Throwing Decisions

This is my primary focus at the moment – how to make the correct choices with the disc.

I raised this a while back and came up with the following:

“My aim as a thrower is to be able to take advantage of any opportunities that are presented.”

But lately my thoughts have been fluctuating between two ideas:
1. make the decision based on the throws you’ve got, or
2. make the decision based on the opportunities you’ve got

Make the decision based on the throws you’ve got

The basic idea behind this is to take into account:
- the mark,
- downfield position of players,
- wind etc
and then work out what your most effective throw would be.
If someone is cutting for it – throw it.
If not, assess to the next best option – throw it.
If there’s still nothing – dump.

Make the decision based on the opportunities you’ve got

This is more about having a kit of throws up your sleave and then picking the right one for the right cut. IE Someone is cutting break side on a backhand force – throw the high release flick

Issues
Both of these ideas have their downsides:
The first can sometimes mean I am too restrictive in what I will throw.
Also, sometimes, if I have set my mind on a specific throw, I will look off other possible passes and try and throw it even if it’s not quite on (a prime example of this happened at HoS camp where I was on the sideline and had a low release backhand break stuck in my head and had to throw it, but it was a turnover because there wasn’t really the space for the throw and I forced it)

The second can get me into trouble when I see an opportunity but I don’t quite have the throw/space/skill to execute it – then I just make up some idea of a throw – some amazing double helix high release pass that will go over one defender’s head and thru the arms of another to the receiver – these never work (but sometimes this works great – like my push pass to Timmers at GCC)

So I need a middle ground.
I need to train myself to know what throws I can make from what scenarios. Then when an opportunity presents itself, I can quickly work out what throw I have to make use of the opportunity – if there’s none – don’t throw it.

Summary:
Be more aware of what throws I have for specific situations
Identify opportunities on the field
Match the throw to the opportunity
If in doubt - DUMP