Having all shots in your bag... a must if possible?

[NotACoolName]

If my body, bones, back, and muscles allowed it, should I have all shots in my bag (out of the following):

Backhand Forehand / Sidearm HALF Thumber Thumber HALF Tomahawk Full Tomahawk

Because it is dropping my game down. It feels like I'm starting over, because, instead of just sticking to two things (backhand and sidearm), I'm using all the shots at different times - trying to learn them all. That makes it more difficult to play my best at this time.

Is this the right way to go about learning? Or should I do what makes me better now?

(Which, sometimes a half tomahawk feels better than a short flick/sidearm.)

[DWill]

Personally, I think it's best to perfect one shot then to try and half ass all of them. If it was me, I would stick to one until I could confidently throw that shot the majority of the time, then I would slowly work in another shot and repeat. You need to crawl before you walk.

[Donovan]

Ummm, you should probalby add the Roller, Grenade, Skip-Curve, and a few others. :)

[bazkitcase5]

how much practice time do you normally have? if you could take 30-40 discs to an open field, throw down, back, down, back, that is 120-160 throws and will generally take 2 hours or less

this develops the throwing muscles faster and is like playing 6-8 rounds worth of disc golf, in the time it takes to play 1 round - all serious players do field practice

if you do this, you will be much more likely to develop these shots faster and will then feel much more confidence when using them out on the course, as well as learning how these shots work for you and in what situations each shot is best used for...

personally, I am primarily backhand and I feel like I am good at turnover shots, so I only use my side arm when the shot requires it or it is truly the best shot for that particular scenario, but I do practice my side arm - I only use tomahawks and thumbers for get out of trouble shots or when I feel like nothing else will work better

if you put in the time to learn the shots properly and when to use them, then the more shots you have in your arsenal, the better - however, when you are in a tournament round or any round you want to take serious, it is best to only use the shots you feel the most confidence with

[_.-Dut-._]

Personally, I think it's best to perfect one shot then to try and half ass all of them. If it was me, I would stick to one until I could confidently throw that shot the majority of the time, then I would slowly work in another shot and repeat. You need to crawl before you walk.

^^ Agreed.

I would become very consistent to whatever style it is you preference, be it sidearm or backhand. From my own experience getting a sidearm and a thumber has helped my game, but my backhand was acceptable (by my own standards) before I worried about adding different shots.

Field practice is the best way to speed all this up.

[SimonCarr]

I think backhand is the most important shot to have because of the distance that can be generated from it. Not to mention, that most courses are designed with RHBH throwers in mind.

Sidearm is a very helpful shot to have. It is great for right turning drives, getting out of trouble, throwing approach shots and even putting if you have practiced it.

Tomahawk and Thumber shots are great to be able to throw - but I would not carry multiple discs just for overhand shots. If you can throw a random driver 150 feet overhand (thumber or tomahawk) then that should be good enough to get you by.

[valkyriefb11]

I think backhand is the most important shot to have because of the distance that can be generated from it. Not to mention, that most courses are designed with RHBH throwers in mind.

Sidearm is a very helpful shot to have. It is great for right turning drives, getting out of trouble, throwing approach shots and even putting if you have practiced it.

Tomahawk and Thumber shots are great to be able to throw - but I would not carry multiple discs just for overhand shots. If you can throw a random driver 150 feet overhand (thumber or tomahawk) then that should be good enough to get you by.

Im still working on improving my backhand. This is to me the most important shot in the bag.
Sidearm is coming as I try it out - it is useful but not neccessary
The tomahawk I just knew how to do - I dont get much distance from it but it is useful in certain situations
Id love to throw rollers, but I cant throw them for the life of me ... something I need to work on.

[dobbins66]

I throw primarily Forehand, Backhand is reserved for putting and approaches from within 175'. I also throw Thumbers and Forehand Rollers regularily and with pretty good consistency. That's enough variety for me right now.

[solomon.trenton]

If my body, bones, back, and muscles allowed it, should I have all shots in my bag (out of the following):

Backhand Forehand / Sidearm HALF Thumber Thumber HALF Tomahawk Full Tomahawk

Because it is dropping my game down. It feels like I'm starting over, because, instead of just sticking to two things (backhand and sidearm), I'm using all the shots at different times - trying to learn them all. That makes it more difficult to play my best at this time.

Is this the right way to go about learning? Or should I do what makes me better now?

(Which, sometimes a half tomahawk feels better than a short flick/sidearm.)

dump these shots

HALF Thumber
Thumber
HALF Tomahawk

[giles]

I know how to do every type of shot with an amount of competence and throw them all whenever I get the chance. It isn't in an attempt to lower my scores so much as it makes the game more fun for me. Scoobys and turbo putts are extremely fun and useful shots that I don't see many people throw. I also don't throw the same line every time on holes I play frequently. Money on the line or not.

