Catching Thought: What’s your first instinct?
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Loading ...Frisbee is not natural. Man never evolved to throw a flying piece of plastic, and there’s really no analog to it in nature (throwing a rock or a spear to kill prey is a far cry from the mechanics used for most throws in ultimate). The same goes for catching–there are certain spots on the frisbee that make for easy catches (see Zips Tips for more on that–really, just read all of Zips tips) and some that make for easy macs.
What’s natural for you? Do you find your catches (one-handed/rim) often have the disc coming into your hand hard (excluding cold weather, where all throws seem to weigh like a brick on impact)? Do you find the disc spinning a little too much upon contact or bouncing out of your hand with regularity? Do you grab the disc, or wait for it to settle into your hand?
Make a deliberate effort on your catches when tossing. Focus on the spin of the frisbee, and try attacking the disc at various points. Learn through trial and error where the “sweet spots” are, especially for tricky throws like hammers and blades. Reinforce this deliberate effort enough, and eventually your first instinct will be not to flub, but a seamless catch. Not thinking about your hands and how you’ll catch the frisbee, but simply watching the disc into your hands.
It’s absolutely essential, if you want to play at a high level in this sport, to make frisbees as natural to you as any other implement (perhaps even more so). I spent the couple weeks leading up to Regionals my sophomore year (’06) (and during my summer throwing in Japan in ’05) carrying a frisbee with me everywhere, constantly throwing to myself and catching it. Hone your instincts.
