Horizontal Stack: Horizontal Stack Cutting Shapes by Dylan Freechild and Jimmy Mickle

Loopa: A Horizontal Stack cut that is timed for an earlier departure than normal. This cut engages the defender by cutting out or under and finishes by cutting back in the opposite direction from which it was started. Normally this cut is made from the sideline cutter once the disc has swung onto their side of the field. Any other cutter can make this cut, as well, whenever they find themselves in the space that is in front of where the disc is travelling. The loopa cut is shown here as a out-and-under (Away to Open Under / Away to Break Under) but is also a viable under-and-out cut (Open to Away / Break Under to Away).

If the cut is not thrown to it needs to turn into a clear cut across the field. For this reason, the out-and-under is a better option because then your defender can’t poach deep. Remember this cut is a live cut but it is meant to clear space for a new cutter. If the cut doesn’t come early enough, the cutter still needs to clear the space in front of the disc to create open attacking space. In other words, the loopa cut is classified as a clearing or secondary cut.

Fig. 1: Loopa cuts

Sanchez: This cut involves two players usually and that is what makes it different from the loopa. Also known as Peppermills, it is run from the center 2/3s of the field as opposed to the sideline. It is a combination of an under and across, L-shaped cut (Open to Break Lateral) combined with an out-and-under, V-shaped cut (Away to Open Under). The L-cut is made by the cutter on the open side of the space in front of the disc and the breakside cutter of the pair makes the V-cut. All cuts, under/inside/deep, are viable. Sanchez cuts are also clearing/secondary cuts; when performed in this way, they closely resemble Triangle Cutting.

Fig. 2: Sanchez cuts

Base Cut: The base cut is the scoring cut mentioned above, aka Up & Under. It is also known as a “one-footed” cut. This cut is used once the space in front of the disc is cleared and cutters are on the same side of the field. This cut is like the one-footed cut described in handler cutting. You attack your defender and drive them into the attacking space. The keys here are closing any cushion they are giving you and forcing them onto their heels and making them pick a direction they want to drop their hip and turn. Once they make that choice you cut off on foot and take that direction. No chop steps, no juke moves. This is the easiest way to get open. If they maintain body position between you and the attacking space you cut back to the center of the field, a near impossible spot for them to get to if they just played good enough defense to hold you from getting to the attacking space. This cut can turn into a loop cut (Away to Open Under / Away to Break Under / Open to Away / Break Under to Away out-and-under/under-and-out) if the defender makes a good read and gets a jump on your base cut. This cut should take a while to develop and should be given time to develop by the other cutters. These are isolation cuts.

Fig. 3: Base cuts