Creative Disc Throwing | Basic Body Rolls

It’s Easy

Body Rolls really are easy. All it takes is a little bit of knowledge and a tiny tap from the tips of your fingers to start the disc racing across your body

Middle Finger

Put the middle Finger on the Rim. This really is a huge help in learning to Body Roll and can’t be stressed enough. Using the middle finger puts the disc in line with the arm and sets the proper direction for the roll.

Hug a Giant Tree

A somewhat rounded path is necessary for the disc to roll upon. Think of hugging a giant tree, the biggest tree you have ever seen. It’s a tree, not a “V” or a “T”. Lifting your elbows a bit is also quite helpful. Judy’s position in the video could have been altered to bring the elbows up a bit.

Put the Middle Finger on the Rim

Rock Back and/or Face the Wind

Leaning back helps keep the disc from falling as it rolls. Point the palms upward. This enables gravity to work in your favor, the disc will be rolling on top of the arms, and chest instead of hovering in front of the body.

Facing the wind is also a great way to let nature help out. Facing the wind makes everything slower and helps the disc float along as it rolls along atop your body.

Immediately to the Forearm

When doing a basic Body Roll, pop the disc immediately and fairly aggressively to the forearm — directly to the forearm. This sets the disc rolling and because it started with the middle finger on the rim, the angle will be automagically set for rolling along the center of the arm.

Don’t Catch It

Resist the urge to try to catch the disc until it is consistently rolling to the other elbow. Keep the focus on the appropriate criteria — establishing a good roll — and you will get positive reinforcement and success from repetitively hitting this must have criteria.

Focusing on the catch takes your eye off the ball. It changes the skill from “Roll the Disc” to “Catch the Disc” and will not be helpful in mastering the skill. Like Brushes, the serve is the most important part of the trick.

Body Rolls Are Easy but Not Automagic

I know, I know, I already said they are easy, and they really are, but they must be practiced and you must learn how to do them. They’re easy, not automatic. If they were automagic everyone would already be doing them. There is nothing more insulting to great disc throwers for someone to say,”I’m frustrated… I’m quitting,” or ,”This is too hard. I can’t do it,” after three or four tries.

Learning is hard. It takes time. 500 or 1000 failed repetitions with proper trouble shooting? Then it might be time to talk about throwing in the towel. Nothing gets in the way of success like telling yourself you can’t do it or that it’s too hard.

Most disc skills are quite simple and easy, but they still have to be learned. Set your criteria appropriately, disc to the forearm, and hit it. When it’s working, set the criteria at 1/3 the way across while keeping the focus on the disc to forearm. Hit it and bump your criteria to 1/2 way across. Stay successful and you’ll be done in no time!