How to Compensate for Small Hands

[GTomp]

I have small hands and need help compensating for them. My thumb in a power grip can't go over my index finger like it's supposed to. This leads to some inaccuracy at times. How can I overcome this problem to enhance my game?

[Apothecary]

throw smaller discs.

[vtbuzzz]

Throw a river

[JR]

Thinner discs and discs without wide wings help both are even better. I've had surgery that still left pinched nerves that are aggravated by pushing down the thumb on any discs and it's way worse on tall discs. I've grown half accustomed to wider wings over time but no matter the disc i don't get a full disc pivot in the thumb lock almost all of the time. It doesn't matter if i try to actively pinch ahead of time or try to do automatic pinch to prevent dropping things on yourself subconscious pinch.

Finger strength and hand squeeze strength exercise helps. Grippers and finger tip push ups for example. Powerball. Don't overdo these so that you avoid joint damage and tendonitis. Or overworking your arm nerves.

[luke.baker]

Hmm, are you sure you need to compensate for your hand size? I've found in the past people think they're unique in some way that prevents them from holding a disc like everyone else and often they're exaggerating differences that they may have. You may be the exception and actually need to compensate.

[vtbuzzz]

Do burger king burgers make your hands look smaller?

[JR]

Hmm, are you sure you need to compensate for your hand size? I've found in the past people think they're unique in some way that prevents them from holding a disc like everyone else and often they're exaggerating differences that they may have. You may be the exception and actually need to compensate.

I'm sure this is the case for many. I have high speed camera footage confirming the lack of full disc pivot of my throws. I need to take more vids because today was the first day ever when i got the modified power grip to work. And the added bonus was that it worked much more easily and less straining to my injuries than stack grip with every disc. KC Aviar and Rocs didn't stick once in field practice. This means a need to do shootouts for straight putter role and mids for at least rear winds. Glo Z Buzzz vs DX 180 Ranchero in right rear wind was more favorable for the Roc because the Buzzz varied in D a lot because the Roc was way more resistant to height changes from the wind. Range control was way easier with the Roc.

Modified power grip for wide winged drivers especially left my middle and ring finger tips flatter and the skin white in some parts and red mostly. Way more stress and way harder rips. Some D increase i think but can't trust the results because of the wind.

[Blake_T]

hand size definitely comes into play, but to what extent depends on the type of disc you are throwing.

the shorter your index finger (especially the middle segment), the less leverage you can apply on a disc rim, and if the rim width comes close to (or exceeds) the length of the middle segment of your index finger, there are discs you will get terrible leverage on using standard grips = lots of micro-slips = you can't snap the hell out of it consistently.

switching grips is one way to help. a stacked grip where lay 2 segments of the index finger on the rim and then stack the middle (and if you can, the ring too) on top of the index can eliminate these. lowering your pull line will also help boost leverage. using a middle finger lock grip (such as a fan with an emphasis on the middle finger) can also help.

these can compensate a bit but you will still have better consistency throwing discs that you can easily lever. to write off hand size in disc golf is like saying that pitchers or guitarists with long fingers don't have an advantage or that it's not an advantage to be able to easily palm a basketball.

[GTomp]

hand size definitely comes into play, but to what extent depends on the type of disc you are throwing.

the shorter your index finger (especially the middle segment), the less leverage you can apply on a disc rim, and if the rim width comes close to (or exceeds) the length of the middle segment of your index finger, there are discs you will get terrible leverage on using standard grips = lots of micro-slips = you can't snap the hell out of it consistently.

switching grips is one way to help. a stacked grip where lay 2 segments of the index finger on the rim and then stack the middle (and if you can, the ring too) on top of the index can eliminate these. lowering your pull line will also help boost leverage. using a middle finger lock grip (such as a fan with an emphasis on the middle finger) can also help.

these can compensate a bit but you will still have better consistency throwing discs that you can easily lever. to write off hand size in disc golf is like saying that pitchers or guitarists with long fingers don't have an advantage or that it's not an advantage to be able to easily palm a basketball.

Thank you for the tips. I've been working on a modified power grip and I think I have a grip that I can use. Though I'm using your grip idea for mid-range shots with great success.

[Blake_T]

np. my hands are the size of a 5'3" woman's hands. i have trouble gripping anything wider than a valkyrie heh.

[fanter]

np. my hands are the size of a 5'3" woman's hands. i have trouble gripping anything wider than a valkyrie heh.

In that case, I'll be passing your tips on to my girlfriend. She's throwing ~160g Comets right now and ~150g Leopards. She has some Valkyries but has mostly dropped them to work with Leopards. I've had a lot of trouble trying to work with her grip because a Leopard probably feels wider to her than it does to me. Same with the Valkyries. If I knew a way to relate our hand sizes, like Valkyrie:me::Leopard:her, then I think I could communicate grip tips a little easier.

[Itchy]

What about throwing sidearm? Seems the disc fits my hands easier that way. But I feel you, look in my sig to see the little wing drivers I throw because wide wings slip out of my hands. I'm no expert but I've spent the last year or so really trying to make up for it by bettering my throw. Luckily there's a lot of good topics and helpful people around here.

[mickas]

ohhh boby12, you always crack me up, and somehow, at the same time, manage to provide the best of advice.

[new013]

Viagra hand lotion

[biodarwin]

Hmm, are you sure you need to compensate for your hand size? I've found in the past people think they're unique in some way that prevents them from holding a disc like everyone else and often they're exaggerating differences that they may have. You may be the exception and actually need to compensate.

Quoted for truth. I hardly doubt Paige Pierce has monster hands and can out throw the vast majority of this forum.