I tomahawk often. Am I a cheater? :)

[giles]

They aren't cheating but you might find they stunt the growth of your game if you rely on them heavily. So in a way, you are cheating yourself.
Personally, I don't find them to be a very fun/rewarding shot. I throw at least one a round normally just to "keep it in the bag".

 

[BogeyNoMore]

I will preface this by first stating: I'm not up on PDGA rules.
That being said, I don't care how you "throw" the disc as long as:

1) It's launched from: the designated tee box, original lie, or customary 1meter relief; whatever is applicable to the shot.

2) It is launched without any mechanical device and totally powered by the player.

3) Is an otherwise legal throw (i.e. follows any mandos, doesn't go OB, etc).

People use all kinds of "unconventional" throwing styles. As far as I know, none of them are illegal. IMHO, you could spit it out of your mouth, or fart it out your butt, it would still be legal. Just don't expect me to hand you your putter out of the basket.

If someone was on my card during a tourney, as long as they met the above criteria, I wouldn't even think of reporting them. If it violated some section of the PDGA rulebook, and came under scrutiny, I would have to seriously consider the intent of the rule and might even lobby to the TD on their behalf if I genuinely thought their method didn't result in some sort of unfair advantage.

 

[Adam Schneider]

Well, once I got my beatdown here, I looked it up and that guy was doing it wrong I think. he was flipping it, while the guy in the vid I saw was throwing it flat.

He wasn't doing it "wrong"... making it flutter with backwards rotation is a Flip Putt.

 

[optidiscic]

Tomahawking is fine....but playing left handed is cheating...develop your RHBH so the disc golf elite won't look down on you!

 

[rikardob]

Tomahawking is fine....but playing left handed is cheating...develop your RHBH so the disc golf elite won't look down on you!

LOL! Get out of here with that crap!

 

[SomeChump]

In the last month or so I've developed a pretty good thumber. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that 5 holes on my regular course are easier to birdie with a thumber than the shot I was using previously (which varied from anhyzer, to hyzer, to forehand.)

I find my thumber (with an elite Z flick) to be a very reliable shot. Same flight path, about the same distance every time. However, I've recently played two other courses with low ceilings where it really couldn't be used on any hole.

I'm still working on a tomahawk. Although while practicing I've gotten that flick to do an overhand roller that goes as far as my best RHBH drives, I just haven't gotten it to start turning yet tommy-style. It'll come though.

So, overall, I think if you're throwing a tomahawk off the tee on a wide-open hole you'd probably benefit from working on more traditional throws. But if you haven't yet added an overhand throw to your skill-set you're really missing out.

 

[Technohic]

He wasn't doing it "wrong"... making it flutter with backwards rotation is a Flip Putt.

Hmm I always thought that you did that underhand? I think I will stick to hyzer, straddle and even jack-knife hyzer putts.

 

[craftsman]

Back to the original question
I can relate. I can also thumber longer than most. My main group of three has one guy 90% fh, one 90% oh, and me 90% bh. Yes I do call it a cheater throw! But only to friends and I'm only joking. I also make fun of straddle putts. I am far from elite, just poking fun!
Something to consider is that oh distance will top out earlier than bh or even fh. It's very wearing to try field practice oh and a sore back day on the course can hinder oh more than others. All that said, keep it sharp and don't be afraid to use it

 

[CaptainAnhyzer]

..... or fart it out your butt, it would still be legal. Just don't expect me to hand you your putter out of the basket.

I gotta see this "style" !!!

Googling "Fart Putting"

 

[BogeyNoMore]

I gotta see this "style" !!!

Googling "Fart Putting"

Particulary painful when using Quests Turbo Putt!

 

[Technohic]

Particulary painful when using Quests Turbo Putt!

gumputt might get stuck.

 

[dr.chainslove]

great info folks. I'm happy to confess that the tomahawk hasnt been my dominant shot for a few years as my game has developed quite a bit. However, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE CHEATING to use it to make a downhill approach shot sit down or to sail above the tree canopy when only narrow, low-percentage options present themselves below.

It's funny that most people seem ok with my tomahawk while playing but when I end up beating them, they say I'm a cheater! I love it!

 

[wallace]

I think overhand shots are totally legit and great strategy on some holes. And for guys that can't, it's their loss not having the extra option. That being said, i think a backhand shot is more visually pleasing. but, there are no style points in dg.

 

[TalbotTrojan]

It's funny that most people seem ok with my tomahawk while playing but when I end up beating them, they say I'm a cheater! I love it!

I think that is what you call jealousy.

I am a personal advocate for being able to throw as many different shots as possible to give yourself options for those holes that just do not seem to have a gap.

 

[kerplunk]

Particulary painful when using Quests Turbo Putt!

Isn't the turbo putt illegal? Sorry, couldn't resist.

As far as the topic, yes it is cheating and it is evil, and your disc hates you for doing it. If you were designed to be thrown level and fairly close to the ground and have a nice smooth glide but were forced to go way up in the air do a huge barrel roll and them slam down on your edge you would not be happy either.

Alright so really I'm one of those people that can only use OH shots so get out of trouble and is insanely jealous of those who can drive with them. But depending on my mood I will talk a little good natured trash to primarily OH players.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

I think that is what you call jealousy.

I am a personal advocate for being able to throw as many different shots as possible to give yourself options for those holes that just do not seem to have a gap.

ditto that!

 

[BogeyNoMore]

...and your disc hates you for doing it. If you were designed to be thrown level and fairly close to the ground and have a nice smooth glide but were forced to go way up in the air do a huge barrel roll and them slam down on your edge you would not be happy either.

Counterpoint: works GREAT for breaking discs in.
Before could throw a Tomahawk, my ESP Surge was too overstable for me to throw BH - could only use it to tommie out of trouble - WHACK CITY!
But all those tommies broke it in pretty nicely, so now, I can throw it BH & FH, too!

Works both ways though: if you have a disc that's broken-in just right, using it for OH throws could send it out of whack pretty quickly.

P.S I hate this 5 min edit window

 

[locuno1]

i use both thumber and tomahawks when needed, mainly for getting out of trouble, and occasionally from the tee.

 

[chain-addicted]

Whats up all?!.... I'm back from a long hard day of CRUSHING drives and ROCKING chains all day at Reedy Creek....

Anyway, In my original reply I wasnt talking about that stupid swirly saw-blade looking disc from quest: I was talkin' about the turbo-putt method. I saw it when I first started playing but when I never saw pros doing it I stopped utilizing it (except for when the putt required being thrown from behind some tall brush)...

I then enrolled in the Cam Todd school of putting and graduated Summa Cum-Laude....

 

[Mark R]

No you're not a cheater, I'd suck without my thumber shot. I can only throw less than five a day, however, unless I'm taking a week off afterwards.