How I broke the 500 foot barrier

[John Q. Public]

To those who know deep down they have the goods to toss a disc 500 feet but haven't done it yet, this explanation is for you. I threw 520 feet today [measured with a wheel after 360 feet (goal post to goal post) on level ground]

1. Belief in yourself is critical. Keep working at it even when you want to give up.
Also, respect your body and give it the rest it needs when it's time.

2. Technique is critical. I did nothing different than I had been doing for the last 6 months
save ONE THING! Just one small adjustment gave me 60-120 feet more distance today!
I have struggled to hit 400 ft consistently up until today.

What was that one thing? A 40mph tailwind!! JUST KIDDING!

That one thing was... wait for it... GETTING MY BODY AROUND THE DISC!

I had read this and heard this a hundred times but could never figure it out. I naively assumed I was already doing it. I was very wrong.

I'll explain it in my own words with the hope it clicks with a fellow disc golfer...

(For RHBH throwers) Ok, so you're about to do the ol' X-step. You step out with your right foot and cross behind that foot with your left. Freeze that image. You still with me? Good!
A la Paul McBeth you pop out the disc directly in front of you. Freeze again. You're left foot is still 'X'ed' behind your right. Now, in order to impart the forward momentum of the X step, the entire reason we don't throw a drive from a standstill, we must get our body around the disc... this is the sweet and glorious key (at least for me...) Leave the 'popped out in front of you disc' just about right where it's at AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND PLANT/BRACE your right leg. Initiate the swing with your hips, drive the elbow, you know the drill! I used to physically reach the disc back on the backswing, (instead of 'freezing it' and moving forward relative to it) which I have absolutely proven to myself today is a bona fide momentum killer. I might as well have just thrown from a standstill! I truly hope this helps someone, let me know!

P.S. Thanks to all the students and teachers on DGCR for their insight and analysis. I couldn't have done it without you.

Josh:thmbup:

 

[Putt for D'oh]

Awesome!!

I tried this a while ago after really watching Will closely in that 4 window side by side driving vid clip. Very noticeable that the disc stays in one spot right above his rear foot from x step until pull... But I failed miserably to keep everything else in order.
I've been revisiting the door frame drills recently which is same idea really. Hope to see some jumps like this.

 

[John Q. Public]

Thanks P4D!!

I had just watched that 4 window clip Monday night

I'll have to watch the door frame vid with a keener eye as it never clicked the first couple times.

My focus after 'freezing the disc' was heel-waist-elbow drive...heel-waist-elbow drive; trying to keep the mantra simple in the mind and not overload on concepts as I threw.

I use that nifty power grip that I saw posted not too long ago where dude has his index on top of the disc then slowly brings it underneath so that the fleshy pad below the third knuckle gives a little more leverage to rim angle to help with nose up issues.

Even so, I turned burned and a few:\ but they had extra heat on them this time so it was still oddly satisfying.

Keep studying and grinding... you'll make it!!

 

[slowplastic]

Congrats!

Do you think this let you "pause" the disc as your hips and weight shifted, coiling up your torso for the explosion while the disc was waiting?

I'd be freaking out if I got 50'+ in one day

 

[eric40817]

Im going to do this today. If I dont over throw hole 1 (339') Im going to be pissed at you!

I actually just tweaked my form. I didnt add much for distance if any, but it feels closer to proper mechanics. I was physically reaching back (far back maybe) and it was causing me to really reach with my plant foot after the x step. this was killing my weight shift at the point and I was generating no power in the lower body. I still reach back, but I delayed when I do. I also focus on keeping my posture rather than reach and leaning back for a farther reach. I twist rather than lean, and I start my reach back just a split second later. I feel more compact i feel like my foot work is better. But I think by doing that Im forcing my arm through harder and causing shoulder pain. Im not rotating the hips enough and my should muscles are trying to stop my arm rather than letting my arm fly though in a propper follow through.

Make a long story short, I'll take your advice and I'll be in touch lol

 

[Dr.Smooth]

I think anyone who says they broke 500 foot is usually wrong on correct measurement, flat ground, little to no wind, etc.

So yes I'm a naysayer because I know to much. So for now on if you post this statement "" please provide a video.

 

[eric40817]

I think anyone who says they broke 500 foot is usually wrong on correct measurement, flat ground, little to no wind, etc.

So yes I'm a naysayer because I know to much. So for now on if you post this statement "" please provide a video.

Agreed. Distance claims over and above the average distance (whatever that is) requires unedited footage. Mods lets make this a sticky. If you can throw 500' you should be touring. Unless you can drive 500 and but cant hit a put outside 20ft lol.

The advice makes sense I think though... but thinking about other pros with big arms - Wysocki and Will, they clearly reach back and they can bomb with the rest of them. Eagle reaches back. Simon has a very casual, fluid, effortless reach back. Actually Simons whole throwing motion is effortless and almost lazy looking and I hate him for that. Regardless, I see what youre saying about McBeths throw, but I dont see that in the other guys. At least not on normal round coverage

 

[B3NDER]

So yes I'm a naysayer because I know to much. So for now on if you post this statement "" please provide a video.

