I need the Forehand 4-1-1

I have been playing disc golf for probably two months now and I am a forehand player I can't throw a backhand to save my life, but once in a while I can throw my forehand pretty far and I get the snap and the little sidewinder action...but more often than not I throw it and it goes up and maybe 150-200 ft. is there any trick or anything that might help me keep it down and level???

[AK Discer]

I started out playing backhand and that is my dominant throw. Recently I've learned that I need both...learned thru reading, watching videos, and playing with local pros. I can only seem to throw a max weight Star Max and Star Xcal.; been eyeing the Z Flick as well. I generate a lot of snap standing still and having a runup...I can throw over 400' consistently and I feel like I'm hardly throwing it. One of the local pros told me that I was arching my back too much which would cause me to throw the disc high and result in lesser distance and accuracy. As I've become more proficient and accurate with my sidearm I've learned that I need a disc that is lesser overstable as I'm finding bad skips or too hard of a fade at the end of flight. The Pro Destoyer is a good one for a more stable disc with a better landing and lesser fade, but I have to remember not to throw as hard or I turn it over real bad. I need to find my Champ Boss and give the sidearm another shot on that disc now that I'm much better with forehand. One of my buddies that I play with can throw this easy forehand with a Buzzz, which I cannot do. I need to learn how to throw mids and putters sidearms as that is sometimes the best way to approach rather than a fluffed annie.

[Thad Murgatroyd]

sorry bud but your not throwing forhand 400 ft

[AK Discer]

Go get a measuring tape and we'll go to an open field. You've seen me throw over 400' in Girdwood on hole 7 when I over shot it.

[Thad Murgatroyd]

when you can park hole 7 at service with a forehand then i'll believe your getting close or even hole 1 at rj or better yet throw against justin a known 400 ft forhander

[Ian Macpherson]

lol fight about it on the course guys..

[mark ellis]

Winter is a good time for learning a forehand shot. In cold weather climates the footing is unpredictable and at times treacherous. One of the advantages of the forehand is that poor footing affects it less.

So on that ice covered side hill, where it is tough to take a legal stance, nonetheless generate any power and control, the forehand gives you a far better chance. Even on a somewhat slippery cement tee pad a player with a basically competent forehand may have a distinct advantage.

Start out short and move to long. Meaning start where you already have some ability, whether that is 40 feet or 100 feet or longer and consciously choose the forehand option in practice rounds as the winter moves in (this being written in late October). If you throw a couple forehand shots each round-the most open and obvious ones-you can then expand to longer shots. Between rounds mess around with forehand shots and figure out your comfort range. By the time real winter arrives you may have a legitimate forehand.

[Ian Macpherson]

If nobody's said this yet, watch Mark Ellis' forehand video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOECjLjhiTI

I can't throw a decent forehand yet but I can understand the mechanics behind it from that video and I hope to get mine in shape quickly.

[Jason Cassidy]

I played today at JCC and I am doing so much better now thanks for the help Mark! I actually threw decent drives consistently... I am really focusing on different areas that I need improvement, I, once in a blue moon now throw it a mile high like I was. I lost my Rogue, but I have ordered more, They wont be here in time for the tournament in Laingsburg, MI Sunday though, I think that is the last of the Park Your Drive series, I haven't seen it advertised on this site though, but it is advertised on others.
I have definitely noticed a difference in when it gets really cold I throw not so well and my snap has disappeared, but when it is in the 50s-60s I do a lot better. Like today even though it was raining, I probably shot my best round at JCC.
But now I am tackling another demon too.... PUTTING! I, in the last two weeks have gotten a lot better at it. I have been doing shots where my legs are shoulder length apart and reaching down then throwing it up and releasing, which is really helping, rather then me standing straight up sideways and throwing. Plus I have watched the Clinic where Mark teaches about putting and I have been taking an hour each day and doing so, in half hour increments.... So thanks everyone for all your help...

[Thad Murgatroyd]

i'll stick to throwing my anhyser its more accurate at 300 then most of the forhanders i have seen