hi im new to disc golf but have know about it for a while. i just started playing about a week ago with my friend in college. i picked up 2 discs (eagle and birdie) and i started throwing sidearm...does it depend on how you like to throw or is it better to throw a certian way

I'd say it's better to learn to throw backhand, as sidearm limits you a bit (distance and shot-wise). I used to throw sidearm, but started throwing backhand last year as ther are lines you just can't really do as effectively with a backhand. (i.e. Relying on an sidearm with a overstable disc compare to a nice backhand anhyzer or a big sweeping hyzer compared to a sidearm turnover shot).

I agree with crdiscgolfer, I don't think there is anything wrong with sidearm, but I don't think that it should be your primary weapon. If you can learn both that would be the best because it never hurts to have more tricks in your bag. In general though if you are just starting pick one thing and work on it. I think backhand is probably your best bet because it is so much easier to do tricky stuff with a backhand shot around the pin. You can hyzer bomb, float in an annie, slow skip shot, or a straight low burn. I just didn't feel like I had the same amount of touch around the hole with a sidearm. So I decided to force myself to use my backhand until it became good (still working on that though, but getting better).

To truly reach your full potential, I think you should practice practice practice all types of throws - why limit yourself? If you can consistently and accurately throw backhand, sidearm, tomahawk, skip shot, etc. your game will improve, scores will lower, and you might even have more fun. /msgboard/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

i agree ^^^^^ also practise in a field as opposed to just playing rounds!! try different shots at the same target!!

To fly, flip away backhanded, flat flip flies straight, tilted flip curves - experiment. ;)

Sorry, couldn't resist....

Colby, keep working on the flick. There are more uses for it once you learn it than most think (i.e. you can flick in the tight woods off the tee on a 230ft hole) Also a flick roller is quite handy and can get you good distance.
But you must learn the backhand, and I know this. There is more margin for error in the flick than the backhand, and the backhand allow greater flexibility, overall. Don't work on too much at once.
And always work on your putt the most. Good luck!
Peace

Hi Colby :)

I agree with everyone. I have been playing since Sept last year and the first thing i got down was my backhand before i tried anything else. Finding your release points and getting the snap down. I am just now learning a sidearm (and i only use that when i have to) along with other techniques. I was told by one of the locals to learn the basics first. If you learn a tomahawk then that is all u will try and throw and then lose your backhand. So try to be versatile but find a throwing technique that you are comfortable with. Finding a comfortable stance for an upshot is great too. Putting is very important. Always practice that!!!!

...and remember that the most important part of the game is to have fun!!

thanks everyone. yeah i think i might go play today it looks nice. i practive putting in my dorm room cuz im not good so i got to get down the short ones and i just aim at a target like a pillow. i think i might try backhand today

Colby brings up a very important point here. When I first learned to play my BH drives were really short lazy hyzers. I didn't know anything about form and then one day just throught he disc like a baseball, my first tomahawk. I immediately put my worst drives out past my previous best and I could control it very easily from years of baseball. I did improve score wise for a while, but it was on a VERY open and short course. I then started to play on more traditional courses with trees and ceilings. I played in my first tourney, an Ice Bowl using the tomahawk as my main distance throw and only using backhand for short approaches (100 in). As I watched people who knew what they are doing play I realized that a backhand was something I needed to learn. So the whole next year I forced myself to play only backhand no matter how much I wanted to tommie a shot. While it was frustrating watching my buddy throw tommies past my drives I slowly improved and can now easily throw well past him. I also learned the difference in discs now and can let the disc do most of the work rather than having to take funny angles. Its just my personal experience, but if you ground yourself in the basics of the game the rest can come. I just learned that you have to start correctly and then learn the rest. Only good thing I got out of the tomahawk days is that its still a weapon when I have no lateral hole and have to go up and over stuff. Every shot has its use, but most would agree that the BH is the most fundamental. :)

...i practive putting in my dorm room...i just aim at a target like a pillow.


Box; hole. Within every co-ed's budget. ;)

...i practive putting in my dorm room...i just aim at a target like a pillow.


Box; hole. Within every co-ed's budget. ;)


You stole that idea from the great Bixby's use of the pizza box. Where has our "closet" friend been anyway?

