We all want that effortless looking throw that is so flat and goes straight for days. It can be frustrating when you think you’re doing everything right and yet the disc is not flying as intended. I’m going to share with you one major tip to get your discs flying like a laser!
Have you heard of rounding?
Rounding is when you have your throwing arm curled in, aka your elbow bent on your reach back. If your arm is not reaching back on a straight line, this is when rounding can occur.
When you reach back, your shoulder should be parallel with your wrist. You must make sure to avoid bending your arm and curling the disc behind your shoulder. Your arm should form a straight line from start to finish.
WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID ROUNDING
Rounding can cause you to throw your discs way right too early or even cut and roll. This will force your disc to not stay in the air for a longer duration.
A flat throw is also required for accuracy and control, so it’s important not to round on your reach back and when pulling through your mid-section.
In many cases, rounding causes your timing to be off in your throw and doesn’t give your hips and legs a chance to fully engage. This is why so many beginners make the mistake of unknowingly throwing with just their arm.
The best way to limit rounding
To avoid this plague, I recommend throwing standstill shots. Learn more about standstill shots.
To put it briefly, when you throw in a standstill position, it allows you to pay attention to your reach back. When attempting standstill, it’s best to go through the motions nice and slow to allow yourself to build muscle memory.
It’s very easy to forget the process of how to throw correctly when you are moving at a fast pace.
So slow it down and really pay attention to your reach back.
The process of developing a great reachback
Position your body in a standstill.
On your reach back, make sure to look back at your arm.
Your arm should be straight; wrist and shoulders lined up together.
When pulling through, make sure the disc is close to your chest and not extending away from your body.
Release the front of the disc nose down. This will help prevent it from going way high.
Repeat these steps like your life depended on it.
Conclusion
To really dial in on your reach back, I suggest filming yourself from different angles so you can point out exactly what you’re doing wrong. This will serve as a great reference to see what you need to work on.
It’s completely normal to round as a beginner. In fact, it’s what feels natural. I’m pretty certain almost every player can relate to this!
As time goes on, you will limit the amount of rounding to get the perfect flat throw that everyone desires.
With that being said, when you practice again, make sure to follow the 6 steps above to get the laser shot you’ve always wanted!