timing of block during stones

? for all the shot put types- when does one initiate the left side block during
the throw- open and Braemar?? immediately when left foot comes down or
after right side has started to rotate through- pardon my ignorance as I am
still relatively new to all this throwing business

Shawn,

I apologize for not getting to this earlier. I wanted to
see how others responded and then forgot about it.

For the time being, I am not going to answer your
question directly, but provide you with a rather cryptic
response from my old coach, Bogdan Poprawski (who was/is
a top class throws coach):

"[The block] is like planting the pole in pole vault.
Before they used the metal poles, now fiberglass and now
– they jump higher. Why? Because the jumpers can use
the bent pole. Stiff one wasn’t that efficient."

This comment made me think of the series of videos of
Werner Gunthor's training, which I posted in the
"Articles" section over two years ago (there is a lot of
great stuff in there for those who are not afraid to
read...) and is still available online.

The relevant section is the first 1:30 of the second
video. The corresponding comment is translated as,
"Similar to a pole vaulter planting his pole, the shot
putter needs to put all his power into the left block.
This allows him to explode and exploit the full potential
of his power." Very similar!

http://www.nasgaweb.com/forums/forum/forum_posts.asp?
TID=7876&PN=1

Specifically: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJImRx3rpW0

I would be happy to answer any specific questions you
might have on this point.