what is hyzer flip?

But how to throw a hyzer flip?

The answer to this question and other information related to this shot will be discussed in this article. As an experienced player, I feel like I need to share all the knowledge and information about this type of shot. Apart from that, our team will be sharing tips and methods on the proper ways to throw and maximize the hyzer flip in your game.

Before getting deep into the analysis of a hyzer flip, let me first explain what is a hyzer?

In disc golf, a hyzer is a type of throw designed to make the most out of the natural angle of the disc. In the hyzer, the release of the angle should be on the outside edge while the opposite portion of the edge is being tilted downward. For a right hand backhand throw (RHBH) or a left hand forehand (LHFH), this means the left side of the disc is pointed downward. While for a left hand backhand (LHBH) or a right hand forehand (RHFH), the right side of the disc is pointed downward.

So from there, what is a hyzer flip? When throwing discs, some discs will drift to the right a little bit or a lot and come back left while others will just stay straight during the flight and finish to the left (RHBH or LHFH). For a hyzerflip, you want a disc that can drift to the right for you. Throwing a hyzer flip, you are throwing a disc on a hyzer angle hard enough to allow the disc to use its turn (the natural drift to the right) to make it “sit up” to flat.

I consider this throw as one of the coolest in disc golf. I always feel that throwing this type of shot is nice because we are doing what the disc is supposed to do. With a hyzer flip, you will need an understable disc that will be overpowered by a hyzer release angle. Because of the understandability, it will react to the release angle while allowing the disc to flip up to the flat position which will result in a long but straight flight pattern.

A hyzer flip is best suited to use on a lot of wooded courses. Usually, these types of courses will give you a lot of tight gaps with the need to keep your disc as straight as possible. Hyzer flips are applicable to open spaces or fields also. It is best used in situations where you want the disc to fly straight and avoid the disc fading and going to the rough.

There are few things to remember when doing hyzer flips that can make or break your throw. The disc that you will use is important while other factors need to be accounted for to make the throw more successful.

The Disc’s Turn Rating

As I have been saying all along, you need to have an understable disc when throwing a hyzer flip. The disc’s turn rating usually is from +1 to -5 and the closer the disc is on the -5 rating, the more understable it is which is more suitable for hyzer flips. Avoid using discs with a +1 turn rating while a disc between a -1 and -3 will do just fine. Please take note that below -3 will also be tricky because it might turn into a roller and might not give you the best hyzer flip if you have a powerful and speedy arm.

Start with Slower Discs

When trying to learn and familiarize yourself with hyzer flips, it is the same overall process when you first learn the sport. Start with the much slower disc which is the putter, then you can go up using the midranges and a fairway driver. Then you can try the distance driver. But the most important thing is to execute the shot correctly with the different types of discs.

Throwing it Forward

When throwing hyzer flips, you want to focus on hyzering the discs out forward. Getting the disc moving forward is going to help you keep it down the fairway rather the fly it high and contending the trees and other obstacles it might face during the flight.

As mentioned earlier, there are three important factors you must consider when throwing a hyzer flip: the right disc, the proper angle of release, and the right velocity of the throw.

One way or the other, these 3 factors can influence the success or failure of your hyzer flip throw. Also, please take note that results may vary for every player that throws a hyzer flip. Some players may need more angle on the release while others need more speed and velocity on the disc before seeing the type of results you are looking for.

The Angle of Release and Power

Throwing the disc on the hyzer angle will push the disc in the direction where it naturally wants to go. If you see the disc go straight then flip to flat during the flight, this is an indication that the disc was thrown properly. Sometimes you will also see the disc turn and then do a little fade and this is what you want when throwing a hyzer flip. If you see the disc goes to the right more than what you expect, you likely threw it with more power and/or less of a hyzer angle. The best thing to do is to adjust your power to a lower level and/or change the angle of your release.

When an understable disc is thrown and released on a hyzer angle with more power, it will likely hold the hyzer angle briefly at the early part of the flight then will start to flip up to flat relatively quickly. Also, throwing a similar disc with a RHBH throw will make the disc spin clockwise and will likely go in the same direction it is spinning.

