Critique my drives

[Meast918]

I have been play for awhile now and have been placing in the top ten at all the tourneys i have played in (MA3) and drive fairly well in comparison to people in my same division. Looking for any tips or things that could help me out. Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlze9VBJ8Y0

[Omega SuperSloth]

looks like that video napolian dynamites uncle made "this has to be like the worst video ever made " looks pretty good no hitch good release angle you did foot fault though:) i dont know how you could improve on it are you lookin for more d ?

[Olorin]

What a great way to learn by posting videos and asking for feeback!

I can't offer much since I'm not very good myself. You've got really good snap and power. Disc seems to be level and at a good height. Good follow through. Watch out for foot faults (see at ~30 sec).

Not to take away from DGCR but DG Review would also be a good place to check. Look in the throw analysis (http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/throwanalysis.shtml) section.

Emulating Walt Haney would always be good.

[Olorin]

Oh yeah... next time it would be good to take it from the other side so that we can see your arm and wrist action.

[Lewis]

Giving yourself two more feet of room is worth avoiding a foot fault, especially when the tee box ends in an "ankle snapper" edge.

I agree it looks like you've got lots of power and snap, and much better coordination than Uncle Rico, but I'd like to see it from a different angle, maybe with a wider angle shot from your open side, so we don't miss anything.

[_.-Dut-._]

Im not great at anaylizing throwing videos, however, it would appear that your not getting your weight forward/over your pivot point. Allowing yourself to look away from the basket should help with your reach back aswell. It looks like you dont want to lose sight of the target, restricting your upper body motion.

As Olorin mentioned, Discgolfreview.com is also a great place to post this vid.


The video link below is also a great step by step instructional to drive form.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nED7gcXobEo

[Meast918]

Yeah thanks for the notes on the foot fault I have been really working on that but for some reason its not clicking and most of those drives were around 270-300 ft, I am looking for more distance with more consistency

[garublador]

You're starting your pull too early. You've already started by the time your pivot foot hits the ground. You shouldn't start until after (not even at the same time as) you plant your pivot foot.

I agree there's a lot we could be missing because of the angle, but it looks like a really good start. You have a lot better pivot than a lot of people. The video Dut posted is excellent. It is benefitial to anyone not throwing fairway drivers >400'.

[Lewis]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that it takes some ability, and not simply practice, to throw discs over 400'. I get the impression that throwing a disc 400 feet is akin to hitting a golf ball 300 yards, or throwing a baseball over 80mph: it takes some ability on top of excellent form. I'm not saying my dg form is anywhere near perfect, but I can drive a golf ball 300 yards, while my disc golf drives max out at about 360' on flat terrain. And I hear some people on this and other sites say that few disc golfers ever learn to throw 400'. Maybe pros should expect to, but few of us are good enough at any sport to play at a pro level.

I say all this because it can be discouraging to hold someone of average ability to such a high standard. Great if you can, and a noble goal, but it's probably too high an expectation for most of us.

[BENFTS]

oh yea foot fault. i laugh because i got hit for that like three times in my first tourney. also you look like you let go of the disc a bit too high. go a little lower and you should notice some more snap. work on you foot work and take a longer last step, this too will help with your snap and distance.

[discflinger]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that it takes some ability, and not simply practice, to throw discs over 400'. I get the impression that throwing a disc 400 feet is akin to hitting a golf ball 300 yards, or throwing a baseball over 80mph: it takes some ability on top of excellent form. I'm not saying my dg form is anywhere near perfect, but I can drive a golf ball 300 yards, while my disc golf drives max out at about 360' on flat terrain. And I hear some people on this and other sites say that few disc golfers ever learn to throw 400'. Maybe pros should expect to, but few of us are good enough at any sport to play at a pro level.

I say all this because it can be discouraging to hold someone of average ability to such a high standard. Great if you can, and a noble goal, but it's probably too high an expectation for most of us.

You can do it! I play with a 50 something year old who bombs and only stands like 5'5! It helps that he's been playing over 20 years, but it's all in the form.

[Lewis]

Hmm. Maybe I should go buy a video camera so y'all can critique my form. I may have more flaws than I realize. :|

[brennan]

edit: Disregard that, I didn't notice that someone already suggested posting these at DGR.

[_.-Dut-._]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that it takes some ability, and not simply practice, to throw discs over 400'. I get the impression that throwing a disc 400 feet is akin to hitting a golf ball 300 yards, or throwing a baseball over 80mph: it takes some ability on top of excellent form. I'm not saying my dg form is anywhere near perfect, but I can drive a golf ball 300 yards, while my disc golf drives max out at about 360' on flat terrain. And I hear some people on this and other sites say that few disc golfers ever learn to throw 400'. Maybe pros should expect to, but few of us are good enough at any sport to play at a pro level.

I say all this because it can be discouraging to hold someone of average ability to such a high standard. Great if you can, and a noble goal, but it's probably too high an expectation for most of us.

I dont think 400' is the standard, as like you said it seems the majority can not throw that far. With that being said my longest tosses break 400' and don't feel like my form is nearly as good as should be.

[thatguy]

Just keep practicing, If you're staying competative, that's all that matters!

[garublador]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that it takes some ability, and not simply practice, to throw discs over 400'. I get the impression that throwing a disc 400 feet is akin to hitting a golf ball 300 yards, or throwing a baseball over 80mph: it takes some ability on top of excellent form. I'm not saying my dg form is anywhere near perfect, but I can drive a golf ball 300 yards, while my disc golf drives max out at about 360' on flat terrain. And I hear some people on this and other sites say that few disc golfers ever learn to throw 400'. Maybe pros should expect to, but few of us are good enough at any sport to play at a pro level.

