forehand versus backhand

If you have both shots in your arsenal how do you choose which to throw??

Is it better to be great at one or okay at both?

[Destraayer]

I'm right-handed so... I throw forehand for any shots that need to turn left or if need to go long. I throw backhand for any shot that needs to turn right or short fairway drives. Putting is always done with a backhand.

I prefer my forehand over my backhand all day.

[Gbudz]

that's how i read it too. that'd be a cool way to play

[nick young]

Maybe he throws all rollers, that would be cool except on water holes.

[J.D.Guy]

i think he may not know left from right, sounds like a lefty.

[xians421]

Somebody gave him a Stingray and he's sticking with it.

[Destraayer]

yes, I pretty much have an Anny dominated game.

[keith Morin]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess Destraayer is a lefty?

I throw forehand equally as well as backhand(righty). Forehand is alot more difficult to become consistent and accurate with. Im sure Im not the only one that will say that. Putting, always backhand unless i need to poke out the right side of a bush or something.
IMO it is better to be okay at forehand and great at backhand. just an opinion though.

[mark ellis]

Most players will never be GREAT at either forehand or backhand. Great is a darn high standard.

We all need to be competent at the shots we regularly use and need to have an understanding of, and some practice at, the shots we use occasionally.

Just thinking about the most basic of throws: backhand, forehand, overhead and rollers, how many players do we know who are accomplished at all of them? Even some of our 1000 rated Pros might do poorly on one or more of those categories.

Since time is limited even those players with strong motivation to practice and improve need to emphasize their strengths but still chip away at their weaknesses. The good news is that disc golf is a life-long sport so practice not only helps in the short term but long term as well. The long term effects of consistent practice are often underestimated.

The more difficult the shot, the more often it needs to be practiced to keep it sharp. Forehands and rollers have a small margin of error (so a small miss can cause a big error) so they need to be used regularly.

Most players have a natural preference for one driving style over the others. A reasonably gifted athlete, with good motivation and training will take a couple years to develop basic competence with their dominant style. Their non-dominant style probably never catches up. If it does then strong motivation is probably the biggest contributing factor.

Of all the shots, the hardest to master is the putt. Most players can make themselves adept at driving. Putting is what really separates players, especially at the Pro level.

[jfozybear]

Ok say you have a 300ft hole with trees alone both sides. It looks like a wide open fh but disc selection becomes an issue. Use an overstable driver fh or throw nice easy anny with a buzzz?? Anything under 250 I'm fine with a mid fh but I have problems with the 250 - 325 range.

And for me it becomes a rhythm thing, I throw either way equally good or bad most days. When I shank a bh then I start throwing more fh and vice versa.

I throw right handed and max out around 400ish both ways. Don't throw bh upshots and am a much better putter from outside 40 then from inside 15 :( all of this leads to very up and down play and I don't know what to do to become more consistent all around.

[Jon Andrews]

Practice putting from outside of 15 and under 30. Practice in 15 minute increments twice a day. That is what Mark taught me, and it works. Being a 1000 rated spotter, I see a lot of big drives, followed by inconsistent putts.

[ColonelDracula]

For any style of putting in particular?

Is there a fundamental style to practice that precedes the push putt?

I mean say the full push putt is too complicated at first...

would you recommend that robot-arm style witihout the full push putt routine??

What is most helpful, form-wise to begin to build a better base??

I ask because I have about 10 styles, and none are consistent yet.

[mark ellis]

A push putt requires a very strong wrist, which I don't have, so I will leave that topic to someone who does.

The form or style of putting is the smallest issue. I have seen good putters using many different forms and bad putters using many different forms. I have seen good putters and bad putters with the same form.

Putting is throwing short shots. We all have the ability to throw a short shot. We all can make putts : sometimes. For experienced players, good putting is more above the shoulders than below them. Putting comes down to practice and confidence.

We need lots of different styles of putts because there are lots of different kinds of putts. So practice lots of different kinds of putts in different winds, at different angles, around different obstacles.

If you want to be a good putter practice MAKING lots of putts. Repeat as needed.

If you want to be a great putter and are not one right now and don't have a great wrist, hope for better genetics in your next life. :)