slowplastic
* Ace Member *
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2014
- Messages
- 6,254
I want to summarize some of the plateaus that I have been stuck at in past, what they felt like, and what I noticed was wrong/how to correct. The first step to getting better is to first identify what is wrong, the second is figuring out how to fix it, and then last is making it consistently reproducible. Hopefully this helps some people identify what is going on with their throws and leads to faster improvement.
These are the issues that happened to me at these distances, but I do notice a lot of these issues are common in people on the course and in the technique threads. Feel free to add/discuss what plateaus have happened for you to see if it was the same or different.
In general I feel like every ~30' gain is a different technique/form. Very few times did a form change give me instant distance increase, usually it was a similar distance but just felt easier or better. Over time of gaining consistency the distance would improve, until I realized that I was at a ceiling for that version of form, and that's why I'm calling each of these plateaus. I do not mean any of these titles to be "official"...just what it felt like for me in each case.
Distances are for "typical" discs of that class, for example a Roc or Buzzz for a mid, or for a fairway something like a DX or mellow star/Gstar Teebird, River, etc….not a known "long" disc of that class (like a fairway driver is not a Valkyrie or Sidewinder, or distance drivers are not some crazy understable version that flies distance lines). Distances are all on flat or slight hyzer flip releases, line drive type golf lines.
The 300' Barrier
Mids = 250-275', high and floaty with fade
Any drivers speed 6-9 = 280-300' max, all the same distance, very inconsistent
-poor grip alignment, lot of nose up flights
-strong arming, right from the reachback I was pulling hard with the arm
-legs add nothing since arm is at 100% from reachback until the end
-lots of early releases and griplocks because the arm is moving too quick and there is no defined release point
-lots of n00b hyzers (sky fairway drivers straight up to a stall-out) from poor grip and straining the strong-arming (planes hard to keep consistent)
Fix:
-throw putters and mids from a standstill with a good reach back, it eliminates a sprint up the teepad with an overpowered arm
-teaches to use a rhythm from reachback into throw…just start slow and trying to throw short 100-150' shots and increase a little at a time
The No-Snap Barrier
Fairways = 310-330', absolute max at 350'
Distance Drivers = Useless
-getting a smoother motion into the throw and not using the arm until the disc is near the chest
-not getting elbow forward enough (no right pec area for disc)…leads to "alligator arming" since you're just swinging the forearm out from the body
-dragging the disc during the throw
Fix:
-loose wrist throws with putters/mids from standstill, concentrating on getting the elbow forward (finding the power pocket)
-keep hand on outside of the disc from reachback to power pocket
-feeling the wrist load up in the power pocket and then unwinding the throw to feel it open
The ~350' Barrier
Mids = 290-300'
Fairways = 330-350'
Drivers = 340-375', absolute max at 400'
-this is where most players who play a lot and throw pretty hard end up
-getting the wrist snap (loading and unloading) which allows holding onto the disc later in the throw, increased spin, and nice straight carry
-this is a very important stage to get to
-distance drivers (not super OS ones) actually fly/glide finally, at any other stage they were inconsistent to throw
Problems:
-not good bracing/weight transfer, tipping over the front foot
-throw felt like flinging forearm at the target from the elbow, rather than using the shoulder
Improved Bracing
Mids = 300'+
Fairways = 350'+ consistently
Distance Drivers = 375-400'
-fixed planes so that reachback and throw were level, with no spine tilting in either direction
-planting into the brace leg, hip behind knee, which is behind ankle
-not tipping over the waist helps set a firm axis during the throw, that doesn't drift forwards
-can use shoulder to unwind the arm around the brace leg/axis, after in the power pocket
-does not feel like elbow is flinging forearm anymore…shoulder is doing the work
Problems:
-starting the throw by crushing the can with the plant foot (dragging the body into the throw), rather than shifting into the can crush
Bigger Power with Hips
Mids: 320'+
Fairways: 375'+
Distance Drivers: 425'+
-transfer weight of back leg directly into the brace, while still at reachback
-loads lower body and hips while upper body is still back
-can feel the hips move and it has to bring shoulders forward
-everything unloads around the brace axis in sequence from ground up
-X-step feels like it finally helps add power
Now I'm not saying my form is perfect by any means, but that's also why I hope this is helpful since I remember how all of these issues felt. Feel free to add how barriers have felt/are feeling for your throw, or any questions about how to get past some of these problems.