Learning with Putters

I have seen a lot of players using putters when they were starting to learn the hyzer flip throw. The reason behind this is that putters are usually easier to throw and manipulate which makes it a perfect disc for beginners. During the disc selection, aside from the understable disc as a preference, the disc should also work with the arm speed and the condition of the course or field of practice. Most understable discs will flip and glide while flying straight in its direction. However, it will take a lot of practice and experimentation on your part before you will figure out the right way to throw a hyzer flip and achieve the desired results.

If you have a disc that flips over when thrown with maximum power, the best thing to do is throw it with on a hyzer angle so that you will get a hyzer flip. Also, if the disc fades out when you throw it, the chances are it will not hyzer flip. I am advising you to find a disc in your bag that flips at high speeds to give you the best chance to do a hyzer flip. However, the most challenging part is really trying to keep the disc down.

But if you really want to improve your hyzer throws, work on slower discs first such as a putter. Once you develop the confidence you need, then you can try midranges and fairway drivers. After gaining a lot of valuable experience, then try a hyzer flip with some distance drivers. The most important thing is to find the right disc, power, and angle to achieve the right results when throwing a hyzer flip.

Learning how to throw hyzer flips is a challenge in itself, but as I say, it is the coolest shot of disc golf and is worth learning. The key to learning the shot is to find the right disc that will complement your power and your ability to release on the right angle. Just keep on working on your shot and constantly stay out on the course and field and find the right rhythm on your shot until you achieved the best result you are looking for. Do not stop until you perfect your hyzer flip throw.

A Hyzer Flip is very similar to an S-Shot but follows a straighter line. An understable disc is thrown very fast with a hyzer angle of release. The disc turns or “flips” up and brings its nose down in the process. This allows for a long straight glide.

Whether it's carving up a tight tunnel shot or panning out on a huge flex line, a well-executed hyzer flip is possibly the most beautiful and unique flight path in disc golf. It's also one of the most difficult to achieve. In this article, we'll review some of the best hyzer flip discs for this finesse shot.

A shot that is released on a hyzer angle and turns to flat or anhyzer in the high speed portion of its flight. This shot shape takes full advantage of a disc's turn and glide ratings.

Check out this breakdown on how to throw a hyzer flip:

With proper manipulation of release angle and speed control, players can perform perfectly straight tunnel shots and long panning flex lines using the hyzer flip technique. A softly thrown putter will hyzer flip and glide straight for a 200ft upshot, while a full-power rip on with the right understable fairway driver will glide flat and straight well past 300ft.

The hyzer flip is also used for maximum distance throws, as big arms will release a flippy (understable) disc on a high hyzer angle and turn it all the way over to anhyzer, sending it gliding out for massive distance.

Understable discs that have a negative turn rating will make it easier to throw a hyzer flip shot. That said, this is highly dependent on individual throwing power. A player must have the required arm speed to activate the turn necessary to flip a disc from a hyzer angle.

Learn More: Understable vs Overstable Discs Explained

While pros will be able to flip speedy distance drivers, beginners and low power players will need to focus on slower mid range and fairway drivers to execute hyzer flip shots. Having a solid understanding of your individual capabilities is key to understanding what makes a good hyzer flip disc for you.

In the following list, we've included a variety of hyzer flip discs for both beginner and advanced players.

The Meteor is a mid range designed to hyzer flip though tight corridors and glide straight towards the basket. The perfect disc for beginners, the Meteor's sleek profile is designed to generate easy velocity for players with less arm speed. With a generous -3 turn rating, this mold will flip from a hyzer angle to flat at high speeds. When it slows down, it has a reliable little fade.

Also excellent for controlled turnover shots, the Meteor is a fantastic finesse disc that will carve up heavily wooded fairways. It is available in a wide variety of Discraft plastics, and the grippy yet durable ESP is very popular. For exceptional durability, the Big Z Meteor is the best option.

In the past year, MVP/Axiom has retooled their mid range lineup. The popular Axiom Hex is a slightly understable disc built for consistent and accurate hyzer flips. With just 1.6cm of height, this disc has a very low profile that fits comfortably in any hand. If you hate domey tops, this is the disc for you.

For intermediate to advanced players, the Hex has just enough turn to throw a hyzer flip at full power. Once it gets up to flat, it's going to ride out straight before the fade takes over. One of the best hyzer flip discs for higher power players, we have the Axiom Hex available in several different plastic options.

