Looking at Blake's website Here (http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/analysis/justinjernigan.shtml) is an example of someone looking back on the reach back and Here (http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/analysis/walterhaney.shtml) is an example of someone who looks more to the side/front on the reach back. Recently I've been getting some instructional tips from a local pro to stop looking back and keep looking forward as much as possible in order to improve my accuracy. Does anyone have any idea if head angle on the reach back really relates that much to accuracy? When I keep my head from turning all the way back I tend to end up with anhyzer on my trajectory without gaining any accuracy. That may be due to doing something unfamiliar that isn't in my muscle memory. My opinion is that you have to take your eyes off the target at least a little bit in order to get a full reach back. Does it make that much difference whether you head swivels back to 180� from the target or stays pinned on your shoulder to only look back 90� from the target?

Here is a side by side of the relevant frames:


http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/images/jjernigan3-4.jpg

http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/images/whaney3-3.jpg

Whether or not I turn my head away from the target is determined by how hard I'm throwing.
For me I generally keep my head facing the target on approaches inside 200 feet. Between 200 and 260 I turn my head away partially while keeping the target within my peripheral vision.
Drives or long approaches over 260 I will turn my head briefly as I require more of a shoulder turn to generate enough controlled power to deliver the shot.
I used to think it was always better to keep the target within view to maintain accuracy, especially on wooded courses. However I've come to realize that on drives, by not turning my head I was not only sacrificing power but also accuracy as I was stopping short of a full reach back. You should always reach back 180 degrees away from your target to set up for an accurate release.
My two cents.

I think I agree. Head pointing back I would think would tend to have you losing some sight/tracking/orientation etc, which would work against accuracy. However, looking back also lets you rotate more, with perhaps better leverage, more effortless swing, etc, which would tend to increase accuracy. So I say it's a wash. I personally would prefer head back, but it depends on the person/throw etc.

Some local pros around here collectively estimated a 7% reduction in distance by not turning the head all the way straight back...but instead by looking off to the side. The tradeoff was increased accuracy at the expense of some 'D'. So a regular 400' drive (for them) would typically lose @ 28'.

This was their opinion.
Their .02, too. ;)

I set up where I want the disc to go with my body orientation and I don't keep my eye on the target at all. Which seems to work, but I'm not saying its consistent pinpoint accuracy. Seems to me that Climo and Schultz both look at their targets throughout most of their throw, only for a very brief amount of time during the furthest part of their reach back does their heads go to the side.

I know that I have been told by a few top pros (maybe barry cant remember) it is best to keep your eyes on the target as long as possible. It will be natural for you to have to take your eyes off the target for a short second. This doesnt mean that you have to keep your head facing sideways you can turn it so you are facing backwards as your shoulder turns to its fullest. If that makes sense to anyone?

This is just what I have found works for me best. Another thing that works better for my accuracy is to not stand and eye down my target for too long. I like to find my target look down and then look up as I start my x-step so I dont have a lot of time for my eyes to wonder from my target.

*edit* I should add that when I do keep my eyes on the target I still get a pretty full reach back. I dont turn my head in order to take some power off of my throw for a shorter shot, accuracy over distance.

Considering where you play, and Bud Hill has the longest holes out there in Memphis ~430ft shooting into that Orchard before the "pond" hole. I would remain concentrated on accuracy.

What I always tell recreational players at our local course when they ask me how to throw far is to just be concerned on accuracy and putting, the distance will come. This is also not bad advice to a tournament player. Most golf holes do not require you to throw over 400ft to get a 3. Now to get a two you will need a +400ft drive.

Personally when going for big distance, during my run up in my x-step my back is fully turned away from my target, this however is when I am starting to turn my shoulders after my hips start rotating. I did this in slow motion to show him what he was doing wrong with his run up. I do not agree that if you take your eyes off the target you will lose accuracy. For most of my run up my eyes are facing away or down in relation to my target.

As long as you lead with your shoulder and hips your accuracy probably wont be affected much by turning your head away. I say probably wont because I know that it is usually different for each person as to what works best.

My drives tend to be a little more accurate when I keep my eyes on the target most of the time because I do take some power off of it for more of a finesse shot.

I can't attest to whether turning your back from the target is good, bad or indifferent; however, I turn far away from the target period. In fact I don't even utilize a direct view of the target in my throw. I utilize two tools to gain accuracy. First, I make an image of the target in my mind. When I turn away from the target I utilize that image to keep me oriented. Second, I draw a line that I want to throw down (that line isn't necessarily drawn straight to the target). When I extend back, my arm is directed back along that line. At the same time I have a mental image of the target and the place I am throwing to in relation to the target. My pull is along the line and to the place I am throwing to.

When I am focused and keep a mental image I tend to hit my mark with very good consistancy. However, distractions can cause a loss of focus.

On short throws I do not take my eyes of the target and do have greater accuracy even with some distractions.

Read Scott Stokely's stuff. He has three styles (I believe). A short game, a mid game, and a long game. On his mid and long games he turns (or turned) from the basket. The longer the throw, the more the turn.

I dont think there is an argument on whether to turn your "back" from the target, because honestly its just what happens in the throw. We are just discussing turning the head.

When I throw, I keep my head square with my body and looking straight ahead in relation to my sholders. The only time I look at the basket is before the throw when I stand at the back of the teebox. Once I get a feeling where the target is, I don't need to keep looking at it. I can tell exactly where the disc is going to go by the way I throw it. The basket isn't going anywhere, so what good does it do to look at it through your throw? In fact, the only time I actually look at the basket when I throw is when I'm under 40' for a putt. And I have a deadly acurate approach game.

I think the concept is similar to ball golf. In BG, they teach you to keep your head down through the whole throw. The reasoning behind this is that the body follows where the head points. If you are looking up, it pulls your shoulders up, and you pull the club across the top of the ball causing a great loss in distance and accuracy. The best way to hit the ball is to be looking at the ball through your whole swing and follow-through.

I used to look at the basket when I threw, but it caused alot of back pain and sub-par results in my drives. When my head is "neutral", My distance and accuracy is greatly improved!

what ever works best!!

I dont think there is an argument on whether to turn your "back" from the target, because honestly its just what happens in the throw. We are just discussing turning the head.



Ouch! Should have said head instead of back. Pretty much my face directs the same way my chest does.