Gatekeeper Resolutions Day 16: Backhand Extensions Behind An Obstacle
Day 16! Continuing from yesterday, let’s work on backhand extensions in particular. This is a useful shot to get out of trouble from behind an obstacle. A lot of people address their lie with the patent pending, where they face away from the target with both feet pointed away, then try to rotate their upper body. In my opinion, this can create a fairly powerful standstill shot, but at the expense of accuracy, because you’re facing away from the target the entire time and relying on your hips coming through perfectly for both power and accuracy.
Instead, I’m going to suggest doing a lunge that’s more like breaking a mark in ultimate, which can help you face the target better, as well as extending further to beat the obstacle. Put the opposite foot from your throwing hand on your lie, then lunge directly sideways. The further out you go, the harder it is to remain balanced, so if you really need extension, drop your back knee for a more stable base.
I will now strenuously advocate the following three suggestions:
First, don’t be greedy. You’re in trouble. The objective is to make positive headway so that you can be in a better position on your next shot. The objective is to sell out for an accurate, controlled shot.
Second, you will almost certainly have to throw a flippier disc than you normally would for the same distance. I rarely throw anything faster than a fairway driver from this stance, because it’s hard to get it up to its designed flight speed.
Third, focus on pulling the disc straight through toward the lie. Since we’ve rotated to be sideways to the target, it’s easier to keep a peripheral view of it–but this stance also has a tendency to take a rounded path while it’s in your hand, in part because it’s limiting how much legs and hips you can put into it.
Try doing this from behind a variety of obstacles–try a bunch of discs and possible flight paths. You “win” the game when you figure out how to execute simple, controlled shots that advance your position without much additional risk.
Written By Andrew Fish, PDGA 58320
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