A longtime staple in the Innova starter pack, the Leopard is the quintessential beginner fairway driver. For many players, this is the first hyzer flip disc in the bag. It is understable enough to allow lower power throwers to flip it up to flat. Bigger arms will be able to put the Leopard on a steep release angle and flip it all the way over for beautiful drifting turnover shots.

We have the classic Leopard available in grippy and durable Star plastic. For most players this will start as a straight flyer and wear in to a hyzer flip machine. A few years ago Innova released the Leopard3, a faster variation with more distance potential. We also have the Leopard3 available in Halo Star plastic.

Often compared to the Innova Leopard, the Patriot offers similar flight characteristics but with a bit more speed. It is a great hyzer flip disc that generates big distance with less effort. Built to fly straight, the Patriot is one of the best discs out there for technical tunnel shots that require a bit of flip to find the fairway.

Legacy discs is a relatively small company owned by southern California disc golf legend Steve Rico. The Patriot is a perfect introduction to their unique product line, and it is available in our store now in the grippy and durable Icon plastic blend.

Designed to bridge the gap between the midrange and fairway driver slot, the Stalker has the wide diameter of a mid range with the speed and stability of a driver. This is the best hyzer flip disc for power players who prefer not to throw mid ranges. Many online testimonials note that it feels like a faster Buzzz, the flagship Discraft mid range.

Unlike most fairway drivers, the Stalker has a bead on the bottom of the rim. While this does grant it a bit of extra stability, particularly in the low speed fade portion of its flight, the bead is not for everyone. The Stalker is not understable enough to be a great hyzer flip disc for beginners. We have the special edition 5x Paige Pierce Stalker available now in ESP plastic.

The TL3 is understable cousin to Innova's flagship fairway driver, the Teebird. While advanced players use the Teebird for a hyzer flip throw, beginners and intermediate players will find the TL3 much more forgiving on flip shots. It is a straight flyer that is easy to control. While it is a slightly understable disc, it will take a bit of power to activate the -1 turn.

If you want to throw a brand new TL3 on a hyzer flip, we recommend trying it out in lighter weights. At max weight and in premium plastic like Champion or Halo Star, it will start off as a stable fairway workhorse. Once broken in, it will develop into a reliable hyzer flip disc. Both the standard Star and premium Halo Star TL3 are available in our store now.

With tremendous glide and a generous amount of turn, the Falk is an understable disc that will flip to flat from a hyzer angle. This is a great option for beginners looking for a fast yet controllable driver. Given enough space to work, advanced players will be able to flip the Falk over on massive flex lines.

Kastaplast's highly rated K1 blend provides excellent durability. This Swedish company is known for its high quality plastic that has a tacky, grippy feel without being too sticky.

True to its name, the Sidewinder's large amount of turn make it an excellent hyzer flip disc golf driver for beginners. Since it is so easy to throw, it is the perfect bridge from the fairway to the distance driver category. Players who have graduated from fairway drivers will instantly see extra max distance from a Sidewinder. Higher power players will be find it useful for rollers and finesse turnovers.

With a low profile and somewhat flat top, the Sidewinder fits very comfortably in the sidearm driver grip. This an excellent understable disc for developing hyzer flip forehand shots. In premium plastics like Champion Glow and Halo Star, the Sidewinder will start out neutral and beat in to understable, while the G Star and DX versions will be more true to the flight rating immediately.

A great similar option is Innova's Roadrunner - check out our Roadrunner vs Sidewinder comparison.

The Impulse is an understable and low profile driver that, like the Sidewinder, is a great tool for learning to hyzer flip faster discs. With a wide 2.0cm rim and low 1.4cm height, it takes a strong and confident grip to get the Impulse up to speed. This makes it a good choice for intermediate to advanced players who can already flip mid ranges and fairway drivers.

Get it up to the proper speed and the Impulse will get exceptional glide. Where other discs are fading out early, this distance driver will continue penetrating forward. Available now in our store in popular Neutron plastic, check out the MVP Neutron Impulse for some instant additional distance on your next hyzer flip shot.

The D3 Max is a very fast maximum distance driver for advanced players looking for an understable bomber. A more throwable version of Prodigy's popular D3 distance driver, this is a great disc for those who have mastered the hyzer flip shot and are looking to increase their range.

If you have the power to flip over the D3 Max onto a flex line, it will glide for a very long distance. Its moderate 1.5 fade will keep this disc from turning and burning. Available now in our store, the D3 Max in 400 plastic is an excellent option for advanced players looking for more power with less effort.

