From Mistakes to Mastery: My Form Evolution in Disc Golf

[can'tthrow]

Hey guys, just want to touch base and get some help on my form. This journey has come with a multitude of frustrations and mistakes. I'm still struggling to grasp a lot of concepts and would love a good productive critique.

 

[sidewinder22]

Your footwork/posture is getting in your way. Watch your knees compared to Simon's.

Frame 1 - Note going into the x-step how your left knee is pigeon toed inward/tagetward, while Simon's is pointed back away allowing effortless step behind like ballerina - knees pointed out away from each other.

Frame 2 - Note how Simon's right leg is hanging relaxed like he's just standing feet together there. Note how you are flat footed and crouched down on rear leg so that you have to really hike up or pick up your right leg/knee so that you don't hit the ground. You want to be a little taller/lighter on rear leg.

Frame 3 - Note how Simon's knees and feet have separated like a sideways kick. Your knees are still pinched together so you are doing more a backwards mule kick.

Not pictured is the plant, and hard to tell from this camera angle, but it looks like you plant into a massively over staggered stance.

 

[can'tthrow]

Thanks for the reply, SW22! I will give a day or two of drilling, and send an update. As for the plant I think I do have a ton of stagger in my step. Here is a screenshot from about a week ago. I think point 1 I can sort out fairly quickly, but I will get right to the rest.

 

[Brychanus]

^ just wanted to reinforce since I suspect your body/brain will resist overall:

If you do kick the can/ball, you will probably be surprised at how much you can gain just letting your entire move be more "ballistic" by letting your legs freely and athletically move and swing in, your body glide in air with some "hang time," and how compact the move can feel coming off the rear side as a result. Right now you probably feel much more effort coming off the rear leg into the plant than is ideal. The rear leg will be doing work, but you want that work to be efficient relative to your body and gravity doing work "for free" overall.

 

[can'tthrow]

^ just wanted to reinforce since I suspect your body/brain will resist overall:

If you do kick the can/ball, you will probably be surprised at how much you can gain just letting your entire move be more "ballistic" by letting your legs freely and athletically move and swing in, your body glide in air with some "hang time," and how compact the move can feel coming off the rear side as a result. Right now you probably feel much more effort coming off the rear leg into the plant than is ideal. The rear leg will be doing work, but you want that work to be efficient relative to your body and gravity doing work "for free" overall.

Definitely noticing that, did some drilling and focused on some key points. Still a work in progress, but tell me if the looks better from you. Sorry for the angle of the camera, living room is small

 

[can'tthrow]

Will post more, just a quick one for reference to see if I'm on the right path.
This is after kick the can and swivel stairs drilling!

 

[sidewinder22]

Hard to tell some changes with camera angle changes. No need to upload in slow motion, it makes it harder to see actual timing, like I'm pretty sure you are slowing down on your x-step instead of accelerating or gliding thru, or not slowing down.

1. Not a fan of towels. For practice swings, just hold your disc sideways wing up and fan the air out of the target, instead of swinging the nose down.

2. Rear foot still looks pigeon toed on the x-step leading with your toes, instead of the heel first like Simon.

3. Start in more neutral posture like walking natural. Looks like you are trying to start in a static position instead of getting into position dynamically. Like you are trying to walk while starting in a running position, instead of starting from a natural standstill position and then getting more athletic/dynamic as you increase speed. (Watch my x-steps timestamped toward end of Swing Drills vid, I'm much more upright at the start and flowing into more dynamic position) Your head is hanging too far over your toes and pulling you over and making you do other compensations for being out of balance like your huge left arm swing back. Try to keep your left elbow near your left hip the entire time, let the lower arm swing.

4. Start and finish your whole x-step and throw Inside the Wall (Inside Swing Drill). Put your first right foot step toes on the wall and make sure your head doesn't hit the wall and don't punch the wall with your left arm or shoulder, while following thru all the way.

 

[can'tthrow]

Hard to tell some changes with camera angle changes. No need to upload in slow motion, it makes it harder to see actual timing, like I'm pretty sure you are slowing down on your x-step instead of accelerating or gliding thru, or not slowing down.

1. Not a fan of towels. For practice swings, just hold your disc sideways wing up and fan the air out of the target, instead of swinging the nose down.

2. Rear foot still looks pigeon toed on the x-step leading with your toes, instead of the heel first like Simon.

3. Start in more neutral posture like walking natural. Looks like you are trying to start in a static position instead of getting into position dynamically. Like you are trying to walk while starting in a running position, instead of starting from a natural standstill position and then getting more athletic/dynamic as you increase speed. (Watch my x-steps timestamped toward end of Swing Drills vid, I'm much more upright at the start and flowing into more dynamic position) Your head is hanging too far over your toes and pulling you over and making you do other compensations for being out of balance like your huge left arm swing back. Try to keep your left elbow near your left hip the entire time, let the lower arm swing.

4. Start and finish your whole x-step and throw Inside the Wall (Inside Swing Drill). Put your first right foot step toes on the wall and make sure your head doesn't hit the wall and don't punch the wall with your left arm or shoulder, while following thru all the way.

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Thanks again seabass, will focus on these things you laid out, and trade that towel out for a disc! Will update soon.