Forehand putting?

[Tad]

So, I just spent an hour this evening in our backyard putting between 10' and 25' at our cheesy target. Having only played a year now (didn't play over the winter) I'm still trying to find form that works for me. Up until this point I have been using a lot of arm to get the disc to the target. I watched a video earlier today on how a pro champ putts with the straight arm technique. I tried that for a bit tonight and my shoulder started to hurt and make all sorts of noises. Yeah, I was using my legs too. But then I tried throwing forehand. (I can't drive at all on my forehand but have used it on occasion to get around obstructions.) I found I could hit the spot I was aiming at more often than I could with my backhand.

Is there anyone else out there that putts with their forehand better than backhand or am I just a nooby-freak?

Thanks,
Tad

[Adam Schneider]

I tried it for about a year when I was new to the game. Eventually I gave it up because I noticed no one else was doing it...

[Wes Hansen]

There's a one in a million chance that's the long-term putting style for you.

[Mikk]

I do putt left fore hand but only outside of 20 feet. Its more like an up-shot realy.

[sillybizz]

When I first started turbo putting 3-4 years ago people told me I need to work on a "real" putt. I am now a maniac with turbos; I just don't miss inside 10 meters. If it feels right do it man.

[DexterHawk]

The problem with a forehand putt is that it is always going to be coming from beside your body as opposed to the backhand putt that you can line up right in front of your body (thereby getting the advantage of your binocular vision). also in my opinion you need to over throw the forehand to get the accuracy you need on a putt, leaving yourself longer comebacks on misses. You may be able to compensate for these problems with practice...

[snap7times]

There was this guy in int at the masters cup a few weekends ago in my group who did it from amazing distances but hit the basket more than he made it in but still impressed. But i must say he was around 870 rated...

[NWDiscer]

Tad

you can never have to may types of putts/throws in your bag of tricks, so if it works for you then do it.
While it may not become your go to putt forever, if it works for now more power to you.

[The Brodys]

Forehand can work well for people, but developing both would be the best bet, IMO. I know a really good golfer who can kill forehand putts but cant backhand very well and it really hurts his game sometimes. Seems like forhands hit with more force or spin and causes good putts to go bad more often then backhand putts.

[Flatroc]

Is there anyone else out there that putts with their forehand better than backhand or am I just a nooby-freak?
Thanks,
Tad

I use a forehand/sidearm putt quite often.
I discovered years ago while practicing some how much more accurate they really can be. Dead putter with some anny works for me.
It's not my main putting style but it sure comes in handy once you have confidence with it and the putt calls for it.
Practice all styles and go with what works.

[Tad]

I can't recall anyone seeing anyone do it when I've been out but I'm glad to hear that there are others that use it. So it's called a turbo putt huh? I do see the disadvantage of not being in line with the rest of the body. I'll continue to try it out on the course but will also keep at the backhand too. Thanks for the input!

[Scott]

I can't recall anyone seeing anyone do it when I've been out but I'm glad to hear that there are others that use it. So it's called a turbo putt huh? I do see the disadvantage of not being in line with the rest of the body. I'll continue to try it out on the course but will also keep at the backhand too. Thanks for the input!

A forehand putt is not a turbo putt.

Here is a really dorky video that shows the turbo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIh9b6Eeb2Q

[sillybizz]

What Scott said.

[Tad]

The problem with a forehand putt is that it is always going to be coming from beside your body as opposed to the backhand putt that you can line up right in front of your body (thereby getting the advantage of your binocular vision). also in my opinion you need to over throw the forehand to get the accuracy you need on a putt, leaving yourself longer comebacks on misses. You may be able to compensate for these problems with practice...

Thinking about the whole body/disc alignment thing :chinscratch: sound reasoning but I start thinking about any racket sport, hockey or even ball golf comes to mind where where there's an implement involved with delivering a ball or puck to a target. There's surely hand-eye coordination coordination going on here as well but without the center-to-center alignment thing.

Scott, Sillybizz- thanks for the correction!

I'm one messed up southpaw. I write/eat left. Throw a ball/work a mouse righty. Kick a ball righty. My drive is backhand lefty, but if I drive forehand righty I'd get the same spin :jumpspin: I blame the evil 'righty' world :evilgrin:

[Mikk]

hey I'm a lefty. My power drive is right back hand. I can turbo putt left and right. I can throw UD (upsidedown) left and right. So far I've been only left side arm for mid range and long puts. I also throw left fore hand rollers!! I short putt left and right back hand, thumbers too.
Oddly enough I can only throw a ball left handed!?!
There is no certian way to do these shots, its all about how you feel your comfort zone. I throw some bizzare shots and get razzed all the time. Guess what I'm usualy under-par for the 18!!

