learning your "off"hand

[ronconversjr]

Well, as some of you heard, I had an accident at work and I'll be throwing left handed for and un-determined time. So... I've decided that I'd chronicle the exercise of training my "off" hand, in hopes that it will help my thought processes, and possibly benefit someone else as well.

Starting points
My start at the Ponca Lake course a few days ago was +13. I can throw about 275 fairly accurately on line, but up seems to be a problem. Looking at it in review I need to PULL my drives toward release rather than throw them. My steps are still a work in progress,and the single biggest problem is working within my present capabilities when playing for score. Putting is a bit of a bright spot as I can hit 5 out of 10 at near 30 ft. The close ones seem harder as I'm still trying to develop touch. Well, lets see how long it takes to get to par guessing the current layout plays par 56 (holes 12 and 17 being par 4's). There is only one hole I could possibly reach for a 2( hole15) unless I field ace!

Tools
I'll have to step my disc selection down towards slower toys until I can throw 350. ESP Flash, Z- XL and a straighter pred will be my primary drivers. A Wasp, Meteor,Flx Drone and Buzz will be my mids. FLX putters seem to come out of my hand best and I have several, so thats where I'll start. I can throw a long ways with my "SS"Surge and "SS"Avenger, but I still can't control them reliably.
Wish me luck! I'll need it.

[Zach_Keys]

I wish you the best of luck dude! Hopefully I can learn some pointers from your experience.

[Bangrrr]

Good Luck Ron! Keep us updated!!!!!!!!!!!

[Schoen-hopper]

I hate to hear you are in this situation, Ron. But I really admire your positive attitude. You have been an inspiration to me and a lot of players I've learned the game with. I really hope that you can make a full recovery from this. From how I know you, "rest" may be the most difficult task you could face.

After seeing an awesome forehand at the Wichita Ice Bowl, I was blown away by an even better lefty backhand!

I'm guessing that though I'm as good at lefty putting as righty putting, I could throw all of 110' of a lefty drive. Do I have the courage to pursue getting better at this skill? My first round may be +113! We shall see.

[_dm4]

Sorry to hear about this. Way to keep going, no matter what! Good luck through all of this!

[mrsenortyler]

Very sorry to hear about your arm Ron. I hope this lefty thing works out for you, you could be even more deadly than before!

[Cat]

Ron i read that and was shocked!

We wish you a full recovery.

Any way the sore arm right now just balancing your throws. how is that going?

Is your putting style the same left handed?

I love that style but i have problems with control, not knowing the proper foot placement i think.

But it might be what you said about pulling to it instead of pushing at it.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Get well soon.

Your friends Joe & Cat

[disclizard]

got me thinking it might be fun to learn my self to throw lefty. think I may just go out and do that when i play with a couple of friends this next week . thanks for the idea.

Hope you do well left handed and hope you get a full recovery soon dude.

[ronconversjr]

Thank You to all the well wishers. It means a great deal to hear your kind words.
I got some great news from the orthopedic specialist today, looks like a pretty short(relative) recovery time! I was so giggly I felt like a 7th grade girl invited to the senior prom! A few months and I should be back to being mostly right handed. This doesn't change my wish to develop my left further. I got to thinking about the first trip out and ...my +13 was on the back 9!
Today I went out and played after an extended warm-up. I threw 68 for the entire 18. I made 2 poor approaches, and missed 6 putts within 25 ft. The missed putts were really aggravating as 4 of them were within 15 ft My longest shot was probably around 300ft. in length into the wind. My approaches were fairly solid. If you know the Lake Course this would make more sense. Almost all of the holes play long. 1 hole less than 300ft/ 6 holes over 500ft with 2 of those over 700! the bulk seem to be 400+, so not being able to throw consistent distance is a huge disadvantage. I need to play flawlessly within my range to shoot a 55. I was pretty happy with my progress!
I'm still having a little bit of nose-up release problems especially into the wind, but focusing on a smoother level drive with good form is paying off. The wind was fairly choppy today as the colder air moved in.
My best drives were coming from an ESP flash. I left the putters I had been practicing with at home, and the ones I was using were not as overstable. I started playing to be under the basket on my approach. I was throwing overstables to avoid rolling out! Mostly a Predator, but I actually broke out the Extreme at one point! I was also using my FLX Drone on Semi-run, hyzer approaches. I need a lot more field work and a lot less playing to make faster improvements! I will still try and log at least 1 round a week at the Lake.
On a side note, if you live close enough for a road trip, you ought to come check out the course improvements. An awful lot of brush has been cleaned around the edges, some benches have been put in and the work is continuing. A few Alt pin placements added a lot of fun to the course. More coming soon, Ron.

[smitty]

Ron-

Start doing as many things left handed as you can. Brush your teeth (If you do that, I know you are an Okie ), eat your food, even pick your nose.

I made my sis-in-law do this when she was at Ransom. She was an only right handed point guard for the basketball team who learned a left hand and played college basketball for a couple of years.

[Bangrrr]

Ok Smitty, you have me cornfused and I'm not even from Nebraska.....I eat, brush my teeth, write, ect. left handed. Shoot pool either way, but play disc golf right handed.....maybe that's the problem.......

[mrsenortyler]

I was so giggly I felt like a 7th grade girl invited to the senior prom!.

I know that feeling.

[disclizard]

I know that feeling.

So you went to the prom when you was in seventh grade?

[smitty]

Check it out.

EMac throws lefty

Watch around 3:35. How many of you would kill for that drive?

[mrsenortyler]

Looks to me like he should have just played lefty!