The other day I was trying to help somebody out with their flick and was having the darndest time making it work. Here's the issue: his base technique isn't too bad--his arm isn't overactive, his weight is on the proper side of his body, his release is reasonably flat--but the disc wobbles considerably when leaving his hand and while it starts flat or even a little i/o it usually starts turning over to the left (he is right handed). I advised him some on the proper grip and told him to practice with an exaggerated i/o, which seems to help at least some. What else can I tell him? Training techniques that others have used to perfect their flicks would be good to see here.
Ultimatehandbook » General
Training the flick
(7 posts)-
Bear Killer
MemberPosted 1 year ago # -
ocho
MemberI have no idea. Just practice makes perfect and use more wrist. I don't really get how it can wobble, or why it would wobble if you used a ton of wrist (physics wise)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Bear Killer
MemberI think it probably has to do with the plane the disc is traveling before the release... I tried to work with him on that some, but it's tricky. I don't think it's a matter of too little spin--his flick actually spins OK. An Australian ultimate site describes the physics of this phenomenon some, and it's much more about maintaining the proper plane of release throughout the motion. But they also indicate that a cure is difficult. But if anyone else has encountered this problem and has some sort of drill that can combat it, I'd love to hear it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
ocho
MemberCould I get that Australian website please?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Bear Killer
MemberPosted 1 year ago # -
beebs
MemberBear Killer, not sure how much this will help, but a few things to check / try:
1. Try the "towel-whipping" analogy - sometimes when a disc leaves wobbly it's a symptom of a throwing motion that is more like a push vs. a whip (where there's momentum with the hand-wrist that stops suddenly and almost even pulls back at the end). So the idea here would be to try to imagine that while throwing a forehand, you're whipping a towel.
2. He may need to adjust his grip and pull-back in the whipping motion - one way to work on this is to have him hold the disc, ready to throw with his forehand grip, and then pull the disc a little further back (either you do it, or he could do it with his left hand), a little like you were cocking back a slingshot a little further than normal. This would ensure that the rim of the disc is hugging his fingers which may help the issue of the angle of release. Also, by adding in an extra pullback in the wind-up, he would need to add an extra whipping motion forward (this is really hard to describe...) -- this all takes coordination and often that extra bit of coordination helps smoothen the release.
3. Try to encourage a quicker release - it sounds like he may be throwing with too much arm strength and not enough fore-arm and wrist.
4. And as ocho said, "practice"! I'll betcha if he throws for 2 hours every day for 2 weeks, he'll get it down ;)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Dewzy
MemberLike already said... repetition makes for a good flick... can be frustrating trying to get it... but at some point it'll "click" and you'll be able to throw flick like a pro.
My advice:
1. Focus on elbow at side when starting.
2. Emphasize that it is not a "throw" but more so a wrist action that creates a good flick.
3. Establish a good grip. Have them practice switching gribs forehand to backhand (without throwing). I see a lot of new throwers that treat the forehand grip like a backhand and put their hand on the wrong side of the disc. A drill where you pivot forehand to backhand can help with that.
4. I always teach people to angle disc down, if even at 45' when starting out. (arm comes out level to ground, wrist and disc angle down 45').
I find the throwing motion will help level out the disc for a nice flat throw.Hope this helps.
Posted 1 year ago #
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