Use both hands!

Really, that’s the easiest way to catch a disc. When trying to catch the disc, always use both hands when possible. One handed catches should be rare if at all. The safest way to catch is the Pancake Catch.

Pancake Catch

This should be the most common way to catch the disc. One hand goes palm down on top of the disc and one hand goes palm up on the bottom of the disc and you clamp down on the disc as if making a stack of pancakes (I guess.) and bring the disc in towards your chest. Watch it all the way in. Visualize catching the disc. I know that sounds silly, but far too often you’ll see a player try catching the disc and looking for the next throw. They turn their body or their hands follow their mind and they botch the catch because their palms aren’t lined up, their hands are too high / low, or for a host of other reasons.

Why is it the best catch? Clapping your hands onto the bottom and top of the disc, you cover more disc surface and slow the disc down. This is the most secure catch because you deal less with leading the rim of the disc and trying to stop spin. Obviously, there’s also a greater deal of area in the middle of the disc than on the rim. Similarly, some players do what is called a Crocodile Catch.

Crocodile Catch

This is fundamentally the same as the Pancake Catch except your forearms are straight in front of you and you clamp the disc with your hands like the long mouth (snout?) of a Crocodile. When you can’t get in front of the disc, this is the way to catch it. Almost always prefer a good old Croc Catch to anything one-handed or on the rim.

Catching the Rim

This is another way to catch the disc which should prefer two hands. Sometimes a Pancake or Crocodile catch just isn’t reasonable. For example, the disc is way too high to get in front of, you need to jump just to reach it. This is the opportunity to catch the disc along the rim. When you do this, try to get both hands on the rim on “the leading edge,” which is the edge of the disc going in the direction it is flying. Both hands should grasp the rim of the disc at the same time to prevent the disc from spinning out the side of your hands or hitting your palm and bouncing away before you can grip it. This catch is a little riskier, but sometimes you just can’t jump high enough to catch a disc at the waist.

There are two ways to catch the disc along the rim: thumbs on top, and thumbs on the rim. Experience tells you best which is more effective for certain situations, however, the rule of thumb is to try to catch a disc below the elbows with thumbs on the top of the disc, otherwise your thumbs should be on the bottom of the disc. When the disc is low, you don’t want to try and twist your wrist to catch it. Having the fingers below and thumb on top is a natural catch. If you really try both positions and focus on the feel, you’ll notice the difference. You get an easier grip and greater range without rotating your wrist.

Catching One-Handed

So maybe the disc is too far for both hands or you’re really reaching for a layout. Perhaps you’re trying to snag a quick D in a tight situation. You might need to try and catch the disc with one hand. Honestly, the best help you can get here is experience. Reading the disc and determining how / where to catch is something that comes through practice. That being said, there are a few tips to get you on your way.

Just like the two-handed catch on the rim, you’re going to need to position your hand to catch the disc on the rim properly. The thumb up / thumb down rule above the elbow applies here as well. High discs, where the arm is extended beyond the elbow, should generally be caught with the thumb on the bottom and low discs that fly below the elbow should be caught with the thumb on top. Along with the proper method of grip, you’ll want to grab the disc in the right place. Talking simple physics, the disc is spinning in a certain direction and where you try to grab it will help stop the disc from spinning. You’ll want to grab the disc at a point on the leading edge opposite the direction of the spin. This allows you to absorb as much of the spin and velocity as possible.

However, like I said, the best way to get better at any of these catches is to go out and practice! It is hard to explain how to catch. It’s easier to just get out there and do it! Also, remember that you should hardly need to catch with one hand no matter how often you think it’s necessary.

