How to Throw a Hammer in Ultimate Frisbee

The hammer, sometimes referred to as "the overhead," is an essential tool for any ultimate player regardless of the level of experience. Whether playing in pick-up games on the beach or the quad, or trying out for an elite college or club team, the hammer is something every player should learn and master. While the more obvious throws - the forehand flick and the backhand - are utilized to throw on a single vertical plane, the hammer is thrown over the top of the defense enabling the thrower to hit receivers that would be unavailable if he were relying exclusively on the more basic throws. The hammer is sometimes considered something of a circus throw, however, with practice you will find that it can become deadly accurate. Due to the speed generated from the "over-the-top" throwing motion the hammer is an exceptional weapon for getting the disc into tight spaces at the last possible second.

Things You'll Need

  • Flying disc
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grip the rim of the disc as you might with a forehand, with your index and middle fingers pressed tightly against the rim of the disc. It is essential to grip the disc tightly in order to provide spin, and therefore accuracy, to the throw.

    • 2

      Bring your arm back as if you are throwing a baseball or football. Drawn back, your upper arm should be parrallel to the ground, your elbow bent at an acute angle and your throwing hand slightly behind your shoulder.

    • 3

      Leading first with your elbow, pull your hand (and the disc) forward over your head. The disc should be slightly tilted - for a right-handed thrower the right edge of the disc, in your hand, should be positioned below the outer edge.

    • 4

      Release the disc just as your hand clears in front of your head, straightening your arm as you follow through. For a right-handed thrower the disc should travel in a smooth arc heading first up and out to the left, before slicing back down from left to right.

    • 5

      Practice and trouble shoot. A slight flutter on the disc through the throw means you are not gripping it tightly enough - or releasing it too vertically.If the disc travels in an S-shaped path, rather than a smooth arc, you are releasing it with the outer edge below your hand.