I started playing again this summer after not having played for over 20 years. In May my average drive was probably about 120 feet. I have that up to around 180. These figures are on a flat surface with no wind.

I have thrown 255 with a light wind downhill.

I do not use a run up because when I do baaaad things happen man LOLOL. But is the improvement I've made good progress?

I'm really stiff and I feel like I could improve my distance if I had more flexibilty. And of course adding strength wouldn't hurt :-).

That's not too bad for NO RUNUP....

I only throw Comfortably with no Runup(and a putter) about 220 or so. Anythign more than that for me would be some type of run up(i dont' like to throw drivers or mids from a standstill)..

The lack of run up is what is going to limit your distance, but I guess it would be better to work on accuracy before distance. Get To the point where you can hit your distance and put it within 5-10 feet the line you want.

Try and be fluid and relaxed when you throw. Don't tense up your grip too early or your arm because that won't allow your wrist to bend and create snap on the disc. Try to think of it as snapping a towel to hit somoene. Although i don't think this is a great analogy it will help you understand what you need to do to create momentum/snap/spin on the disc. Your wrist needs to bend then come to a stop. when it comes to a stop that cretes the spin on the disc.

Hope that helped a little.

-Scott Lewis

I started playing again this summer after not having played for over 20 years. In May my average drive was probably about 120 feet. I have that up to around 180. These figures are on a flat surface with no wind.

I have thrown 255 with a light wind downhill.

I do not use a run up because when I do baaaad things happen man LOLOL. But is the improvement I've made good progress?

I'm really stiff and I feel like I could improve my distance if I had more flexibilty. And of course adding strength wouldn't hurt :-).



yeah thats good! 135 ft in just over 20 years...keep it up..in 20 more years you'll be able to park a few holes

but on the real.... If you get a run-up down (throw in a field a few times). You will add at least another 50 ft.

I do not use a run up because when I do baaaad things happen man LOLOL. But is the improvement I've made good progress?



what type of bad things? most run-up related control issues have a pretty easy fix.

I do not use a run up because when I do baaaad things happen man LOLOL. But is the improvement I've made good progress?



what type of bad things? most run-up related control issues have a pretty easy fix.



I know that personally, i cant throw much of a run up, because at least 50% of the time i have no controll over where im throwing it. ive stuck to forehand drives because of this reason, and i throw midranges backhand, only because i dont have to spin around and loose my orientation.

I know this is an issue with many of the new kids that have been starting to play in my area, and most of them have given up and now throw forehand because of it.

i think its a pretty hard thing to. im not surprised he chooses not to run up. it seems like a common answer to the frustration that learning to run up causes.

THe main thing with a run-up is:
YOU have to understand why you are doing it.

You don't just run up and try to throw the disc.
The point of the runup is to add more forward momentum and thus bea be able to produce more speed/spin on the disc.

I see a lot of people just running up and losing all their momentum before they throw the disc.

STicking to just forehands is a bad excuse to not learn a backhand, but if it works for you then so be it.

-Scott Lewis

STicking to just forehands is a bad excuse to not learn a backhand, but if it works for you then so be it.



i wouldnt call it an excuse, it was just how i started playing. when i take my eyes off of the target, i just never can throw where i want to throw. almost half the people i started playing with had the same problem, and im sure it dosent help that there wasnt an expert around to teach us. we tought ourselves, and for now, my forehand is much better than any backhand. i still use backhand drives on holes that dogleg left, but they probably go about half the distance of my normal drive, and with a lot less acuracy, even with a more controlled, slower run up.

this thread isnt about me though, i was just trying to say that I too dont have a good run up, because it can be a difficult thing to develop.

I play with a bunch of people who throw sidearm. I can throw sidearm too, and pretty well I might add. But you can improve your game [a LOT], and save your shoulder if you learn to X-step Backhand. Sure, the sidearm is a nice straightforward approach to throwing. You can stand still and throw it, and you can always be looking at your target. No problem. However, if you want to add some serious distance to your throw � not to say I haven't seen some people throw some SICK LONG side arms � it's like being a Thumber thrower and trying to do every shot with one type of throw. It's just plain silly to ram a square peg into a round hole. Learn to throw sidearm, backhand, thumber, tomahawk, roller, etc., they will all take strokes off your game. Why learn ONE throw and trying to do everything with it?

Maybe you�ve read this before � but this is how I learned the X-step, or "run-up".

A "run" up using the X-step can be a simple as three steps. Don't make it complicated. A LOT of people add steps before the X-step ... don't do this until you learn the three main steps down and working.

Learn this with a mid-range disc or putter! The trick here is when you learn to get your putter or mid-range to go far (requires more SPIN), you will really be able to get some serious distance with a fast driver later!

Grip the disc correctly. Learn a good grip that will keep the nose of your disc down.

