Improving Throws for Ultimate Players
Strategies for Throwing Straighter Forehands and Backhands
Jun 4, 2009
(This article assumes that the reader is right-handed. Left-handed readers should reverse each stated direction.)
Throwing a disk may appear simple on the surface, but fine-tuning and developing a throw takes practice and technique. This article provides some tips and guidelines that can make forehand and backhand throws straighter and stronger.
Difficulties in Throwing the Backhand
A backhand throw begins for right-handed players near the left hip, then ends somewhere to the front and right of the starting position. It is known for its stability, as the throw does not require any excessive wrist snapping or other movements. It also comes naturally to many players.
However, there are issues with the backhand. Most players notice a left-turning tendency to the disc (or a right-turning tendency for left-handed players), which often results in the object curving away from the desired path.
Players should understand that the disc curves because of its release angle. Right-handed throwers will often release the object with one half pointing ‘southwest’ and the other side pointing ‘northeast’ (with ‘north’ being the sky and ‘south’ being the ground). The path of least air resistance for the angled disc is a left-curving path, which makes for inaccurate releases.
Throwing a Straight Backhand
Players need to counter the southwest-northeast angle for their throw to go straight and level. For right-handed players, this is accomplished by holding the disc with the left side pointing up and the right side pointing down, then releasing with the arm moving down and to the right. The exact angle of the disc in relation to the ground can be adjusted to produce the straightest throw.
Issues With the Forehand
The forehand is a more complex throw than the backhand, especially because of all the variations involved. It usually involves a player holding the disc in between the thumb and the index and middle fingers, then releasing outward with a strong wrist snap.
Many right-handed players who try throwing the forehand for the first time will see their discs going down and to the left after traveling a short distance—often because they are releasing too late and at an incorrect angle. This left-turning tendency can be countered with a corrected throwing technique.
Throwing a Better Forehand
One's wrist snap and release angle make a large difference in the forehand throw. Beginning players should focus on snapping the wrist outward and horizontally, meaning the disc leaves the hand parallel to the ground. Keeping the upper arm relatively close to the body can help stabilize the throw, but players should experiment with arm movement as their ability improves.
Practicing the Techniques
Any style of throwing can be understood, but it takes lots of practice before the throws are ‘programmed’ into the muscle memory. There is also the challenge of throwing a disc in the wind, addressed in the linked article. With a few hours of training, and using the throwing steps outlined in this article, players should see an improvement in their Ultimate skills.
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