Do big people have a natural distance advantage?

[garublador]

Anytime anyone argues that size has a significant impact on how far you can throw just reference David Wiggins Jr. He has official throws that are longer than what 99.9% of disc golfers can do that he performed when he was 12 years old. Yes, he's throwing farther as he gets bigger, but if you aren't already at the top end of distance throwers, then size isn't what's holding you back.

 

[Technohic]

In all seriousness, you can throw really far no matter how small you are but there might be some advantages to being bigger. It sure isn't double distance though. we are probably talking more along the lines of the difference between a average top level pro and Avery Jenkins and Im pretty sure any one of us about would be very happy with the first of the 2.

 

[The Hammer]

Paul McBeth and Garrett Gurthie are both tiny, yet they crushed me in a distance comp and I'm 6'5"

 

[MNcyclone]

Yea, and size doesn't matter in basketball either, muggsy bogues was great, proving that tall people have zero advantage. I'm sorry, but pulling random short people that are good at something does not mean that height is not an advantage. Short people can definitely become good, because disc golf isn't about huge D, but being tall means more potential distance, its not even up for debate.

 

[The Hammer]

Yea, and size doesn't matter in basketball either, muggsy bogues was great, proving that tall people have zero advantage. I'm sorry, but pulling random short people that are good at something does not mean that height is not an advantage. Short people can definitely become good, because disc golf isn't about huge D, but being tall means more potential distance, its not even up for debate.

When I think of all the big throwers that I know, there isn't a typical body shape or size. Some are short, some tall, some fat, and some stupid. I would agree with you, if something like 70% of the big arms that I know were over 6'2", but that simply isn't the case.

 

[billnchristy]

Apparently it is.

In basketball your height gets you closer or farther away from the basket, that is an obvious advantage.

What does 6" of wingspan do over 400'?

Nothing.

 

[weeman]

Size doesn't really hold any sway on distance. If you look at the results from the Big D in the Desert from last year, Garrett Gurthie out threw Jeremy Koling and they are no where near the same size. Its all about technique. Of course there are exceptions to all this. Wiggins Jr. is a child prodigy and has years of refining his technique and form. He's done all this during the peak of his mental growth so he can retain more of what he learns and it doesn't hurt that he can carry this over while he's grown.

 

[JoshEpoo]

There are many genetic factors that influence efficiency and power. There is no doubt that a certain type of bone structure works better than another type, but there are so many complex variables that it's not really worth noting one over another as being more significant.

 

[The Hammer]

There are many genetic factors that influence efficiency and power. There is no doubt that a certain type of bone structure works better than another type, but there are so many complex variables that it's not really worth noting one over another as being more significant.

This makes sense.

 

[Technohic]

OK, basketball is different, but even there, I think the Jordans, Kobes are better than the Priest Lauderdales or Yao Mings

 

[MNcyclone]

Holy crap, are you guys actually arguing this? Its fifth grade physics, it shouldn't be a problem. The longer the lever, the more potential force you can get on a projectile. The levers involved in disc golf are your legs and arms. Taller = longer legs and arms. Longer legs and arms = more D. Taller = more D. This is all potential, so don't reply with jimmy schmuck and johnny doughnuts that can out drive people taller then them. That doesn't help your argument, it just shows that mechanics make a bigger difference. Please read me correctly here; tall people do not automatically get more distance, but they have more potential.

If you were building a disc throwing robot and the only variable you could change was the arm length, wouldn't you max that sucker out to the max length the force level could swing? Of course you would, you all took fifth grade physics just like me!

 

[billnchristy]

Holy crap, are you guys actually arguing this? Its fifth grade physics, it shouldn't be a problem. The longer the lever, the more potential force you can get on a projectile. The levers involved in disc golf are your legs and arms. Taller = longer legs and arms. Longer legs and arms = more D. Taller = more D. This is all potential, so don't reply with jimmy schmuck and johnny doughnuts that can out drive people taller then them. That doesn't help your argument, it just shows that mechanics make a bigger difference. Please read me correctly here; tall people do not automatically get more distance, but they have more potential.

