You need a sidearm.
Of some kind, at least.
That’s been my position for years.
When I started disc golfing back in 2005, my buddies could all throw a sidearm. Mine, however, was an instant “wounded duck” out of the hand. Fast forward a decade, and I’d become serious enough about the sport that I was finally ready to put forth the work to add one to my arsenal.
Today, barring shoulder soreness, I’m happy to report that I’ve got a max of about 325 feet off the tee. More importantly, though, my flick is lethal at getting up-and-down from virtually anywhere within 225 feet of the pin. Hands down, this is the strongest part of my game.
My tools of choice:
All in champion plastic.
Obviously, disc golf can be enjoyed without a forehand. But if your brain works at all like mine, no matter the level of competition, half the fun of the sport is trying to win. Again, in my mind, for the longest time, it was a sidearm that drastically increased the likelihood of it happening.
You look at the target. You throw at the target.
There’s none of that “look away” business during a reachback.
Easy as pie.
Then, James Conrad took down 2021 Worlds in my home state.
Remember that?
He’s got no sidearm.
Outliers exist. He’s a great golfer. But he’s hardly in contention every week.
But wait: This past weekend, Isaac Robinson won 2024 Worlds up in Bogey-Bro Land. And sure, another backhand-only World Title could fit snugly into the “Outlier” category alongside Conrad’s. The only problem, though? It’s his second-consecutive World Title. So three of the last four World Championships on the MPO side belong solely to backhand-or-bust disc golfers.
Isaac Robinson wins the PDGA Pro World Championships, his 3rd career Major win
— PDGA Stats (@PDGAStats) August 25, 2024
Robinson led the field in strokes gained tee to green and averaged a 1051 event rating
He joins Ken Climo, Barry Schultz, Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki as the only back-to-back MPO World champions
And yes, it was a different era, but loop in everything Ken Climo and his band of backhand-only brothers did in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, and the script flips on the modern-day narrative …
You do NOT need a sidearm.
There.
I said it.
Color me converted.
It should be noted that Robinson did throw a few sidearms in Lynchburg, but exactly zero of them came from off the tee. And if you weren’t paying attention, you likely missed ‘em.
New London isn’t a kid-friendly jungle gym – it’s an exercise in torture. Understandably, on such a tenacious track, the flick would serve as a comfort blanket of sorts for most disc golfers.
Is it necessary, though?
Nope.
Backhand-or-bust is back in vogue.
Have anything to add? Take to X to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Editor’s Suggestions:
- COVID-era disc golfers aren’t second-class disc golfers
- Why do some professional disc golfers rub their hands in the dirt?
- Gripe No. 74: Drinking fountains not working at disc golf courses
Real quick, if you happen to buy something through a link in this article, there’s a chance we’ll get a small share of the sale. It’s how we keep the lights on. To learn more, click here.
I was a backhand or bust guy. But then I just bought the beefiest driver I could find and would play solo rounds and on every tee pad throw one backhand and then one forehand. It worked. I got a flick now. And I too can get it over 325. It’s damn dirty. Need the beef but it flies long and skips longer.
Having a flick opens up so many lines I never saw before.
And ya know what? It’s fun having both options. And it’s even more fun when someone let’s you play through and you can flick it out there 300+. Seems like that gets more oooooo than a 400′ backhand.
So I’m with you. It’s a better game when you can do both. I’m also not a fan of “The Tour.” Sorry.
Sounds like your flick is probably a bit better than mine!
I will say that, though certainly “dirty,” I’m capable of forehanding understable discs, as well.
That’s perhaps the funnest part of the forehand experience …
Flicking a Rollo from hyzer to turnover is an unreal experience.
Not horribly reliable, but fun, nonetheless 🙂
See, I can’t flick anything that’s not super beef. Your forehand is better.
Like 12,5,0,5 level beef.
I’m just embracing it and loving it.
Bahahaha …
I hear you.
If it works, and you’re not injuring yourself, I say go for it …
I hurt my shoulder a year or so ago …
I can forehand again, but I tend to lean a BIT more on the flippier stuff.
Not much more, but a BIT more.
Nothing beats a nasty flex, though!
