncing or cutting too hard to one side.
The disc’s shape has a big effect on how it rolls. The parting line height (where the top and bottom of the mold meet) determines how stable a disc is and how much of the rim contacts the ground. A disc with a lower parting line and more mass below it will usually make a smoother, longer roller. Flat-topped discs often roll straighter, while domey ones can act unpredictable once they’re on edge.
What Makes a Good Roller Disc
Most players start with understable drivers for rollers. These discs are easier to get into that vertical rolling position because they want to turn over naturally. But the key is balance — if it’s too understable, it’ll flip all the way over and crash upside down after just a few seconds. The sweet spot is a disc that turns over easily but still fights to stay upright for a long roll.
Here are some proven molds we’ve trusted for rollers over the years:
- Innova Roadrunner – easy distance and one of the most reliable roller discs ever made.
- Discraft Heat – perfect for newer arms or controlled rollers on tight fairways.
- Westside Hatchet – has the glide and turn to stand up beautifully and keep rolling for days.
- Divergent Tiyanak – slower arms can still get long, straight rollers out of this disc with minimal effort.
Not every roller has to come from an understable disc, though. Some players throw forehand rollers using overstable molds because they naturally fight the opposite direction. A Discraft Zone, Innova Firebird, or Axiom Fireball can all make great forehand rollers once you learn how to angle them. Overstable discs are also great for “cut rollers” that need to turn hard and finish in a specific spot.
And yes — even extreme overstability can work. We once saw a masters player at Fountain Hills in Arizona throw a Discraft Tilt roller that parked a 468-foot hole. He released it completely vertical, straight down from over his head, and it stood up and rolled perfectly. It looked like a trick shot, but it was calculated. The Tilt isn’t made for that, but it shows that in the right hands, almost any disc can roll.
How to Throw a Roller
Throwing a roller takes a different mindset than a normal shot. You’re throwing into the ground, not into the sky. You still use a full reach-back and follow-through, but the angle, release, and nose direction are totally different.
For a backhand roller, start with an understable disc and release it on a strong anhyzer angle. Aim higher and farther left than your normal line (for right-hand backhand) because the disc will land, stand up, and curve back right as it rolls. The steeper the angle, the quicker it’ll turn. The flatter the angle, the straighter it’ll go. You can control your line almost entirely through angle adjustment.
For a forehand roller, it’s the opposite — release on a steep anhyzer that makes the disc roll to the left. Overstable discs work best here because they resist flipping over too early. Most players find forehand rollers easier to control for shorter, technical situations, while backhand rollers excel for max distance.
Tips for Better Rollers
- Start slow. Use fairways and mids first. You’ll see the angle and motion more clearly.
- Watch where it lands. The point of contact determines the whole roll. Too early and it cuts; too late and it skips.
- Use the right surface. Short grass or packed dirt is ideal. Wet, rough, or tall grass kills the roll instantly.
- Stay smooth. Jerky releases ruin your angle. Focus on clean, consistent form instead of raw power.
- Record your practice. Watching your own rollers on video helps you understand what angles produce the best stand-up and distance.
One thing we noticed after years in the shop: rollers expose every weakness in your form. If you’ve got nose-up issues or your wrist angle isn’t consistent, you’ll see it right away. But that’s part of what makes learning rollers valuable — they make you a better all-around thrower.
Common Mistakes
New players often overdo it with the angle, slamming the disc straight into the ground so it bounces instead of rolling. Others throw it too flat, and the disc never has a chance to stand up. Finding that middle ground takes repetition. Another common error is using the wrong plastic. Very stiff premium plastics like Champion or Z Line can be harder to get to bite into the ground; grippy plastics like Star, ESP, or baseline blends often roll better because they grab just enough to stand up smoothly.
Practice Drills
If you want to build confidence, find an open soccer or football field and start with mids and fairways. Set up cones every 50 feet and aim to get your roller to stand up and pass each one. Once you can predict where it’ll turn and finish, move up to distance drivers. The key is learning to hit that first ground contact point consistently — that’s where a roller really begins.
Final Thoughts
Rollers look wild when you first see them, but they’re not luck shots. They’re strategic, powerful tools that let you shape the course in ways most players never try. Whether you’re escaping a tight fairway or chasing max distance on a wide-open hole, mastering the roller adds a new dimension to your game. It’s one of those skills that separates a casual player from a complete one.
The next time you’re out for field work, grab a few of your flippiest discs — maybe that old Roadrunner or Hatchet — and start experimenting. You might surprise yourself with how far you can go when you stop trying to make the disc fly and let it roll.
Extra Learning
The folks at BestDiscGolfDiscs.com have a great walkthrough on how to choose your roller discs and dial in your release angles if you want a visual guide.
