Trying to learn new throws

[billnchristy]

A little background:

My wife and I started playing in 1999-2000 at Newport News park with some friends. When we moved to Saratoga NY there was really nothing there public to play so we put the discs away and didnt play for years.

We are now in the Atlanta area and just recently started checking out the courses and of course buying some new discs and trying to get better.

We have hit Lenora, East Roswell, and Redan and are planning on making the rounds to the others (Central Park this weekend) and obviously anxiously awaiting Alexander's opening day.

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We always threw forehand and could maybe, if I was lucky, hit about 150ft and my wife about 100ft on drives...well we saw some dudes throwing what I could best describe as a backhand side arm shot at East Roswell last week so we emulated and had no problem going over 200' but obviously need to practice for accuracy.

We decided to go out to the closest park from work to just throw and see how far we could get and I managed to throw her Archangel over the ballfield fence (215') and at least another 100' out to the curb of the access road...dead straight.

When I throw our Teerex like this it rolls over and I can maybe get 175' or so...in fact I think I threw the shark farther. What's going on here?

I am sure this all stems from suck technique and maybe this style is not the "normal" way to go but I really like it because it does not require brute force like the forehand style seems to need to get any distance. I could also really see a difference in the discs where with the other style they all pretty much flew the same for me...fade right, so much so that I have learned to throw to the left and let it fade back straight...but you can see where this becomes limited in the woods and such.

I guess the best thing to do would be to actually hang out with some folks who don't suck. :)

We have in our bag (and share)

Gazelle and (this has been my main disc for years) Gazelle Pro
Stingray (wife's standard disc)
Teerex (actually bought for little daughter just because it has a dino on it)
Archangel (we just got this with the starter kit...wife likes but I can obviously throw it better...probably need another)
Shark (just got too, can throw good sidearm)
#2 Roller (dunno why we bought, but I got a good throw from it too)
#4 Driver (another not sure)
Aviar Putter (wifes putter...practically cant touch it)
Birdie Putter (have adopted this one since wife steals aviar)

[EclipticOne]

the teerex is a super-fast and overstable driver so you have to put a lot of power and speed on the disc to make it go far. other than that you can look up youtube vids and see some discraft clinics for good tips on your drives.

[billnchristy]

So I am probably not putting enough juice on it and making it flip?

Does the opposite apply to the mid-rangers? If you put too much on them will they roll over?

I will try to watch some videos, I never thought watching someone would actually help but it worked magic the other day so why not?

[garublador]

I'm confused as to how you are throwing. Which hand are you using and are you throwing forehand or backhand using the same terminology as tennis? I'm also confused by how you're using the word "flip" and the phrase "rolls over." The disc golf termiology isn't always intuitive and I'm not sure if you're using them backwards from what I'd expect or not. It will make a big difference if you are.

[billnchristy]

I dont know...haha

I am left handed.
I guess I actually side arm.

What I mean with the disc is that it will go from flat to on its side and sometimes flip over completely and dive into the ground.

On the bright-side I screwed up a drive at Lenora today, it rolled to its side and rolled about another 90' in the direction of the basket...first time my #2 roller actually rolled...

[Ball-Z]

When you are about to throw what part of your hand is facing the basket?
Back-Backhand
Front (palm)- Forehand (sidearm, I think)
If you're throwing backhand, lefty, and the disc is turning hard right, your not throwing hard enough
this is called a Hyzer type of flight
If it turns left your throwing too hard for that disc,
this is called turnover when its out of control and an Anhyzer when it recovers then fades back right
For forehand everything is the opposite
For right hand everything is opposite of everything I've already written.
Are you confused enough yet? LOL!

[billnchristy]

Ok so I am throwing too soft regardless because backhand everything curves right and forehand everything curves left.

Now, with the gazelle is this possibly just fade at the end? I was getting 250-300' with it today but it still went left at the end of every flight.

[Ball-Z]

yes MOST discs are going to fade toward the hyzer at the end of the flight. So, in your case, angle that sucker to the left (tilt it) when you throw and it should go left thenstraight then right. This is called an S-turn. Tilt it to much and you will experience a turnover.
Also try the powergrip and the X-step to get more oopmf. Throwing HARD is kind of misleading, you need speed and spin. I've seen kids chuck them further than I can.

[billnchristy]

Wow, I threw like a big fat sack of ass today.

We played Central Park for the first time (really liked it) and I really really tried to lose my Gazelle...woods, creeks...man o man I sucked.

It was fun though.

My wife sank 2 70' putts with her damn driver...how about that crap!!??
(To be fair she missed about 5 10 footers too...hehe)

[NovaDiscHead]

On the backhand, you need to concentrate on your wrist snap. Try throwing without ANY arm movement, just use your wrist. You will need to do this and figure out how the discs react to different release angles and speeds. When you can do that for 100 feet, then start using your arm, concentrate on a smooth arm movement, but don't drop your shoulder, because that will give you a nose up release angle, and make your throw go up and to the left. FInally, you will be able to add a step up routine to your throw and get over 300 feet with a good step up, maybe close to 400 if you have a good run up.

I would reccommend checking out the following discs as well, as I find them to be superior forehand discs:

Champion Beast
Champion Orc
Champion Groove
Star Starfire

Good luck!