[garublador]

IMO, line shaping is more important than learning to throw the opposite way (forehand vs. backhand) as you normally throw. Backhand is preferred because of the distance and control you can achieve while minimizing the risk of injury (ask Scott Stokley), but people have done well with forehand (ask Geoff Bennett).

Knowing a bunch of little trick shots sorta well will actually get you pretty far. They're mostly useful for "get out of trouble" approach shots. I'd put overhand shots in this category, but they're probalby the most important of these types of shots. You'll get diminishing returns out of spending time on these shots, though. You get a lot more out of going from "incmpenant" to "OK" at them than you do going from "OK" to "really good."

[RustyP]

For the majority of golfers out there, the backhand throw and putt are the most important and most often used shots...these are the cornerstone of most people's game, so I'd recommend putting those at the top of your "to practice" list (especially putting).

Forehand will definitely come in handy, but I'd recommend working on all angles of backhand throws before worrying too much about throwing forehand. In many cases, a well-thrown anhyzer will work just as well, if not better than, a forehand throw.

Rollers can come in VERY handy, but it can be a difficult shot to learn...and if you don't have a well-honed backhand drive, a roller can go very wrong and get you into big trouble. Focus on this once you're confident in your backhand anhyzer (for backhand rollers).

"Trick" shots like thumbers, tomahawks, scoobies, chicken-wings, etc are really fun to practice in my opinion...I like to mix them into my regular field practice just to keep it interesting. You'd be surprised how much trouble a decent trick shot game can get you out of, and sometimes it'll open up new lanes that you wouldn't normally be able to hit with a traditional backhand or forehand.

...and if you're ever in doubt about what to do on any given day...GO PUTT :D

[NotACoolName]

I forgot to mention I throw primarily forehand.

dump these shots

HALF Thumber
Thumber
HALF Tomahawk

What is wrong with a half-thumber and a half-tomahawk (no barrel roll)?

Should I just learn it later and practice mainly on my forehand drives and backhand putts?

I also forgot the roller. It gets me out of trouble a lot.

[SigmaChris]

What is a half thumber and half tomahawk? Thanks for the insight...

[giles]

A half thumber is a grenade and a half tomahawk is a pancake. does that help or make it more confusing?

[_.-Dut-._]

A half thumber is a grenade and a half tomahawk is a pancake. does that help or make it more confusing?

A grenade is when the disc is thrown on a knife hyzer line with the disc upside down, with your thumb in the rim.

A half thumber Im guessing would be about the same as a pancake, where you throw it light enough to where it turns left and lands on its top.

Also, if you can get a thumber out to around 300' you can start finding some great shots overtop of things and its pretty darn accurate approach shot.

Im primarily backhand, but the thumber might be the second best shot in my arsenal. Just my opinion.

[lewisville150]

Can anyone explain how the different names for the same throws came to be? Is it a regional thing? Just curious about it all.

[NotACoolName]

A half thumber Im guessing would be about the same as a pancake, where you throw it light enough to where it turns left and lands on its top.


Yeah, that's correct.

[MrDger]

If my body, bones, back, and muscles allowed it, should I have all shots in my bag (out of the following):

Backhand Forehand / Sidearm HALF Thumber Thumber HALF Tomahawk Full Tomahawk

Because it is dropping my game down. It feels like I'm starting over, because, instead of just sticking to two things (backhand and sidearm), I'm using all the shots at different times - trying to learn them all. That makes it more difficult to play my best at this time.

Is this the right way to go about learning? Or should I do what makes me better now?

(Which, sometimes a half tomahawk feels better than a short flick/sidearm.)

I throw RHBH for pretty much every throw, but the only other shots I really worry about having warmed up and ready are my forehand, tomahawk, and I guess what you would call a 'half tomahawk'. On my home course, there's at least two or three holes where I use my forehand on a regular basis for approach shots, not to mention just those random times where I use it to get out of trouble.

My tomahawk I only use to get out of trouble, but I use my 'half-tomahawk' on a much more regular basis for short approach shots through or over rough. I think besides and backhand, I use the half-tomahawk the most with the best results. I'd recommend learning that shot quickly.

As far as putting goes, I use the turbo-putt from time to time when the line calls for it. I use the flippy-putt whenever inside 5-7 feet, really reliable.

[harr0140]

Wow Ive got a lot to learn. First I'll try and keep my discs straight! I'll update you all when I do.

[agentdozzer]

I was just a forearm player till this year I tried the thumber, what a life saver I use it all the time. I just started rolling hole two at Idlewild after seeing the success of others, seems to work for that hole. Rollers are a regional thing they might not work well on hilly courses. Learn the thumber!! It is awesome it has opened up so many new lanes, and the up and over option is a great tool. I like the thumber on a windy day it takes the wind out of play.

