The frisbee throw! Matt's advice!

[andrehanderson]

I'm able to hobble around the court a bit now that my ankle is healing up. Ive been working on fixing my "pat the dog" part of the forehand and on imagining I was throwing a frisbee for the finish on my backhand.

The pat the dog part is a work in progress and I'm hitting the ball long a bit more often now, but I'm going to keep at it.

The frisbee throw tip has completely fixed the backhand problem I was having. My backhand was a decent weapon for me, but I didnt have much margin as I was hitting it kind of flat (finishing too horizontally rather than above my head).

Now it's a BEAST.

Thanks for the advice, Matt!

 

[Raul_SJ]

Is that tip for a one hand backhand?

 

[BreakPoint]

I've been advocating imagining throwing a frisbee as a tool for learning how to hit a one-handed backhand here for years. The mechanics are very similar, IMO, including the weight transfer from the back leg to the front leg, the take back and shoulder rotation, and swinging your arm freely in a long fluid stroke.

Don't know why so many people here see no similarities between throwing a frisbee and hitting a 1HBH. I've always been pretty good at throwing a frisbee, which is probably why I've always had a very good 1HBH and it has always come naturally to me. Just like there are similarities between serving and throwing a ball overhand.

BTW, who's Matt?

 

[TeamOB]

My 1hbh is pretty good, but I'm garbage at frisbee. I'll just use the advice in reverse and imagine hitting a 1hbh next time I'm playing Ultimate with my buddies. Thanks Matt and Andre!

 

[Shroud]

I've been advocating imagining throwing a frisbee as a tool for learning how to hit a one-handed backhand here for years. The mechanics are very similar, IMO, including the weight transfer from the back leg to the front leg, the take back and shoulder rotation, and swinging your arm freely in a long fluid stroke.

Don't know why so many people here see no similarities between throwing a frisbee and hitting a 1HBH. I've always been pretty good at throwing a frisbee, which is probably why I've always had a very good 1HBH and it has always come naturally to me. Just like there are similarities between serving and throwing a ball overhand.

BTW, who's Matt?

Matt Lin I am guessing.

Anyhow I threw the frisbee for years before playing tennis and my backhand has always been better than my forehand and is more of a weapon. Its just a natural transition. Though I for one use some elbow extension which is a TT no-no, but it works for me and perhaps one pro too

 

[Maximagq]

I've been advocating imagining throwing a frisbee as a tool for learning how to hit a one-handed backhand here for years. The mechanics are very similar, IMO, including the weight transfer from the back leg to the front leg, the take back and shoulder rotation, and swinging your arm freely in a long fluid stroke.

Don't know why so many people here see no similarities between throwing a frisbee and hitting a 1HBH. I've always been pretty good at throwing a frisbee, which is probably why I've always had a very good 1HBH and it has always come naturally to me. Just like there are similarities between serving and throwing a ball overhand.

BTW, who's Matt?

How do you not know who Matt Lin is.... jk that's me

 

[Shroud]

How do you not know who Matt Lin is.... jk that's me

Yeah Break Point!

He's the Novak Djokovic of Talk Tennis!!! How can you not know his alias?

 

[Maximagq]

Yeah Break Point!

He's the Novak Djokovic of Talk Tennis!!! How can you not know his alias?

"Maximagq is the Novak Djokovic of Talk Tennis"

 

[LeeD]

Is Matt going for the "most conceited" award?

 

[Maximagq]

Is Matt going for the "most conceited" award?

No LeeD, I would be runner-up to you

 

[Maximagq]

Back on topic, glad that I could help andreh, and I'm even more glad that your ankle is healing!

 

[BevelDevil]

now the question is: Is it worth it to teach someone to throw a frisbee just to improve their backhand?

 

[Maximagq]

now the question is: Is it worth it to teach someone to throw a frisbee just to improve their backhand?

To be honest, I can't throw a frisbee well at all, but I've seen people with good frisbee tosses and their finishes look a lot like the top one handed backhands in the world.

 

[Shroud]

now the question is: Is it worth it to teach someone to throw a frisbee just to improve their backhand?

My two cents is YES. Resoundingly yes. Particularly if you only show them how to throw it so it curves to the left (if they are righthanded) and how to skip it off the ground. Then get them throwing solely for distance since this will get the legs and timing involved. Also I think it could be an off court training thing that would help keep the arm/ shoulder strong and flexible though frisbees are only around 200g.

For me at least my backhand is great because of the hours of frisbee as a kid.

 

[Maximagq]

The perfect frisbee model is Justine Henin.

 

[Shroud]

The perfect frisbee model is Justine Henin.

LMAO!!!!!

+1!

 

[Maximagq]

LMAO!!!!!

+1!