I say all this because it can be discouraging to hold someone of average ability to such a high standard. Great if you can, and a noble goal, but it's probably too high an expectation for most of us.I'm not saying throwing fairway drivers >400' is standard, I'm saying the video will help just about everybody.

[mzuleger]

This angle is hard to srr but a couple things I would recommend:

Work on acceleration into the hit. Slow your arm speed down a little in your "back swing"

Transfer your wieght forward.

Lead with your elbow a little more, the disc should pass your right pec before you start extending your elbow.

I know I refer to this video too often but it really is great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nED7gcXobEo

[Meast918]

Hey all, I appreciate the comments that you all have shared I filmed two more sets of throws, but this time from a view that you can see the front. More suggestions would be great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GR6Q_HPtfI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7CCeJdJJdk

[Omega SuperSloth]

Theo Rico hola looks very consistent from throw to throw, if your gettin 350ft+ then stick with it

[_.-Dut-._]

Seems like your arming it, looking at it in frames it seems your pulling your arm thru instead of letting your shoulder pull it.

Weight forward seems to be an issue and your still refusing to lose sight of the target.

[craigg]

Seems obvious to me :) My pro tip for the day.......
If you want to increase your distance, you need to turn your back. Reach back and torso rotation is what generates arm speed and snap.
It looks to me like your hips and shoulders start at about 11 oclock and finish at 5 oclock (if 12 is the direction of your throw. You need to start your hips and shoulders at about 8:30 or 9 oclock and reach from 6:30/7 oclock.
Trust me it will feel a little weird at first - because you seem to be keeping your target sighted during your entire motion - so turning your back (i.e. losing site of your target momentarily) will mess with your release point a little. But it's just a little readjustment to your timing.
Reaching back further actually makes it feel like less effort for the same or more distance - give it a try.

[Lewis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb7hqpMjsSg&feature=related

Really clever video here. It shows you what to imitate, in full speed, slow motion, and freeze-frame at critical points in the throw. It's a great model for the reach-back.

[kunipshunfit]

I see two main things.

1 - You seem to be throwing from your left shoulder, down.

2 - You seem to be lifting your head at the middle/end of your throw.

Now for more detail.
1 - When you start your throw and are lining it up, going through your release motion, you look fine, however when you pull back, your disc is not traveling on a straight line. When you pull back you seem to be pulling, with your wrist above your (left) shoulder. So that if you paused the video with your arm back for your pull, your arm is not straight, it is angled. When you come through with your release, you seem to be coming 'downward' more so than you are coming forward. You may get a bit more distance if you take some of that energy and move it towards the pull coming out straight.

2 - Each time I watched all 3 of your video's the main thing that stood out was your head. It never moves. It also seems like you are 'choking' yourself.
What I mean is - it seems like when you are pulling back, your arm is almost chopping your head off, and when you start and in the middle of your pull, it seems like you are just 'uncoiling' your arm from around your neck. This almost looks like you are just arming the throw. I would suggest turning your head through the throw. Let your head follow your wrist. Almost like your nose was attached via string to your wrist.

Again - just my 2 cents.

[Omega SuperSloth]

now that ive seen it a few times i still think its pretty good, nice and compact the only thing i see that might help is to start the disc off higher up more at your shoulders but the way you throw downwards is good but right now it looks like your release is at your waist. other then that dude i wouldnt change it up to much we all have our own natural style if you start going against that your going start throwin to much with your head and start doing barkley stuff just try adding little changes to your current swing and then go back and forth and see what works,with how compact your throw is i think you could lose some of that run up, not sayin that will work just to give it a try

[Lewis]

There's an article about Charles Barkley and his golf swing in Sports Illustrated. It's almost sad how bad he is, and how much he's putting himself through to improve. They're probably paying him pretty well to be on the show, but it sounds like he's got lots of pro golfers watching and mocking him who don't have the guts to go against him on the basketball court. I'm sure it's not as bad as the SI article makes it sound, but I know I wouldn't want that much attention given to my flaws.

[Omega SuperSloth]

did you see the old vid of how good he was 15-20 years ago

[treethacker]

How do you do the X step if you start with your back to the basket? Seems like you would just be asking to twist your ankle and spin yourself in a big circle and then release the disc with a griplock.
Two years and drives still no further than maybe 220' or so. I pretty much have just decided that a distance of 300' is gonna take two throws (and good ones)to get to the basket.
Maybe I should get a camera and film my drives then you would see that your not throwing bad at all!!;)

[craigg]

How do you do the X step if you start with your back to the basket? Seems like you would just be asking to twist your ankle and spin yourself in a big circle and then release the disc with a griplock.
Two years and drives still no further than maybe 220' or so. I pretty much have just decided that a distance of 300' is gonna take two throws (and good ones)to get to the basket.
Maybe I should get a camera and film my drives then you would see that your not throwing bad at all!!;)

You don't start with your back to the basket (although teaching yourself the turn can be done this way). It's the cross step that ALLOWS you to turn your back to the basket, thus increasing reach, and making it possible to use your torso to be the generator of arm speed and snap. Without your torso as the generator - all you're using is arm.

A more simple way to think about it is......throw with or from your middle. Find your center, and use it as the source of energy for your throw. To do this takes a combination of footwork, timing, and "the turn".
I recently got a camera that can take video - I'll see about trying to post what I'm talking about.

[treethacker]

I can kind of understand what you are saying,although it still sounds like griplock city. A video of what you mean would be nice.

[Meast918]

Thanks everyone. I started moving my head with the disc like it was on a string (great tip) and snapped more when I released and definitely added at least 50 ft. Using this style I birdied a 500ft hole at my home course. Great tips, thanks a lot.