Forehand Basics for Beginners
Forehand (also called sidearm or flick) is a legal throwing style under the PDGA Official Rules—there is no rule that says you must throw backhand. Many beginners reach for it early because the motion feels closer to skipping a stone or throwing a baseball. This page teaches fundamentals only: grip feel, body orientation, release plane, and common early mistakes. We do not invent distance charts or claim a mold will fly X feet for your arm.
Defaults below assume right-hand forehand (RHFH). Left-hand forehand mirrors left/right.
Why learn it early (without ego)
- Opens fairways that bend the “wrong” way for your backhand
- Gives a second shot when backhand form is tired or blocked
- Is fully allowed in casual and sanctioned play (PDGA Q&A: no restriction on how you throw)
It is still a skill. Arm-only “Frisbee flings” work for short putts and rollaways; they do not scale cleanly to controlled fairway shots.
Grip (start simple)
Common beginner starting points (names vary by coach):
- Power / stack grip — Index finger along the outer rim edge; middle (and often ring) finger stacked against the flight plate underside; thumb on top for pressure.
- Fan-ish variants — Fingers more spread under the plate; often less “locked” for early learners testing feel.
Goals, not fashion:
- Disc stays secure without a death crush
- Wrist can still cock and snap (firm grip, loose wrist is a common teaching cue)
- Same grip every practice throw so feedback means something
Gloves, tape, or chalk for grip comfort are generally allowed under PDGA device rules; devices that directly assist the throw are not. Confirm current wording on 813.02 if you compete.
Orientation: face the target line
A frequent early mistake is turning 90° and whipping the disc purely across the body with the arm alone. PDGA coaching content from former distance record holder Scott Stokely frames the fix as throwing facing more forward: keep the lower body oriented toward the line while the upper body loads the backswing, so core torque shares the work instead of dumping everything into the elbow and shoulder.
You still rotate—you just avoid “arm-only sideways” as the entire move.
Release plane (not a Frisbee underhand toss)
Sidearm release is often taught closer to a ¾ baseball / sidearm ball throw than a low underhand Frisbee toss. Stokely’s PDGA article notes that (except steep hyzers) many players release with a mild anhyzer feel when upright, then change line by leaning the body rather than dropping the arm to “scoop” flat or hyzer.
Tie this to our hyzer / flat / anhyzer vocabulary:
| Intent (RHFH) | Teaching idea |
|---|---|
| Flat-ish line | Keep arm path consistent; lean the torso instead of collapsing the elbow |
| Hyzer | More lean / bank so the outside edge finishes down for that hand |
| Anhyzer | Mild bank the other way—or the upright “ball throw” starting point many coaches use |
Nose angle still matters: nose-up sidearms stall early. Fix one variable at a time in field work.
Wrist and spin
On backhand, spin often “comes free” with a clean pull. On forehand, you have to put spin on the disc. Teaching cues that show up in PDGA-published coaching:
- Let the wrist cock on the backswing (disc weight loads the wrist)
- Stay relatively relaxed until release
- Snap / spin at the hit—not arm muscle all the way through
More spin generally beats less spin for control. That is a practice habit, not a promise of free distance.
Common early mistakes
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Better habit |
|---|---|---|
| Arm-only cross-body whip | Power loss + elbow/shoulder stress | Face the line; load core |
| Elbow glued to ribs | Caps power/accuracy (“T-Rex” shortcut) | Allow a full reach-back when technique allows |
| Nose-up scoop | Early stall, weak finish | Film release; flatten the leading edge |
| Switching molds every session | No signal in the noise | Same midrange for a week of field work |
| Max effort on day one | Injury risk, ugly misses | Smooth 50–70% until spin is clean |
If anything hurts sharply (elbow, shoulder, wrist), stop. Local coaching and medical advice beat internet form arguments.
What discs to practice with
Start with a stable midrange or fairway you already own—not a max-speed distance driver. Read flight numbers and class selection so plastic matches intent. We will not invent mold ratings or “must-bag” charts here.
Practice plan (honest)
- Open field, one disc, one grip.
- Ten smooth throws facing the target line—film from behind when safe and courteous.
- Ten with mild lean for hyzer, ten for the opposite bank—same power intent.
- Only then nudge power or swap plastic.
- Pair with the form checklist so you are not rewriting backhand and forehand in the same session.
What we will not do
- Invent distance or “pro snap” charts by mold
- Promise that forehand fixes backhand form or adds guaranteed feet
- Claim PDGA Official Rules prescribe grip or release angle (they allow the style; coaching fills the how)
Next: Hyzer, Flat, and Anhyzer · Form Checklist · Putting Basics
Sources
- PDGA — Three Keys to a Better Sidearm (Scott Stokely): face forward, ball-throw plane, wrist/spin cues
- PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf — throw definition; Q&A confirms no restriction on throwing style (backhand, sidearm, overhand, etc.)
- PDGA 813.02 Illegal Device — grip aids vs devices that assist the throw