Toss Up - Part 1

The basics have been covered and you're ready to hit the field. There's one tiny problem though, you don't know how to throw a Frisbee! Fear not, another two part post is coming to satisfy your disc throwing needs. It's time to cover how to throw a Frisbee.

This post will cover three of the most common throws used in the game of Ultimate Frisbee. These throws are some of the most used in the game and are great tools for and player. These will be reversed if you are a left hand dominant player. Each of the throws described here will have a corresponding picture to help show the throwing process.

First off is the most basic of all throws, the standard backhand. For this throw, the player brings the disc across to his or her left side and in a twisting motion brings the arm from left to right in a quick motion, releasing the Frisbee in the process. This throw hinges on the players ability to move their body during a throw and flick their wrist outwards during the disc release. This is the throw that comes most naturally to most people who have used a Frisbee, so getting the hang of this one shouldn't prove too difficult over time.

Second on the list is the next most basic of all throws, the forehand throw, also known as the flick. To perform this throw the player grips the disc with the index and middle finger together on the underside and the thumb in it's natural position on the lip. The throw itself is quite simple. The player extends their arm to the right, leaving the elbow bent. The player then flicks their hand forward with a slight bit of arm movement and voila, a flick. Despite being a very basic throw, this one takes many players the longest amount of time to master. It's counter-intuitive minimalistic gestures can send any beginner for a loop. This one takes lots of time and practice to find the sweet spot.

Third and last on this list is the most advanced (and odd) of the basic throws. This throw is known as the hammer. For this throw, take a grip identical to the one used for a flick. As seen in the picture, put the arm over the head with the disc near the center of the body and the elbow bent backwards. To throw the disc, keep it near a 45 degree angle from the ground and in a quick motion lever your arm forward at the elbow and flick the disc out from the hand. This throw can be a real stickler, but once mastered it can be one of the most powerful in a player's arsenal, allowing the player to throw over entire groups of defenders.

These three throws constitute the basic toolkit for an ultimate player. One throw from the left, one throw from the right, and one throw over the top. In the second part of this post, we'll discuss three more advanced throws, some that are practical and some that are not. Either way, it's better to understand a throw than to be left confused.