It blows my mind that every disc golfer doesn’t learn how to throw a forehand. It’s a real weapon on the course. I can throw left hand back hand and I still choose RH forehand better than 95% of the time because you are facing the Target and it’s a more controllable shot especially with an overstable disc. Isaac has the best backhand turnovers I think I’ve ever seen. Distance, shape and accuracy he gets with them is just amazing. It’s a real treat when he Ezra his dad and one of his other brothers show up at the local courses here and put on a display. Everybody on the course stops and watches. So much further ahead than the rest of us. One day at Lenora Park on hole 8 I threw a long forehand approach and a guy walks up behind me and said hey man good forehand. It was Ezra. Put a little pep in my step that day
Great story, Joe!
So Isaac is great at disc golf.
Ezra is great at disc golf.
And their did is, too?
What’s in the water at the Robinson house?
Their dad’s name is Michael and other than the two of them he’s the best disc golfer I’ve ever seen in person. He would come and run the course, pick up the disc, throw and Sprint to the next tee. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, such a good dude. I think he finished all 18 holes in like half an hour. The four of them used to show up and camp out on the tee on hole 10 and throw 500 ft bombs repeatedly. It was just spectacular to watch. We would play the rest of the round with big smiles on our faces after seeing such amazing players. A real inspiration. We still see them fairly often at Heritage pines.
Great story, Joe!
Apparently Mr. Robinson’s a …
Runner?
I’m no stranger to the “run round,” so I already like this guy …
My kind of dude 🙂
Thanks for sharing, brotha!
At the risk of over commenting, we were at Lenora Park on hole 6 which is a little over 400 ft shot up hill. We see Michael come jogging along the course and step aside to let him play through. I said go ahead and play through but now you got to Ace it. He pauses for a second and says you know what I haven’t aced this one yet let’s see if we can do it together. He unleashes the beast and lands inside the circle. He just smiled and said maybe we’ll get it next time and took off jogging to his disc. If anyone ever wonders why his sons are such nice guys look no further than their dad.
Holy crap …
Absolutely amazing.
Just to clarify: Did he actually throw a Beast?
Like, the Innova mold?
Because 400 feet uphill with that thing is immaculate …
Just curious 🙂
I don’t know what disc he threw. I was just using an expression for the bomb that he threw
Good gravy …
Color me jealous. Haha.
I always wished I had a Forehand. but due to a shoulder injury when I was 15, I cannot throw it over 50 or so feet without extreme pain. I started playing Disc Golf when I was early 20’s (1984 ish) & joined PDGA in 2002 (40 yes old). In 2010 I won PDGA World Championship in Ohio (am Masters – 48 years old) with extremely limited sidearm)
Joe – PDGA #19834
That’s awesome, Joe!
Congrats on the World Title …
And for sharing your wisdom, as well.
Lots of people read these comments, so I’m sure many will find your words inspiring 🙂
Talk soon, brotha!
“No need for a forehand, just become the best in the world at throwing backhand.”
Exactly.
It really is THAT simple.
I know I need to work on my backhand, but I’m always gonna be a sidearm dominant player.
Starting out I struggled to throw Rocs backhand 100 ft. You know the “nose up – way too much hyzer” newbie throw I’m talking about. When I was taught the flick that was when I could actually birdie (and par) holes. Just by learning the flick I could send a frisbee 200 ft. My backhand is slowly getting better but I still struggle to get a disc to go 200 BH. I’m really close to getting my flick to 300’.
And because I read this blog; as I moved up in speeds I learned on a lot of neutral and under stable discs. For the longest time my “beefiest” driver was a max weight champion Teebird. I love teebirds, TLs and like you said in a comment hyzer flipping a Rollo (or Trash Panda Ozone) is such a beautiful shot.
So if Isaac is furthering the backhand or bust movement- does that mean Eveliina busted the putt for dough myth?!?
Congrats on the progress, Kurt!
There’s nothing wrong with being sidearm-dominant …
You and I aren’t likely to disrupt the Pro Tour anytime soon …
We’re in this for a good time – and to get better, of course.
