question: active or passive arm?

[b1-66er]

I started playing back in July. I play a lot. 5+ days a week. Right now I can probably throw putters 180-200, mids 220-250, fairways 250-290, drivers 275-310. I did have one oddball throw where my wraith went 350, it made me happy, haha.

I've just recently gotten way better at actually transferring my weight and bracing. I still have a lot of work to do on my follow through though. I'm pretty sure I have a strong-arming problem. Once I'm turned away from the target and it's time for the disc to move toward the target, I pull on it. I know this is wrong and it is in the process of being changed. But this brings me to my question:

Once the disc gets to my my chest and my elbow is out, am I supposed to actively extend my arm, or do I just let all of the momentum take care of that?

I've heard the backhand throw compared to a trebuchet on several occasions, but a trebuchet uses the momentum to open. I have heard several people to say I am supposed to actively extend my elbow.

Which way is "correct"?


thanks

[Aim For The Chains]

Yes good timing on elbow and wrist extension will add some distance once hips and core are engaging the initial pull... for sure but don't strong arm.

[b1-66er]

yeah, i know not to strong-arm.

im asking if im supposed to actively open my elbow to get the disc out, or do i let it happen on its own?

[sidewinder22]

Originally Posted by b1-66er

Once the disc gets to my my chest and my elbow is out, am I supposed to actively extend my arm, or do I just let all of the momentum take care of that?

I've heard the backhand throw compared to a trebuchet on several occasions, but a trebuchet uses the momentum to open. I have heard several people to say I am supposed to actively extend my elbow.

Which way is "correct"?


thanks

Think about if you put springs on the beam and sling of a trebuchet and how they would get loaded/lag and then explode or snap back from either being compressed or stretched, but everything is still started by the momentum of the weight dropping. Your muscles are like springs and assist the bounce of momentum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGGYsSUGKXk#t=4m

[Aim For The Chains]

Both. Dont force anything was my point but active elbow and wrist are key to pushing past 400' with solid brace.

[b1-66er]

Originally Posted by sidewinder22

Think about if you put springs on the beam and sling of a trebuchet and how they would get loaded/lag and then explode or snap back from either being compressed or stretched, but everything is still started by the momentum of the weight dropping. Your muscles are like springs and assist the bounce of momentum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGGYsSUGKXk#t=4m

So I'm supposed to pull and actively open my arm? Or is it a mix of the two?

[sidewinder22]

Originally Posted by b1-66er

So I'm supposed to pull and actively open my arm? Or is it a mix of the two?

When you say pull, I think of the elbow bending instead of extending, and bringing the disc into the body. There is only a slight pull in the swing or guiding the disc into the power zone to load up.

When the elbow extends out of the power zone, it's pushing away from the body like throwing a jab or extending a bench press. You can't pull something away from your body very well. If you pass a basketball to someone you spring/push it away from you somewhat like a golf disc.

[slowplastic]

You have to wait until the angles/momentum are setting you up to gas it with the arm and shoulder. It's easiest to describe with respect to other motions. For example if you're going to chop wood with an axe, you don't raise the axe above your head and right when it gets to the top start trying to yank the handle down as hard as possible. You let gravity start the motion and as the axe head is falling you kind of just "feel" when it's appropriate to pull on the handle a bit to get more angle and power.

Same thing with a baseball bat, you use your body weight/hips to start moving the bat forward. Once you're braced up the bat will start getting ahead of you, and when you begin to feel the leverage you start to unload the head of the bat. If you do it too early you feel like the bat is heavy and going on all sorts of planes, and if your arcs aren't smooth then it pulls you in weird ways in the follow through.

The problem is although throwing a disc is similar goals to these motions, the disc is so light so you you don't feel its weight as easily unless you're doing things somewhat correctly, and if you do it wrong it just rips out of your hand so you don't get any feedback other than hitting the wrong trees.

[b1-66er]

Originally Posted by sidewinder22

When you say pull, I think of the elbow bending instead of extending, and bringing the disc into the body. There is only a slight pull in the swing or guiding the disc into the power zone to load up.

When the elbow extends out of the power zone, it's pushing away from the body like throwing a jab or extending a bench press. You can't pull something away from your body very well. If you pass a basketball to someone you spring/push it away from you somewhat like a golf disc.

I assume that when you mention the elbow leaving the power zone, you're reverting to it being out in front toward the target, right?

So once there, do you actively extend your arm, or just let it whip around?

[Aim For The Chains]

Activate the wrist more at that point IMO which pulls the arm and disc into the "power pocket" for best leverage.