Disc golf: Observations from a non-forehander who learned to forehand

I learned to throw a frisbee in the 70s and 80s. Back then, none of us threw forehands. We only threw backhands. That was all we knew. Decades later, when I started playing disc golf, I was surprised to see the forehand had become a staple of the game.

These days, since everyone throws a forehand, I wanted to learn one for myself. So, I spent the past year trying. After 14 months of throwing discs back-and-forth across a sometimes muddy field, I’ve made a few observations …

You often hear the forehand is “all in the wrist.” This can be misleading, though. Originally, I assumed this meant you just waved your wrist, and the disc would fly out of the hand – that didn’t happen. For me, doing things this way, the disc only went about 20 or 30 feet …

Not ideal.

At that point, I had to slowly piece together the correct chain of movements that leads to the wrist motion of a proper forehand. The key for me was realizing the following: The disc spins off the tip of the middle finger – everything else extends from there.

Still, I couldn’t understand why players talked about “loading the hips” on a flick line – using their hips in a throw, essentially. In YouTube videos, instructors make it clear the sidearm is a forward-facing throw. Naturally, I faced forward. It took a long time to figure out I needed to first turn sideways. And then use the hips to rotate open – this helps whip the arm around.

Another point of flick-induced frustration was the disc’s tendency to immediately hook and dive downwards. I’ve endured TONS of these throws. They usually came when I tried to throw too hard or abruptly. My arm movements overcame everything else and yanked the disc over. However, even the pros do this sometimes when they overreach – simply slow down.

Yes, I could be wrong about all of this – I’m no expert …

But clearly, there are MANY ways to rock a workable forehand.

Take Paul McBeth, for example. Given his background in baseball, his forehand resembles the classic sidearm of a shortstop throwing to first base. It’s smooth and effortless. Contrast that with the hard, shoulder-wringing sidearm of Ohn Scoggins. Her delivery is higher, forceful and flex-heavy. Mid-flight, she often relies on the overstability of a disc to work back for her.

Then, think of the VERY low, twisting delivery used by Sarah Hokom. It’s almost a crane-like motion, but it works for her. And lastly, picture the chop of Chandler Kramer. The guy finishes his sidearm with a platter-serving sweep of the hand to prevent any last-second wrist-rolling.

Admittedly, even after a year, the forehand still seems a bit unnatural to me. Backhands come easier; I’m more familiar with them. I might prefer the forehand, though. Looking directly ahead, I can throw straighter and more accurately than with a backhand — and about the same distance.

Take it from me: If you’ve spent months or years learning a flick, it can be challenging …

But it’s worth it.

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