When it comes to hyzer flip shots, you really can't go wrong with any understable disc golf disc. You can find a huge inventory of understable discs in our online ship including: understable midrange discs, understable fairway drivers, and understable distance drivers.

More Disc Golf Disc Reviews

The Best Disc Golf Putters For Beginners

The Best Axiom & MVP Understable Drivers

The Best Innova Discs For Forehand Shots

When I first started playing, my friend Cyrus told me that I needed to throw hyzerflips. I was mesmerized by his stories of these legendary shots that would fly dead straight with easy distance and great control. It was like hearing about a unicorn. Unfortunately, I had no clue what he was talking about. I tried throwing them like he instructed, but I just got simple hyzers or shots that rolled over and crashed. I just assumed I couldn’t throw hyzerflips – whatever they were – and moved on.

A year later, I was doing field work and threw an understable Hatchet. It flipped up and went dead straight past my distance drivers. Cyrus had been right; I saw the unicorn. However, while I could get them to work in the field, I was still uncomfortable trying to throw hyzerflips on the course. Manipulating a less stable disc to fly straight seemed riskier than just throwing an overstable disc that would overcome my swing flaws and do the same thing every time.

Maybe you feel the same way. I understand that sentiment, but I pushed through and now hyzerflips are a key part of my game. They are extremely useful – especially for lower-power players. They are also the best way to learn to shape shots and control the full flight of your disc.

So, what are hyzerflips and how can you add them to your game?

The simplest explanation of a hyzerflip is an understable disc thrown on a hyzer angle. Thrown righthand backhand (RHBH), the hyzer release overcomes an understable disc’s tendency to turn to the right; instead, the disc will rotate to a flat position (“flip to flat”) and then fly straight. If the disc is very understable, the disc will drift to the right towards the end of its flight. This is sometimes called a “hyzerflip to turn” shot on disc golf commentary.

Hyzerflips thrown with more stable discs will usually hold a straight flight and then smoothly fade out to the left as they lose speed. You are getting a full flight and using the understability of the disc to your benefit, so throwing smooth, rather than hard, is the goal.

The key to hyzerflips is balancing these three factors: disc stability, degree of hyzer angle, and arm speed. A disc that is too overstable for your arm speed will hyzer out and never flip up. A very understable disc thrown with too little hyzer or too much power will flip all the way over and roll. You need to balance the disc’s understability with the correct amount of power and angle. This may sound complicated, but it is much easier in practice.

First, you need to take a good look at your game – can you effectively hit a consistent hyzer angle? If so, then the rest of the process will be much easier. However, if you always throw on anhyzer (perhaps because you have been trying to throw discs that are too overstable) then you may need to work on being able to throw a reliable hyzer. Once that is in your arsenal, you are ready to work on hyzerflips.

Get your most understable disc and throw it on hyzer. Start slowly and see whether it will flip to flat. Try throwing at different speeds and with more and less hyzer. There is a point where the correct combination of angle and power will get the flight you want. Also experiment with your footwork because a standstill hyzer flip is a powerful weapon. You may be shocked at how far and straight you can throw a flippy fairway or mid from a standstill. A shot like this can revolutionize your play in the woods.

You will need to experiment with being able to reliably change these three factors to get the flights you want. The easiest thing to change is, of course, your disc selection. If a disc isn’t flipping to flat, then just get a more understable disc. This is not always the solution, however, because very understable discs are also usually extremely sensitive to angle and power. It is easy for them to flip over too much and produce a confidence-crushing roller.

It is natural to find that you are more comfortable changing either your angle or your speed. The best players can do both, but sometimes trying to throw harder ruins your timing or you lose velocity when you try to add more hyzer angle. Modifying either angle or speed can work, but see whether you are more comfortable changing one factor from throw to throw. The goal is to find an angle and speed you can throw consistently.

Once you get the feeling for it, move towards hyzerflipping more stable discs. You will reach a point where you can’t generate enough pace to get the disc to flip to flat on even a slight hyzer angle. Once you find this stability threshold where your discs stay on hyzer without flipping up, you will have discovered which of your discs will hyzerflip and can start experimenting with angles and power to see how you can change the flights.