First step: Right foot in front of left foot, 90 degrees to the throw line, disc out towards basket (point your disc at your target or focal point and use a stable straight disc to learn, MRV, DX ROC, Coyote, or even a putter ... something that flies straight, hold it flat, keep it flat, throw it low.)

Second step: X-step (bring you left fool behind you � toes should be pointing at your right hand) and reach back or swing back (swing back is when you drop and lift the disc on a line behind you, some like this because it "draws" a line to your focal/release/hit point so you can AIM (on reach back, straighten your arm and LOOK [turn your head away from the target] at your disc, this will rotate your shoulder/torso for a good wined-up. Line of arm = direction of flight = AIM, from disc to shoulder. Do not flex/bend your wrist, try to keep it straight, so it acts as a spring.

Third step: Right foot in direction of throw (about 80 degrees or less from target), throw (pull through on the same line your reach back was on when you pull the disc through, i.e., across your chest, FLAT, to the release [hit] at your focal point. On pull through, bend your elbow ... disc speed comes from your elbow speed and power comes from rotation as you twist your torso to throw. Spin comes from keeping your wrist straight.)

Follow though when you throw. Telegraph = your hand/arm follow the same line as your angle of release. Don�t raise your arm, lower your arm, or twist your wrist. Fast, firm and follow through on the same line.

It's not hard, and needs to be done slowly and in control.

Practice in a park, soccer field, etc., until you get some control.

Do it slowly ... you can get almost as much distance doing the X-step slowly, as you can doing it fast. Good technique is the key to distance.

Mid-range [short drive or upshot] X-step is a shorter (left foot goes about half as far back) and you don't have to look back when you reach. And you don�t have to reach as far.

You can practice the entire movement without throwing a disc.

Use a stable straight flying disc, so you don't have to worry about hyser/anhyser position of the disc to get it to go straight!

Throw it flat!

Practice, practice and more practice. When you can get good distance with a mid-range disc � move on to a fast driver.

There is nothing wrong with starting out with a driver, but you can get fooled into thinking you are improving, when in truth the driver is covering up poor technique. Why not learn to do it right first?

OR � you can just throw a sidearm all the time, and curse at the end of every round when you trying to figure out why your game isn�t getting any better � like a lot of my friends who throw sidearm on every shot. ;)

Thats great advice. I use an x step however i just started and that will probably help.

i also want to chime in and add that:

finding your disc back position and the position of your hit are very key to learning backhand. playing catch with someone is the BEST (by far) way to find these things. lots of throws will get you to groove it into your muscle memory. once it begins to feel natural... adding steps will be much easier to do. the disc back and hit positions must be intuitive when you're actually in the process of throwing... no amount of thinking or calculating them will result in a good throw unless you know them intuitively.

lots of throws is the key and catch is where it's at for that. you can't get on the course, tell yourself a bunch of stuff to think about while you throw, and actually execute it all with your head... no way.

Accuracy comes with consistent execution of foot work. Same size and distance of the steps. Try to keep the amount of rotation bewteen back and release constant. Consistent pull line between reach back and forward motion (all one plane)

Don't try to muscle the shot, smooth momentum and fast whip, not a huge grunt while pulling your shoulder out of socket.

timing and momentum combined with a longer reach back and stronger muscle groups pulling the disc makes the X step worth learning.

Go try this for a few dozen throws... you'll see.

i tried a drive Backhand today, and i have to say, i was quite surprised that it went so far. i was really throwing slowly, i used a Z Buzz, and it went about 200'. of course i can get it to go farther forehand, but i really muscle my shots forehand. backhand seems so smooth. with no effort, and a runup in slow motion, it was controlled and accurate.

i think i am finally learning backhand. i like it so much more. no more tennis elbow. everything is smooooth. forearm i feel like a major league pitcher. muscling the disc around and throwing it as hard as i can.

thanks for the tips guys. i know the thread wasnt for me, but ur advice is hepling.

I am now up to about 210 on a flat surface with a best of 249. My best downhill is now 273. Still no X-Step or runup. Can I hope to get to 300 without an X-Step or runup?

Will

On 9/22 I wrote...

"I started playing again this summer after not having played for over 20 years. In May my average drive was probably about 120 feet. I have that up to around 180. These figures are on a flat surface with no wind. I have thrown 255 with a light wind downhill."

you can hope to get 400.......just keep PracticinG

Absolutely; I average 375-ish with no runup (it f's up my timing completely).

Do you just turn & release? No steps at all?
Hmmm. I may have to try this. I'm gettting about 250-280 on a good throw. I'm guessing I have 0 snap on the release. Maybe elimating the steps would be a good place to start so I can concentrate on the snap. (?)

I tear up my shoes really bad when I use no run up on cement teepads. And I rely mostly on momentum from my run up to add power to my distance drives. If I drive under 400ft, I still use a run up however the steps are slower and I just concentrate on the rotation and follow through.