Advanced Disc Throwing Techniques

While many may think of the flying disc as a trivial toy and not a sporting good, it is in fact an important tool for quite a few different large-scale sports, including ultimate Frisbee, disc golf and Frisbee football. It follows that to be adept at these sports you will need to have a high level of skill at throwing the flying disc. Most players are already familiar with the basics but could benefit from studying a few of the advanced throwing techniques.

  1. Grip

    • How you grip the disc has a large impact on the resulting throw. Most beginners grip the disk with their fingers under the disc. This is a natural grip because it gives the thrower a strong degree of control over the direction of the disc. However, for high-level play, distance tends to be more important than direction, and you should modify your grip to increase the power of the throw. Many flying disc players do this by removing their fingers completely from under the disc, instead placing them at the rim of the disc. This allows the player to cock her wrist back to a further degree, resulting in a long-distance throw.

    Using Wind

    • The wind conditions present during a disc game will influence how the disc flies. Pay attention to the direction and strength of the wind before you throw. If the wind is coming towards you, the disc will naturally go higher than you expect. Likewise, if the wind is to your back, the disc will fall faster than you expect. Make adjustments for these conditions if you want to be a better player.

    Backhand Throws

    • Many times in an intense game, you will not have time to adjust yourself to throw the disc in the position with which you are familiar. Many high-level disc players are adept at backhand throws, as these throws allow you to catch and throw the disc in a shorter period. The backhand throw is a throw from an outer body to inner body direction, as opposed to the standard throw which moves out from the inner body to the outer body.

    Trajectory Adjustments

    • The standard disc throw is one in which the disc is parallel to the ground. However, you can make the disc move left or right by tilting it before throwing it. Tilting it inward will make the disc curve toward the direction on the opposite side of your body. Tilting the disc outward will make it fly outward from your body. Advanced disc players take advantage of trajectories to control the flight of the disc.