2nd Lesson: The flicks

Enough about the backhand throw, now it is the time for you to learn another trick of throwing in Ultimate Frisbee. This throwing skill is called the forehand throw or in other words, it is also known as the flicks. Throwing the flicks is a little different in throwing the backhand throw. First, the grip of throwing the flicks or the forehand throw is slightly different.


The Grip
Since it is said to be the "forehand throw", it is thrown usually from the side arms with the grip of usually two-fingers only. These two fingers used are the middle finger and the index finger. The middle finger is usually placed at the rim of the underside of the frisbee plate while the index fingers supports the middle finger in holding the plate on the underside as well, which forms a 'V' shape on the underside of the frisbee plate. Your thumb will be grasping on the front side of the Frisbee plate, steadying the position of the Frisbee disc.







Next, moving along to:

The Swing and The Release

Players have to know where their target is first, before able to throw their Frisbee plate disc out of their hands. Usually the player target is throwing to an area where their team mates is able to run and catch the disc without dropping it to the ground. Thus, the right method is needed to throw so that the disc travels horizontally. Most of the swing strength is in the wrist. Bend the Frisbee disc a little bit with your wrist and release the disc just with a simple flick, letting go the thumb on the Frisbee disc.

The Position of Throwing
There is different position for the players to throw. A lower position of throwing can be used instead of just standing there and throw. The main advantage for the player to throw the from a lower position is so that they are able to control the disc when there is an uprising in the wind, as wind is able to bring the Frisbee disc to fly higher than expected causing it to fly over the the head of the receiver (Mutiply, 2007). Dropping to a lower position, the player must maintained a balance position to prevent from falling backwards. However, with a standing position, it saves time for the player to bend down his or her body to a lower position. This enables the player to throw the disc out releasing it quickly.

No matter what position the player used to throw the disc, remember to keep the player's back relatively straight. This enables more space for the player to throw the Frisbee disc, as the player's arm is not near the side from the body that will allow the player to throw further (Mutiply, 2007). More force is needed to throw the longer throws.

However, please be noted to throwing the forehand with a different plane or angle. If a player throws the forehand in a different angle that is off, it can cause the Frisbee disc to wobble which in the end, the Frisbee disc will fly sidetrack from where the player initially wanted to throw to (UltimateRob, 2010).

Still not getting the idea or the picture? Here is a short video on how a forehand throw looks like when it is throwing and when the Frisbee disc is thrown.

brodiesmith21, 2011

Thats all about the basic forehand throw. Continue to read this blog for more techniques of Ultimate Frisbee.

References:
Mutiply. (2007). Ultimate 101: How to throw a Forehand. Retrieved from, http://makatiultimatedisc.multiply.com/journal/item/7?&show_interstitial=1&u=/journal/item

UltimateRob. ( 2010). Planes of the forehand- Throwing Tips. Retrieved from,
http://www.ultimaterob.com/2010/04/14/planes-of-the-forehand-throwing-tips/

brodiesmith21. (2011, April 3). How To Throw A Forehand | Brodie Smith. Retrieved
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgUyW5aGC2U&feature=related