1. Disc flies higher than expected.
   The front, or leading, edge of the disc must be lowered. Make sure that the disc is level.
2. Disc always hits the ground before the target.
   Try raising the front, or leading, edge of the disc when throwing. The disc needs to be flat to fly straight and level.
3. Disc turns or wobbles and hits the ground rolling.
   Keep the disc level when throwing. Your palm should face the sky for the entire throw.
   Snap your wrist more. Really snapping the disc gives the disc more spin which helps it to fight the elements.
   Follow through. Stopping your hand might be causing your fingers to hit the disc after release.
   Stop swinging your arm. You might be trying to throw with your arm instead of your wrist. The wrist is where all of the action happens!
4. Disc arcs left too much.
   Make sure the disc is level. For a right handed person, try not to raise the edge opposite your hand. For a left handed person, try not to lower the edge opposite your hand.
5. Disc arcs right too much.
   Keep the disc level. For a right handed person, you might be lowering the edge opposite your hand. As a lefty, you might be raising the opposite edge too much.
6. The disc always goes left or right (instead of straight).
   Practice your release.
   Try releasing earlier or later.
   Follow through.

The basic grip for the forehand can be likened to a gang sign.  The thumb will be on top of the disc while the middle finger rests against the inside of the rim. Use your index finger to stabilize the disc by pointing it towards the center. The index finger is used to keep the disc level. This may seem a little awkward at first, but after a few successful throws, you’ll quickly gain a feel for this.

The Forehand Grip

The forehand begins with your wrist “cocked back” so that your index and middle fingers point away from your body. As opposed to the backhand, your going to throw the disc on the same side as the hand you are using to grip the disc. This means if you are a righty, you should be throwing the disc from the right side of your body. Your wrist will cocked back to the right. Pretty much everything will be towards the right. Now simply keep the disc level, snap your wrist forward and release the disc. When you release, lift your thumb so that the disc begins to spin and pretty much let the disc roll off your middle finger. Don’t complicate it! You don’t need to do any sort of motion with your arms. Trust your wrist to snap forward and do all the work. When done correctly, the disc will fly forward in a straight path.

Still having trouble? Try troubleshooting your forehand!

1. The disc always goes much higher than intended.
   Try lowering the front, or leading, edge a little. The disc needs to be level when thrown.
2. The disc always goes towards the ground.
   Try pointing the front, or leading, edge of the disc upwards. The disc needs to be level when thrown.
3. The disc hooks to the left.
   Make sure to keep the disc level.
   If you throw right-handed, make sure the edge opposite your hand is not pointing downwards.
   If you throw left-handed, make sure the edge opposite your hand is not pointing upwards.
4. The disc hooks to the right.
   Keep the disc level.
   If you’re right-handed, the edge opposite your hand is probably tipped upwards.
   If you’re left-handed, the edge opposite your hand might be pointing towards the ground.
5. The disc won’t go straight to the target.
   Try releasing earlier or later. The disc goes straight from where you release it.
6. The disc wobbles.
   Snap your wrist harder.
   Grip the disc tighter before releasing.
   Make sure you’re releasing smoothly without bumping or rubbing the disc.
7. You can’t throw the disc with much power.
   Try snapping the disc harder.
   Make sure you’ve got a proper stance. Your shoulder should face your target and you should step out with the foot on the same side as your throwing arm.
8. The disc always floats towards the end.
   Make sure you’re keeping the disc level.
   When you release make sure that you do so cleanly. If you push down on the disc with your thumb, for example, the disc is going to have a different action.

Grip the disc with your thumb on the top, your index finger on the side of the rim, your middle finger towards the center of the disc, and the rest of your fingers underneath the rim. This is the basic backhand grip. It is the easiest to learn with and it is usually more accurate. Your middle finger makes it easy for you to give the disc leverage. Holding the disc level is very important in learning how to throw a straight backhand.

Basic Backhand Grip

Throwing the backhand, like most throws, is about snapping the wrist to generate spin. This is what keeps a disc stable in even the harshest of winds. To begin the throw, make sure your wrist is cocked back. Keep the disc as level as possible. If you are throwing right handed, your right shoulder should face your target. Snap your wrist forward as you release the disc. When done correctly, the disc will fly forward in a straight line.

Now practice this a million times! Still having trouble? Try these trouble shooting tips!

So here it is. My site on Ultimate. I plan on adding videos when I can, writing when I can, and whatever else I can do to help to learn Ultimate. To get this started, leave me a comment and let me know what things you want to learn? I’ll try to answer to the best of my knowledge.