I could use some help...

[luma]

Hi,

I've started this game about 2 months ago and have only practised some basics (such as having an X-step or pull the disc instead of that curling motion I used to do as a child). During the throw I just try to accelerate into the throw and have a nice follow-through just like I do in ball golf.

Now, as I've read a lot about techniques and all of that stuff, I think that i drop down a little when I start the pull and I don't know, but maybe my stance during the throw is a little wide. One thing I definately have a problem is is my throw height. I throw discs as high as 30' usually, so I think I have a problem with throwing it nose down but I really don't know how to do that.... Another thing I realised watching pros on youtube is their left leg as it straightens during the throw...why do I not have this?

Anyway, I hope I am on the right track with my guessings and I would appreciate every comment about my throw and what I can do better - concerning Power (Throwing around 350' with the casual Fluke 380') and also Accuracy.

Thanks Everyone!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz9nKIeG3tA

[seabas22]

Nice high speed footage. Your elbow is not quite getting forward of the shoulder. At 1:04 it really shows you lifting the rear toes up and pushing your weight forward way early and from the heel...you want to hold your weight back(preferably balanced on your rear toes/instep of the foot) until your front foot has braced. Then transfer your weight forward. You may notice many top throwers don't let the rear heel touch the ground. I'd also suggest working your body around disc, keeping the disc still in place going into the backswing pivoting your body back. You are bringing the disc back instead. Also you want to glide your front forward forward and transfer your weight more from behind you, so your balance is going to change in order to do that.

[luma]

Ok, thanks. That is going to be a lot of work...but I'll try to practce it today right away. Thanks for your help!

[JR]

Hi your arm rises late in the throw and you don't push the wrist down hard once the elbow starts to straighten out. That creates the nose up attitude to the disc. Slowing down the step makes pushing with the left leg forward and backward with the right leg way way easier. You kicked the right leg toward the target with the final step by lifting the leg at the hip joint which made the final step too long. You need to move the elbow forward at least 8" before straightening it. The down to up video showed the disc slipping out around 3 o'clock which is too early so you need to pinch like hell with the thumb and the index finger at least possibly the middle finger too. Possibly earlier too.

[luma]

So if I get that right, that down to up view should be a straight line ideally and not have that little curve of the disc in it?
That thing with the elbow...is there something to practice it (not throwing discs but to get the feel?) - that is pretty much the most difficult thing for me to do because its somehow an unnatural movement for me.

[JR]

Right pec drill is what you wanna search for. I'm not sure what you mean with your question about the down to up video. Blake drew a diagram of no snap vs half hitting vs full hitting a little time ago. Ideally the disc should rip out of the hand when the thumb separates from the disc at over 4 o'clock up to almost 6 o'clock with the front of the disc being at 12 o'clock and the rear of the tee at 6 o'clock. That difference is large in distance and gripping strength requirement. Additionally often times the disc travels closer to the target with the arm being straighter with a higher number on the clock. The disc should pivot between the tips of the index finger after the disc leaves the base of the thumb.

[luma]

Ok thanks Will play a few hours today and try to work on that.

[masterbeato]

also, when practicing everything, it is important to do it from a standstill until you cant go anywhere else with your timing, then start slow adding a step here and there.

[luma]

Ok...two more questions - as I've tried this for a fews days now, I think 1 step backwards 2 steps forward is what I have to think about right? Or is this something that should work straight away...?
And the other question..is there any feel that I can try and add while practicing, I'm not that "technical" guy, I prefer having a feel for things that I do (at least that's what works in ball golf)..With that right pec drill, when I try and throw like this I try and pull the disc while holding back my upper body until the disc has reached my right pec, from there on I really try and give it a good snap...but the disc usually goes up like gas prizes....

[JR]

Stand still where you start your throw and reach back as far as you plant to use in that throw and watch how high the disc is relative to the pull line you plant to use. For a non climbing shot the disc needs to maintain constant altitude and the higher you pull the harder it is to raise the arm even more so perhaps starting at shoulder height would help. So for the feel thing. Do a mock arm movement from the reach back to the rip point and focus on how it feels to keep the arm at the same height while watching the disc to make sure that it maintains height and then repeat that same feeling in the actual throw.

Another feel thing is the pressure of the rim against the index finger after the elbow has started accelerating. But first you need to know how it feels. So do you? If you do that is the second thing to feel and try to feel once you cure the high throws. Which can have lots of other causes such as the wrist rising and the disc being oriented nose up in the grip or being weight back. You know how it feels to be upright so make sure you are when the disc leaves so that is feeling number 3.