Variations on an Under the Leg Catch

Here I describe various types of under the leg catches.

In one version you reach your arm under you leg to catch the disc.

In another version you swing your leg over the disc so that the disc travels under your leg while it is in flight. Then you catch it. James Wiseman would say this is technically a “the” catch since your hand is not restricted and it is not blind. However, I believe that the body mechanics and timing involved make this catch more difficult that the previous one.

Piccolo catch

Lisa demonstrates a little catch called the Piccolo.

This catch is a variation of the behind the head catch. It’s called a Piccolo because you grab it with two hands, similar to how you would hold a flute or piccolo when playing.

This catch is actually blind because as you spin into it you turn your gaze away from the disc.

To catch it, set the disc up flat over one shoulder. Then watch it as long as possible as you turn away from it. As the opposite shoulder passes under the disc, grab it with both hands.

Making the Piccolo sound is optional, but will gain you bonus points :-).

Three Basic Trick Catches: Under the Leg, Chair, and Behind the Back

Ryan Young demonstrates three of the primary trick catches in Freestyle Frisbee: Under the Leg, Chair, and Behind the Back.

Under the leg (UTL) is where you reach under your leg with one hand to make the catch.

Chair if where you reach behind both ankles while in a seated position.

Behind the Back (BTB) is where you reach around behind your back.

To practice these catches it helps to string them together in a drill. Give yourself a light toss close to your body and then make an under the leg. Then quickly move to the Chair and then the Behind the Back. Also, be sure to catch and throw with both hands. This will ensure that no matter what spin this disc has and where it is you will have a trick catch that you can use to finishing your series of tricks.

Flat Under the Leg Set

Matt Gauthier explains how to do an Under The Leg set on a Nail Delay. This trick starts with a center nail delay. You then put the disc under your leg and push (set) it up into the air, and then regain control in a center nail delay.

Matt aptly points out that one of the key skills of freestyle frisbee is to move your body around the disc rather than forcing the disc to go to one place or another. If you watch, you’ll see that Matt keeps the disc mostly in the same line perpendicular to the ground. As he holds it, he moves his leg over and then sets the disc up into the air.

How to Throw with Spin – Backhand

Jake Gauthier demonstrates how to throw a frisbee with lots of spin.

In Freestyle Frisbee, one of the main tricks is to spin the frisbee on your fingernail. So, you want to throw with as much spin as you can so you or your partner can do as many tricks as possible.

This particular throw is a backhand, which is one of the most common frisbee throws. So, starting with a regular back hand, you would grip the disc extra tight, then wind your arm behind your leg. Finally, unwind to throw. As you release, pull back your arm towards your leg. It’s a little like snapping a towel.

Then Rim Shoot, by Ryan Young

Ryan Young explains how he does a rim shoot. A rim shoot is a nail delay trick where the disc is set from your nail up into the wind on an angle. One use for the rim shoot is to move into a trick catch. This is because the rim shoot place the disc on an ideal catch angle. A rim shoot can also lead to other nail delay or air brush tricks or can be a pass to a partner.

To perform a rim shoot, first get the disc on a center nail delay. Then, bring your nail towards your body so the disc will tip with the nose towards you. You are now on a rim delay. Now, push gently around the rim so the nose is away from you. As you push, slowly accelerate your speed and nail pressure. When the nose is away from you, push the disc off your nail, propelling it up and into the wind.

At this point the disc will float up and away. As the wind blows and as gravity pulls the disc down, it will float back towards you. Now, make a trick catch or other freestyle frisbee trick.

Nuances of Spinning a Frisbee on Your Finger Nail


In this video I talk about the basics of a flat nail delay and a rim delay.

In Freestyle Frisbee, a Delay is when the Frisbee is kept spinning on one’s finger nail. This can be done either in the center of the Frisbee on in the rim of the Frisbee.

Most people want to learn the Center Delay immediately. However, it can take many hours of practice to get it down.

The way I learned was by starting with the Rim Delay. This kept me from getting frustrated by not mastering the Center Delay right away. I learned to pass the disc under my legs and behind my back, all with a rim delay.

Over time, I began to understand how the disc progressed naturally in a circle and how to control it better. And then, one day I could keep it in the center.

So, don’t overlook the rim delay as you’re learning new tricks.