I have been finally giving backhand a try. I re drive most holes with backhand to get used to it, but it still isnt working out for me yet. I can throw midranges fine. probably 200'-250'. its nothing special, but its a step in the right direction. But when i throw drivers, they dont go as far as the midranges. its most likely because my run up is slow, but it still bothers me. i cant speed up my throw the slightest bit or i have griplock and i throw the disc 20* right of my desired line. any sugestions? I know most are going to say practice, but i was hoping there was somehting new i could try.

Increase your reach back, and keep your arm close to your body during the pullthrough. Then "pullstart the engine and smack a midget"(not sure if that's the direct quote) Also, you don't need much of a run up at all...there's locals that have a nice smooth x-step but rarely break 300' and there's also some that just take one "plant" step and get them roughly 400' So for now, just focus on the reachback/pullthrough without even using a big or fast run-up..at this point, everything is about smoothness. Hope this helps

I'm no pro nor do I throw crazy long drives, but one thing that has helped me on the pull back, pull through is:

Basically....when I throw my arm goes in a small "d" motion.
I start my arm going back at the top part of the circle, then I bring it around (staying in a circle motion) too the bottom part of the circle which forces the shoulders & body to pivot.
Once you're pivoted is when your ready to pull the disc in a straight line across your chest. You're elbow will naturally bend as you're coming back across the chest, then straighten the elbow & release.
( ^ I hope that makes sense ^ )
The above all has too be timed in with your steps though which takes practice.

The only thing stopping me now from getting more distance is the smacking of the midget (which I am getting better at)

And I only do a 3-step crossstep. 3 fast steps, release.

I might also want to mention, before I start my steps, my right shoulder is pointing at the basket , my arm is straight out in front of me, fully extended, wrist down. Then I do the steps & the "d" motion with the arm.

ya know, thats the one thing i have forgotten to do. i never get a good reach back.
i think the x step gets me in a rhytm, and makes the throw go more consistently. right now i really am focusing on smooth throws, but they are still very slow. i will work on that reach back though. i think thats what im missing.
Old Tyme, that definatly makes sense. i like the idea of tracing a big D. i think that will help. ill let you know how it goes tomorrow. unfortunatly its getting dark here, and i dont have time for a round today. :(

I just tried out some stuff today, and i am doing much better than i every have. im getting better reach backs, and now im staring my throw after my right foot finally plants in my un up. i only grip locked one, and thats pretty good for me, considering that i started out throwing one good drive for every 10 bad drives.

thanks for the help. im already seeing a great advantage of backhand over forearm. i really think this is going to improve my game a lot.

jared:

from the sound of it you likely aren't getting enough nose down for your drivers to fly as well. midranges and putters are much less nose down dependent and will carry further with more of a neutral nose angle, whereas many of the newer drivers require 10 degrees or more of nose down to really get their intended flight.

it was correct that starting the pull before the plant step was likely causing your grip lock (which is the second most common problem with not getting the weight forward probably being the first).

if you are trying to hone a driver technique (not sure what you are throwing), you may find it easier to make the transition working your way up the speed and nose dependency levels of drivers. for most players they are able to make the jump to newer discs from the tier 1 drivers.

easiest to throw (old school drivers): cobra, storm, eclipse, panther, lightning #2/#3 flyer.

tier 1 drivers: sabre, raven, cheetah, gazelle, cyclone, polaris ls, voyager, leopard, xl.

hope this could help

Today was even better. i used backhand as much as i could. im having luck with using a TeeBird, and today i almost threw 300' with it(on a football field). i like my Z xl too, its definatly a runner up.
i as noticing that today i was getting the nose down more because i was reaching back much better. i started out throwing more from my lower chest than my armpit, but i really tried to keep my arm flat during the reachback and follow through today. im throwing my aproaches alot better too using the same technique, just minus the runup.

my problem is remembering to do everything correctly every time. when i can do everything smoothly its great, but there are times where will throw wayy far off to the right and realise i didnt reach back correctly, or i turned my shoulders before my hips etc.

thanks for the help blake. (BTW, just read your putting article in the mag. nice work. i got a copy when i bought my revolution bag)

what you might want to do is practice that motion without really throwing. Just run up and concentrate on that reachback and your hip rotation. Do that maybe 50 to 100 times so you get used to it. Do it with a disc in your hand in semi slow motion untill your body gets the hang of it. The go out and worry about throwing. I do this alot without discs in my hand at work or in the mall or in front of a mirror just so my body remebers what its supposed to do.

I do this alot without discs in my hand at work



I wonder what people are thinking when you are practicing your form at work???

Glad to see it's coming along. I've thrown backhand since day one. I've somewhat learned to use a sidearm for situations where I don't have room to throw a backhand, but I'm much more accurate with a backhand throw.
My buddy throws strictly sidearm and his drives end up all over the place. He's a good player, but we started playing at the same time. My scores are getting better while his are staying the same.
He says 'back problems' are keeping him from throwing backhand, but I think it's stubbornness.

And another + for the TeeBird, I was throwing my friends today and I was amazed at how well it flew. It's a 175g DX & beat up a little bit but that thing flys straight as an arrow. No high speed turn, no low speed fade. Maybe it's just the way I throw it but I gotta get me one now...
(ps. I hope you don't read this Mr. Stubbornness.lol)

I wonder what people are thinking when you are practicing your form at work???



Prolly that im on crack :eek: :D:p

Hey thats not fair ive always thrown backhand and im still trying to learn that. Oh well ive only been playing for a month and a half

For a while my back hand was getting better and better, and i was getting far more power, but lately, i am having major problems with throwing the disc far off to the right. im figuring that its wrist roll, or possibly me throwing too nose up, but no matter what i try to change, i still do it. i am throwing with a level follow through, and i dont begin pulling the disc across my chest untill i have firmly planted my right foot, and i have been focusing on my hand to make sure that i am not rolling my wrist, but i still throw to the right.

it acts as if i am overpowering an understable disc, but it happens with all of my discs. is there somewhting besides wrist roll that it could be?

it acts as if i am overpowering an understable disc, but it happens with all of my discs. is there somewhting besides wrist roll that it could be?



http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/technique/bhproblemsright.shtml#anhyzer

ya know i read that a few days ago, but it didnt really make sense untill now. i think its that the disc is too far from my chest. its the only thing i really havent tried to fix. i always try tp make a 'd' pattern with my arm, but i dont think i am pulling it close enough. i didnt get a chance to DG today, but hopefuly i can go tomorrow. ill see what happens.