Trick Throws

One man's trick throw is another man's stock throw. I guess I made an executive decision based on what I saw in games as to what constitutes a trick throw. In my opinion a trick throw is any throw which has no use in a game of ultimate. I ended up leaving out things like the Hammer (well, everyone uses them), the Push Pass (I scored a goal with one of them a couple of weeks back), the Blade and the Hiawatha (which I call a Scoober). They will all appear in the "Advanced Throws" section, whenever I get around to writing it.

Pictures, much like those in the Grips section, should be forthcoming. I won't make any promises when, but there will be images of both the grips and the throws. This should make things a little easier to visualise.

Wrist Hammer (Scoober, Scooper)

This throw uses a standard backhand grip. The disc is flipped over so that the dome of the disc is resting on the wrist and forearm. The throw is from the forehand side. The disc is brought back towards the shoulder and then thrown forwards at an angle of about 50 degrees. The flight path is the reverse of a normal hammer.

Thumb Hammer (Thumber)

This throw uses a reverse grip. The thumb is inside the lip of the disc, the outside edge of the thumb (the side away from the fingers) is pushed against the disc and the fingers are supporting the dome, but the grip is fairly loose. The throw is from the forehand side. The disc is brought back towards the shoulder and then thrown forwards at an angle of about 50 degrees. There needs to be a good amount of spin to get the disc to fly properly. The flight path is the reverse of the hammer.

Inverse Thumb Backhand (Snake)

This throw uses a backhand grip with the disc held upside-down. The thumb is inside the disc, with the inside edge of the thumb (the side closest to the fingers) pushed against the rim, and the fingers are curled against the dome. The throw is from the backhand side. The disc is brought back towards the shoulder and then thrown forwards at an angle of about 45 degrees. The flight path is similar to a hammer, although it tends to fly at a low height, and it will usually fade towards the backhand side at the end of its flight.

Bowler

This throw uses a backhand grip. The throwing motion is similar to bowling a cricket ball. The arm is brought over the shoulder with the thumb and forefinger leading. The disc is near vertical. A large amount of spin needs to be given to the disc as it is released, and the throw follows the reverse of a hammer flight path.

Thumb Forehand (Thumber)

There are a couple of different grips for this throw. The disc is the right way up, and the outside edge or pad of the thumb is against the rim. The palm is facing up and the fingers are curled onto the dome, although one version has the index finger inside the rim as well. The throw is from the forehand side of the body, and the action and flight path is identical to that of a forehand.

Another variant on this throw starts with the disc held out in front, fingers facing forwards on top of the dome, and thumb facing forwards underneath. The disc is then whirled around the thumb (anti-clockwise from top for right-handers) and projected forwards at the right moment.

Thumb Backhand

The grip for this throw has the pad of the thumb inside the rim and the index finger along the outside edge of the rim. The throw is from the backhand side of the body. The disc is brought back flat across the chest and then thrown forwards. Lots of flick is required at the moment of release to get the disc to fly straight.

This throw can also be thrown from very low, both straight and as an air bounce, and from above shoulder height. Only the angle of the wrist at release need change.

Overhand Thumb Forehand (Discus)

The grip for this throw has the inside edge of the thumb against the inside of the rim, the index finger along the outside of the rim, and the remaining fingers flat on the dome of the disc. The throw is from the forehand side, and is released at or above shoulder height. The disc flies the right way up. The wind-up is again similar to a bowling action in cricket, with the disc is brought back upside-down at about waist height, the arm looping around and releasing the disc the right way up above the shoulder. The wrist needs to be cocked in such a way that the outside edge of the disc stays down, and so that plenty of spin is imparted to the disc on release.