What's so funny? Her backhand is a perfect model of a one hander that looks like a frisbee motion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdDwMj3_WMA

 

[Shroud]

What's so funny? Her backhand is a perfect model of a one hander that looks like a frisbee motion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdDwMj3_WMA

You are correct of course. Its probably best I dont explain

 

[Maximagq]

You are correct of course. Its probably best I dont explain

No go ahead and explain if you want. The video says it all but mention what you were going to say. I insist

 

[Shroud]

No go ahead and explain if you want. The video says it all but mention what you were going to say. I insist

Ugh. I was looking at actual frisbees...ie. frisbee model. Another word for a frisbee is a spinner.....

 

[Maximagq]

Ugh. I was looking at actual frisbees...ie. frisbee model. Another word for a frisbee is a spinner.....

Okay I apologize, my terminology was way off. Let me rephrase it: Justine Henin's backhand is the one hander that reminds me most of a frisbee throwing motion.

 

[Shroud]

Okay I apologize, my terminology was way off. Let me rephrase it: Justine Henin's backhand is the one hander that reminds me most of a frisbee throwing motion.

No need to apologize. You are right and my mind was in the gutter

 

[OTMPut]

This visualization should work for ATP style forehand as well?

 

[Enga]

Hmmm, my father can throw a frisbee pretty far, but his backhand in tennis isnt very good.

He can also throw a football quite well but cant serve well haha.

On the other hand, Im quite bad at throwing footballs and frisbees, but my backhand and serve are much more consistent and powerful than his. I think its good to mention other sports to help with visualization, but the skills dont transfer easily.

 

[Mongolmike]

My 1hbh is pretty good, but I'm garbage at frisbee. I'll just use the advice in reverse and imagine hitting a 1hbh next time I'm playing Ultimate with my buddies. Thanks Matt and Andre!

Yeah... problem is in Ultimate, you don't want to one bounce your throw to your team-mate... unless you are playing on pavement and skip passes are legal!

I played a lot of Ultimate and have a great frisbee bh and a moderate fh... and I hit a 1h bh in tennis... there is some similiarity... but for frisbee throws (for me) the toss path is lower than the racquet path, I "stomp" on my right foot much harder with frisbee and it is more of an abrupt stop of motion... tennis bh is more of a flow-through follow-thru.

To me, comparing a frisbee throw to a tennis bh would be more for a block bh or slice bh. That's just my style tho... and I have to say my bh frisbee throw is very good, my tennis bh is solid but not dominating.

 

[Alcawrath]

Bumping an old thread: I was throwing a frisbee for my dog the other day and noticed that the mechanics are strikingly similar between the 1HBH and the frisbee throw. I especially noticed it when I wanted a straight throw because I have to step across my body just like I have to in tennis. I also figured out why I find it so easy to generate power with a 1HBH and can't generate any power with a 2HBH. Ever try and throw a frisbee two handed?

 

[Dragy]

Bumping an old thread: I was throwing a frisbee for my dog the other day and noticed that the mechanics are strikingly similar between the 1HBH and the frisbee throw. I especially noticed it when I wanted a straight throw because I have to step across my body just like I have to in tennis. I also figured out why I find it so easy to generate power with a 1HBH and can't generate any power with a 2HBH. Ever try and throw a frisbee two handed?

You can pretty much throw far with two hands:

 

[Alcawrath]

You can pretty much throw far with two hands:

I think you missed my point. Just saying that for some people natural power and fluidity only feels right with one hand rather than two. I'm fully aware that the two hander is what feels natural and powerful for most others.

 

[ppma]

LMAO

 

[Dragy]

I think you missed my point. Just saying that for some people natural power and fluidity only feels right with one hand rather than two. I'm fully aware that the two hander is what feels natural and powerful for most others.

I'm not sure man, frisbee is pretty much technical thing. Olympic discus throwers don't use backhand swing. I'm pretty much sure it's very specific to how you apply force to make frisbee go as it should, with spin. It's light, yet you need to launch it in particular way. There are people quite good at FH-throwing frisbee.

Most regular folks who throw frisbee just arm it with minimal torso use. It's not powerful as good OHBH is. But so do many tennis rec players, just arm the ball using one hand.

I'm just sharing thoughts rather than arguing. Too many differences between frisbee throw, arming/bunting a BH and actual strong OHBH with use of torso and low-to-high swing.

 

[Alcawrath]

I'm just sharing thoughts rather than arguing. Too many differences between frisbee throw, arming/bunting a BH and actual strong OHBH with use of torso and low-to-high swing.

