Jumping at the Shot/Stone

[DavinportESQ]

I have a serious problem. I am a premature Reverser.:D I ineffect "jump" at the ball at the finish of my throw. I have what I would call a very good No reverse stand. Even in my standing throw work with a Reverse I get a substantial improvement (roughly a meter). But When I go to a Full throw I have a problem of jumping at it and I feel no stretch, sling, or power. I think I have a highly untapped resource in my legs because I have never really felt a natural reverse. I have to force it. I have a lot of problem really feeling the staying over the left and driving into so hard that I am forced into reverse. Several things happen I fall away and loose feet upon feet off my full throw. What would be some suggestions from some people on the board. Thanks in advance!

[Bert Sorin]

Bunny Fuzz...we could use you on this one....:)

[Nick Garcia]

I think possibly your problem is coming out of the back. My goal out of the back is to land as close to my "stand throw" power position as possible. When I go to fast out of the back or am off balance it throws my whole throw off. Which includes falling away from the throw, feeling no sling/stretch, etc. I go from getting 12 feet off my stand-full ratio to getting 5-6. My recomendation is to look at your entry. Observe your speed, balance(especially shoulder position relative to the ground), and the rotation with your left foot (if your a right handed thrower). If your left foot is overrotating out of the back then this can cause your problem too. I have all of these occasionally. Especially when I am tired. I then slow down everything and work on hitting my positions/rhythm. Its all about setting up the throw. If you set it up wrong then the finish will be wrong. Hope I helped a little.

Nick Garcia
nick_g_garcia@hotmail.com

[DavinportESQ]

Thanks! It just echo's what my coach already tells me about really selling out to loading the left and taking the right out wide. If you ever saw me throw you would see everything you just talked about. Too faster, overrotating and opening the shoulders.. Any ideas on how to fix them?

[Sqeezemasterflash]

I'm no master of the spin, but I've had luck in the glide taking a few easy stands, then gliding to the power postion, stopping, and taking a stand. If it doesn't go as far as a regular stand, there's a problem. Maybe you could apply this to the spin.

[Bunnyfuzz]

It may be that your problem of premature reversing is caused by premature throwing.If you are jumping at the time you say and do not feel you are getting the action from your legs that you think you should have then you are rushing your throw.Your shot or stone is coming through to the front at the same time as your hips.Which means no separation!From the center of the ring to the front most of your weight needs to transfer to your front foot while keeping the upper body back in a torqued position.Throw off of your front foot and push off of your back foot.Don't throw and feel that your weight is evenly distributed on both feet.You have to be heavy on the front.While still trying to keep your upper body back let your hips come through to the landing area and once that happens then it is time to let the upper body come through with the implement.The longer the time between when the hip squares up at the front and the release takes place (separation) the farther the throw.This is when many people jump during the throw.If your are right handed try to feel like the shot is coming off of your right hip.After this is when many throwers feel that natural reverse.In normal speed this may be hard to see.If you are watching tape slow it way down to check out some of the top throwers.One thing that may help is to practice with a standing throw.Keep the upper body back and torqued as you rotate your hips to the front without throwing.

[DavinportESQ]

That is something really interesting and something I have never heard. Do you have any drills to help this beyond the stand? What are your thoughts about the right leg out of the back, and slowing down the start?

[Roger Crazy Wolf]

Throw off of your front foot and push off of your back foot.Don't throw and feel that your weight is evenly distributed on both feet.You have to be heavy on the front.


The way you describe this motion you have me thinking of the take off of a long jumper.

[Bunnyfuzz]

Let's start with the right leg action out of the back.Example is for a right handed thrower.Make sure that you start the motion by leading with the left side.Keep the left arm,knee and foot all lined up.Don't kick or drive the right foot/leg from the start.The motion of the right foot should be like you are skating and continue up until your heel is about knee level.Don't pick up the knee.This happens while you are rotating to the front.Don't kick but swing your right leg wide and very hard to the front.Your leg should be so wide that your right foot should be traveling outside of the ring until a little past the south african position when you drive to the front.
I believe that your speed out of the back depends on your experience how athletic that you are.We are not trying to create the same type of drag that you do in the discus.So you need to be a bit more aggressive in the shot but not at the expense of being off balance or out of control.
As most of you know it's not just spin and let go of it.When you are in control of your body you can make the adjustments and hit the positions that you need. That is when the big marks will come.Take our buddy Bert Sorin. He always impresses me when we throw together.Any change that I ask him to make or hit a certain position he can do it.He is such a super athlete and has such body control that he can adjust very quickly.
To see some good examples go to youtube and check out Randy Barnes world record series.Bombs Away!