Gatekeeper Resolutions Day 23: Use This Drill To Improve Forehand Releases
Day 23! Let’s work specifically on forehands today! Although some players tend to learn forehands as their dominant throw, most players use it more situationally. Like we talked about on the 13th, being able to release a variety of discs without a wobble is really key. Some specific forehand things that I think help are to:
Get the grip right. There are a couple of forehand grips. All of them have the purpose of being able to get a clean release. Some commonalities are that the disc is tucked into the webbing between your thumb and index finger, your middle and index fingers have a lot of contact on either the rim or flightplate while the other two fingers are providing passive stability, and the thumb is rotated onto the top of the disc while pinching where the index finger joins the palm.
Keep your palm up from the reachback through the release. There are quite a few ways to load the forehand; you need to find a way that allows a consistent swing plane. This is something that Chris Dickerson does really well.
Don’t try to kill it. A standstill or one-step is sufficient to practice. After you’re getting consistent results, you can work in a runup, but be slow and patient. Accelerating the disc at the end of a metered runup is more reliable than a full-sprint attempt to find a release point.
So building on what we worked on previously, get a stack of neutral-flying midranges or fairway drivers and practice throwing with a flat release and no wobble.
You “win” the game when you become aware of where the disc is, and what your arm is doing to the disc. If simply throwing in a field isn’t enough excitement for you, you can add aiming points for starting, the middle of your flight, or finish, as we discussed previously.
Written By Andrew Fish, PDGA 58320
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @fish58320
Support Fish and get 10% off Upper Park Disc Golf products using code “Andrew10”, or contact him directly through Instagram, Twitter, or website to purchase discs that help fund his travel and events.
Team Discraft: https://www.discraft.com/
Team Upper Park Disc Golf: https://www.upperparkdiscgolf.com/
