Forehand/Sidearm - Disc Golf

Josh Heideman · #1 February 17th, 2013, 05:54 PM

I am fairly new to disc golf and I'm backhand and overhand dominant. For my driver I have a latitude 64 flow, epic, and a stalker. The midrange I throw is a Ti Buzzz. What I'm wondering is what is a good distance and fairway driver alone with a midrange to throw forearm? Any help would be great thanks.

Bruce · #2 February 17th, 2013, 06:31 PM

Personally I like to give people an overstable disc to start throwing forehands with. "Most" people tend to run there drives over when learning to throw forehand because of bad from, creating off axis torque. So the overstable driver is much more forgiving, and will also teach you a bit a shaping your lines when learning to throw forehand. I'd avoid midranges for a long while while learning a forehand shot, they a tricky! Learn the basics first, I'd imagine for a newer player the stalker is fairly overstable, so maybe try learning with that. It also depends on what type of plastic you like, if you have a preference yet.

matt · #3 February 17th, 2013, 07:19 PM

i just picked up a CH 148 banshee for this, because my forehand is for emergency use only
and i really need to start working on it
my thoughts were that a nice - lighter, overstable, fairway speed disc, would be best for me to start with
plus it was pink

maco capo · #4 February 17th, 2013, 09:49 PM

Hey Josh. Go out Saturday afternoon at 1 and ask Bear theses questions. He's running the random doubles and throws predominantly forehand. He would be able to show you a couple things
Chris

InfamousButcher · #5 February 17th, 2013, 10:20 PM

I throw lots of Innova eagles and Teebirds forehand. Get a nice stable/overstable disc and try keeping it nice and low. When learning I tried to take fewer steps into my throw. It seemed like the more I shuffled my feet, the more I threw into the ground. For a good forehand approach shot you do not need a midrange disc, you just need to ease up on your power. After some practice and patience your forehand turnovers and forehand hyzer shots will be able to save you some strokes out on the course! good luck.

jdinteg · #6 February 17th, 2013, 10:46 PM

General rule I use is Max weight, overstable (Nuke OS, XXX, Trident, Firebird) if I want to smash my forehands out there for distance around 275-300. But I had a great conversation with Jeremy Koling at the 2012 BSF last year, who I believe currently holds the record for forehand distance? He completely changed my perspective and my technique.

Old way: Before meeting "Big Germ" I would take my max weight/stability driver and snap hard, usually rolling my wrist to the left RHFH. Because it was overstable it would come back but this was not smooth.

New method: I now focus on the nose angle, and throw a smooth snap, gently rolling my wrist towards my back then a smooth release. The disc is released with a hyzer throw, and I try to throw a moderate stability disc like the Halo in a max weight for distance, or the Saint for a gentle turn over. I still use the big stability discs, just not to compensate for bad form anymore, but to achieve a particular outcome now. I never could Flick a putter or mid until I grasped this technique, now I can use both when needed.

Watch this video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjmD6wVp6Nw ), and any others you can find with Jeremy using his forehand. It's just so smooth and effortless. He uses a Surge in the past, probably a D1 now.

emmarose · #7 February 19th, 2013, 07:02 PM

... and learn to throw backhand because if you're throwing overhand/thumbers/whatever predominantly, you gonna blow out your elbow/shoulder, yo.

LakeStevensBA · #8 February 19th, 2013, 08:24 PM

and you need to decide what to call it..forehand or sidearm.
If you are a retired ultimate frisbee player and/or tennis player it's a forehand. If disc golf is the first time you decided to trash that elbow, it's called a sidearm. Similar to pdf.file and pedophile...know the difference. It could save your life.

Getty · #9 February 20th, 2013, 09:12 AM

This retired Ulty player callls it a flick.

The difference between BA and a pedophile: BA was thrown out of school today for letting a girl in his class give him a hand-job. I said "BA, that's three schools this year! You'd better stop before you're banned from teaching altogether."

jdinteg · #10 February 20th, 2013, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmarose

... and learn to throw backhand because if you're throwing overhand/thumbers/whatever predominantly, you gonna blow out your elbow/shoulder, yo.

