I’m going to ask a question to the reading public (I know how these usually go over here, but I’ll ask anyway and hope for the best. *foghorn*):
My question involves the release of the disc on a forehand throw. I have an unorthodox release that significantly alters the timing and power behind short and mid-range throws. I don’t *think* my deeper throws are much affected, but then again I don’t throw them often enough in game situations to tell you if that’s true or not. Anyway, let me explain.
Skip ahead to 1:50 of this video.
Brodie demonstrates bringing the wrist back and then bringing it forward, snapping the wrist during the forward motion. A smooth, fluid delivery.
My delivery has a little hitch in the middle, developed during my freshman year of college, when I first learned how to play. The disc was too big for my hands, and it would frequently slip during the forward motion. To be clear, I was gripping the disc tightly, but the disc was still too big and kind of unwieldy in my hand. Does that make sense? Probably not. But anyway, to combat the disc slippage, I started to cock the disc back just before I brought it forward again, to either readjust the disc if it was slipping or just to make sure that it was firmly in my grasp. The disc wouldn’t come flying out prematurely or come out wobbly anymore, so I became comfortable and confident with that delivery and kept it.
So basically, as I’m bringing the disc and my wrist back, I “drop” or “cock” the disc backward, bringing it perpendicular to the ground before bringing it forward again and releasing it. It works, and is generally pretty reliable and accurate. The problems are plentiful. First, the slower release. It takes me a second or two longer to release a forehand than other people. Second, the loss of momentum in the throw. Third, it makes me pretty predictable as a thrower. I practically telegraph that I’m going to throw a flick, and I give you a second or two to adjust your mark or get your hand/arm in there before I even start the release. There are probably more problems with it, but those are the ones that I’ve noticed.
(I realize that the description is a little on the terrible side. I’ll see if I can find my camcorder and firewire and tape myself throwing and upload it here so y’all can actually see me throw.)
So, the actual questions:
1. What’s the best way to correct this hitch in the delivery? I’ve tried a lot of different things, from throwing over a trashcan so that if I do cock the disc back I scratch my hand and the disc, to just straight repetition. A couple years ago, I improved to the point where I wasn’t cocking the disc back as far as I normally do, but that improvement happened the week before Regionals. Once we were actually playing at the tournament, I didn’t feel confident enough in the efficiency and reliability of my new form to use it, and I fell back on what I know to work.
That’s the problem — when I don’t cock the disc back, and just try the back and forward motion, I feel like I’m just flinging the disc out there. It feels extremely unnatural to me, and even if I can a. give it a nice snap and b. keep the disc flat, I have no idea and worse — no control over — where the disc is going to go.
2. Do I have to correct this in order to play at a high level? Are there elite players on the club or college scene with good/efficient throws who employ an unorthodox release?
Help a sister out, y’all! Advice, drills, videos, stories, anything!
