X step question

[nunez23]

So today I was out and noticed that I don't get much more distance when I do an X step as oppossed to having my feet planted and throwing. I throw RHBH and feel like I have preety good technique. Should I be seeing a lot more distance with my x step as opposed to without or is that pretty normal? I throw around 280' with my x step and maybe 270' without my x step. Suggestions?

[sidewinding]

I think the best way to learn a good X-step is to watch Scott Stokely's Distance Secrets DVD. He does a great job of teaching the basic fundamentals.

And yes...proper footwork is very valuable and should definitely add much more than 10'.

[srm_520]

I guess it begs to question how long have you been practicing your X step, and a lot will depend on your technique. Chances are you still may be generating most of your power from your arm rather than your core. Ideally, a good X step with the proper technique should result in more distance.

I would head out into an open field with a fair number of discs and focus on your arm motion in relation to your stance versus your X step. Then focus on generating your power and torque through your core rather than just your arm. It'll take some time to "re-learn" a throw and to have it feel comfortable. Also, there are a lot of instructional videos on YouTube that can be helpful in this area.

Good Luck!

[garublador]

Building your throw from the hit back like in the Dan Beato video will help immensily. One of the points of the exercise is to make sure each step you take is setting you up to maximize how you use your entire body. Many people don't, they just don't try to throw from a standstill like you did and they never notice.

[nunez23]

Yeah I plan on checking out the Beato and Stockley videos, I really started doing my x step maybe six months ago, so it is still pretty raw, it has helped out quite a bit but I know I can still get more out of it.
I'll be hitting a field soon to get my steps correct and re learn my throw, again.

[Camgolfer]

Yeah I plan on checking out the Beato and Stockley videos, I really started doing my x step maybe six months ago, so it is still pretty raw, it has helped out quite a bit but I know I can still get more out of it.
I'll be hitting a field soon to get my steps correct and re learn my throw, again.

Ill join you.

[Neophyte]

It is all about those core muscles. You might not be torquing (loading up) your body enough on the second step. While I have not fully mastered this I definitely saw a huge improvement in distance with with the step.

[nunez23]

I do torque back pretty far when i stand flat footed, it's not like it's just arm, I guess I'm just not getting as much as I can when I get my X step. Youtube here I come.

[Camgolfer]

I wanna see improvement tonight!

[nunez23]

Par member. SHO NUFF!!!

[Camgolfer]

Congrats on Par Member foo!

[Dthunderchicken]

Since hurting my back my X-step isn't what it used to be. Neither is my distance. A good X-step can add a lot of distance. It's worth pursuing.

[solomon.trenton]

the x step is designed to put all of your body weight behind your throw as opposed to just your upper.

[treethacker]

....but getting use to the x step so that your body weight is behind your throw is easier said than done! Still can not get my body to end up on the ball of my right foot and swing around. Just doesn't feel right. Has taken me forever to get my body to throw the disc they way it was meant to fly and not try to get all the distance by throwing as hard as I can.
The x step takes awhile to learn,it is not easy.

[treethacker]

I highly recommend the Dan Beato video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nED7gcXobEo
very helpful if you follow it!

[BrotherDave]

Yeah, my biggest hindrance to proper x step form seems to getting my lead feet off the ground. At 6'2", 210 lbs, I definitely believe in the adage that an object in motion stays in motion cuz it is hard for me to get in motion even though I used to play bball all the time. I just keep it slow, light on my feet, and loose.

[tamahawk]

I think the best way to learn a good X-step is to watch Scott Stokely's Distance Secrets DVD. He does a great job of teaching the basic fundamentals.

While I agree that Scott is a great player, and does a great job of explaining the X-Step in his video, I disagree somewhat with what he teaches being practical for the average player. None of the pro's that I have seen in tournament videos and in the Clash series throw like Scott's video explains.

For me, the Climo/Feldberg fundamentals DVD was more practical for the average player. IMO.

[innova]

http://www.uoregon.edu/~dfeldber/golf/throwfar.htm

When learning the x-step logistics I highly recommend starting out perpendicular to the target as is shown in these photos. If you are facing the target, you have more hip rotation / body mechanics to deal with.

Notice in the third photo his head has rotated with his shoulders. He is not attempting to "look" over his shoulder, so to speak. Let the force be with you.

[corsicana420]

Sho Nuff..Too good!

[innova]

Yea, Dave did a good job with that web page.
Great info... the photos helps to break form down well. imho.

I like to start slow and finish reallllly fast. Let the disc get ripped from my release due to the umphf factor.

Not everyone will be able to throw uber far... but they CAN learn to throw farther by utilizing those images and immulating that throwing form. imho.

Let the force be with you. Don't fight it. Rotate your head and shoulders when you reach back.

The power difference is immediately noticable for many folks. You will need to learn to aim all over again. It could get worse before it gets better so try it in an open field so you don't throw farther than you ever have and lose your disc in the woods.

:^p

[sidewinding]

While I agree that Scott is a great player, and does a great job of explaining the X-Step in his video, I disagree somewhat with what he teaches being practical for the average player. None of the pro's that I have seen in tournament videos and in the Clash series throw like Scott's video explains.

For me, the Climo/Feldberg fundamentals DVD was more practical for the average player. IMO.

I disagree.

I could not focus on anything they were trying to teach. All I could think about was "Damn those are some big ears"....Sad but true.

They showed two different ways and it was just too much information for a newer player to absorb. I could not get Feldbergs hop step and climo's step is almost identical to Stokely's except he does not turn his head backwards and does not do the rubberband thing like Stokely does. I personally think the head turned all the way around does give you more distance for the same reason a 360 gives you more distance but sacrifices accuracy for the same reason a 360 sacrifices accuracy. I also like the rubberband thing and when I remember to think about it I have better accuracy. It comes down to fundamentals and I think Stokely's method is the best at showing the fundamentals of the X-step.

[tamahawk]

I disagree.

I could not focus on anything they were trying to teach. All I could think about was "Damn those are some big ears"....Sad but true.

They showed two different ways and it was just too much information for a newer player to absorb. I could not get Feldbergs hop step and climo's step is almost identical to Stokely's except he does not turn his head backwards and does not do the rubberband thing like Stokely does. I personally think the head turned all the way around does give you more distance for the same reason a 360 gives you more distance but sacrifices accuracy for the same reason a 360 sacrifices accuracy. I also like the rubberband thing and when I remember to think about it I have better accuracy. It comes down to fundamentals and I think Stokely's method is the best at showing the fundamentals of the X-step.

I agree with some of the things that Stokley talked about, and agree that he did a good job of explaining what he was talking about. I guess the part that seems difficult to me was the foot position and 180deg shoulder rotation. The part where he is talking about pointing your front foot (on the first step) opposite of the basket, then rotating your shoulders 180deg, and then releasing from there makes sense for distance, but that is what doesn't seem practical to me. Most of the guys I've seen on videos barely rotate past 90deg on the shoulder turn, and still get plenty of distance. Climo states to rotate your shoulder under your chin, which is over 90, but far from 180.

The whole foot thing was just really, really awkward trying to learn as a beginner, so eventually, I went to what I would consider a more standard x-step. Just an intermediates opinion?!....:D