[DannyM]

If you are planning on playing some tournaments, and you want to be competitive, having backhand, forehand drives AND upshots are vital. A thumber/tomahawk shot will definately be an asset. Then having a good knowledge of a roller will also help shave some strokes off your game at times. What will help some is if you are primarily a backhand player, go and play a round <or even just 9 holes> as nothing but forehand <except putts>. Yes your score will suffer, or just don't keep score, but you will learn different shots/angles what disc works what doesn't, etc.... Same can be said with those that throw forehand primarily....try a round or 9 holes backhand. Some of the best players I've played against, or seen at tourneys have both a forehand and backhand drive game.

[giles]

oops,, that is right, a grenade is the same as a scooby... Some of the different names come from different disc sports like ultimate or freestyle.

[t i m]

in practice, don't feel bad about keeping two different scores -- one for forehand and one for backhand -- my roommate and I used to do this when we were learning both drives. other options include all thumbers/pancakes off the teepad (or for your upshots), all rollers off the box, etc...

[t i m]

oops,, that is right, a grenade is the same as a scooby... Some of the different names come from different disc sports like ultimate or freestyle.

I thought a "grenade" was thrown with the disc upside down, thumb inside, but the throwing motion was like a RHBH spike hyzer.

I always threw a "scoober" vertical, thumb inside, but the throwing motion starts high, over the left shoulder, almost like a BHBH anhyzer but with a flip of the wrist at the release -- it flies a similar line to a hammer/pancake... great at getting out of trouble sometimes in the woods because the whole throwing motion is short and not interfered with as much by bushes and trees.

[leathercash]

I'm just going to stick with nice easy BH and FH shots,nothing fancy all year starting in march.

[thatguy]

Don't forget the flick. I think it's important to have these shots and to practice them. You never know what situation you might fall into that requires a shot that you haven't practiced. Just because you have the ability and can pull them off doesn't mean you have to use them all the time. I found that it's just a good habitt to be able to pull off certain shots at certain moments where your comfort zone is pushed to the limits.

[Ishulebest]

I am primarily RHBH, can throw RHFH somewhat ok. I plan to learn a Thumber and Scooby this year. Right now,after 2 straight years of playing with injuries , I have been just trying to eliminate the bad habits I have picked while trying to play hurt, instead of trying to learn new tricks. I see alot more people using these 2 shots with great success.

[RustyP]

I am primarily RHBH, can throw RHFH somewhat ok. I plan to learn a Thumber and Scooby this year. Right now,after 2 straight years of playing with injuries , I have been just trying to eliminate the bad habits I have picked while trying to play hurt, instead of trying to learn new tricks. I see alot more people using these 2 shots with great success.

Make sure you REALLY focus on proper form on those forehand shots...those can seriously mess up your arm if you're not careful. Make sure the fingerprint area is pressing against the inside wall of the rim (as opposed to pressing against the bottom of the plate) and go for a smooth flick of the wrist at about shoulder height. If you want the disc to start lower, bend your body down, but don't drop your arm. Releasing below the shoulder is what causes most of the arm strain (especially in the elbow).

[solomon.trenton]

Ummm, you should probalby add the Roller, Grenade, Skip-Curve, and a few others. :)

what are the grenade and skip curve?

[Glynis27]

I have been playing now for 4-5 years and threw nothing besides tomahawk for anything over 70 feet until this past fall. My backhand just couldn't go further than 80' for some reason and I had no control with forearm. I am now able to get my backhands to go 200' and can hit 300' sometimes with forearm, but it tears up my shoulder bad.

I would say pick 2 throws and work on them until you have them down and then work on a new one. I am trying new stuff but always have my tomahawk to fall back on when I need it.

[Ishulebest]

Make sure you REALLY focus on proper form on those forehand shots...those can seriously mess up your arm if you're not careful. Make sure the fingerprint area is pressing against the inside wall of the rim (as opposed to pressing against the bottom of the plate) and go for a smooth flick of the wrist at about shoulder height. If you want the disc to start lower, bend your body down, but don't drop your arm. Releasing below the shoulder is what causes most of the arm strain (especially in the elbow).

Well I have some pretty long arms and struggled at first,but a good friend of mine made the same points you make and it helped me out alot with less arm use, and more wrist mechanics. He told me he could tell I used to play baseball because I was trying to throw the disc the same way when it came to my wrist and arm motion. He noticed me dropping my arm alot and I have been able to correct it more and more. ALOT less stress on the elbow when I execute the proper mechanics. As you pointed out, I have to really be focused on the proper mechanics, cause when I'm not I can tell before the disc gets 6 inches out of my hand.