Dave's Tips | Driving - Sidearm

Another video of a disc golf instructional series presented by Innova Champion Discs. Dave Dunipace (President of Innova Champion Discs) talks about a sidearm driving technique.

[markhumphrey]

I had an A HA moment last PM.
You need to pinch the tip index finger with the thumb.
I've been just laying the index finger and ring finger along the rim and just pinching the thumb anywhere on the plate. Umm. Thats wrong.
If you don't pinch the tip of the index finger with the thumb you wont have the "1 point" pivot to rotate around. The sudden, sharp, steely stop works and my hand flips over like Dave's and it is very comfortable. Now you might think "No you must have the palm to the sky!". Oh nah nah. 100% NO OAT. No wobble.
My previous 5 years have been just put the thumb on top and push down hard. I couldn't get rid of OAT. The reason being is: if you are not pressing the thumb against the end of the index finger the it will likely just be pushing down on the index finger in different places along the finger. Now when you throw the disc the disc edge just bounces along the edge of the finger and starts the wobble.
Plus you have no pivot point. You might think "well it will just pivot off the end of my middle finger" Yeah it will and it will be inconsistent and weak.
Hope others can get good results like I have. I can definitely see where you can throw >320ft without much effort like Dave says.

[juffan]

Does he not snap his wrist then? If you stop your throw too hard you'll get tennis elbow

[madman]

I started out backhand, switched to forehand and relied on it so heavily all i can do backhand now is putt... i can't get it back either.... it's horrible

[countryboy]

I use this type of throw and get it at least 245 feet

[jermlac]

I miss the disc golf videos made before dub step. Bring back these videos! Less Woorrr worrr worr woor wah wahh worrr...

[scuddy]

620 huh? I'd like to see that. Maybe you could post a video.

[axelram]

Was there a shootout down the street going on?

[brandonshukuri]

This made all current and future forehand videos obsolete.

[samuvelin]

Thank you Dave a lot!!
That hammer tip helped very much and now i can throw 20metres longe throws... About 120 metres now

[DMBFAN]

Thanks so much, Dave. My sidearm has improved dramatically thanks to these fine tips....

[thielenm]

I've played disc for a long time but could never throw a sidarm over 150 ft. I can throw a backhand really well. Every time I try to learn sidearm I end up hurting my elbow and I stop trying for a couple weeks. I've never been able to improve it. I've played casually since i was a kid.

[tomtomtomato]

One very windy day I was at the 10th in McClain in Texas I lost my Valkyrie the wind took it way up into the air I want to say about 90ft but this was entirely my fault I miscalculated my sidearm and well you can say it was 'Gone with the Wind' just about 2 weeks later I get a call from some fellow disc golfer saying he found my disc. It's a good thing to have your name and number on your disc folks.

[noahrobinson]

More Dave videos! More videos with Dave!

Thanks Dave!

[dg]

@James Cole-- umm... the World Record for a sidearm throw is 518.24 ft (158m ), Scott Stokely, using a Discraft XS, 4/2001

[rickfunk]

My sidearm goes only about 50% distance of my backhand. I've was told to flick my waist at the at the last minute to give the disc spin, maybe that's what I'm doing wrong.

[scotranney]

I love these short tutorial vids, so much great info packed into just a few minutes. Thanks!

[gcoffey]

Dave is genius.... simple, precise, to the point. Thanks Dave!!!

[CHADISLEGEND]

@jjjankman Im the same way, it hurts my elbow to drive FH but i use it a lot for approch shots around trees. So i stick with BH for drives plus i have a lot more control with my BH

[TexasRobert]

It's interesting how styles are so different in this game. My sidearm style is nothing like this, yet it is my key throw and I can easily throw 350' with great accuracy.

[skn]

Tip: keep your sidearm holstered while driving. YW