The Straddle Putt

[cubeofsoup]

I have found myself increasingly needing to hit 20-50ft straddle putts. The situation I end up need to straddle most often is if my lie is blocked from behind, IE, in bushes, near a tree, etc. Also, obviously, I try and use it to get a clean line at the basket around obstacles. I am pretty comfortable inside 20ft but anything more than that, I can't figure out how to get more distance on my straddle putts. I use a 175g D Magnet for my putting duties. I'm guessing I just need a better wrist and better timing. If I could watch someone who tosses 30+ft straddles that would help a ton, but I can't think of anyone off the top of my head.

Talking points:
- Who are the pro's with a good straddle?
- Your techniques for getting around trees while putting?
- Dealing with uneven ground and bad footing.
- Jump putts from a straddle?

[soupdeluxe]

I believe Nikko L. uses a straddle putt and there should be tons of vids of him on ytube. I'm not sure how far out he uses it but he gets low reaches down low and past his ankles. His putts come out on a hyzer that I think are easier to get to go far but hard for me to judge distance and accuracy wise.
SD

[Stringbean]

From watching one of his youtube videos, I believe he uses it up to fifty feet from the basket. Search the net for "DGM 95 disc golf." He goes over his technique in detail.

[JR]

Knees apart so you can reach back far. Being on the balls of the feet for more power by being up dropping down for plyometric loadng of the ankles and feet then rebounding up or up and forward if you're outside the circle. Raising the arm faster up for more upward momentum and releasing higher even above the head of necessary gives a huge distance boost. Don't forget to use your hips. If you reach back so that you tilt the torso forward and down and straighten the hips from the back muscles it'll help too.

[GhostsOfCanton]

In these situations, I'm trying to lay up rather than hit the chains. I use a hyzer with a large angle. I think I've heard it called a "knife hyzer." There's very little lateral motion, but enough to get around a tree. 20-50 ft distance easily obtainable and most of the time when the disc hits the ground it "thuds" in place.