I was talking to a friend who throws forehand drives pretty well. He commented that he can throw farther with a higher release point. For his longest throws, he actually releases at shoulder height or even higher. I found this especially interesting because I do the opposite. I lean down and release the disk below my waist.
I am a little concerned about this. I had been told that you can avoid arm problems by keeping your elbow close to your body. I don't see any way to release at shoulder level and keep your elbow by your body.
Yesterday I tried a more upright position and I released the disk about waist level. My drives were inconsistent (not surprising since I am changing my technique), but the good throws went farther than my low release throws by 30 feet or so. Plus the upright position seems more balanced and I think I could be more consistent with it.
So that raises a few questions for the forehand experts out there:
1) Is it really safer to throw with your elbow close to your body?
2) Would you gain more distance if you threw with your elbow farther from your body? This is a scary thought to me, would I risk injury to my arm to gain more distance?
3) For forehands, does release height affect distance?
4) Did my 30 foot gains come from release height or upright position?
Or does it all depend on the thrower. Try different heights and body positions and find out what works best for you?
I am a little concerned about this. I had been told that you can avoid arm problems by keeping your elbow close to your body. I don't see any way to release at shoulder level and keep your elbow by your body.
Yesterday I tried a more upright position and I released the disk about waist level. My drives were inconsistent (not surprising since I am changing my technique), but the good throws went farther than my low release throws by 30 feet or so. Plus the upright position seems more balanced and I think I could be more consistent with it.
So that raises a few questions for the forehand experts out there:
1) Is it really safer to throw with your elbow close to your body?
2) Would you gain more distance if you threw with your elbow farther from your body? This is a scary thought to me, would I risk injury to my arm to gain more distance?
3) For forehands, does release height affect distance?
4) Did my 30 foot gains come from release height or upright position?
Or does it all depend on the thrower. Try different heights and body positions and find out what works best for you?