I was out working on my weakest event tonight - weight for height!

Let me just say - I HATE WEIGHT FOR HEIGHT!

  Derk, for me it happens to be "Strawberry Shortcake", Jeremy wears the pony.  Hope to see you at Alma in a few weeks.

Wayne, does this sound like your workout?  Throw the 56 a few times than switch to the 42 for a few tosses.

 Thanks, Dave

good advice about ams using the 42 for form and explosiveness.

when i got my first standards from ancientrogers, i didn't have anything but a 28 to practice the wob with..so i flung that thing about three hundred times, working up to about 22feet as i remember..

this was before my arm fell off

however, i think it taught me to elevate, lengthen everything and really helped make the wob my favorite event

i used to go into the last event of the games knowing i could pull a big one..it was a psycho advantage and a good one for any athlete to have in his bag.

Hey-

Glad to see the OldPlaid is still with us. How goes it? Still have the psycho advantage?

-CelticKevin

Tried a new technique tonight. After my warm up swings, I brought the weight farther up between my legs to my butt, let it drop then did the big pull. I had trouble with 10 feet in the past, but I blew by 12 feet with this move. AWESOME. Now that I get it, I LOVE THE WFH!!

Now if I can just do that in competition after a full game.

 what is a common length for wfh equipment ?

you should practice with and become familiar with all different kinds of wfhs. different lengths and shapes throw differently and this sport is so delightfully quirky, you can never predict what instrument you will be dealing with.

at the nationals in pleasanton a couple years ago, i wanted to take a shot at the WR in the wfh. in front of 30,000 people, i figured i had some proper motivation. i had cleared 15 to win and called for 17-1, which i think would still be a WR in the 55 group.

unfortunately, the weight we were using, a nice standard Bobby Dodd, had cracked the ring on, i believe it was kit soneson's, last throw and they substitued a 42 i had never laid eyes on.

this new weight was hexagonal, had a huge fat ring on it, and absolutely no whip in it. definitely not a flyer. it felt horrible in my hand.

i did actually hit the bar on one attempt, but no soap, crowd psyche or no crowd psyche. so, lesson learned there.

good luck with all your efforts.

it's fun to remember, but i assure you its more fun to throw.

old plaid wrote: you should practice with and become familiar with all different kinds of wfhs. different lengths and shapes throw differently and this sport is so delightfully quirky, you can never predict what instrument you will be dealing with.

This is such an important point that I was tempted to mention it in my earlier post, but didn't want to bore everyone with yet more of my drivel.

There's one implement I can remember with sheer anxiety from the Capitol District Games last year.  It was a 56 that was basically a ball, but with a great raised flange all the way around at the worst possible place, the largest diameter of the ball.  The flange stuck out so far it felt like you couldn't possible swing it without hitting the ground.  I doubt even Steve Santoli liked that one.

There's nothing you can do about a really horrid implement like that, but the key message is to vary what you can.  I don't know if I'd recommend always practicing with a large diameter implement, because your best form will be with a small diameter ball, but you should definitely try a large diameter implement if you can (e.g., made from 10-lb plates stacked on a piece of pipe).  Practice with an extra link in the chain, or shortened up as much as possible.

In fact, to practice with a super-short implement, I made up a special handle.  It's a modified triangle (curved at the top), and looks pretty normal otherwise, except that the triangle isn't closed on one side.  This lets you slip it directly onto the eye of the weight.

-Wayne

The wfh has never been a fav for mine but I'm starting to get better I think....I really couldn't do more then 8 feet on any given sunday..but I really pushed myself to try for 9 and pray for 10 well I got 9 in last game and it looks like I just gotta pray harder next time for 10....the way you stand I think is the biggest thing that some people do wrong...I call in "monkey back" if you wach them walking they have the strate back that you need soo now my wife yells at me in practice and games "monkey back".but I don't know I'm still leaning...good luck with your next games guys....BIG PULL

-Tim

Tim do you mean how you cock your shoulders back loading them for the quick drive up ??  I notice when I do Oly lifts I load my shoulders but when throwing let my shoulders almost roll over to get more length from my arm>?  the best part is I do not know if either help???

Thanks Tim.

When you are going to do, let's say, a snatch whether from a hang or full you want to have your shoulder out in front of the bar.  So if someone were watching you from the side it would look like the bar is close to your legs whereas your shoulders would be about 6 inches in front of the bar (give or take a few). 

This is obviously exagerated even more in the WOB.  Another way to explain it would be to say that instead of bending your knees as the weight swings back keep them stiff (stiff...not staight or locked) so as to get more of a stretch reflex.  Just as the weight gets as far back as it will go then bend the knees to help execute the pull.

This may not make sense again, I'm sorry.  It's a hell of a lot easier to show it.  Maybe someone else can help explain it.

Tim,

I think I understand what you are talking about. But one thing, do you change the arc of the weight from the slow arc of you few short swings. Or do you try to straighten out the line from the ground to the bar.

Now I am not makeing any sense either.

Terry Lawson

BigdogEMT wrote: Tim, I think I understand what you are talking about. But one thing, do you change the arc of the weight from the slow arc of you few short swings. Or do you try to straighten out the line from the ground to the bar.

Terry-

I guess I never really thought of it.  When Sean first showed me how to do it he stressed the form and the timing but we never really talked about the "arc" per say.  I think if you get the first to down and get a solid finish (See DWoods post) then the arc will take care of itself.

-Tim

Is this the "C" that you are talking about?

Terry Lawson