Thumber/Tomahawk Advice

[torihanus]

I have never used the tomahawk shot before, just thumbers. I tend to only throw thumbers when I'm in sticky situations and can't throw my normal RHBH shots (i.e., when I have shanked my disc into the woods and can't throw my disc within hitting several other trees/branches/bushes). I typically use only my Buzzz or Magnet for thumbers; however, I have used some of my distance and fairway drivers in the past. I am in agreement with what a lot of people have already said: use a slightly [over]stable disc when throwing these overhand shots. They tend to be a bit more accurate when you're throwing them.

 

[Triton]

I really like the feel of the XXX for thumbers. The rim feels a little more comfortable than a Firebird IMO. Even though it is a slower disc I can throw them a little further than the FB's.
I use a Schwebby grip as well. I would say my max D with them is somewhere around 350+ feet. Opto plastic is generally what I use, but for extra distance my frost line XXX goes even further. It is flatter than my Opto ones.
I haven't really had the need to do the Tomahawk as much, but using my flick grip seems to be fine whenever I find myself throwing it.

 

[splatbaseball51]

I learned how to play disc golf by throwing ONLY tomahawks! By "ONLY" I mean every single shot except for putters was with a Tomahawk. It was a natural motion for me coming from a non-disc/baseball background. I've since developed a full game, of course, but I bring this up as a point of emphasis for how much Tomahawks were used in my game, and still pulled out occasionally. It's safe to say I have PLENTY of experience with them.

So, what do I recommend? After Initially testing many discs, the one that I always gravitated back to for overhand shots was a max weight, flat, champion monster. I have yet to find a disc more consistent for longer overhand shots than that. I can easily pump them out over 350-400ft and usually can hit within the circle at that distance.

Ultimately it comes down to what you're comfortable with, but for consistencies sake, I can't recommend the champion monster enough. I've been using the same one now for over 6 years and it never lets me down. My motto is, "when in doubt, hammer it out"!

 

[Kodachrome]

i've always thrown with my index and thumb for thumbers, forehand grip for tomahawks. i like tomahawks because i can manipulate flight angles at shorter distances very easily for skips and pancake landings. i prefer thumbers for hard "through the trees" crazy flight paths and distance. my thumbers suck though, and my OH game in general is 250' and in. i think i max around there. i can't throw thumbers without a big time wobble. i'll try the middle finger maybe from now on.