Agreed, a forehand only like a baseball sidearm motion can be hard on your body, thumbers and tomahawks too. But these shots work great to get you out of trouble once or twice a round. I think the key word is Flick, smooth snap with the wrist and not a full body crush it shot with your arm fully extended and your body stretched out. Jeremy Koling is a great example of a motion that could be sustained in a round without injury, Avery Jenkins has a smooth flick too.

tmiller · #11 February 20th, 2013, 02:54 PM

youre only going to trash your arm if you have bad technique. a good smooth flick shot is no harder on your arm than a backhand. most people just dont have the right motion or are trying to throw too hard. i grew up playing middle infield, which helps, but anyone can learn a good sidearm if they put in the time. even my 55 year old dad can put his sidearm shots out over 300 all day without hurting his arm. hard overhand shots are a different story though, you'll feel those...

emmarose · #12 February 20th, 2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmiller

youre only going to trash your arm if you have bad technique. a good smooth flick shot is no harder on your arm than a backhand. most people just dont have the right motion or are trying to throw too hard. i grew up playing middle infield, which helps, but anyone can learn a good sidearm if they put in the time. even my 55 year old dad can put his sidearm shots out over 300 all day without hurting his arm. hard overhand shots are a different story though, you'll feel those...

i wasn't indicating that a forehand shot will trash your arm... i was referring to his comment that he was predominantly forehand AND overhand, which i have noticed a lot of kids new to the sport rely heavily on thumbers and tomahawks because they can keep them straight in the fairway, and this i do believe will trash an elbow. no doubt it's a great shot to have in the bag to get out of trouble, i myself throw the baseball shots when needed... but i think you run a great risk of blowing out an elbow or shoulder if this is your predominant style or go-to throw... just sayin'...

tmiller · #13 February 20th, 2013, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmarose

i wasn't indicating that a forehand shot will trash your arm... i was referring to his comment that he was predominantly forehand AND overhand, which i have noticed a lot of kids new to the sport rely heavily on thumbers and tomahawks because they can keep them straight in the fairway, and this i do believe will trash an elbow. no doubt it's a great shot to have in the bag to get out of trouble, i myself throw the baseball shots when needed... but i think you run a great risk of blowing out an elbow or shoulder if this is your predominant style or go-to throw... just sayin'...

hey emma, sorry, i wasnt trying to attack your comment. i have just heard the ruin your arm excuse from many people not wanting to spend the time on their forehand shot. i just think that if you dont have both shots you are handicapping yourself in disc golf. this goes equally for a couple guys i know that throw only forehand, i keep telling them they need to work on that backhand as well. and i agree with you on the overhand shots, they can be crucial situational shots but you pay for overuse

Trozzle!!! · #14 February 20th, 2013, 05:42 PM

RHFH thrower for about 10 years now. Have never had problems with strain or injury. Its all about the technique.

emmarose · #15 February 20th, 2013, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmiller

hey emma, sorry, i wasnt trying to attack your comment. i have just heard the ruin your arm excuse from many people not wanting to spend the time on their forehand shot. i just think that if you dont have both shots you are handicapping yourself in disc golf. this goes equally for a couple guys i know that throw only forehand, i keep telling them they need to work on that backhand as well. and i agree with you on the overhand shots, they can be crucial situational shots but you pay for overuse

oh, heavens... no apology necessary... i apologize if i sounded defensive! certainly didn't see your comment as attack-ish AT ALL... especially when i reread it after i posted... and that whole part at the end where you talk about the same thing as i was talking about...

we are in total agreement about the need to develop both shots. agreed? awesome. let's cyber-hug it out now...

