TLDR - I can see a lot of issues with my form, but am not sure if I am going about fixing the issues in the correct way or in the correct order.
Precursor info - Male, 6'3", 22, but relatively short arms and small hands. Average distance drive ~380. Looking to get to the 450s.
Full throw video:
(This accidentally got uploaded as a short because I forgot to turn my phone sideways when recording. Future videos will be fixed)
Over the past year I feel as though I have tried to change a lot of things with my form, but when I actually look at the video, it looks largely the same. I knew there was a lot wrong with it, but wasn't sure what was important, what didn't really matter, and in what ways to go about fixing it. Fortunately for me, Brychanus and SW have released the full "Fundamentals of Form" document (which was fantastic, btw), and I have 108 pages of information to guide me. However, I just don't know where to start. I've put together a bulleted list of all of the "big things" I think I need to change, and am hoping to put together a roadmap for which of these I should tackle, things I should add, and things to ignore. Any advice you have on this list would be appreciated. Anyway, here is the list in no particular order:
Walking Around the Disc
Developing More Downshift
Precursor info - Male, 6'3", 22, but relatively short arms and small hands. Average distance drive ~380. Looking to get to the 450s.
Full throw video:
(This accidentally got uploaded as a short because I forgot to turn my phone sideways when recording. Future videos will be fixed)
Over the past year I feel as though I have tried to change a lot of things with my form, but when I actually look at the video, it looks largely the same. I knew there was a lot wrong with it, but wasn't sure what was important, what didn't really matter, and in what ways to go about fixing it. Fortunately for me, Brychanus and SW have released the full "Fundamentals of Form" document (which was fantastic, btw), and I have 108 pages of information to guide me. However, I just don't know where to start. I've put together a bulleted list of all of the "big things" I think I need to change, and am hoping to put together a roadmap for which of these I should tackle, things I should add, and things to ignore. Any advice you have on this list would be appreciated. Anyway, here is the list in no particular order:
Walking Around the Disc
- Walking around the disc would help for a variety of reasons. First, my reachback is peaking slightly early. In this image, I was experimenting using a pump to help with timing, and it somewhat worked, but from the few throws in which I tried walking around the disc, it more natural. I am also hoping that walking around the disc will result in a little less of strong-arming the disc and the slight rise in my arm during the pull through. I would also love to have the effect where the disc freezes in place during the run up/x-step
Developing More Downshift
- I clearly lack the dramatic downshift that any good thrower has - as for the root cause, I'm unsure. It could be either a bigger hop during the x-step, or the fact that they take a much longer stride into the plant. However, the longer stride into the plant feels uncomfortable to me at the moment, perhaps because of underlying weight shift issues or bracing issues.
- One thing I have never learned how to fix is the way I lean my head into the shot. I think this is the piece of my throw I need the most help with, but also the one I have no idea how to fix. I've tried keeping my eyes at the ground in front of my toes when I throw, but I feel like I lose the whole rotation of my upper body and just fling my arm ahead.
- Another one I'm unsure of - if you look at the above picture of the head lean, you can see how far away my off arm is from my body. Instead of bringing my off arm in close, I just push it down towards the ground behind me. I don't know how important this really is as there is a lot of controversy around the off arm and its impact. I have tried doing a McBeth style off arm move which didn't feel very odd but didn't lead to any changed is distance or accuracy. It just felt neutral. I'm reluctant to try a Drew Gibson/Slingshot Disc Golf style of off arm as I feel like it would take a while to get down for a minimal distance increase, but what do I know.
- I've probably added enough photos to this post for reference, so I'll go without them from now on...
- I think I have a lot wrong with the legs, plant, and weight shift. I think this is where I am missing out on most of the potential power that I could have.
- First - every time I watch pro form, I notice how far apart they can get their legs when they plant. Any time I try to do this, it feels unnatural and like I can get no power into my throw from my legs. I would assume that the increased distance of the plant can help them keep more of their weight behind and therefore transferred into the disc. To me this seems essential, but maybe not.
- Second - on my weight shift, I have switched back and forth between actively pushing sideways with my left leg vs. just drifting over top of it and letting my weight fall onto the plant. I think that this is a more advanced issue and I have more important things to work on first, but still is a thought.
- Third - I think that I have far too much of a staggered plant. The staggered plant might also be part of the reason that I don't get my legs as wide as I would like, because I'm going too far forward rather than laterally. But again, I don't know if this matters, as there are pros like Joel Freeman who see success with staggered feet.
- I didn't take a rear view video today, but will hopefully have one tomorrow. The last thing I notice is that I am leaned too far forward during my throw. More on this when I get the video, but I want to be more like McBeth in an athletic position during my throw, with better balance (forward and back, not laterally). Butt wipe drill stuff.