Watch this and tell me there aren't similarities between the 1HBH

 

[ppma]

Watch this and tell me there aren't similarities between the 1HBH

The obvious things are alike. That is, using the non-dominant arm around the body from a closed to an open posture. The things that differentiate throwing a <100g close to the hand disk to moving a >300g away from the hand racquet are non-existent.
The implications of the grip, the swing path, muscle engagement, wrist and elbow action, forearm pronation, all is different, and not in a subtle manner.

 

[Dragy]

Watch this and tell me there aren't similarities between the 1HBH

Yeah some, but also huge difference:

And if you compare average Joe’s frisbee throw to av. Jim’s OHBH, neither will have what actually is similar in this guy’s technique and pro OHBH: torso rotation to power the swing.

 

[Alcawrath]

@Dragy and @ppma it appears neither of you actually read my post. I simply claimed that "striking similarities" exist. FULL STOP. I did not claim that they are identical, it was just a moment of realization that there are some interesting similarities that may be useful for people to think about learning a 1HBH. Thank you both for pointing out that throwing a frisbee is in fact different than swinging a racquet to hit a tennis ball.

 

[matterer]

I tried swinging a OHBH like I was throwing a frisbee and I think this is Curious's technique.

 

[Alcawrath]

Idk who curious is I was looking for loose similarities with this guy

 

[ballmachineguy]

@Dragy and @ppma it appears neither of you actually read my post. I simply claimed that "striking similarities" exist. FULL STOP. I did not claim that they are identical, it was just a moment of realization that there are some interesting similarities that may be useful for people to think about learning a 1HBH. Thank you both for pointing out that throwing a frisbee is in fact different than swinging a racquet to hit a tennis ball.

Doesn’t matter if you say identical, people will quote you as having said it. Saves you the work.

 

[Curious]

Idk who curious is I was looking for loose similarities with this guy

This is Curious and already tried the frisbee backhand recently. It doesn’t work. How could it with that sort of flexed wrist? Anyway the only similarity is they are both backhand throwing.

 

[Alcawrath]

I can't help but laugh at this point. All I said is there are some basic similarities of body movement. I'm not suggesting any specific techniques or identical specific comparisons but I'm sure about ten more people will make mistaken assumptions to criticize my observation

 

[ballmachineguy]

I can't help but laugh at this point. All I said is there are some basic similarities of body movement. I'm not suggesting any specific techniques or identical specific comparisons but I'm sure about ten more people will make mistaken assumptions to criticize my observation

Yes, the way you get the hand to the fastest speed possible to either hit a ball or throw a disc is the same. The rest of the crap you are getting is a microcosm of how people on here want any advice from a fellow forum member to be wrong. “What, you think you know more about tennis than me?” The person that posted the video and said hitting a ohbh like tossing a frisbee doesn’t work knows ground strokes 100%!inside and out. That he can’t hit one is due to other factors, in case you wondered.

 

[ballmachineguy]

Nm

 

[matterer]

Federer's backhand is more similar to Big Bill Tilden's backhand than it is to throwing a frisbee. You should try copying him.

 

[Alcawrath]

This is seriously becoming a social experiment of human behavior. I'm about to delete everything I posted on this thread. I seriously regret digging it up from the forums

 

[user92626]

I can't help but laugh at this point. All I said is there are some basic similarities of body movement. I'm not suggesting any specific techniques or identical specific comparisons but I'm sure about ten more people will make mistaken assumptions to criticize my observation

This is seriously becoming a social experiment of human behavior. I'm about to delete everything I posted on this thread. I seriously regret digging it up from the forums

Either you're new to the Interweb or you have the age old problem of taking Interweb people too seriously. I'd hate to imagine how you deal with in-person differences, disagreements.

You ain't alone. @ballmachineguy was going beserk at people's different opinions. Naturally you got his empathy.

Remind me of last weekend. Someone brought mango pieces for us to try. I complimented that it's sweet. Guy next to me protested "How can you call this sweet? It's sour!"

Me:

 

[ballmachineguy]

@ballmachineguy was going beserk

Paging Inigo Montoya.

 

[matterer]

On second thought, you're absolutely right. You should definitely pursue this frisbee technique you've discovered. For best results, put about a million reps into it.

 

[Alcawrath]

What can I say, I guess trolls are gonna troll

 

[mcs1970]

This old school coach talks about the frisbee motion on the ohbh.

 

[tendency]

This is Curious and already tried the frisbee backhand recently. It doesn’t work. How could it with that sort of flexed wrist? Anyway the only similarity is they are both backhand throwing.

All this video proves is you don't know how to throw a frisbee either - lol.

 

[tendency]

This old school coach talks about the frisbee motion on the ohbh.

Yep, pretty much. It's really quite a simple stroke for those with a smidge of athletic ability and is, IMO, a fair bit easier than the modern ATP forehand to learn and become proficient at.