Freestyle Frisbee How To Do a Chest Roll

A chest roll is where the frisbee rolls from one hand, down your arm, across your chest and then out onto the other arm and hand. Ideally, the disc will touch your body the entire way across. However, that level on control is hard to master, even after 20 years of playing.

To practice, face the wind. Toss the disc on a steep angle so the wind will blow it back to you. Consider which direction the disc is spinning and toss it so it is close to the hand that will propel it across your chest. That is, left hand for clockwise spin and right hand for counter clockwise spin.

Next, hit (brush) the disc to give it momentum to traverse your arm, chest, arm and other hand. This initial contact is very important because, if the disc makes it at least across your chest, it is easy to save by pulling in your far hand and doing an airbrush. However, if it doesn’t make it to your chest or hits your chest and falls, it’s nearly impossible to get the disc back in flight.

As you practice, you’ll find that you can put the disc back into the air with the far hand. This can lead you to multiple chest rolls, air brushes, or trick catches.

Matt Gauthier explains how to do an Inverted Chest Roll


Matt Gauthier explains how to do an Inverted Chest Roll.

A Chest Roll is when the frisbee rolls from one hand, down the arm, across the chest, and out the other arm and to the other hand. A Chest Roll is performed when facing the wind so that they wind will push the disc onto the chest.

An Inverted Chest Roll is performed with the back to the wind. However, the underside of the disc is still towards the wind. Bend backwards as far as possible to provide as much surface area as possible and to get the head out of the way. Then, do a chest roll.

The Chest Roll by Ryan Young


Ryan Young teaches us how to do a chest roll. A chest roll is where the frisbee rolls from one hand, down your arm, across your chest and then out onto the other arm and hand.

To practice, face the wind. Toss the disc on a steep angle so the wind will blow it back to you. Consider which direction the disc is spinning and toss it so it is close to the hand that will propel it across your chest. That is, left hand for clockwise spin and right hand for counter clockwise spin.

Next, hit the disc to give it momentum to traverse your arm, chest, arm and other hand. Try not to move your shoulders forward as the disc progresses. When the disc reaches your far hand either catch it or push upwards to propel it back in the air to try a second chest roll or other tricks.

Learn to Chest Roll – or – The Power Roll

The way I learned to roll was by first learning a power roll. I’ll explain for clock spin. First face the wind. This roll can be done in all kinds of wind, but I found it easiest to learn it in no wind. So indoors is good. Just make sure you have a high ceiling and no breakables around. It can get a little out of control. Next you need to toss the disc on a very steep angle to your left side. Then curl your left hand towards your forearm and wait with your hand down low, by your hip. As the disc comes down hit it at seven o’clock or so (this is important) with the palm of your hand. Stick your right arm straight up in the air and it will almost track itself. You might have to move your right arm forward a little bit to get it to track, but you will get the idea quick. You will need to hit it a little hard so that the direction of the disc will change from falling to travelling up your chest. As you get good at the power roll you will find that an open chest roll with no uphill travel will become easier. And if you give the open chest roll a little push with a curled wrist it will help greatly in making the disc track across your chest, because you’re giving it a direction instead of letting it roll as it will.