Forehand Inferiority Complex

[amcarlson83]

Oh yeah, about the subject of the thread...

I am a primary RHBH thrower, but I started DGing only throwing RHFH. So now I have a really good combo game, although I am working on my anhyzer. I think you should be proud of your FH prowess because as was already said "LHBH players aren't exactly falling from the sky" (paraphrasing a bit).

 

[A.Mutt]

I was that guy the second year I played. Third year it was only for my approach shots (damn accurate, by the way). Now, I suck at it.

use it or lose it . I haven't done a thumber drive in a couple of months and when I tried a couple this last week they were terribly off from what they usually are. I have been consistently integrating a half power thumber with a mid for specific types of approach shots and you're right, they are damn accurate.

 

[SpringDgLover]

better than those damn overhand guys...

Hey I resemble that comment .

 

[SpringDgLover]

I feel ya. I spent about 5 years only driving with thumbers. I actually had one guy literally say
"Oh ... You're one of those guys" with clear judgment in his voice.
On the other hand when I played in a tournament this year throwing thumbers predominantly because I didn't have confidence yet in my backhand I picked up a curious positive type vibe from some other players.
I have committed myself to learning backhand this year though and its finally starting to show. But I did it so I had more options not because I felt I had to do it to be taken seriously. Honestly I'm envious of people that can throw forehand as I struggle with that a lot right now, and I'd really like to piece it all together.

The way I see it a good line is a good line regardless of how you propelled it. And anyone that judges you for the way you throw is the same kind of person that would find something else to look down their nose at you for to feel better about themselves.

My game is basically exactly where yours is right now and I have the same short comings as well. I wish I could throw a RHFH it would make me giddy with good feelings.

 

[jdggna]

Forehand and backhand, like peanut butter and jelly.

LOL...love it brother

 

[Dave242]

Forehand throws can be a joy to watch but it seems all the best pros throw mostly backhand.

This is a good observation. I would even say that less than 10% of players rated over 950 drive predominantly forehand. If you aspire to be a good competitive player you can probably deduce from this observation that forehands can only take you so far.

If you aspire to have fun and enjoy the game for all its recreational benefits, learn a good chicken wing or grenade to go with your forehand!

 

[garublador]

There's more distance potential and less injury risk with backhand, but if you're OK with how you're doing then I don't see an issue. However, it's pretty obvious that the more different shots you're proficient with (forehand, backhand, overhand, off-hand, ect.) the easier time you'll have scoring well, though.

 

[I3ooI3oo]

While I started playing RHBH, I played with a friend that throws solely RHFH. Each throw has is own purpose. I commited to learning to throw both. I can drive 300-400 RHFH and about 250-300 RHBH. While learning to throw both hyzer and anhyzer each way there are still differences in the flight paths.

Think about this you have a long curve to the right in tight fair way. The RHBH player will have to Anhyzer the disc through the curve. If at any time that disc hits anything it will lose most of it's HSS and in turn it's Anhyzer. The RHFH throw natural spin direction will allow for the lose of HSS and continue with the natural LSS which are taking the disc in the same direction.

Like someone else pointed out with a FH throw you can release a lot lower that any BH thrower. The other day in a Tournament I throw a RHFH that never went more than 12 inches off the ground. It still flew 300+ ft, lucky they had recently cut the grass or I would have been toast on that drive.

I think more pros throw BH because of the lower amount of stress put on the shoulder. Over the long run it might be better on your arm.

Embrace all the throws out there so we those on your card think you don't have a shot you can show them why you learned all these different types of throws.

 

[Rbuzz9]

I love FH - it's weird some of my friends won't even try a FH even tho they have terribly weak BH's after seeing how much further my BH will go.

best is to have both a decent FH and BH - It takes a lot of work to get a very long BH - mines getting better.
I take advantage of the way the discs will end up fading. I'm LHFH and if the left side is OB ill throw backhand - conversely if i dont want to end up right ill throw FH

 

[CwAlbino]

better than those damn overhand guys...

I always laugh at these comments (not at you billnchristy, just in general). Not enough people know how to throw a tomahawk/thumber/pancake, and I've been hearing a lot more of "Damn, I need to learn how to throw one of those". Some people really despise them though, especially the epic. I even threw a thumber with the epic the other day, and two guys got all pissy at me telling me it's not PDGA approved and I can't use it in tournaments (has this changed or were they just being a$$holes?).


Back to the question the OP posted. I started primarily forehand because I didn't have any power backhand at a young age (10?). I really have never seen anyone give me the look about the forehand throw, only thumber/tomahawk. It's really satisfying putting a 400 ft straight shot out there and then turning around to watch their mouths hanging open. Most people don't expect such distance on forehand throws, and if you throw them correctly, they are not hard on your arm. The only time my arm ever hurts is after consecutive thumbers with the epic. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, "Was that a sidearm/flick/forehand?"....

Another person made a good comment about low throws, forehand has much more mobility in how you throw a disc. From a standstill you can throw a forehand/hyzer/straight shot, and you can include a tommy in the forehand category. I can get far far far more distance out of a forehand flick in a tight spot than I will ever get backhand. Backhand requires a windup and drawback to get good distance, whereas I can just flick my wrist and send a disc on it's merry little way to the pin.

I'm not saying FH only is the way to go. I am still working on my BH as well, it's really nice to have both in my arsenal. I'm only at about 325-350 right now max on a backhand drive though, but the BH hyzer comes in handy a LOT. I really don't even need to throw an anhyzer anymore, which is probably why my anny is bad. I used to throw a mean forehand anny...

Just a suggestion I noticed though if someone is working on both, don't go for a prolonged amount of time throwing what you are trying to learn. I started this spring throwing for almost two-three months all backhand, and my forehand suffered severely. It took me almost a month to get my forehand back to what it was. Practice both, don't set one off on the side burner.

 

[t i m]

I learned to play FH, and it took me a couple of years to get a decent BH. Now I throw both, but I'll still pick the forehand off the teebox in a tournament setting with all other factors being equal. And playing 970+ golf I'd say I'm probably part of that small percentage of pros who throw predominantly forehand. And for whatever it's worth, I consistently find that my downside in tourney settings isn't my driving and forehand upshots; it's my inconsistent putting and backhand upshots (I need to work more on both). If I was a decent putter and could throw a 150' backhand upshot, I'd shoot 1000+ rounds almost every time I picked up a disc. I'm shocked how often throwing mostly forehand (especially big FH rollers and big FH anhyzers for crazy upshots) allows me to play better than most pros for the first two shots off a teebox on really hard courses.

Forehand is easier to put out in a tight spot. I was playing Iron Hill in DE this weekend (hardest course I've ever played -- a 71 was 1000-rated from the longs), and it's all woods. Awesome course (I'll update my review soon), and it was unreal how many shots I saved thanks to crazy 200'+ flick-anhyzers that went 80' vertical for big dives at baskets out from the deepest parts of the woods you've ever seen. When in tight spots, a forehand allows you to hit windows that wouldn't exist otherwise.

Yes, there is nothing prettier in all of disc golf than a backhand midrange gently floating dead straight through tight trees all the way down a 350' alley -- it's just magical and no other throw can quite follow that line. It's a thing of beauty.

But trust me: the harder the course, the more other pros will wish they had your forehand shot.

My advice is this: practice both. Practice overheads and thumbers and rollers and scoobers, too. My roommate and I used to go out and play FH vs. BH rounds. We'd keep two scores for each of us, and on every hole we'd play out an all FH and an all BH set of shots. It forces you to throw and learn both... Or try days where you throw all rollers except for the putts. Learn what all of your discs do on roller shots -- putters, mids, drivers. They all roll differently.

In casual rounds, ask yourself on each hole: what would a pro throw here? If the best line is a thumber, then throw a thumber, even if you aren't good at it. Learn.

In contrast, when it comes to tournament time, play smart. I lost several strokes this weekend because I was trying to throw shots I haven't mastered because I knew they were "what I should do." In tourneys, throw what you know. In practice, practice what you should do until it becomes part of your arsenal.

 

[EclipticOne]

I worked very hard to develop a FH game just so i can shoot some of the shots that you guys shoot, like those low skippers LS mentioned.

 

[CwAlbino]

t i m I think we just wrote a novel together. lol. We even both used arsenal

 

[jdggna]

...

...

Hell of a write up you two. I'd have to say I'm 100% with you on all of it.

 

[mashnut]

As an almost exclusively backhand player, I'm jealous of people who have control over both FH and BH. In my practice rounds I've been throwing a lot of FH to try to get some consistency, but it's happening very slowly.

 

[rikardob]

As an almost exclusively backhand player, I'm jealous of people who have control over both FH and BH. In my practice rounds I've been throwing a lot of FH to try to get some consistency, but it's happening very slowly.

I see a lot people trying to throw FH using only their pointer finger on the inside of the rim. This comment isn't directed at you in particular. Just a bit of advice for anyone not familiar with a good FH shot. Use your middle finger on the inside of the rim and your pointer finger towards the center of the disc for stabilization. I've showed a few people this trick who asked me about and it gotten great praise and results.

 

[mashnut]

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to try that. I have been throwing with index and middle fingers together on the inside of the rim.

 

[CwAlbino]

I see a lot people trying to throw FH using only their pointer finger on the inside of the rim. This comment isn't directed at you in particular. Just a bit of advice for anyone not familiar with a good FH shot. Use your middle finger on the inside of the rim and your pointer finger towards the center of the disc for stabilization. I've showed a few people this trick who asked me about and it gotten great praise and results.

it all depends exclusively on the player. I throw with 1 finger, and have gotten bad results with two. My fingers just won't fit. However I also use the climo grip for backhand and putting... So maybe I'm just weird.

 

[80playedin10states]

i also only use one finger when throwing fh...it amazes me that peoople claim to throw farther fh than bh...i have never witnessed this in person..wish i could get 500' forehand...for me, the fh is less stressful on my body also..the epic is pdga approved

 

[rikardob]

I throw with 1 finger, and have gotten bad results with two. My fingers just won't fit.

Your fingers don't fit like this? Strange. You're right though. It's all dependent on the player. I've just found that you get more control with the stabilization finger and a lot of people who are foreign to the RHFH throw will start off by trying it with one finger. My advice was for people who haven't tried it or are only it trying it one way. My wording was bad I guess.