Re:Placement of right foot in catch position - Throwing Events Discussion

Where should the toe Idealy be pointing when it comes back down into double support in the catch position? I was taught that the toe for a right handed thrower should point somewhere between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock (if the back of the ring where you start is 12 o'clock) when it comes back down into double support in the catch position. The idea was that the sooner the catch, the longer the push. However, when I watch video of other succesful hammer/weight throwers, I notice that their toe points at 3 o'clock or slightly before around 2 o'clock, what I was taught to be a late catch. Also, there is a lot of seperation between there right hip and right shoulder when their right foot comes down. What are your thoughts?

In my opinion I don't think there is necessarily a perfect placement of the right foot for a good catch. I think it is more important to focus on the acceleration of the ball, and just let your feet come down wherever they land. My best foot positions have come on throws where I was paying no attention to my feet and just focused on the movement of the ball. Deliberately placing your feet at specific points can disrupt the flow of the throw by taking the ball out of its natural orbit. However, if you have a smooth acceleration throughout the throw, your feet should just land in a good position on their own. Hope this helps...

Kevin

First off, I think this is a great question to post. Thanks. There are several schools of thought on this subject, however the direction of foot seems to be secondary to the purpose of it. Most coaches will advocate an early right foot touch down (catch). This helps to minimize the time spent in single support, in turn, maxmizing double support and the right foot drive phase. As for direction, Yuriy Sedykh said he liked to attempt to have his right foot land closed (facing the back of the circle) because it helped him get around quickly. Many coaches, including myself, teach a 9 o'clock (270 deg) touchdown. Jud Logan, at the recent NTCA conference advocated for a right heel placement, especially in the first turn. To follow up on Coach Becker's response, I say "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it."

My two cents would be the specific direction of the right foot would be athlete specific. As a coach, I always like to start, and often revert back to "the basics" and allow for athlete specific variations from there. So start with a 9 o'clock (270) touch down as guide, and make minor adjustments as needed.