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I have a left handed thrower who throws around 160.  The problem is that the disc is flipping sideways and not floating through the air.  Sometimes the disc will leave his hand and very quickly turn sideways or veritical.  The outside of the disc(the left side) will flip up and the inside of the disc will dip down.  Sometimes the disc will look normal and halfway through flight it will turn sideways and fall down quickly.  If he can get this problem fixed I think he will get much more distance.  Does anyone have any ideas what might be going on or things to look for or drills to fix this.  thanks in advance

Check to make sure your thrower is placing his first knuckles on the outside rim of the discus and watch his realease. Make shure that the the disc rolls off the index finger at a 45° angle in correspondence to the horizon. Tell him to sqeeze it out of his hand starting with his pinkey and squeezing it like a bar of soap.

For drills have him try "Discus Bowling". Have him take discus and roll it across the gym floor or grass in field with the goal of getting it to go as far and as straight as possible. This will help teach the feel of how a discus is supposed to come off the forefinger. Also have him throw the discus vertically. Only trying to throw the discus about a foot or two in the air at first. As he gets the hand of this have him increase the heigth slowly. These drills should help him develop a feel for how the pressure and pull should feel coming off the discus correctly.

Another thing to watch for is if he is pulling his throwing arm a head of himself. This will cause the discus to flip through the air. If his hand is pulling before his hips come through at the finish the discus will not get proper rotation.

Good luck with your throwing endevors.
Sincerely,

The Staff at Athletic Points
http://www.athleticpoints.com