Josh Heideman · #16 February 20th, 2013, 07:38 PM

Ok so I can throw my backhand about 280-320 feet. I only throw overhand when I need to. My problem is there are times that I need my disc to curve to the right. Right now all that I can throw is a thumbed for that. And yes my elbow is all messed up from that. I was just wounds ring what would be a food disc to use for that. It really make me mad because my wife can throw a great forehand and she uses a Blitz. One other thing is I forgot to add a few other discs to my list that I have. Epic, quasar, and a Orc. The epic is decently stable enough but it just don't feel right. I think the quasar I don't have enough power to throw it forearm yet. Should I get like a eagle or a banchee?

emmarose · #17 February 20th, 2013, 07:51 PM

the epic is too gimmicky. ditch it.

i've never heard of, nor thrown, some of the discs you speak of (a blitz?)...

i don't have a great forehand, so i can't give you much advice there... it does seem to me, tho, that anything i can throw backhand, i can also throw forehand... and that my bag is fairly similar to that of people who throw forehand... maybe just try your regular driver?

i tend to rely on an anhyzer much more than a forehand when i'm looking for that left to right shot... i've got a 159g mamba, a 140something opto diamond light, i can annie my 159g glow leopard and any of my other midranges and also my putter...

look into some flippy plastic if you're not having much luck with the forehand... not that i'm saying you shouldn't develop it as a shot. i work on it and wish i had a better forehand... but i'm much more comfortable and get waaaaaaaayyy more distance throwing back hand.

jdinteg · #18 February 20th, 2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Heideman

Ok so I can throw my backhand about 280-320 feet. I only throw overhand when I need to. My problem is there are times that I need my disc to curve to the right. Right now all that I can throw is a thumbed for that. And yes my elbow is all messed up from that. I was just wounds ring what would be a food disc to use for that. It really make me mad because my wife can throw a great forehand and she uses a Blitz. One other thing is I forgot to add a few other discs to my list that I have. Epic, quasar, and a Orc. The epic is decently stable enough but it just don't feel right. I think the quasar I don't have enough power to throw it forearm yet. Should I get like a eagle or a banchee?

You need both on the course. A RH forehand is great for a low line shot with a hard right turn or skip, I use my XXX, Trident, Nuke OS for these. A RH backhand turnover is needed for a long slow turn to the right (Hole 12 & 13 @ Stub) I use my Fuse mid, Vision, or hard snap on anhyzer with a River. The Blitz is a great forehand disc Flight #s (Speed 11 Glide 3 Turn 0 Fade 4). Download gotta go gotta throw flight chart and learn to read it if you want a universal flight chart for all discs.

http://www.gottagogottathrow.com/discgolf/pdf/Joes...8her49f4hj72l7

Or if you have a favorite disc manufacturer, use their flight chart. Innova, Discraft, Westside, Latitude 64, and the many others all have one. I use several when deciding on a purchase or how to address a particularly tough shot I need to work on.

Josh Heideman · #19 March 9th, 2013, 05:20 PM

Well a few weeks ago my Wife and kids had me meet them at Olympic Disc, after work one day. My 9 year old says I'm getting this disc. I looked at it and said Oh wow a 13 speed, let me check your mussels lol. Any way it's a Quamtom Quassar max weight. AND I LOVE THIS DISC FOREHAND! I'm getting about 220-280 feet with no effort. Now what I have to do is somehow talk him out of it an take him to go get some other new disc.

Next disc I want is a latitude 64 gold line XXX for my utility disc forearm, thumbed, tomahawk, and even backhand.

Rakoz · #20 March 11th, 2013, 09:14 AM

I used to throw FH and Tomahawk dominant for 4 years or so. I didn't hurt my elbow/shoulder any more than I hurt my back throwing backhand now. Don't try for 350ft overhand (even if you know you can throw it) and you'll be ok with proper stretching and technique; same goes for Forehand. I started with a teebird and eagle, moved up to wraith, and eventually a tee-rex for my forehand (kept the eagle for tomahawks). I've moved away from it almost completely at this point but picked up a dominator recently to put that back in my long game (still toss monster, orc for mid mid-long forehands).

I also do a lot of light lifting that targets shoulder/chest muscles (old football injury in non throwing shoulder). A lot of disc golfers don't "train" for our sport and that increases injury, especially overhand and poor form throwing big.