The Backhand: Kickin' it Old School

     This is the throw, the throw that started it all.  It's the throw you learned in gym class.  It's the throw that players at all levels began with, the launch pad for frisbee careers.  It is what the right hook is to boxing, or the scissors to arts and crafts time.  It's necessary.
   

A backhand is thrown by gripping the disc, top facing up, in the dominant hand (the one you feel most comfortable throwing with).  In gym class, you may have been taught to place your index finger along the edge of the disc (other fingers curl up under the disc) and upon release, point to where you are throwing as a means of boosting accurately (as seen here).
 

   This is acceptable, however if all fingers (except the thumb, which remains on top of the disc) are tucked under the disc, the power you possess and the distance you can throw will be increased dramatically.  You will have better grip and can develop equal amounts of accuracy with practice.

 
    Important things to remember when throwing a backhand: keep your release level.  If the disc is level when it leaves your hand, it will fly level.  If you are getting nasty hooks (disc flies sideways), time your release so that the disc is level when it leaves your hand. Another thing that will ensure beautiful backhands is knowing that it's all in the wrist.  The more that disc spins, the more air it slices, and the father/straighter it will fly.  So, upon your release, make sure that your wrist is doing its fair share.

   The best way to consistently throw perfect backhands? Practice.  Go throw with anyone you can find, and the more often you do it the better you will get.  Also, using a quality disc can work to your advantage (see It's All in the Disc).  But practice makes perfect, so be it with your team, your mom, or that guy that hangs around Burger King, get out and throw!

     Bonus Material: Please try this at home!

The Field of Dreams

     Anywhere you play ultimate frisbee is a good place to play ultimate.  However, some places are better than others.

     There are many places you could play ultimate frisbee, but this doesn't mean you should play everywhere.  For example: rail yards.  If the trains didn't run you over, the tracks would trip you up. Parking lots are good, but the first time you lay out you may regret it.  That is why grass surfaces are preferred.  Open fields, parks, stadiums, or frisbee fields are ideal.

       A regulation frisbee field is 70 yards by 40 yards, with end zones a whopping 25 yards deep.  That's plenty of space for all your laying out and all your hammer throws, without running you ragged over a field as big as a football field.

 
 
      Other places that make good venues (especially at night) are tennis courts.  Now there is nothing regulation about this, but it is a great way to practice and have fun at all hours.  Playing on one side of the nets, you can imagine the lines of the court to the fence make a simple, lighted playing space.  However, adding rules like "switches" across the net can make the game interesting.  For instance, as soon as a disc is throw from one side of the nets to the other, it is legal to use the other side of the courts.  However, everyone must stay on the same side.  Again, this isn't USA Ultimate sanctioned or anything, but it can be very fun.

 



     Wherever you play is a good place to play.  No matter the surface under your feet, the game is about winning.  Just kidding.  It's really about sportsmanship, camaraderie, and having fun.  Now get playing!

It's All in the Disc

      It's all in the disc.  All the running, chasing, throwing, catching: it's all done in pursuit of the plastic god.  That's why you had better be sure what you're throwing isn't the Justin Bieber of discs: flimsy and sure to crack at some point.
   
     Ask anyone in the ultimate frisbee world, and they'll tell you there is only one disc.  Discraft has been producing the Ultra-Star since 1981, and it has become the staple of the ultimate world.  The traditional white disc, weighing 175 grams and stamped with the classic Discraft design, has been the only sanctioned disc of USA Ultimate (the powers that be) since 1991.  That's 20 years of being at the top! It was selected because of its balance, how it is weighted, and its durability.  It is comfortable and easy to throw, and has become the universal choice among picky disc-heads everywhere.

     There are other discs, of course.  Wham-O made the first disc that flew through the air.  Formed in the 40's and 50's, the first discs were the evolution of pie-plate tossing on college campuses.  However, it has taken a back seat to the Ultra-Star, as it was never of the same quality or caliber of it's newer cousin.

   Other discs are mostly created by lesser known manufactures, usually for the sake of advertising.  Some of these can be fun on family vacations, but you probably do not want to hit the competitive field sporting an off-brand.  These are often weighted poorly or have sharp edges that can do some damage to the catcher's fingers.
 
Those off-brand discs can be cheap (free-$10 wherever sporting goods/summer recreational stuff is sold), however, top-of-the-line Ultra-Star discs aren't much more expensive.  The best place to find these high quality heroes of the air is online at http://discraft.com/order.html#retail.  You will spend between $12 and $15 per disc, but as usual buying in bulk can be cost-effective.  Also, if you are buying in bulk you can purchase discs directly from Discraft, and custom designs can be printed on them.  There are hundreds of colors and the designs are endless.  Discraft does not do small orders, but they have hundreds of retailers who would love to sell you a disc.  They also supply a variety of weights, as well as disc golf discs (should that be your area of interest).

   Keep in mind when you look to purchase your plastic that you will want to get used to throwing and catching exactly what you will be throwing and catching in game situations.  This will ensure that weight and shape of something unfamiliar will not affect your performance, and you can focus more on your game.  Happy playing!