Throwing Only - looking for comments re "follow through"

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looking for comments re "follow through"

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Forum Name: Throwing Only
Forum Discription: This forum is only for discussions that relate to throwing such as results, technique, and records.
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Printed Date: 3/26/26 at 3:41pm
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Topic: looking for comments re "follow through"

Posted By: Alan H
Subject: looking for comments re "follow through"
Date Posted: 5/30/08 at 10:55am

I'm a former high school and 2 years college discus thrower so my "head" when it comes to the weights for distance is all about rotation, foot drills and having long arms.

OK, so take a look here... This is Mac Wilkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAXGFf5wkww - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAXGFf5wkww

those throws are just things of beauty...

also this, and focus on the view from the top showing the throwers spin..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcu6zfh_YjU - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcu6zfh_YjU

Here's US Olympian John Powell, (and my occasional coach back in the late 80's when I was throwing discus)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0xT3HxST44 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0xT3HxST44

Now, yeah....a discus doesn't weigh very much, compared to a 28 lb weight, and yes, that nice smooth concrete discus ring, and those nice throwing shoes don't rip every ligament in your knee clean off the bone like cleats on grass will do...

BUT...

I want to focus on the finish of the throw, here. Mac and all top discus throwers develop so much torque that their bodies continue rotating long after the release. But most of us (me included) go for "power position"...which is basically chest up, head up, weight on forward foot and driving off the back leg....then release and..

*stop*. Sort of.

There's got to be a reason, I just don't know what it is. Why not throw THOUGH the release instead of up TO the release?

At least, that's what it LOOKS like "we"....meaning mostly me....are doing.

Second question... the 28 pound weight for distance is also an event contested in Indoor Track. I had no idea until just a few weeks ago.

check this out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC8Is833YSw - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC8Is833YSw

%20http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL735idX0HU&feature=relat%20ed - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL735idX0HU&feature=relat ed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVXewIsnzLo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVXewIsnzLo

Now he's holding on to the weight with two hands, I understand that's a no-no. And I for hella sure wouldn't want to try that in cleats on grass, but why is it that you Pros guys don't do this technique, say with holding the weight with one hand, and gripping your wrist with the other?

Just curious.

Replies:

Posted By: Alan H
Date Posted: 5/30/08 at 11:10am

correction, the indoor track event is 35 pound weight, not 28.

Posted By: david barron
Date Posted: 5/30/08 at 11:29am

Answer to the second question: it doesn't work well. You lose too much in radius by using two hands, and you can't get a good grip that way. Harrison Bailey actually threw the 35# weight around 70' (= very very far) with one hand, technically illegal.

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Average joe

Posted By: Alan H
Date Posted: 5/30/08 at 11:51am

Thanks, David...Thanks a good explanation!

I'd like to emphasize that I'm asking these questions 'cause I really don't know. I hope I'm not coming off as the snotty newbie.

Posted By: agm_
Date Posted: 5/30/08 at 12:29pm

To answer your first question, take another look at the
indoor weight throw videos you posted. You're not seeing
the same kind of rotation after the release that you're
looking for - even after three or four turns.

With a light implement like a discus, you're going for
maximum torque, and dragging the discus way behind you
to set up for a huge pull. With the weights - either the
28/56 in the highland games, or the hammer/indoor 35 in
track and field - you're trying to push the implement,
not drag it.

Posted By: Alan H
Date Posted: 5/30/08 at 12:52pm

That's a good point, agm_, thanks. You're right, the hammer/track-weight guys aren't coming around with the big pull/snap at the end that the discus throwers are doing, and the "follow through" after the release is much smaller.

I'm gonna have to think on that.

Posted By: JWC III
Date Posted: 6/12/08 at 8:45am

A couple of things that this thread made me think about:

1. Throwing on grass vs. concrete. I was at a games one time and were were set to throw on grass, but there was an absolute flood (really, half the field was still underwater). So we threw the 28 off a concrete pad (didn't do the 56). I threw a PR by about 3 ft. I've never thrown off concrete before or since, would it really be that much better (I figured, but what's the difference).

2. Two hands. I remember one time we had a strongman contest and I always like to try and throw some HG flavor into my strongman contests. I thought we could do the WOB but to make if different, we'd do it with two hands. I figured our throws would be way up....nope....not really. I've also bought a 35lb indoor weight and messed with it, really surprised how one handed is so much easier and better, at least for me.

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Thom Van Vleck