Disc golf: Ranking the 3 most common ways to refer to a ‘forehand’

There are really only three options …

Chickity-check for yourself:

• “Flick”
• “Sidearm”
• “Forehand”

Yes, you might occasionally hear somebody drop a “finger pop” or “horizontal tomahawk,” but that’s a rarity. And when you do, it’s probably somebody trying to get cute with their verbiage. 

Depending on where you live, one might get used more than the other – it’s a colloquial thing. For the purposes of this piece, I’ll do my best to get beyond that – to focus on the logic of it all.

Here goes nothing …

3. ‘Flick’

None of these are bad, per se …

But this one’s the worst.

I get the reasoning behind the name, as a well-performed flick really does involve a literal flick of the fingers. And when a gifted golfer gives it a go, it’s incredible how something so small can produce so much power. Also, there’s the existence of the Discraft Flick – talk about a solid disc.

For me, though, this is a word that sounds more like the name of a knock-off superhero than a disc golf shot. And while the description is somewhat accurate, the other two are better.

2. ‘Sidearm’

Getting warmer …

But not quite there.

When I hear “sidearm,” I think of a submarine pitch in baseball. If you don’t watch baseball, click here to see what I’m talking about. Give it five minutes – you’ll need an Advil. The word does a better job of painting a more complete picture of what goes into a sidearm than “flick.”

Still, though …

There’s room for improvement.

1. ‘Forehand’

I’ll admit it …

This is the term I employ most.

*** See Headline for Proof ***

But with good reason …

For starters, given the exclusive use of “backhand” in disc golf, if logic is to be our true guide, there’s no better word to use than “forehand.” The opposite of a backhand is a forehand – duh.

Furthermore, evidence exists in tennis that this is the word: The racket-obsessed use “forehand,” as well. And wouldn’t you know it, the movement resembles that of what’s done in disc golf.

Lastly, the token of a good forehand is a follow-through with the “fore” (front) of the hand staying true to the angle of release. Does wrist-roll regularly ruin your forehand game?

First, think of the word you’re using.

Then, follow its counsel.

Pour over this blog …

You’ll find umpteen-million uses of ALL three terms.

In writing, you’ve gotta avoid redundancy. In disc golf, there are no such restraints.

Get it right.

Go with “forehand.”

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

Editor’s Suggestions:

• The 6 most used excuses for a bad round of disc golf
• 5 reasons professional disc golfers throw so many hyzers
• Disc golf: Who’s ‘Bob’ on the card? (and why it sucks to be him)

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