What Is An Disc Golf Forehand?
The disc golf forehand is a move in the disc golf sport that is defined by how the player throws the disc. The player has to throw the disc using a sidearm throwing motion, similar to throwing a baseball.
It can be a good to for beginners learning disc golf as you can easily pick up distance easier when you are first starting off.
How to Disc Golf Forehand
Throwing the forehand in disc golf involves 5 steps which are;
- Grip
- Stance/Walkup
- Swing
- Release Point & Snap
- Follow-through
in order to create the perfect forehand throw.
Grip
You begin by placing your middle finger straight and flat against the inside rim. Then place your pointer finger stacked on top of your middle finger applying pressure to the top of the disc were you will have your thumb pressing down.
You can also spread your pointer finger to gain more control while gripping the disc.
Feel the disc in your hand and ensure you’re very comfortable with it before throwing it. For advance-level players, the ideal way to hold the disc is to place their index and middle finger together as it offers the most potentially for distance giving spin to the throw.
I’d recommend the stack 2 finger grip, as it allows you to get the most distance and get extremely good control once you learn how to use it.
Learn To Throw Standing Still
Learn how to grip the disc properly, and how you snap it from your wrist. Ideally keeping the elbow fairly close to your body with a follow-through.
With only a flick of your wrist, you can get the disc to fly 200 feet and even farther beyond that. Flat, Hyzer, Anhyzer.
Once you understand the different shots, you can get the disc out at the angle you want.
Why I recommend standstills for forehands until you can achieve 100-250ft, is because the footwork is a lot easier to add and won’t mess you up as much when you are trying to add additional forehand steps to achieve more distance with it.
Follow-through
You should follow-through when you are fore-handing, when you are trying to throw major distances, and dont a lot of stress can go straight to the elbow, even the rotator cuff in the shoulder.
When you are following through make sure you have your palm to the sky and swing across your body.
Palm to the sky allowing for the most consistency for release point and how the disc should fly from your hand when you snap.
Stand Still Video
I demonstrate a standstill forehand here for you to watch before I breakdown my concept of learning forehands.
You put the pressure on your back foot, take a step and start the swing afterwards, just the momentum even from one step can help majorly and snap your wrist with your palm to the sky.
I recommend learning standstill for forehands first, to learn how to control the angle of the disc and how to flick it out flat 100-250ft first before you add footwork.
Adding footwork to forehands isn’t nearly as complicated to backhands which is why I recommend it this way.
Steps To Standstill Forehand
Firstly find your grip that works for your hands cock your wrist into position to snap the disc out and hold it there then position your body for the shot.
Put your back foot horizontal, look where you want to throw. Next when you begin your weight transfer, you will lift off your front foot putting all the pressure on the back foot.
Then bring your foot closer to your horizontal foot while staying balanced on your back foot then initiate your foot going forward for the final plant step.
You will want to be planted/close to planted before you start swinging.
You will also want to try to use your elbow as a hinge, you want to keep the elbow fairly close to your side and use the palm/wrist to swing around and snap forward and having your palm to the sky after the disc is released and follow through around your body.
The release point will be muscle memory, and you will need to practice it. Repetitions will allow you to know how to snap it out from your hand forward.
Eagle McMahon Forehand Breakdown
When you achieve getting to 150-250 distance from standstills I recommend you look at Eagle McMahons youtube breakdown on his forehand and learn and mimic more from him as he is top 3 forehand in the world.
Checkout my full backhand breakdown –