The single most important skill that beginners are not being taught: grip change

Beginners get shown what the forehand hand grip is.

But not how to efficiently change from a backhand grip to a forehand grip. Being shown how to do this skill is critical.

Here is a suggestion for teaching the change of grip.

First, teach catching. Then teach backhands. Let the beginners practice those two skills.

Then before teaching forehands, do the following:

1. Show a disc in two hands in front (neutral position)
2. Bring the disc in two hands to vertical, near the throwing shoulder. Do this using the non-throwing hand to move it into position in one single motion. The throwing hand changes from backhand grip to forehand grip. Walk past every beginner and show them where the fingers of the throwing hand go, keeping the disc vertical in two hands.
3. Bring the disc in two hands back to neutral position.
4. Give every beginner a disc, and have them practice this grip change. Check every person can do it.
5. Ask the beginners to put the discs on the ground.
6. Then, and only then, teach them to throw a forehand.

Teach this grip change

If you explicitly teach beginners the act of changing grips (not just the finishing position), they will get the disc to a better position before forehand throws, will have a better throwing action and will not be stuck with a clunky 3-step grip change for the hundreds of ultimate games they will play. 

Some coaches like having the disc upside down to demonstrate the forehand grip. It is initially helpful to beginners who need to see the finger position. I have done this. But it is a massive disadvantage if you habitually change your grip via an upside down disc during a game. 

Currently, beginners are taught 3 basic skills: catching, backhand and forehand. They need to be taught the fourth basic skill, grip change, before learning the forehand.

It is worth noting that being able to do a skill is different from knowing how you do that skill and explaining it clearly.

In ultimate, expert players don't think about how they switch grips from backhand to forehand. Even if they can do it effortlessly in front of you, or in a game.

Unfortunately, the same experienced players then teach novices, and don't explicitly teach that skill to them. So let's teach it.