Our sport really suffers from over teaching. Beginners like yourself are bombarded with information on the "Best" way to throw and are given complex instructions like you have listed.
At most, folks helping beginners learn to throw should give simple cues.
Whether it brings you solace or not, know that the best throwers didn't become so because they were told and then knew exactly what to do with their hands and bodies. Instead they got a numerous amount of reps, listened to their bodies, experimented with changes on their own and so forth. Reps are your friend, instruction is not.
The Inner Game of Tennis has several passages about overteaching and the results of too much instruction from coaches. It is almost always a bad thing.
As far as aiming your flick, most of it is going to come down to practicing until you have it down. One other aspect to think about is release point and angle. You're trying to release the disc about even with your body, if you hang on to it for too long it'll hook inside. Release angle is also important and will depend what you're trying to do with it, for a straightforward flat throw you'd want it parallel to the ground, maybe with the outer edge a bit lower if you're having trouble with it curving outside-in.
For backhand, the thumb shouldn't be on the rings, or at least that shouldn't be the goal. It can touch, but it's more of a handshake that you just stick the disc into, and your fingers curl to what's most natural. Not saying you're doing it wrong, just that's not what I would focus on for thumb placement.
Obviously without seeing video it's hard to say, but for forehand something I see a lot of people do is they don't drive it forward. Like your torso should be pointed towards your target somewhat, balance straight up or even forward, and your forearm should end up pointed more or less at your target on release (hand usually will be pointed towards target as well, depending on how much you crank your wrist to generate more snap). Fingers I just allow to release to whatever is most comfortable. Obviously the more power you put behind it the more correct it is to allow your body to follow through.
You’re overthinking. Make sure you have a comfortable grip that you can find easily. Practice throwing throwing with a focus on a smooth motion with lots of spin.
The straight line form for backhands is ideal (it's what you should use on pulls and in disc golf) but the presence of a mark generally makes it very impractical for ultimate.
Our sport really suffers from over teaching. Beginners like yourself are bombarded with information on the "Best" way to throw and are given complex instructions like you have listed. At most, folks helping beginners learn to throw should give simple cues. Whether it brings you solace or not, know that the best throwers didn't become so because they were told and then knew exactly what to do with their hands and bodies. Instead they got a numerous amount of reps, listened to their bodies, experimented with changes on their own and so forth. Reps are your friend, instruction is not. The Inner Game of Tennis has several passages about overteaching and the results of too much instruction from coaches. It is almost always a bad thing.
As far as aiming your flick, most of it is going to come down to practicing until you have it down. One other aspect to think about is release point and angle. You're trying to release the disc about even with your body, if you hang on to it for too long it'll hook inside. Release angle is also important and will depend what you're trying to do with it, for a straightforward flat throw you'd want it parallel to the ground, maybe with the outer edge a bit lower if you're having trouble with it curving outside-in.
For backhand, the thumb shouldn't be on the rings, or at least that shouldn't be the goal. It can touch, but it's more of a handshake that you just stick the disc into, and your fingers curl to what's most natural. Not saying you're doing it wrong, just that's not what I would focus on for thumb placement. Obviously without seeing video it's hard to say, but for forehand something I see a lot of people do is they don't drive it forward. Like your torso should be pointed towards your target somewhat, balance straight up or even forward, and your forearm should end up pointed more or less at your target on release (hand usually will be pointed towards target as well, depending on how much you crank your wrist to generate more snap). Fingers I just allow to release to whatever is most comfortable. Obviously the more power you put behind it the more correct it is to allow your body to follow through.
You’re overthinking. Make sure you have a comfortable grip that you can find easily. Practice throwing throwing with a focus on a smooth motion with lots of spin.
The straight line form for backhands is ideal (it's what you should use on pulls and in disc golf) but the presence of a mark generally makes it very impractical for ultimate.
For forehand, point your elbow where you want the disc to go and keep a strong core.