Why do most Pro's throw with the modified South African style and the Olympic shot putters use the backward 7 method? I thought Oldfield set the stone record with the Backward 7 method yet few if any Pro's use it.

Thanks

Bill Gray 

Full spin is more technical and increases odds of issues with footing.  And, remember, you gotta train for several other events.  So, a simpler technique means less time lost from the others.

And, the square trig makes the MSA easier than the round TF thrower's circle.

my .02

I don’t agree that the MSA has an advantage in HG.  I attempted the MSA the first few games and was not comfortable.  I had to stagger my feet to get the proper drive off my left leg. Since you can’t step behind the back line, I had to move my left foot forward in the box about 1 foot. That took away any of the “advantage” I had with the longer approach.  When I throw the full spin, my left foot is in the back corner of the box, so I get to use the full area of the box when I start my drive.  I think the HG stone has an advantage over T&F shot put. There is a lil bit more room since it  is 7foot all the way across(instead of just down the center of the shot put ring) and you are allowed to “foul” or finish with 1 foot out of the box, which allows you to focus more on the throw then fouling.  IMHO, it is not the MSA or the full spin that makes the difference; it’s the knowledge of the technique.  For throwers who aren’t experienced shot/stone throwers, they see the spin as just that, a “spin”. There is a lot more linear movement to the “spin” than what first appears.

This is all my opinion of course, I didn’t give the MSA much of a chance since I adapted to the full spin quickly and was more comfortable with it.  

After seeing Krazy 40 the last two years and changing to  the full spin I would say he might have a point... if you call 54+ feet a point

As much as I hate too I will agree with Spencer.  If had not been a spinner for ten years before starting the games I would probably glide becasue of the ease of movement and the stones. 

What I mean there is given the different types of terrain doing a full spin is almost imopossible sometimes a glide might be more easy to get in.  Also with some of the stones spinning is a nightmare becacuse of positioning, they are too big or lopsided to put on your neck to spin.  With a glide you can tuck them under your chin a lot further and it will help as you move through the trig.  

I do the full spin and probably always will but the one thing I can say for sure is that its not very consistent, and if you are a guy who can not handle dips in your numbers on occasion,  don't try it.

Styler wrote: I have also been a thrower since I can remember and I had to make a pretty major modification to my full spin. in the back of the ring I open my left foot (turn it 90 deg). This forces me to initiate the first turn with my right leg. In shot and disc, the right leg should be the motor of the entire throw. Many people who are new to the spin tend to lean in to the turn with their left shoulder... Bad stuff. This may not sound like much of a mod, but it has made a world of difference in positioning and separation. But remember, many of the worlds best shot putter are gliders. Hell, that's how I threw my first two years of college.

I keep my left open too ever since you told me that in the weightroom last year it makes spinning on grass alot easier and you can get a big push off the back

A couple of points to be made:

1) Field and Track you get 6 attempts.  Highland Games 3

2) Surface conditions vary as well as size-weight and dimensions of stones.

3) When Ken Lowther entered the games we broke these factors all down and went with the more CONSISTENT glide technique.

Food for thought....maybe a crumb ?

p.s. This is from a full-spin former + 50' spinner and Canadien Record holders Open Stone