Drives

[treethacker]

I'm still learning this sport and the most trouble I have is with my drives.
I usually end up with my right hip and knee hurting a lot after a game(I am right handed) plus my drives usually don't go much further than 200 or maybe 210ft.
Makes for a long game.
I have heard people talk about the X step but it just sounds like a good way to trip yourself..so how does this X step work and how does it get the disc to go 300 plus feet?:confused:
thanks!

[ParkerJ152]

Hey Tree,
Here are a few links that may help you out. The first is a link on how to do the X-Step. It is a good way to trip yourself up, but it's also an essential part of the throw. When I first learned how to do it, I fell over, but after you do it a few times, it will become second nature.
http://www.innovadiscs.com/downloads/xstepchart.pdf

The second link is off the PDGA website & it's directly from Dave Dunipace of Innova. It's in the Throwing Techniques section on the 31st page, and the subject is Distance Secrets. Take some time to read it over, It will really help you out.
http://www.pdga.com/msgboard/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=69738&an=0&page=30#Post69738

Innova also has a good DVD called "Getting the Edge" which breaks down the throw from start to finish in 20X slow motion, it shows the X Step, Backhand & Forehand throws, Tomahawks, Thumbers, Rollers, Hyzers, Anhyzers & Putting - Good Stuff

Here are a couple of distance secrets from Dave Dunipace
1. Use your fingers and wrist as springs rather than hinges.
2. "Arm speed" comes from elbow motion rather than arm motion per se.
3. Very little momentum is necessary and can be counter productive. IE. reaching back with the disc or a long run up. Finishing is much more important.
4. Power is generated mainly by pulling through the whip with your hips and shoulders.
5. The whip is created from elbow down.
6. Prepare your shot from the whip back. In other words, find how you want to position your body such that you have the most power pulling at the very end of the whip rather than the beginning.
7. Aim with the whip momentum not the motion of the disc up to the whip.
8. Load your wrist and fingers lightly with the disc in the "launch" position.
9. The launch position includes the position of the flight plate and most importantly the back of the disc at the time of launch.
10. Never take your focus off the disc position and back of disc which will leave latest.
11. Don't think. Feel. Fluid, rhythmic, integration is probably impossible while you are thinking about what you are doing.
12. You can't throw the disc with your brain. No matter how much you know about technique, you have to perform, not recite.
13. Do think before you throw. Make sure you know what you want to do, and have the ability to do it. (footing, injuries, wet disc, etc.

Hope this helps,
Jason Parker

[Olorin]

The second link is off the PDGA website & it's directly from Dave Dunipace of Innova. It's in the Throwing Techniques section on the 31st page, and the subject is Distance Secrets. Take some time to read it over, It will really help you out.
http://www.pdga.com/msgboard/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=69738&an=0&page=30#Post69738


I edited the Distance Secrets thread into an article called "Distance Secrets (http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/articles/distancesecrets.shtml)" by Dave Dunipace. It's much easier to read than the PDGA thread. It's at Disc Golf Review (http://www.discgolfreview.com/index.html). You should also read Blake's companion article, "Understanding the Bent Elbow Technique (http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/articles/bentelbow2.shtml)".

To be honest, even though I learned a lot from Dave D I was never able to figure out how to do the bent elbow thing that he advocated so I scrapped it. Many of his other tips did help me add distance, though.

[Olorin]

One of Dave's tips that did help me add distance was simply gripping the disc tighter so that it's forced to leave your hand.

[treethacker]

thanks guys! One of the problems I also have is when I want to throw the disc hard and far I have a tendency to hang on to it a little to long and end up throwing it off to my right about 100 ft(provided there are not trees in the way!)For a sport I like so much seems like I have a looooooooong way to go.
Thanks for the info.I will be reading and practicing.