Establish who will be handling and cutting in what positions (1-4), then establish which middle cutter (2 or 3) will be cutting FIRST.
Disc is pulled. For this example the starting positions 1,2,3, and 4 also correspond to the player number int eh diagram.
Cut begins from the middle position that will be cutting (Player 2 in this example). Player 2 is making a hard in cut towards the opposite sideline (Crossing over). Player 3 is setting up their in cut by taking a few HARD steps deep, and getting ready to cut across through the middle, just like player 2 did. Meanwhile, the 1 and 4 position (also players 1 and 4) are beginning to set up their deep cuts by driving their defenders deep.
Player 2 did not get the disc. So now Pler 2's job becomes GET OUT OF THE WAY. Why? Because the other players are about to make their cuts to that open space in the center of the field. How does Player 2 get out of the way? Player 2 clears to the sideline, and gets ready to fill in Player 4's original position. Meanwhile, Player 3 is making an in cut after timing it so that Player 2 will be out of the way. Player 3 is doing the same exact cut, but towards the OTHER SIDE of the field. This is how we prevent getting bunched up. Player 1, having just set up a cut deep, gets the drop on their defender my sprinting in towards the middle. Player 1 timed it so that they will be coming into that lane right as Player 3 is clearing out. Player 4 is now setting up their cut by driving their defender deep, knowing they're about to sprint towards the disc.
Here is pretty much the completion of the cycle. Player 1 has now gone all the way from setting up a deep cut, to making an in cut towards the disc in the middle of the field. Just like the previous players, they will clear to the sideline if they don't get the disc. Player 4 has now also begun to come in, and will be there to try and get the disc as soon as 1 clears out. Players 2 and 3 are now beginning to set up their deep cuts, and repeat this process.
The flow of the figure 8 pattern continues. Try to pick one of the players and follow each step they're making throughout one cycle.
Flow continues
It continues
Here we are going to reset the players and talk about deep throws: both how and when they should happen. If you imagine the field is seperated into thirds (vertically down the middle, so Players 5,6,7 each sort of occupy their own third) then you should always be aware when the disc is about to be on the opposite third of the field you are on. Why? Because it will be your chance to cut deep for a score.
So here we have our normal in cuts from players 2 and 3 in the middle. This time though, the disc actually does get thrown to Player 2.
So now Player 2 has the disc, and therefore a few different options. The first option Player 2 is going to LOOK and LISTEN for when they catch that disc, is for the side handler (Player 7) to be calling for the disc. This is called a 'dish', and when Player 7 now has the disc, the player is now in what's called "power position". The reason it is called power position is because the disc is now on the sideline, ahead of the defenders trying to catch up, and there is a deep cut coming across the field from Player 4 that will be an easy connection with a straight huck down the sideline.
Player 4 recognizes that the disc is about to be in power position, and since Player 4 is occupying the space in the opposite third of the field that the disc is in, it is their job to cut deep. Since Player 4 was setting up their deep cut anyways for the offensive flow, instead of coming back in towards the disc with their cut they just keep going deep.
Now let's take a step back for a second. Like I said, Player 2 has a few different options when they get the disc. If that first option of dishing it to player 7 in the power position does not work, then they have to look somewhere else. Another option is for them to throw it to Player 1, who is now cutting in towards them. This is a good continuation and will happen a lot of the time. But say for example that is just not gonna happen, because the defense is putting on too much pressure. Then Player 2 will be looking for their final option.
This option incorporates swinging the disc to the other side of the field through the handlers. Player 2 will step out around their mark and swing it over to the middle handler, Player 6.
Now in ultimate generally when you get the disc the order of where you look is firstly downfield at cutters and secondly over to your dump handler. In this situation though, swinging the disc trumps that mantra. Player 6 is going to continue to swing the disc across the field over to Player 5 thereby keeping the defense on their toes.
While all this has been happening towards the handlers, the cutters have still been doing their job. They've been scanning the field and focusing on timing the next cut they're going to make. Player 7 drives into an in cut towards the disc right as it gets swung to the side that Player 7 had anticipated. With good timing, they get the disc for some easy yards upfield.
This should seem familiar. Power position. Disc is in the left third of the field. Player 1 cuts deep from the right third of the field, and it's a successful deep throw.