Throwing order and stance: the rules explained
Lowest score on the last hole tees first, then the player farthest from the basket throws. When you let go, keep a supporting point on your lie and none closer to the basket than your marker.
Rules covered
802.01, 802.02, 802.04, 802.07. Summaries follow the PDGA Official Rules, 2026 edition.
802.01What counts as a throw
A throw is releasing a disc as a real attempt to move it to a new spot. Every throw counts on your score unless a rule says to ignore it, and penalty throws are added on top. When a throw is ignored, the penalties it earned are ignored too.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.01)
802.02Order on the first tee
On the first hole, players tee off in the order they are listed on the scorecard.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.02)
802.02Order on later tees
On every tee after the first, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole throws first, then the next lowest, and so on. Players who tied keep the order they had on the hole before.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.02)
802.02Who throws next after the tee
Once everyone has teed off, the player whose lie is farthest from the basket throws next. If two lies are the same distance, the one that got there first goes first. You may throw out of turn if the next player agrees, or if your throw can’t affect them. Throwing out of turn otherwise is a courtesy violation.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.02)
802.04Teeing off
Your first throw on a hole starts from the teeing area: the tee pad, or with no pad, the area 3 m (10 ft) back from the line between the tee markers. When you let go, at least one supporting point must be on the teeing area and none may be off it. Stepping off the pad after the release is fine. Breaking this is a stance violation: one penalty throw.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.04)
802.07Stance at a marked lie
When your lie is marked, at the moment you release the disc at least one supporting point must touch the lie, none may be closer to the basket than the back edge of your marker, and all must be in bounds. A supporting point is any part of you touching the ground or something holding you up. Run-ups and follow-throughs past the marker are fine once the disc is gone, except for putts.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.07)
802.07Stance violations
Breaking a stance rule, on the tee, at your lie or in a drop zone, costs one penalty throw. The throw itself still counts.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.07)
802.07Throwing from a drop zone
A drop zone is played either like a teeing area, with a supporting point inside the zone, or like a marked lie, depending on how it’s set up.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.07)
See also
Rule summaries are based on the PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf. Shot Lab is not affiliated with the PDGA.
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