New Guy, Got Some ???'s

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 27 Mar 2006 20:51

ok i need some help here guys. i played with "hacky sacks" off and on through elementary, jr. high and high school. we would just get a bunch of guys in a circle and try to keep the bag off the ground as long as possible. well now i have found out about freestyle footbag i am HOOKED. i have been practicing and watching videos for over a week know, i even bought the Tricks of the Trade dvd to gain some knowledge. i am having one big problem that i can't figure out....

when you play in a circle with other people you basically "kick" the footbag off of your feet and it is a very sudden movement, but when i watch all the videos, it seems as though it isn't a sudden impact with the foot that keeps the bag going, but a sort of smooth stall then a push with the foot to get the bag back up. this is where i am having problems... am i supposed to basically do the stall and push for freestyle? is it two different types of style or what? it is really bugging me because i really don't know anyone that does freestyle to learn from, just a bunch of guys that kick the bag around.

ANY help would be greatly appreciated... i WILL get this down, i am DETERMINED...

THANKS...

sen · Post by **sen** » 27 Mar 2006 21:26

Ya, most commonly used freestyle tricks start and end with stalls (or Delays). Sounds like you have a good background in kicking so my first suggestion would be to learn to toe stall in your sleep ON BOTH SIDES. Then start working toward other tricks.

andr00 · Post by **andr00** » 27 Mar 2006 21:28

both sides FOR SURE. also, if you can do the inside kick you can do the inside stall.

when stalling (delay) just remember to lean your support foot into the delay, it helps you get the gentle catch of the bag

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 28 Mar 2006 06:18

in the Tricks of the Trade dvd, he does the sudden kick motion (that you see in "hacky sack" circles) when he is showing the tricks... he delays for the stall ones though.... every other video i have watched is basically all delays/stalls... is there a reason?

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 28 Mar 2006 06:19

andr00 wrote: when stalling (delay) just remember to lean your support foot into the delay, it helps you get the gentle catch of the bag

what do you mean by lean my support foot into the delay?

JoFa · Post by **JoFa** » 28 Mar 2006 08:46

It means that instead of just moving the delaying foot up and down, bend the support leg (the leg standing you up) down and lean down and up with the delay for added smoothness and consistency.

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 28 Mar 2006 09:10

thanks guys, keep the tips coming! i really appreciate it...

so how did you devolop from the sudden kicking of the bag to the smooth delay style of freestyle... it seems almost impossible to do it... i have been trying... the stall part is pretty easy for me, it is the "upwards push" to send the bag back in the air that i can't grasp... i can do pretty good just kicking the bag around but it seems to me that is not really part of freestyle.

Larson · Post by **Larson** » 28 Mar 2006 09:59

What ever you do, don't get discouraged by the insane shred footage you see on the internet. Take your time; the bag dosn't have to leave your foot right when you catch it. After catching it make sure to find your balance. Stick with it.

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 28 Mar 2006 10:53

sen wrote: freestyle tricks START and END with stalls (or Delays).

so is this the basic rule of freestyle footbag? is this the key?

Larson · Post by **Larson** » 28 Mar 2006 11:15

Yes it is.

Larson · Post by **Larson** » 28 Mar 2006 11:16

The real key is to have fun though.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 28 Mar 2006 12:03

To stall the bag, lower your knee while keeping your toes pointed up. Your leg needs to cushion the bag as if you were trying to catch a waterbaloon with your hands. You wouldn't meet it halfway and let it pop on you, you would gradually slow down it's momentum to ensure that it was fully cushioned. Same principle applies here with footbag. Your knees allow you to lower your foot as the bag is falling so that the bag does not just hit your shoe and bounce off.

To get the bag off of your foot, I recommend lifting your knee straight up, as if you were going to knee someone in the nuts. As long as your toes stay pointed up, the bag should be released straight up into the air. The amount of airtime the bag gets depends on the force with which you can move your knee upward.

mc · Post by mc » 28 Mar 2006 13:22

hey, welcome to modified and footbag

I don't personally agree that it's a rule of freestyle to start and end moves on delays, but delays sure are a lot more common that kick sets and kick finishes on freestyle moves. I think the real rule of footbag is to show control and style with the footbag.

Work on your basics, and as you become stronger with those, harder things will come naturally. Once again, welcome, footbag is an exciting, fun world.

janis · Post by **janis** » 28 Mar 2006 15:39

Welcome to modified!

Delays or stalls are far more common than kick finishes as it is generally harder to controll a kick. Check out Anz's trick tutorials, they are a great resource http://modified.in/footbag/viewtopic.php?t=11019

have fun shredding

Zeb Jackson · Post by **Zeb Jackson** » 29 Mar 2006 21:05

http://modified.in/footbag/viewtopic.php?t=10252

look there there is a ton of information you can use!

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 12 Apr 2006 19:13

FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!! ok this is really getting to me.... like i said earlier kicks are no problem, toe stalls are no problem... but when it comes to doing consecutive right to left toe stalls with a good rythym back and forth, it is near IMPOSSIBLE for me!!!! i can only try it so much before i feel like throwing my footbag at a wall and stomping it until it DIES!!

sorry i needed to vent

HELP!!!

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 12 Apr 2006 21:08

ok i think i finally figured it out "sort of"

... it still looks awfull and feels unatural, but i am getting a little rythym to it...

it is going to be a long process learning this thing they call footbag freestyle

it is so much easier (and less tiring) just kicking the bag around lol...

brinard · Post by **brinard** » 12 Apr 2006 21:38

are you jamming to music when playing? that helped me get a rythm(sp) when i first started. now i dont need it. but its always nice to have a beat to kick to....

mc · Post by mc » 13 Apr 2006 00:11

learn "toe stall > hand catch >" repeat, and do it with both sides (and both hands, if you feel like it). This will help you gain control of a consistent toe stall. once you can do the same consistent toe stall with both feet, you will have a better time going back to back. Good luck, you can do it. If you don't have the shoes people recommend yet, get them, they help big time. See bags and equipment.

Drew360 · Post by **Drew360** » 13 Apr 2006 09:16

i always have music on when i am practicing... i can do toe delays no problem, i can also do consecutive left to right toe delays, but they aren't smooth and look very unatural/robot like... i am trying to get the rythym and smoothness like the guy in tricks of the trade... i just keep watching the toe stall part over and over and over and over....... trying to catch on... it is very frustating because a toe stall/delay is supposed to be the easiest BASIC move and i am having so much trouble with them... it makes me think i will never be able to learn any thing else....

here is a picture of the shoes i am wearing: