The Mark: How to Break One and How to Hold One

My mark has changed drastically over time. Right now, the type of mark I have is an adaptive mark. That is to say, I adapt to the type of thrower. In order for me to have an effective mark, I need to find out everything I can about my thrower as quickly as possible. Over the years of carefully studying different types of break throwing styles, I have found that there are a couple different styles the most people use to break the mark. I have listed each one below with a short description of how that method works and what I try to do to keep my mark vs that type of break.

The Big Step Out
This is the most common type of break throw that I have come across in college ultimate. It is usually used by taller players, but some players of a shorter stature can use this effectively provided they have hips like a velociraptor. The big advantage to this type of break throw is that the mark will have to move farther than normal in order to cover the break throw. Instead of moving one step over like the mark might normally have to, he will have to make a step in a half over or maybe even two steps over. This is usually pretty effective for the first couple throws against an unfamiliar mark. But after a couple throws, an experienced mark should be able to start being able to compensate for the extra distance he must cover.

The disadvantage to this type of break throw is how slow it is. It takes time to pivot all the way out there and it takes even longer to pivot to the other side. If you need to break the mark in a short amount of time, this isn't always the best option. If you're first throw is cut off, you may not have time for the second pivot.

Quick Release
I find this type of break mark is most common amongst shorter handlers, but I will see the occasional taller thrower also use this method. This type of break throw is really good for catching the marker unawares. I find that usually the throwers that utilize this break throw, will only have a quick release throw for one type of throw. So only his flick or only his backhand will be a quick release. This type of break throw is great against zone because it can catch the entire cup off guard. These types of throwers can throw through the center of the cup more easily than most.

The disadvantage to this type of break throw is, like I said earlier, that usually the thrower will only be able to effectively break the mark with one type of throw. Meaning that a good mark can shade slightly towards that side to compensate for the quick release.

Effective Fakes
There are plenty of college guys who rarely will throw an effective fake. These guys will have their arm go through the motion, but because the rest of their body is not selling the fake, it's easy to see that it's just a pump fake. Throwers who effectively fake though, are able to get the mark to shift his weight onto one foot and then break him going the other way. The advantages of breaking the mark using effective fakes, are that the throw is usually pretty quick and it can take quite a while for the mark to figure out which throws are pump fakes and which throws are real.

Like the big step out, this type of break mark can be slow. There are some who can throw effective pump fakes in at a very quick rate and still get the throw off, but nevertheless throwing a fake will shorten that time you have for an open throw. Lastly, I find that even the most effective fakes, will have signs pointing them out to be pump fakes. Sometimes the release point is a little bit lower, sometimes it's just the look in the thrower's eyes or perhaps he always throws a fake right before he throws. Once the mark can figure out these tendencies it can become very difficult for the thrower to break the mark.

Throwing Through the Mark
This is, in my opinion, the most difficult type of break throw to mark up against. There are a couple really good throwers out there (Gabe Saunkeah and Mark Sherwood to name a couple) who use this type of break mark very effectively. What these throwers do, is they throw a backhand (I find that it's always a backhand) and try to induce a foul when they throw. Thus they will always be able to call a foul when they throw. This is a huge advantage. This means that these throwers can often get free throws at will. If it's incomplete, the thrower gets another attempt. If the marker backs up, it just weakens his mark and gives bigger lanes for the thrower.

The only disadvantage to this type of break mark that I have encountered, is that it can create a strained relationship between the thrower and marker. Tempers flare when this guy keeps on calling fouls on you, fouls that you feel he's inducing.


Obviously, it would be best if you were able to break the mark in more than one way. If you could break the mark by stepping out or with a quick release then the mark would have that much more to worry about. After all, how is a mark going to adapt to an ever changing thrower?