[Tad]

hey I'm a lefty. My power drive is right back hand. I can turbo putt left and right. I can throw UD (upsidedown) left and right. So far I've been only left side arm for mid range and long puts. I also throw left fore hand rollers!! I short putt left and right back hand, thumbers too.
Oddly enough I can only throw a ball left handed!?!
There is no certian way to do these shots, its all about how you feel your comfort zone. I throw some bizzare shots and get razzed all the time. Guess what I'm usualy under-par for the 18!!

This is one of the really cool things about our sport. There's so many ways to do the same thing, get the disc to the chains in the least about of throws. You can't say that about ball golf!

[Ol' Bob]

This is one of the really cool things about our sport. There's so many ways to do the same thing, get the disc to the chains in the least about of throws. You can't say that about ball golf!

Well, I've never been a ball golfer, but I've paid it some attention. There seems to be reasons for all those different clubs,and there has to be many various ways of applying them. One thing I'm sure off, all of their many ways probably cost more than ours.

[thadeouspage]

Tad....DON'T DO IT!:nono:

[Cornwall, Esq.]

Sillybizz- what discs do you use for turbo putt? Any attributes you prefer?
I was turbo putting exclusively for a long while. Still use it about a half to a quarter of the time. I had this one disc that worked really well, but I could not identify it for the life of me, as it was an innova X-out and didn't have any numbering on it. I'm really liking the Latitude Spike zero line for turbo putting, it's got a nice flat top.

[sillybizz]

Sillybizz- what discs do you use for turbo putt? Any attributes you prefer?
I was turbo putting exclusively for a long while. Still use it about a half to a quarter of the time. I had this one disc that worked really well, but I could not identify it for the life of me, as it was an innova X-out and didn't have any numbering on it. I'm really liking the Latitude Spike zero line for turbo putting, it's got a nice flat top.

I use a beat to hell FLX Challenger; the one I use I bought about a week after they came out. Most people who use Challengers don't like FLX but I like it because I throw a REALLY hard turbo at the basket and it hits the poll and it will "flex" and fall in. I don't "loft" turbo, I try and knock the basket down! :)

[Cornwall, Esq.]

I had to go look that disc up on the website. I have not seen a FLX putter before, or an ESP for that matter. Guess it's cause most use Innova around my parts. I imagine it's stiffer than a blowfly, yes? You will have to give me a demo on the slam n' flex turbo style, I use the loft I believe. At how far out do you switch to a non-turbo style throw? I need to be w/in about 15-20 feet of basket (on level ground) for my turbo's.

[Tad]

Well, I've never been a ball golfer, but I've paid it some attention. There seems to be reasons for all those different clubs,and there has to be many various ways of applying them. One thing I'm sure off, all of their many ways probably cost more than ours.

Agreed. I guess my point was that disc golf gives freedom to throw from so many different positions on either side.

[sillybizz]

I had to go look that disc up on the website. I have not seen a FLX putter before, or an ESP for that matter. Guess it's cause most use Innova around my parts. I imagine it's stiffer than a blowfly, yes? You will have to give me a demo on the slam n' flex turbo style, I use the loft I believe. At how far out do you switch to a non-turbo style throw? I need to be w/in about 15-20 feet of basket (on level ground) for my turbo's.

I have a very strong turbo; anything flat ground I use a turbo for about 80-100 feet and in. If it's a steep upgrade or I have to go around something I switch to a straddle putt. If you like Innova I would think an R-pro Aviar would be pretty good for strong turbos. I need to make youtube videos of me putting for you to understand my style better but basically I throw at it hard with tons of spin and power. It's funny I played baseball and can't throw a tomahawk to save my life but I can throw turbos like a mad man, go figure! :)

[Lund]

Is there anyone else out there that putts with their forehand better than backhand or am I just a nooby-freak?

Thanks,
Tad

Scott Heath, a 970 rated player down in southern Oregon, throws every shot (including every putt outside roughly 25') with a lefty forehand. Or at least he did at the GNO last month where I played 2 rounds with him and he was money.

[Tad]

Scott Heath, a 970 rated player down in southern Oregon, throws every shot (including every putt outside roughly 25') with a lefty forehand. Or at least he did at the GNO last month where I played 2 rounds with him and he was money.

Nice to know. Thanks for sharing that!

[T-Bird]

It's not my normal method but when I've had to putt forehand I have often been pleasantly surprised with the results.