If you were building a disc throwing robot and the only variable you could change was the arm length, wouldn't you max that sucker out to the max length the force level could swing? Of course you would, you all took fifth grade physics just like me!

IN A PERFECT WORLD!

Your lever has a brain connected to it. Some levers are more coordinated than other levers.

That's fifth grade anatomy or psychology or whatever other smart alecky BS comment you want to make about it.

 

[Technohic]

Where the ef did you guys go to school, cause it sure as **** wasnt the same public schools I went to.

 

[MNcyclone]

Uhhh, did I say anything other than perfect world situations? I have repeatedly said that mechanics matter, but given the exact same mechanics the taller thrower will throw farther. Sheesh, can't you just accept that as a fact? Its like you have a reverse napoleon complex, defensive about being tall.

On the other side, which I have not argued yet, what about in the real world? No matter what your mechanics level, how many people ever thought to themselves "damn, I really wish I was shorter so I could be more coordinated". Step up guys, who has had that thought?

 

[slowRoll]

I think that both sides of this argument are forgetting the element of quickness and explosiveness. Tall or big without quickness doesnt help. However, when the tall guy learns the right way to throw, he is at an advantage. The reason why I said in another thread that tall skinny dudes are the best at discgolf is because when they learn proper technique they have the advantage. Their arms are longer to increase their reachback, there is a greater range of motion increasing leverage which when combined with proper technique provides greater distance. It's physics.

I'm not sure if being heavy would be any advantage at all. I am on the heavy side, and it really slows me down. I have more mass, but it doesn't help me in accelerating.

Plus tall people can step out farther in their straddle stances; can see over obstacles you and I can't see over. Just saying... They have an obvious advantage.

 

[Lithicon]

Size is only important in the initial stages of learning. It could or could not affect how fast you learn.

The problem is people see form as this mystical thing that certain features will enhance. The fact is it's only about positioning, timing, and hand strength. As long as everyone figures out what positions to be in, at the correct time, with proper strength in the hand to hold on and give the disc correct snap. Your body size will not affect this unless you allow it to. People put it in their head they're smaller, they can't throw far, or vice versa, they're large so they can't. Again, for any of you that aren't getting this. Body positioning, timing, and hand strength are ALL that are required to throw far.

The only reason anyone could have an advantage is that it might come easier in the beginning, or they learn faster. If someone puts the time and effort in to learn correctly, they can throw just as far.

 

[MNcyclone]

Where the ef did you guys go to school, cause it sure as **** wasnt the same public schools I went to.

I went to a public school in MN here, we had a rudimentary physics section in fifth grade science where we played on this apple II program that allowed you to change the length of levers to move bigger and bigger stuff.

 

[Technohic]

Tax dollars at work. When I was in school, we got by with just calling it science class and would probably have went out and thrown something off the end of a stick or something.

 

[JoshEpoo]

There is definitely a point where you are "too tall" when your muscles and tendons aren't able to adequately support you during athletic motions and you end up with health problems, like really tall NBA players who's knees fall apart at 20 like Andrew Bynum and Yao Ming. There is a happy ground somewhere in the middle, which I imagine is between 6'2 and 6'5 or 6'6 that you would want for a prototypical disc golfer. Running backs in the NFL want to be like 5'8"-5'10" and compact so they can take hits and stay low, but obviously not many 5'8" guys make a good NFL running back. Similar situation with disc golf...

 

[Lithicon]

You're all looking at this wrong, there are several misconceptions in this thread about form. Faster runs ups don't do ****. Farther reach back is only good for ONE thing, getting your right shoulder farther back, increasing your potential torque. The positioning and timing will be different for all body types, thus you have to learn it correctly for yourself. When put in the proper positions, at the right time. We're all able to perform the same principles to throwing far.