If you combine variations in stability, power, and angle, you can throw a huge variety of shots. If you want to throw it harder, just add more hyzer. If you have to throw it softer to hit a gap, choose a more understable disc and throw it slightly flatter. If you increase the hyzer or throw it slower, the disc will turn later or not at all; if you increase the speed or throw it flatter, it will turn more and start turning earlier. Once you get the hang for the kinds of adjustments you feel comfortable making, you will discover that you can get your discs to turn or fade at different points in their flight.

Perhaps the best use of the hyzerflip is to be able to hit tight lines and keep the disc moving straight — or even get it to turn right at the end of its flight. This adds another tool to go alongside your forehands and turnovers and is especially useful in the woods. Keeping an overstable disc flying straight requires throwing it very hard, which can make hitting tight lines difficult. The hyzerflip gives you more accuracy with less power and usually provides a softer landing.

Turnovers often ride a consistent arc through their flight. One of the great advantages of a hyzerflip is being able to blend the straight portion of the flight with late turn or fade. This is an important part of great shotmaking. One of the great skills of the true artists of disc flight like Dave Feldberg or Nikko Locastro is the ability to control exactly when a disc will change direction. One way to do that is by dialing in your hyzerflips.

The hyzerflip is also a great way for lower power players to get extra distance. Instead of flexing an overstable disc that wants to get to the ground, the hyzerflip uses an understable disc’s ability to glide and stay in the air to your advantage. The slow flip and ride of a hyzerflip chews up distance and reduces the tendency of these discs to flip over – by the time the disc has flipped to flat, much of the initial velocity is gone, so the disc’s turn will be more mellow and longer lasting than if it had been thrown flat. While a giant sky anhyzer has more maximum distance potential, that shot requires a lot more air clearance to throw. The hyzerflip adds extra distance while also remaining very accurate.

You may find that your arm speed only allows you to throw hyzerflips with understable fairways and mids. That’s fine. I actually find that my hyzerflip Roadrunners will often land out with my distance drivers. However, if you have the arm speed for it, a hyzerflip is a great way to throw understable or beat-in drivers. Creating a hyzerflip driver is one advantage of cycling your discs. You can throw them hard with hyzer, have them flip up, and then get a nice gentle fade when their remaining low speed stability kicks in at the end of the flight.

Hyzerflips also help you build a more versatile forehand. Perhaps unsurprisingly for a player who honed his game in the woods of North Carolina, Jeremy Koling is a great forehand player who can work angles and hit lots of lines. His game is not built around a power forehand like Eagle McMahon’s; instead, Koling often hyzerflips understable discs which allows him to throw incredibly tight lines:

Koling

All the lessons of learning the backhand hyzerflip can also be used to develop a hyzerflip forehand. As you incorporate this shot into your game, make sure to experiment with a standstill forehand with an understable fairway. It is a great weapon when you have awkward footing or need to hit a tight gap.

For all their utility, there is more to worry about when throwing a hyzerflip rather than a simple flat shot. You can throw a Firebird and always have a good idea of how it will fly; hyzerflipping a Leopard brings in more variables. You need to hit the right angle and speed to get the shot you want. Therefore, dialing in your discs in field work is important. Once you have found discs you can trust and have a good feeling for how to throw them, however, hyzerflips can be very reliable.

Hyzerflips can also be harder to throw in the wind. Since it is a shot that changes its angle as it flies, wind can make the flight unpredictable. A headwind or tailwind will change the amount of angle and speed you need to get the flight you want. Also, since a hyzerflip comes out on a hyzer angle, crosswinds can prevent the disc from flipping flat or shove it offline. Don’t run away from hyzerflips in light wind but use your field work to figure out which discs you can trust in tougher conditions. If it is really howling, I would keep the hyzerflip in the bullpen and throw other shots instead.

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Hyzerflips allow you to take more ownership of your shotmaking. It is a way to move away from throwing a shot that just has one shape – like a hyzer backhand that moves consistently to the left – and lets you decide how and when the disc will move. There is nothing better for your confidence than being able to dial up different shot shapes on command. It is also a shot that is a good fit for many of the discs that lower power players are already using. It will allow you to get more out of your Jades, Leopards, and Comets.

Even if you are reluctant to throw hyzerflips in competition, try them in the field. It is a great way to test whether you can consistently hit the angles you want and change speeds reliably. I bet once you have thrown some, you won’t be able to resist trying them out when it counts. I think your rating will thank you.