Sounds like you’re well on your way 🙂
Next, Eveliina’s putting was SO bad last year …
I don’t think she rewrote the narrative …
I do, however, think she proved that COMPETENT putting can win you big-time events.
She was so good at everything last season, that all she needed was OKAY putting to finalize great results.
And she’s doing that.
Not great putting – GOOD-ENOUGH putting. Haha.
She’s such a talent; we’re lucky to have her in disc golf.
Exactly – I mean it’s certainly true in the MPO. I think it was hole 12 in the last round she could have laid up and gotten a 4 instead of a 5.
She’s one of my favorites to root for but I find myself covering my eyes when she putts 🙈
But man she can rip a disc through a tight wooded fairway. It’s always awesome to watch what she can do with a Roc3 and a thunderbird. If she can just get her putting stroke down she would be deadly at every single FPO tournament!
Kurt, have you seen this video, by chance?
I’ve referenced it in a couple of articles, which is why I ask …
But this is the OLD Eveliina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEDozcTCJJQ
(shield your eyes, if you must)
Eveliiina!
Ya that is brutal to watch.
I know she’s been working on her putting stroke, but it seems like it’s nerves/mental game.
The real question… why would Innova allow her to make the Aviar3 her tour series disc?!?
Yeah, I don’t think anybody actually uses the Aviar3 as a putting putter …
I’m sure there’s somebody out there, but they’re few and far between.
Nobody putts with a Nova, for example.
Same difference.
The Aviar3 is a throwing putter, so I think that’s why.
Still …
It falls within the “putter” category, so I see your point. Haha.
Irony, right?
(at least I think it’s irony – I could be wrong)
This is where baseball growing up comes in handy. First time I ever disc golfed a buddy handed me a Wraith and I threw it 405′ forehand. I didn’t realize that was abnormal until I watched the other guys in the group throw and wondered why they were throwing it ‘weird.’
20 years later, still forehand or bust!
Bahahaha …
I know people like you, Travis …
I hate you.
(jokes, of course – happy throwing)
Yep! Same here! I was never great at baseball but I just try to channel my inner Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling. My backhand will never be as good as my sidearm and I am at peace 😌 with it.
Exploding birds. Bloody socks.
It’s a beautiful thing.
Isaac is one of my favorites…his ability to release high just baffles me.
I have been a backhand only player my whole life. I won’t re-hash all of the comments…but I do certainly agree that a forehand addition is important/fun…although not a requirement.
However, the more I play MA40, and the more the 950ish guys routinely beat me(I’m in the 930s) with a service-able/good/great forehand…the more I want one. I’ve been playing some “forehand only” rounds recently for fun/practice. Has helped a lot. Although wobbly still, I can throw low 200s with some confidence…and that is a good feeling, and hopefully a help to my scorecard.
My $0.02?
You don’t need a 400-foot forehand …
If you can stretch one out 300 feet, that’s great.
But not even that’s necessary.
If you can get up-and-down from tricky spots with one, you’re where you need to be.
Again, that’s just my opinion, but that’s what I’d focus most on.
Best of luck with that sidearm – hope it’s coming along nicely!
Yeah, agreed. I think even a 250 forehand that’s dependable is a hugely valuable tool.
“YES” X1000!
I’ve spent the past 2-3 years learning to throw a forehand. And at this point, a few observations:
1. Backhands are easier to drive with; I can throw them further.
2. Backhands are more fun to throw.
3. Forehands are better for shorter/narrow placement shots.
If I never had to throw another forehand, I’d be fine with that. (And I say that as someone who has had some near-aces with my forehand.)
Conversely, throwing a backhand just feels “right” to me. It feels good. I’ll always want that in my athletic/frisbee life.
Well-said, Steve-O!
Having a forehand in the woods is a game-changer for me …
But there’s no more fun throw in disc golf than a backhand turnover.
Though rare, when I successfully execute one, I think to myself:
“THIS is disc golf. THIS is how the sport’s meant to be played.”
I hear that, regarding a good backhand drive. (And yes, at this point, I generally go to my forehand for the tighter shots– like a narrow line in the woods.)
Great minds think alike, Steve-O 🙂