*too much.

*from now on

dummy.

Don't be so quick to judge someone, if your simple grammar and spelling skills are shooting ten over.

 

[eric40817]

*too much.

*from now on

dummy.

Don't be so quick to judge someone, if your simple grammar and spelling skills are shooting ten over.

LOL! Do you, like me, reread your comment a couple times before posting when you call out someone for their grammar? When I do, I make damn everything is spelled correctly and proper punctuation is used. Otherwise, I see a typo afterword and say, eh, fk it.

Edit: I do it sometimes, but can't stand when it's done by others to me. Hypocrite? Eh, maybe.

 

[HyzerUniBomber]

First off, congrats! I hope to join the ranks of the 500' club one day. I don't need video.

Back swing vs work around the disc isn't necessarily a big game changer across the board, so much as setting your timing to put your power into the disc at the right time and place.

Sometimes wide-rail or working around the disc will help tremendously in setting up your posture and timing to put more force into the last micro-second. Sometimes (like CLard discovered) altering hand and wrist angles can keep you in a better position on the rim.

In my own head, if I think that I need to extend the disc out front and hammer it to the right - I fight off putting power into my straight back-swing just enough to hit that better timing. When I get it correct, the disc speed will increase a good 5mph.

 

[Pbmercil]

I think anyone who says they broke 500 foot is usually wrong on correct measurement, flat ground, little to no wind, etc.

So yes I'm a naysayer because I know to much. So for now on if you post this statement "" please provide a video.

That didn't take long.

Haters gonna hate.

 

[Pbmercil]

If you can throw 500' you should be touring.

That is such BS. I've met plenty of guys who throw 500 and don't tour. Shoot, some of them still play advanced for one reason or another. If you think having 500 distance automatically makes you 1000+ rated and a MPO caliber player you have no idea what you're talking about

 

[eric40817]

That is such BS. I've met plenty of guys who throw 500 and don't tour. Shoot, some of them still play advanced for one reason or another. If you think having 500 distance automatically makes you 1000+ rated and a MPO caliber player you have no idea what you're talking about

Forgive me - That was taken too literally and I clearly came off in a literal sense. Obviously theres more to a 1000 rated player than throwing far. All I meant by that is theres not many people on here that can consistently hit 500 feet Id guess, and I know I haven't met anyone who can come close. If youve got the power and skills to throw 500' consistently, I believe you're on a good path to DG success though, whether the person tours or not. Of all the people I've played with, intermediate AMs up to MPOs, none of them can hit 500. Ive seen one guy throwing around 475.

 

[BirdieMachine]

I know for a fact this is a concept where I am not doing it correctly and most efficiently.

I struggle having enough time during my run-up getting the disc back to where it should be (I usually don't get back unless I slow down a lot). So I should try this, in fact it was one thing I noticed on that same 4 by 4 footage that the disc stays still while they move forward and load up a few months back. I just forgot to try it in my own throw! Well I wasn't really playing much during Winter anyways.

Thanks for the insight and reminder though. Hopefully I can move into that 400+ club (I'm usually stuck at 375) having only thrown 400 a couple times (flat ground no wind).

 

[hook_nuts]

500' isn't even that far anymore.

 

[rhatton1]

The advice makes sense I think though... but thinking about other pros with big arms - Wysocki and Will, they clearly reach back and they can bomb with the rest of them. Eagle reaches back. Simon has a very casual, fluid, effortless reach back.

No, they don't, watch a side on and watch the disc relative to the background. From the moment the plant leg starts moving forward it stays still and they move forward around, yes there are some funky little forward bumps from a few of them but they work their bodies around a fixed stationary point.

https://youtu.be/PkM4tmYS4wU?t=55s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfjiaZ9DvXQ
https://youtu.be/IwuBQp_q2DY?t=51s

Sidewinders door frame drills are excellent for this.

 

[eric40817]

No, they don't, watch a side on and watch the disc relative to the background. From the moment the plant leg starts moving forward it stays still and they move forward around, yes there are some funky little forward bumps from a few of them but they work their bodies around a fixed stationary point.



https://youtu.be/PkM4tmYS4wU?t=55s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfjiaZ9DvXQ

https://youtu.be/IwuBQp_q2DY?t=51s



Sidewinders door frame drills are excellent for this.

Hm. So it's just an illusion their arms are reaching back when it's their bodies moving forward. I can't see the vid on my phone. I'll check it out when I'm home. Thanks for pointing that out, about the background. I'll have to pay attention to that more

 

[Pbmercil]

Of all the people I've played with, intermediate AMs up to MPOs, none of them can hit 500. Ive seen one guy throwing around 475.

If you traveled more to play youd be amazed. When I play local and regional events im unusually one of the top 5 or better guys in distance in advanced. I've gone to tournaments a few states over where I wasn't even the farthest thrower on my card all weekend.

 

[eric40817]

I gotta get out more. Just started playing tournies last year and they were local. I'm hoping to go to the MHO this year too. If I go to the AM day I'll be interested to see what it brings

 

[DiscJunkie]

Moving the body around the disc.
I discovered this a few month back.
It has helped with distance, release angle and consistency.