Can I really go anywhere throwing forehand?

[chrishysell]

It was kind of a joke/dig on chris. If you'll notice in the sentence immediately preceding I say putting is important and then in the sentence you quote I say the old guys are the smart ones anyway...

i'm oblivious to "old guy" comments. I've been hearing them since I joined the amateur ranks at 30yrs of age.

Properly thrown sidearms don't hurt or cause injuries. Improper technique can cause multiple injuries and surgeries.

 

[dodgeball]

I'd say it's a lot easier for a given player to be exclusively backhand than exclusively forehand. And this is coming from a predominant forehand player. It has been touched on already, but the main limitation with forehand comes with the slower discs, like mids and putters. Even good forehand players tend to shy away throwing these forehand because it's just easier to get a proper flight throwing them backhand.

To the OP, do u putt backhand? If so, that's a good start to being able to backhand short approaches and mid shots. Distance drives will take more time to develop, at least they did for me. But if all u use backhand for is approaching and some mid shots, it should improve yer overall game.

 

[Triflusal]

i'm oblivious to "old guy" comments. I've been hearing them since I joined the amateur ranks at 30yrs of age.

Properly thrown sidearms don't hurt or cause injuries. Improper technique can cause multiple injuries and surgeries.

hey, you are lying about not ever getting injured. I remember a thread where you said you hurt your should throwing a really high forehand anny

im callin you out hysell

EDIT: you said you never hurt your elbow, not never got injured. I am not callin you out

 

[DavidSauls]

That's not true. The speed a disc spins on a forehand release vs a backhand release is very different. This leads to very different flight characteristics (land speed to spin speed ratio is very different). I can't explain the physics of why this is, I just know it is true. LHBH is not equal to RHFH.

Yes.....but I didn't say they were equal, I said they were not "all that different". If you're talking about the flight characteristics of a given disc, you're probably right. But in the context of a player asking how far he can go with the single throwing motion, as compared to learning both---I think the RHFH is comparable to LHBH (even though the disc selection may be different).

 

[esdubya]

They would call security on you if you walked into the mall throwing forehand.

 

[JoshEpoo]

Properly thrown sidearms don't hurt or cause injuries. Improper technique can cause multiple injuries and surgeries.

Stupidity and/or zeal are more dangerous to forehanders than backhanders was my main point.

 

[chrishysell]

I like all of you guys

 

[bradharris]

But in the context of a player asking how far he can go with the single throwing motion, as compared to learning both---I think the RHFH is comparable to LHBH (even though the disc selection may be different).

True, they are comparable. However, in my experience learning to throw backhand after throwing predominantly forehand, I'm finding that I can get a greater variety of shots off the backhand release than I could with the forehand.

To answer the original question though, yes, you can go somewhere with a forehand. If you can master the forehand shot to get solid distance and a variety of flight paths, then get a solid short game, you can be quite successful in competition.

 

[MNcyclone]

To address the injury concerns of forehand, is there a bigger prossibility/probability of injury compared to backhand? I have no idea, but I'm willing to say there could be. As far as how much higher that probability is I can't honestly say that it should be that much more assuming proper mechanics for both. While the major injury possibilities to the elbow are there, I have a permanent case of frisbee finger from backhand, and while it is not life changing it is a constant annoyance. I feel it every time I bowl or fingerpick a guitar.

 

[denny ritner]

Forehand can be pretty tough on your elbow. Backhand can be tough on the knees. Either is avoidable with good form, but backhand is the less likely to cause injury in most people.

It's a good idea to be able to do both.

Good points. Forehand can aggravate a ten year old rotator cuff tear for me. My backhand plant knee can suddenly get very tender. Sometimes an old lower-back injury will flair up, causing me to lose 10-15% of my backhand power.

In the end, I'm glad to have a variety of tools to work with, as my temperamental body dictates.

Having said that, Kenny has only recently added the forehand to his regular arsenal after a fairly good career not using it.

And to the comment that the physics of RHFH and LHBH are different, I agree. They aren't exactly the same, but it is possible to throw the same shot shapes, although some are more difficult to execute than others. One of my favorite casual round fun activities is to throw the opposite of what everyone else is throwing to demonstrate that it can be done.

 

[steveo69]

To the OP, do u putt backhand? If so, that's a good start to being able to backhand short approaches and mid shots. Distance drives will take more time to develop, at least they did for me. But if all u use backhand for is approaching and some mid shots, it should improve yer overall game.

^^^^^^^ This!!! I started FH but always used a BH for putts and mids. If you use BH for these shots It will help you learn BH better. Because for the most part your not going to be trying to smash the disc 300' or better. It will get you used to the motion and the form of a BH shot. I have just started to throw fairways and drivers BH.:thmbup:

 

[Horsman]

You should definitely learn to throw backhand it is the powerhouse of many peoples game. Forehand is nice to know and to have in your arsenal but you want to learn how to throw backhand. Throwing backhand will allow you with time to throw the disc farther and to me it is more consistent. I personally throw backhand and there has not been a shot yet off the tee that I have not been able to do backhand. The only time that I use my forehand is when I need to get out of trouble and the forehand is the only thing that is available. I also enjoy throwing backhand because a lot of newbies cant throw that way and it makes you look as though you know what you are doing.