Two things:


One, i primairly use my sidearm for almost all my shots. I've noticed that alot of courses have dog-leg right shots more than dog-leg left, so it works out great. I do have to agree though that having a reliable backhand is necessairy in order to have a well-balanced disc game. Before i developed my backhand, i would be playing against my friends and they would always gain a stroke or two on dog-leg lefts.



Two, instead of throwing around a field and having to walk all over to get your disc. If you just want to work on your throwing technique, try throwing into a soccer net. that way you don't have to go chasing all over for your disc, and you can concentrate strictly on your technique.

One problem I see with the soccer nets is that you would never see your disc in flight. While it would save you walking and allow you more releases, you won't know how the disc was going to fly and that is the most important thing. From 50' out I am sure a Cheetah and a Speed Demon would fly identical and while it may feel good to rip them in the net, you don't know where the shots will land. Landing where you want to is very important to learning the game. You need an open field so you can watch the disc fly and see if it flips or holds a hyzer or goes dead straight or whatever. The best way I can think of to save walking is to find a friend who throws almost the same distance as you and play catch. Can play with 2 discs and get a cool laugh if you ever manage to collide mid-flight. Try and land at your partners feet just like its a pole. It does require a buddy though, and if you can't find someone to throw with, just try putting it in the soccer nets from as far back as you can without hitting the netting.

But all that aside, my biggest recommendation for any newbie out there is to NOT throw any of the current "cool" high speed drivers. While everyone is throwing them a mile, they are not good for learning mechanics because they require great amounts of speed to throw. Start with a putter and when you can drive that well, move to a midrange. Once that is easy to throw, try an older slower driver. Only once those are predictable do you try throwing the new toys.

Learn the putter first. I learned it last and I suck. I'm just starting to dig myself out of this hole I'm in. Now I can really huck a putter, but cant throw a roc( insert your favorite midrange disc) Soon I'll be throwing mids for 300ft holes. Thanks to all the pros who said to learn a putter first.

I didn't mean to be misleading with the soccer net thing. Just that I know how all of my discs fly, and needed to work on my release, form, and technique like following through and release angles and such. ^^^ is right though, for a beginner, throwing blindly isn't such a good idea.

Never thought you were trying to mislead us. Just making sure that the newbies are watching their discs turn every which way. Plus its just cool to watch your first drive flip over. I will never forget the first time mine did... I thought a miracle had been sent to me from the heavens by slightly nudging the disc. That and watching discs fly is just so darn cool. If they weren't as fun to watch fly I wouldn't play this game. :D

That and watching discs fly is just so darn cool. If they weren't as fun to watch fly I wouldn't play this game. :D



And some people wonder where the term "disc golf dorks" came from.

But hey, I am not ashamed, I like seeing my disc turn into a small dot down the fairway. :cool:

Sir is your vision ok because your shot only went 250' :D:D

That and watching discs fly is just so darn cool. If they weren't as fun to watch fly I wouldn't play this game. :D



And some people wonder where the term "disc golf dorks" came from.

But hey, I am not ashamed, I like seeing my disc turn into a small dot down the fairway. :cool:


Hey I don't take offense to the term dork... my dorkiness will get me paid quite well in life. :D

i drive sidearm but i usually approach backhand. I can do backhand fair but with sidearm i can out drive all of my friends except for one. He drives backhand but he has been playing more and longer and he is better built than i am. But we do about the same.

I know the technique and everything for backhand but i just don't use it that much. Only to putt, approach, or on a hole that you must cut to the left.

Hope that helped any by telling my side-of-the-side-arm. :D :p

I've noticed that all the good players around here drive backhand, myself included. I personally think you get better distance backhand as well as more control. It is somewhat tough to learn after throwing backhand, but with patience you will never go back to sidearm.

Sure most long drives are thrown with a backhand, and it seems to be the majority of throws, but a good golfer should have both sidearm and backhand in their arsenal. There are many holes I played when looking from the teebox I would be able to nail if I had a decent sidearm, instead it is a backhand layup because the direction of the spin of the disc on a turnover backhand would adversely spit the disc off the green or landing zone.