FH worth it? Elbow health...

[bradharris]

I've been throwing predominantly forehand for nearly a decade now. I used to have elbow soreness, but nothing severe. It usually went away in a day or two. So nothing long term. As I've played more and worked on my form, the pain has subsided more and more. I don't have any issues now and I'm playing more than ever.

As I'm working the backhand though, I'm finding that can create a little mild soreness. It's most likely because my form is not as good (although it is improving).

I read somewhere once that tennis elbow is caused more from the backhand stroke in tennis than the forehand. The issue with the backhand being that you have more of a tendency to overextend your elbow slightly causing irritation. I would assume the same holds for disc golf.

[Widdershins]

Originally Posted by chambers

Not to threadjack, but what did you do to heal your golfers elbow? Just switching from BH to FH?

I played in a prior sport where Tennis Elbow was common. Pretty much everyone got it at some point and cured it by doing the right things.

If you don't fix it then it can get progressively worse. Keep in mind that what you have may be different than the exact injury I am writing about so you might want to see a medical professional for a diagnosis.

The cure: A Tennis Elbow brace ($10 in a any drug store and for me the cheap ones worked as well as the fancier versions). This relieves the strain on the elbow while you are using it, preventing the problem from getting worse. Then ice and anti-inflammatories (asprin, ibuproffen). Ice is magic and if every night you wrap it in an ice pack it really helps ( I do 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off in rotation for a few hours but if you read about icing there are different strategies). Pop a couple pills before you play and do the icing afterwards.

Rest is also a common advice. I am not a fan of rest unless an injury is disabling. Maybe I should be but in 20 years in the game I just play through stuff, adjusting for what hurts.

If your elbow doesn't get better very fast (there should be immediate improvement from the brace and icing) then you may have something more serious than I have encountered.

[garublador]

Actually, the hammer pound drills do a pretty good job of teaching an OK forehand shot that hasn't caused me any pain, unlike the form I was using before. You won't be launching them 350' or anything, but you can get to the mid to upper 200's without much trouble at all and that seems to help out a lot.

[jmhoekst]

I think you'll be okay elbow-wise. I started disc golf throwing Bosses FH as hard as possible because it was cool to throw far. (Looking back, "far" was 350, lol)

Anyway, doing this, I jacked up my shoulder big time. To this day, I can pop my shoulder in and out almost at will. No muy bien.

But, with my form being a lot better today, I throw FH's all the time, up to 375' w/o too much effort. I've never ever had soreness in my elbow. This leads me to conclude that either I have a bionic elbow, or with proper technique, your elbow will be just fine.

[JoshEpoo]

I use forehands for shots under 300' when the situation calls for it. The ratio of sloppiness:aggressiveness is pretty important. My FH mechanics are not very good, so I don't try to put much power into them. Mostly utility shots and short lefty hyzer holes.

Learning to throw lefty is also a valid option, although I think it's easier for some people. I have several friends who've taught themselves. One had shoulder surgery that would have sidelined him for a whole season, so he went out with his arm in a sling and learned to throw 325' lefty and scored pretty damn well. Another buddy (secretly!) taught himself to throw lefty over the winter this year in solo rounds. He busted it out at leagues a couple weeks ago and I was like, "wait a second! wtf". Crazy bastards...I don't have the patience to learn throwing lefty.

[bholy08]

I only throw 5 FH max a round and never practice them but have never experienced any pain whatsoever. I can hit about 330 pretty easily and shape lines so I don't really mess with my form since that is all I am looking for out of it. Seems like my elbow doesn't really move that much. Most of it come from my wrist.

[gianetics]

i throw fh 80% off the tee. as long as you take it easy you will be alright. i used to play at least 4 times a week. its a little harder to get out there that often now. but ill do field practice of at least 100-200 throws with no pain. the key is to take it easy the more effort you put into your throw the worse the outcome usually is and the more likely to hurt yourself. you want to hurt your elbow and shoulder throw fh on the wii disc golf!

[ArcheType]

I think a big issue with fh is everyone overestimates how hard you have to throw one for distance. After playing college ultimate, I've realized that fhs can sail when thrown with the force you would throw a walmart catch frisbee to a small child (slight exaggeration).

[mfcastillo17]

I throw 85% FH, and FH for distance 100% of the time. The key is throwing with good mechanics. People write on here all the time about how throwing FH or OH damages your arm. If you throw with good mechanics, you can last, same as major league pitchers with good mechanics last (nolan ryan, greg maddux, ect). I throw full power FH on open long drives and have yet to have any arm problems.

[Discwrangler]

Only people who need to worry about are primary FH throwers. IMO. You/have to have the shot in you arsenal.