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700 ft...
Is very far, but it is possible to throw a disc beyond this "dream limit". The current world distance record
(2003) is actually 250 meters, i.e. 820 ft!
The key factor to distances like this is not, as you would believe,
really strong arms. To throw a flying disc far is mostly a matter of technique.
You have to use you legs,
hips, back, and shoulders in a perfectly timed motion. This is what gives maximum power, speed and distance.
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Christian Sandström, one of the few players in the world who consistently can throw over 170 meters.
Here he is just about to plant the right foot, start the left leg push and the crucial hip rotation...
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"Turn around, bright eyes..."
What gives distance in your throws, apart from the correct angles in relation to the ground and the wind direction, is mainly the speed you impart to the disc in the release moment.
The basic idea of this technique is to add extra speed from the body rotation, as well as just getting your body in a better position for the throw.
But it's also just as important to match the speed with enough spin, to balance the encreased velocity, or your
disc will most likely just flutter away in a hard and uncontrolled right turn.
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Although not as useful in golf, due to the loss of accuracy, there are some players (including me) that
use the 360 on long open holes.
It's of course very individual, but I estimate that I can gain approximately 20-30 meters
with a proper 360 compared to an ordinary drive.
To the right you find links to some short mpeg video clips showing a couple of the world's
best distance throwers in action. Watch and learn... ;-)
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Germany's Chris Voigt is ready to launch the disc. Big D 2002.
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Chris is one of the few players that
have thrown a disc over 200 meters in distance competition. The other players are (so far, 2004): Christian Sandström, Ken Jarvis, Erin Hemmings, Jack Cooksey and Scott Stokely.
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Flat flip flies straight...
There are many, quite different, varietys of the 360 run up.
Every player I know of who uses this technique has his/hers own personal style.
Some players, like Germany's Chris Voigt, comes in from the left, others like Sweden's Niclas Bergehamn comes in wide from the right, and others yet, as the current wolrd record holder Christian Sandström and Amy Bekken, do their run up more in the direction they intend to throw.
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All these players are among the world's best distance throwers, so we can't draw any conclusions on what's really the way to go.
Remember: " Flat flip flies straight, tilted flip curves - EXPERIMENT!" Just get out on the field with a stack of discs and try to find out what works best for you.
The diagrams and foot placements in this article are valid for a right handed backhand thrower. If you're a leftie, you will have to revert/mirror everything.
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The three-step turn...
The most common fault people tend to do when going for the 360 is trying to do the spin in four steps, and sort of jumping through the last step.
This will inevitably leave you out of balance, and far worse, you won't have any foot in the ground to get a proper kick-off at the moment you initiate the actual throwing swing. As this brief guide will reveal, there's really only three steps in the pirouette.
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The 360 turn-around steps.
Vindriktning = Wind direction
Utkastriktning = Initial direction of the throw.
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0 Foot positions to start with when beginning the 360 turnaround steps. Keep your upper body straight forward, and your right hand holding the disc hanging slightly behind your hip, leading edge of the disc pointing forward.
Start here, and do everything slowly.
When you feel comfortable with the 360 spin, you can add speed to the 360. When you've mastered this, try to add some extra speed by taking a few steps before you start the actual turnaround.
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1 The first step of the actual 360 turnaround. Bring your disc arm forward and begin moving your right foot. Turn your right foot almost 90 degrees clockwise before you plant it.
Before you plant the foot to the ground start bringing the arm back to prepare for the swing. At the same time your hips and shoulders should begin to turn clockwise.
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The 360 turn-around steps.
Vindriktning = Wind direction
Utkastriktning = Initial direction of the throw.
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2 Step around with your left foot. The toes should be pointing backwards. At the same time extend your arm backward (in the same direction as your left toes now are pointing) and raise the arm to about chest/ shoulder level.
Your upper body should now be in a position about 90 degrees clockwise from your initial stance. To further increase the rotation speed to come, your left arm should at this point be slightly behind your back.
(see illustration, at position 2).
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3 Step around with your right foot, but try to keep the hand holding the disc stationary, i.e. extended backwards. Experiment with different length of the last step. A shorter step will increase the body rotation speed, a longer step will engage the arm more into the throw. Find out what works best for you.
If you have problems with bounce, i.e. the disc moves forward with its leading edge higher than its trailing edge, your last step might be too long.
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The 360 turn-around steps.
Vindriktning = Wind direction
Utkastriktning = Initial direction of the throw.
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4 The actual throwing motion is initiated by a push from your left leg. Let the hips lead the body motion, and follow up with the shoulders and then the throwing arm.
What gives maximum power and release speed is when you manage to get all of your body into the throw, not just the right arm.
It should be a smooth, constantly accelerating motion. Each new body part that get's involved should take the speed generated in the previous phase, and just add to that.
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To time the arm swing to the turnaround and the body rotation is by far the trickiest part of this distance technique.
What helps is, as always, a lot of practise. It's also good advice to watch an experienced player perform the turnaround, and try imitating what he/she does.
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Practise, Practise, Practise... ;-)
Now get out on the field and try it yourself ! Good luck in your quest for the +200 meters.
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