Overhead style(winding up)

don't know what its called but some athletes have used it for the lwfd(HBIII,Hamelin,Josee Mornue,Mindy P,Zuesman) what are the benefits and drawbacks-most of these athletes I think come form a track and field background...I remember harrison at Maine saying something about gaining too much spped through the box..and no I am not going to try it was just wondering-its interesting but not something I would try this late in my career

I've heard people say that, and it has that look about it, but I've tried it without any strange feelings or discomfort.  Of course, it didn't help my throws, either.

-Wayne

i used to do it, but it was tough on the shoulder...  actually, my LW pr is with that "cast-in" style.  goes back to that olympic hammer training...give me lots of time to put the "ball" in with a lot of speed without having to do much work yet with my body.  then you just sit in the "middle"  and turn your feet fast (bert sorin describes it at running downhill a little too fast...) 

i carry the ball a little more in front of me with this style (more like a olympic hammer) and it's very little strain on the body.  if you turn really fast, it works great .  i threw a 20# weight 128 feet this style with oldfield watching/coaching, so i think there might be a way to throw far like this.  but i stopped using it 'cause the rotator cuff gets too sore with repeated practice.  i think it's easier with the light weights (14)...  mindy uses it with no problem.

Go to brainoldfield.com

http://www.brianoldfield.com/videos.htm 

Under Highland Games video section, he has a weight for distance video

or right to the video

http://www.brianoldfield.com/Oldfield%20Videos/Oldfield%20we ight%20throw.wmv

Note on the bottom of the page states:  In this video, Brian is seen throwing himself to the ground after the throw.  This was an improvised reverse.  It became apparent to the judges that this style yielded an advantage and the rules were modified to prevent such a finish.

 

Edited by McSanta

that overhand release looks like it takes away from the hips? I'm guessing the angle/height/speed of release make up for it? With the stats ya'll are quoting there must be something to it that a rookie to the sport such as myself should look into though. Maybe a light wieght to save my shoulder until I feel comfortable w/ the movement.  Then again I should probably stick to basics anyhow

interesting though thanks for the thread!

Joel

steve has a good point about too much muscle...i later figured out that i needed to use a lot of "body english" to make the winds easier...more flexible/twisting of upper body during the winds...

and you gotta put it in smooth and use it to set up the first turn like steve says...the throw doesn't start until the first turn when both feet land, then you start to apply force to the ball.  with this start, the ball is already cookin' and you haven't done any work yet.

the other big key that steve points to is orbit - high and low points.  i think a lot of people start the throw with the weight's momentum swinging back and forth parallel with the trig...and then try to change the direction of the weights momentum with your right arm by throwing it into the first turn before your move (the cast in...)  my problem with this entry was that i would dip my left shoulder and crash into the turn...this let me keep my chest up and move through he throw...

In the oldfield footage it looked like his first winds were perpindicular(spelling?) to the trig or am I lost in terminology translation?

 

Joel

I wouldn't approach the wind like BIG O. He is an exception to many rules. For the mortal think more of a Olympic hammer wind.

CHatted with HB about this at his first All American in Portland..

 

Played with this in 1987 as ultimeatly the most IMPORTANT variable IN THROWING is V-E-L-O-C-I-T-Y...!

 

PRE-requisites....flexible shoulders.   GREAT kinethetics...wired for SPEED !!!  GOOD LUCK 

 p.s.HB... remember  the video session on the caber......at Portland  that pissed everyone off the next week........good stuff

Actually, there were 2:  one of them wound like crazy and then suffered the consequences of not being able to keep up with the weight (and is likely to suffer a serious shoulder injury, unless he changes his style).  Don't try this at home.

The other (Scott Dochat) did it in a way that would probably be considered "right" by our T&F brethren:  he wound nicely, without much shoulder load, to get ball speed without wasting real estate, then went with it, never getting behind the ball for the entire throw.  He's also very good at using all the available real estate in the box:  near corner start to far corner finish, and a straight line in between.  If he trains for HG (which I don't believe he does, yet), I really don't know how far he could throw it.

-Wayne