These are the issues that happened to me at these distances, but I do notice a lot of these issues are common in people on the course and in the technique threads. Feel free to add/discuss what plateaus have happened for you to see if it was the same or different.
In general I feel like every ~30' gain is a different technique/form. Very few times did a form change give me instant distance increase, usually it was a similar distance but just felt easier or better. Over time of gaining consistency the distance would improve, until I realized that I was at a ceiling for that version of form, and that's why I'm calling each of these plateaus. I do not mean any of these titles to be "official"...just what it felt like for me in each case.
Distances are for "typical" discs of that class, for example a Roc or Buzzz for a mid, or for a fairway something like a DX or mellow star/Gstar Teebird, River, etc….not a known "long" disc of that class (like a fairway driver is not a Valkyrie or Sidewinder, or distance drivers are not some crazy understable version that flies distance lines). Distances are all on flat or slight hyzer flip releases, line drive type golf lines.
The 300' Barrier
Mids = 250-275', high and floaty with fade
Any drivers speed 6-9 = 280-300' max, all the same distance, very inconsistent
-poor grip alignment, lot of nose up flights
-strong arming, right from the reachback I was pulling hard with the arm
-legs add nothing since arm is at 100% from reachback until the end
-lots of early releases and griplocks because the arm is moving too quick and there is no defined release point
-lots of n00b hyzers (sky fairway drivers straight up to a stall-out) from poor grip and straining the strong-arming (planes hard to keep consistent)
Fix:
-throw putters and mids from a standstill with a good reach back, it eliminates a sprint up the teepad with an overpowered arm
-teaches to use a rhythm from reachback into throw…just start slow and trying to throw short 100-150' shots and increase a little at a time
The No-Snap Barrier
Fairways = 310-330', absolute max at 350'
Distance Drivers = Useless
-getting a smoother motion into the throw and not using the arm until the disc is near the chest
-not getting elbow forward enough (no right pec area for disc)…leads to "alligator arming" since you're just swinging the forearm out from the body
-dragging the disc during the throw
Fix:
-loose wrist throws with putters/mids from standstill, concentrating on getting the elbow forward (finding the power pocket)
-keep hand on outside of the disc from reachback to power pocket
-feeling the wrist load up in the power pocket and then unwinding the throw to feel it open
The ~350' Barrier
Mids = 290-300'
Fairways = 330-350'
Drivers = 340-375', absolute max at 400'
-this is where most players who play a lot and throw pretty hard end up
-getting the wrist snap (loading and unloading) which allows holding onto the disc later in the throw, increased spin, and nice straight carry
-this is a very important stage to get to
-distance drivers (not super OS ones) actually fly/glide finally, at any other stage they were inconsistent to throw
Problems:
-not good bracing/weight transfer, tipping over the front foot
-throw felt like flinging forearm at the target from the elbow, rather than using the shoulder
Improved Bracing
Mids = 300'+
Fairways = 350'+ consistently
Distance Drivers = 375-400'
-fixed planes so that reachback and throw were level, with no spine tilting in either direction
-planting into the brace leg, hip behind knee, which is behind ankle
-not tipping over the waist helps set a firm axis during the throw, that doesn't drift forwards
-can use shoulder to unwind the arm around the brace leg/axis, after in the power pocket
-does not feel like elbow is flinging forearm anymore…shoulder is doing the work
Problems:
-starting the throw by crushing the can with the plant foot (dragging the body into the throw), rather than shifting into the can crush
Bigger Power with Hips
Mids: 320'+
Fairways: 375'+
Distance Drivers: 425'+
-transfer weight of back leg directly into the brace, while still at reachback
-loads lower body and hips while upper body is still back
-can feel the hips move and it has to bring shoulders forward
-everything unloads around the brace axis in sequence from ground up
-X-step feels like it finally helps add power
Now I'm not saying my form is perfect by any means, but that's also why I hope this is helpful since I remember how all of these issues felt. Feel free to add how barriers have felt/are feeling for your throw, or any questions about how to get past some of these problems.