Hitting the reset button

[Monocacy]

BroD: Hitting the reset button is a personal decision. I have done it many times, and my play has suffered accordingly afterwards, but each time yielded some overall improvement. I have yet to find the magic to leave the 300’ barrier in the dust, but continue to be optimistic that I’m getting closer.

For me, the main goal of my last “reset” was to avoid shoulder injury due to strong-arming / starting the pull too early. I was delighted to play a 36-hole tourney last weekend with no significant shoulder pain. Beat some of the young guys, too. For me, the “reset” was well worth it.

Best wishes whichever way you decide to go.

[BrotherDave]

I think most of my problem is related to thus: I lose the hammer pound sensation as I come across the pecs for some reason. My chain/whip is taut then it gets loose for some reason (probably something to do with opening/closing shoulders incorrectly) then I manage to get some tautness again right before the right pec drill/elbow chop part but by that point I've lost all momentum my footwork and body would have given it and the throw is about as weak as a no-step standstill, too weak to induce a follow-through usually.

[JR]

Stopping is no good. Having a stiff arm muscle wise in the early part of the throw slows the arm down so not good either. Easy peasy up to right pec position +- something then bang on. How much that +- is depends on the player. Some throw far with an early rip most benefit from a later acceleration point.

[cubeofsoup]

I think most of my problem is related to thus: I lose the hammer pound sensation as I come across the pecs for some reason. My chain/whip is taut then it gets loose for some reason (probably something to do with opening/closing shoulders incorrectly) then I manage to get some tautness again right before the right pec drill/elbow chop part but by that point I've lost all momentum my footwork and body would have given it and the throw is about as weak as a no-step standstill, too weak to induce a follow-through usually.

Perhaps you will find salvation in attempting things with your throw that are drastically different. Almost to give you that "left hand" sensation. It can feel like you are doing something minutely different but the case is probably that you revert to habit in the quickest moments of the throw and no matter how hard you try, habit prevails. A way must be found to break the habit.

Typing this out makes me wish I had someone who was a form-studying-freak like me around here so we could nerd out together about our throws. I would love for someone to sit there and critique the every loving shit out of me so I could actually find something to improve. Recording video and getting feedback is good but it's too delayed of a return to settle in my brain. I think I need real teaching, someone to be there and say, "no move this here, pull later", etc. A teacher in real life might be just the thing. Instant feedback.

I know back when I was 12 or 13 and I was taking lessons for ball golf, there were a few things my teacher made me do that made it feel like I wouldn't even make contact with the ball. But I relaxed and took his advice, changed the grip, stance, etc. A few terrible duffs, slices, and wacks later...I make contact with one and it sails, effortlessly on a pure line. Then it clicks, now it feels natural. I think without someone forcing me into an uncomfortable (albeit correct) form, I would have never improved. I need that in disc now.

Who lives in Rochester and wants to yell at me?

[JR]

Remote YELLL!!!!

[cubeofsoup]

JR I'll bring my macbook into my backyard, video chat with skype. I can throw into a net or something. It could work.

[JR]

I have a slow mini notebook that is so slow that it can only show a couple of pictures per second so it is probably impossible to say much of anything useful because i cannot really see the throws. And i'm at UDT +2 so timing might be problematic. But if you can record the videos at the same time and upload them somewhere fast i might be able to download them and give feedback soonish. Within the same session hopefully.

[BrotherDave]

I think most of my problem is related to thus: I lose the hammer pound sensation as I come across the pecs for some reason. My chain/whip is taut then it gets loose for some reason (probably something to do with opening/closing shoulders incorrectly) then I manage to get some tautness again right before the right pec drill/elbow chop part but by that point I've lost all momentum my footwork and body would have given it and the throw is about as weak as a no-step standstill, too weak to induce a follow-through usually.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is a big culprit. Went out in the field today and deliberately made sure I was "pulling the hammer" the whole time and I was getting much cleaner throws, even got audible snap a couple times from disc slipping out early. Gotta try and keep this feeling in every throw and just ever so slowly build it up.

[BrotherDave]

Live instruction and feedback by an outside viewer should help a ton. Tendonitis ain't a bitch it's a whore from hell and you might have subconscious opening of the fingers for killed snap going on.

There may be truth to this. I have a habit that creeps in from time to time of loosening my grip as I come into the power pocket.

Okay, there is definite truth to this. I cannot stop doing this. As soon as I start my pull, my hand loosens up a lot, especially my middle, ring, and pinkie fingers. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I CAN"T STOP. I don't think it's directly tendinitis related. It's like an overcautious reaction to prevent strong-arming or something. I can't grip it loose enough to feel the hammer pound while being strong enough to keep the disc from slipping out before I have a chance to pinch hard.

I'm at a loss, I'm not sure how I can unlearn doing this.

[JR]

It may be subconscious thus automatic. It happens to me especially when i'm tired. The obvious things to check are that you are well rested, not inflamed, seen a doctor about nerve electrical conductivity test to see if the nerves are pinched, move the thumb toward the center of the disc from half over the wing half on the flight plate in quarter or so inch increments and resting the base of the thumb on the flight plate pushing the outermost section of the thumb down in about 70 degree angle. As hard as you can once the elbow chop starts +- some time it might depend on the person when to push the thumb down while pinching with the index finger and if possible also raising the index finger against the thumb.