 

[dlognittam]

To the OP, do u putt backhand? If so, that's a good start to being able to backhand short approaches and mid shots. Distance drives will take more time to develop, at least they did for me. But if all u use backhand for is approaching and some mid shots, it should improve yer overall game.

Yeah I putt backhand and backhand mids for really short approaches. I played a couple putter/mid only rounds today but my form is so terrible that it really isn't even fun, but I'm going to keep at it to try to get a little better.

 

[FierceTable]

I don't understand why everyone seems to be ignoring one of the biggest factors regarding learning a different way to throw...if you want to be equally good throwing opposite of whatever you currently do you'll have to put in equal time. So if you want to remain as skilled as you are one way while learning another you'll have to play/practice more often. I understand it takes less practice to maintain muscle memory, but it still takes practice.

I threw forehand only for the first two years I played. I had learned to shape shots both directions and was solidly consistent. Then I decided to learn backhand as some shots have a much greater margin for error when thrown backhand. Now I have more shots available to me, but I cannot count on any shot since I only throw each way half as often. As a result I've gone from averaging -1 to +1 at my local course throwing forehand only to -6 to +4 throwing both ways. My average score is marginally better, but I have much more variance day to day due to consistency issues. If I played twice as much as I orginally did I'm sure I could shatter my average scores as my forehand gets back to where it once was and my backhand develops as much as my forehand, but I don't have the time to devote to that.

Ask yourself how much additional time you have to devote to learning a new style while keeping up your old way of throwing. It is easy to advance quickly throwing with a different style. By that I mean most everyone can easily hit a 300' plateau throwing either way. Each additional unit of time you spend trying to push past that plateau results in less gains than before. I'd say try to learn both ways. Hit the early plateau from both sides. Even with considerably less distance one way you'll find it's easier to park some holes. A hole that may have required a great forehand shot can be accomplished with a mediocre backhand shot or vice versa. Just realize you're giving up practice time with one method. That 15' gap 200' out didn't used to be scary, but now that you're practicing half as much as you used to it may become more of a problem than you remember.

 

[pchitti]

That 15' gap 200' out didn't used to be scary, but now that you're practicing half as much as you used to it may become more of a problem than you remember.

Get out of my head man.

I feel the same way about throwing the faster drivers though. I carry a surge or katana depending on wind. Only for those long open holes.

 

[jongoff09]

I don't understand why everyone seems to be ignoring one of the biggest factors regarding learning a different way to throw...if you want to be equally good throwing opposite of whatever you currently do you'll have to put in equal time. So if you want to remain as skilled as you are one way while learning another you'll have to play/practice more often.

This is definitely something to think about. I have read somewhere that it is better to master one shot, then to have a bunch that you can't rely on. I think that is what he ^^ is trying to point out.

It is good to practice everything, but you should still focus on mastering one.

 

[CwAlbino]

A smooth forehand is no more harmful than a backhand. Overuse can harm the elbow just like a pitcher pitching too much can hurt his arm. It's really easy though to get a forehand out to 350 without a whole lot of strain on the elbow. Most of the time you really only need 300-325' forehand distance, in which case a standing forehand is all that is needed.

 

[slimshadyemb]

A smooth forehand is no more harmful than a backhand. Overuse can harm the elbow just like a pitcher pitching too much can hurt his arm. It's really easy though to get a forehand out to 350 without a whole lot of strain on the elbow. Most of the time you really only need 300-325' forehand distance, in which case a standing forehand is all that is needed.

I have this issue, and is also the reason I am having difficulty developing overhand shots, both tommy and thumber. To throw it too much like a baseball/softball. a disc is substantially different, and ripping my arm apart. I learned my first year throwing 99% backhand. I can shape almost any shot, with the exception being a long anny curve, but can do pretty well tossing a glide or leopard with enough snap and turn. My distance is not incredible, but feel like i have a strong variety of shapes. For ultimate distance potential, I have read the BH is a stronger throw

Referring to an earlier poster, if you are to throw one of the directions consistently, I think you must develop a straight shot. Whenever i hear of a non-pro/non-tournament player using a disc such as a boss, I automatically assume a forehand because of the sloppy, flex, s curve used to fight inconsistencies in release speed/angle/turn so apparent in FH

 

[dlognittam]

When you guys say "straight" shot, are you referring to ending up straight or actually going on a direct line with no turn/fade at all?

 

[bthoma1]

When I first started playing I threw exclusively forehand. I continued that for many many years and just recently started developing my backhand throw.

I still can't get the same distance with a backhand that I can forehanded, but I'm finding that the backhand gives me much more control.

The fundamental difference in flight of the two throws is that a backhand will spin much more than a forehand. The added spin opens up a variety of shots that are just not available to a forehander.

For instance, throw an understable disc forehand and you're likely to flip it end up with an out of control roller. However, with the backhand, that same disc might take a nice slow left to right turn.

When you're first starting out, I think it's important to focus on one style to master. Once you're comfortable with that, work from the other side. Having both shots available in your arsenal will give you a huge leg up on most other players.

I disagree with this. I have seen people throw sidearm who throw an understable disc and they can control it just fine. It is just something you have to work on.