Bit of a necro-post, but seems like it's fine to prod this every year or two.
The original post resonates with me, but subtract 100' from each plateau. The problems described under The 300' Barrier (nose up, grip lock, lack of any consistency) were at The 200' Barrier for me, in my first six months or so of playing. I've now played about two years, I've practiced a lot, read a lot, started to film myself, and I'm beginning to get a handle on what good form means and how to improve mine. I'm working on brace timing, brace strength, and shoulder coil, and gains are slowly coming. I occasionally break 300', and I want to do it more consistently, but it's not easy.
For me at least, strong arming doesn't seem to get me to 300, and that's ok. I'm tall, coordinated and fit, but also 55 years old and have never been coached as an athlete (though I've played 30+ years of recreational ultimate).
Over the past two years my backhand progression has been something like ...
Frisbee throw - 125'
Drive with elbow - 150'
Start the lawnmower - 180'
Replace coffee pouring with correct placement of disc into palm - 200'
Footwork and x-step - 225'
Reach out not back, delay the pull - 250'
Shoulder coil - 275'
Don't turn backwards, brace more strongly - 300'
Currently if I throw 5 drivers in the field I may get one out to 300, and my record is probably 330.
I feel like I will get to a consistent 300 working on the things I know now. Here are notes I made after my last field session on all the little things I need to internalize ...
- relax and throw smooth
- feet perpendicular to target line
- brace foot down before pull
- shoulder coil, left shoulder to target
- reach out not back
- more hyzer than usual
- leading elbow higher than hand
- forward lean for space for power pocket
- back heel move right, to avoid spinning out and enable slam into brace
If I can get to a consistent and accurate 300 I'll be happy to plateau there for a while. I dunno how y'all are getting to 400 and beyond but that's a problem for future me (or maybe younger you).