Ok, I've been trying to simplify my throw a lot the past few months and noticed something yesterday while taking some practice throws and wanted everybody's input. I've been throwing a lot lately with just putters and midranges...trying to master throwing a straight disc straight, as dumb as it sounds. I've got a lot of confidence now in my short game, but have lost touch with my drivers, so I was out tossing them trying to compare flights between discs. In the past I'd bent my knees during my throw...I played a lot of baseball growing up, so I'm trying to generate power on my throws with my lower body. I've been trying to train myself in staying more upright during my throws, as staying low to the ground keeps the disc really low to the ground, which I think it partly what's causing my distance to plateau. I'm just not getting enough air under my shots to get the distance that I want. So throwing dozens of shots yesterday I noticed a few in a row really felt good, lots of pull back and snap, and things just felt crisper with what felt like less effort. I finally realized that on those shots, that my head had turned to the left (I throw RHBH) and I was actually looking at my disc in my hand on the reach back. Normally I've always been a believer of never taking my eye off what I'm aiming at, but looking back seems to allow me a few extra inches of reach back (maybe 6 inches to a foot). This doesn't seem like a lot of extra reach back, but it felt a lot better. It was a little awkward getting used to, but after a bit of practice it seemed to work pretty well. I'm not expecting to be able to drop bombs 550+ feet...realistically I can throw a driver on a flat release and get 350 and can get out over 400 with an open area on a big S crush with a champion boss or destroyer, and can get a buzz 300 on a flat throw and a pro rhyno maybe 270-280 throw flat. I know a lot of it is personal preference, but mechanically speaking, is it ok to be turning my head along with my right arm as I reach back? I've seen other people do it, but I've always wondered if it actually contributed anything on the throw. Or is this a bad habit waiting to happen? To me it seems to help, and I've been suprised at how consistently flat I've been releasing the disc briefly taking my eye of the target.

I have tried this too for awhile, I lost all my accuracy but maybe gained 20ft or so on some throws. I have seen some other people do it with accuracy so maybe it just takes time

a powerful x step creates nearly 3 ft greater reach back wich includes turning the torso and the head nearly 180 degrees from target.

Visit discgolfreview.com and go to Player Throw Analysis. Note in the videos and stills that nearly all the top players shown look away from the target during the reach back.

Some more than others: http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/analysis/jayreading.shtml (http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/analysis/jayreading.shtml)

Yeah, I've been meaning to take a look at some video and still pictures of some pros, but have been busy with work and the holidays and whatnot. Like I said earlier, it definitely feels better, but I didn't want to start myself down the path of a bad habit if possible. Plus it's always fun to hear other people's opinions and how they break down their own mechanics.

As Scott Stokely said, when using the Slingshot Technique (what he called the x-step and line of approach to your flight line) you have to decide if you are going for distance or accuracy.

on a accuracy throw, your head will remain online with your target or flight line.

on a distance/power throw, your head will turn away from your target or flight line. the more it turns away, the more power you can generate.

my head turns away from the target on anything over 300 feet.

my recommendation is the following. worry about accuracy, the distance will come.

just remember that slow is smooth. smooth is fast.

the slower and more deliberate with your technique you are the faster your throw will become as you work on the mechanics and muscle memory of it.

i have always turned my head so i really dont have an issue. I find if you line your target up with your shoulder you can turn your head and still hit your line for D. I do find making up shots and shorter tighter drives i keep my eye on the target and my line

This message really comes through in Scott's videos, he shows you both throws and explains how he came to the position of using two different throws and the benefits of each throw. He also tells you how to increase your accuracy when you turn your head away from the throw on a long throw by lining up the disc on the line you want to throw down on the reach back. Essentially, you have to read the hole you're throwing on and choose the appropriate shot to give you the longest distance, but still make your shot.


As Scott Stokely said, when using the Slingshot Technique (what he called the x-step and line of approach to your flight line) you have to decide if you are going for distance or accuracy.

on a accuracy throw, your head will remain online with your target or flight line.

on a distance/power throw, your head will turn away from your target or flight line. the more it turns away, the more power you can generate.

my head turns away from the target on anything over 300 feet.

my recommendation is the following. worry about accuracy, the distance will come.

just remember that slow is smooth. smooth is fast.

the slower and more deliberate with your technique you are the faster your throw will become as you work on the mechanics and muscle memory of it.

I've had a chance to play a few more rounds and can definitely say that this has been a change for the better. I've been paying more attention to where I'm lining up on the teepads and what line my arm and disc are going to take, and it seems to be helping with the accuracy. If my right hip and shoulder (RHBH) and facing the target when I reach back it seems pretty tough for my arm to not follow the rest of my body's momentum forward. It also seems like some of my discs are taking slightly different flight paths now...moreso on how they are intended to fly as opposed to how I was trying to make them fly. I do find myself still eyeing my target on upshots, but on those shots I'm not desiring a ton of reach back and power. Thanks again for everybody's input.

Turning your head 180 degrees away from the target allows your whole core to rotate further during the throw and definitely increases distance. Accuracy takes practice. You only have to look away from the target for a second.