Do big people have a natural distance advantage?

[ejvogie]

Size does not matter. I can't comment on how much it affects thumbers/tomahawks but that should be the exact same as any other throw. Arm length will help, but body weight will not. I'm 6'0" 145 lbs on a good day, and throw farther than anybody I play with on a regular basis.

IIRC, overhands are all about arm strength and disc overstability (actual stability, not speed stability).

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.

Lucky. The 1st computer I touched was a TRS-80:gross:, and we only used it for typing. :thmbdown:

 

[Lewis]

Thank you! I would also like to add that length of limbs actually works against explosiveness. That's why most sprinters aren't particularly tall. It's also why the guards on a basketball team are smaller than the post players.

usain bolt is 6'5" just saying, fastest man in the world

I figured someone would bring something like this up, but I stand by the little red word up there. There are also tall soccer players and short basketball players. But there aren't many of them.

 

[liamxparker]

No, unless they're like super flexible.
Tall, maybe. But that's all due to arm length.

 

[Lithicon]

There are a lot of things in this thread that are taken to extremes, and also taken out of context. But, I digress. I stand behind everything I've said here as well.

 

[prerube]

No, unless they're like super flexible.
Tall, maybe. But that's all due to arm length.

actually based on physics liam is correct for once.

If 2 people had the EXACT same form

Flexibility would increase range of motion to increase time that force is imparted on the disc and the longer arm would also give longer time in motion and work as a longer lever (and maybe increasing the release height by an inch or 2).

However I think we all know height can not make up for great form.

 

[MNcyclone]

However I think we all know height can not make up for great form.

I sure hope we all know that, we seem to be arguing as if we don't.

 

[waynewf]

I don't understand how any of you people can possibly think that being taller and or stronger would not be an advantage to getting more distance.
Just because you can pull out an 8 foot man argument about some 12 year old that can throw it 450 feet...so what? Do you assume that this person will not get more sitance as they get bigger and stronger?
Is there some physical limitation on how far a disc can actually fly?

I know what this really is
A lot of ...shall we say, non-athletic people tend to enjoy disc golf because you don't have to be athletic in the least to become a pretty decent player and the learning curve is infinitely shorter than most any other sport in the world. Then a chip on the shoulder develops as the player begins to throw for pretty good decent...and because said player is not tall, strong, or athletic, then being tall, strong, or athletic must be a disadvantage!!!!

All form/technique issues being equal...bigger and stronger people tend to throw objects farther. I'm sorry to break it to you, but it is the truth...

I have a friend who is 7'3", has played disc golf with me twice, and I'm pretty certain he could out throw 90% of the "professionals" out there, let alone the peolpe that post on this board..

 

[MNcyclone]

OK, to summarize my opinion on driving distance, taller people with longer arms CAN get more distance but it is a very small part of the equation after technique, hand/wrist strength, and I would say even hand size.

On to another topic to ruffle some feathers, I think putting is definitely decided by arm length and height. Yes, short people can learn very good putting form and putt at a high percentage. But think about the advantage tall putters get; throwing down at the basket gets way shorter blow byes, longer arms mean closer to the basket (like darts throwers, no contest there), and longer arms mean a much much greater amount of potential energy without the mechanics of a drive to lend power. Putting is more of a parabolic action, and starting out higher up means you can throw a lower arc and get the same results, meaning higher percentage putting.

 

[sillybizz]

There's a reason that the Strongman Competition doesn't include disc golf.

 

[liamxparker]

There's a reason that the Strongman Competition doesn't include disc golf.

Mostly because they don't know how to play.

 

[ArcheType]

All the guys who say that size doesn't matter are just in denial. WITH THESE ASSUMPTIONS: same skill level, same physical strength, same driving ability and technique, same disc, same conditions, same elevation, same grip strength, a 6' guy should outdrive a 5'6" guy of the same weight. Not by a lot, probably 10'-20' tops, but it still makes a difference. Physics says so, good luck proving me wrong.

 

[sillybizz]

There's a reason body builders don't own the distance record.

 

[MNcyclone]

I thought I saw a strongman competition include a manhole cover toss, does that count?

 

[sillybizz]

I like the ones where they carry the boulders.

 

[Lithicon]

Yes, in the ultimate scheme of things, because form is the key issue. Those with very physical forms might benefit to start with. But, ultimately their body type isn't what gives them the advantage.

The percentage is so minimal with physical make up, that if it did make any difference, it'd be almost unmeasurable. You can make the argument all you want about "the same form." But, the fact is no one will ever have the same form. That's why it's a feeling thing, because people are made just a little different. But, underlying physical ability if we're able to apply correct body positioning, timing, and hand strength will be the same. There is no actual physical body make up that will help, or hurt you minus the general extremes of these conditions.

I've already pointed this out, but assuming most of you aren't getting it. The "leverage" thing isn't all that important. It's about correctly timing the body positions, and putting them in the correct positions at the right time. If your body is able to do this, then you can throw as far as anyone else. As I said, almost ANYONE from kids to 60 year old people can throw 400' with correct BASIC fundamental form. Anything beyond that is better controlling timing, and getting your hand strength for snap. Anything 450+ is almost 85% wrist timing, and hand strength. So this fact alone negates almost any body type. It has almost nothing to do with ****ing arm length. It just makes those people with them able to get the feeling quicker if they're able to control their extremities.

There was probably more I forgot to put in here.

 

[ArcheType]

Oh, don't take my post as a shot against you Lithicon, I completely agree that size is a tiny, tiny part of throwing for distance. But it's still a part, however minuscule

 

[waynewf]

I think it would be pretty easy to go through this board and pick out those with "bad bodies"

 

[liamxparker]

I thought I saw a strongman competition include a manhole cover toss, does that count?

maybe if they use a baby pool as the basket, it would reach PDGA requirements.

 

[waynewf]

Yes, in the ultimate scheme of things, because form is the key issue. Those with very physical forms might benefit to start with. But, ultimately their body type isn't what gives them the advantage.

The percentage is so minimal with physical make up, that if it did make any difference, it'd be almost unmeasurable. You can make the argument all you want about "the same form." But, the fact is no one will ever have the same form. That's why it's a feeling thing, because people are made just a little different. But, underlying physical ability if we're able to apply correct body positioning, timing, and hand strength will be the same. There is no actual physical body make up that will help, or hurt you minus the general extremes of these conditions.

I've already pointed this out, but assuming most of you aren't getting it. The "leverage" thing isn't all that important. It's about correctly timing the body positions, and putting them in the correct positions at the right time. If your body is able to do this, then you can throw as far as anyone else. As I said, almost ANYONE from kids to 60 year old people can throw 400' with correct BASIC fundamental form. Anything beyond that is better controlling timing, and getting your hand strength for snap. Anything 450+ is almost 85% wrist timing, and hand strength. So this fact alone negates almost any body type. It has almost nothing to do with ****ing arm length. It just makes those people with them able to get the feeling quicker if they're able to control their extremities.

There was probably more I forgot to put in here.

"Hand strength?"
WTF????
Actually it's your triceps, lat and shoulder strength that you rely on....I don't even kknow WTF "hand strength" is??? You mean like having a strong grip???

 

[MNcyclone]

I think he means grip strength, and I would have to agree. Thats how small major league pitchers can pitch well; they have ginormous monkey hands with crazy monkey strength! Ever seen Pedro's hands? He could strangle me from 6 feet away!