Re:How to improve my shotput throws. - Throwing Events Discussion

answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...0090523072729AATgh5a

Just read this, then repost here, I don't feel like typing it all over again.

Oh and I'm 5'9 175 lbs if that helps. My coach says I have trouble keeping my shoulders in back of the circle, I open them way to early, and I don't get leg into it. Help me improve!

Hey knvp12, I was in the same boat as you are. I only threw 30' my sophmore year as well. I'm 1 year out of college and I have just 55' with the 16lber. I never had a coach, so here is a list of things i did to help me improve in the shot. It takes lots of time.

1) Understand the basic pricipal behind the glide.
- The shot must be constantly acclerated throughout the throw
- The shot must travel in a srtait line
-This means the shot dosen't go up, down,and up again
-This also means the shot does not travel in a curved path
- Glide low out of the back, reach for the toeboard
-Don't hop out of the back, unseat the hips
-reach for the toeboard with a strait left leg
- Perfect the pricipal not the technique
-A lot of throwers try to prefect every little bit of the glide. This i feel, is impossible. Get the idea accelerating the shot down, andyour body will develop all the little things.

2) Research everthing!
- There lots of articles out there on differnt throwing sites about training.
- Watch videos as much as possible, weather they on you or professionals, get an idea on what the throw should look like, and feel like.
- Asking questions on site like this is great, but be more specific about questions. No one likes to respond to questions such as "how do i improve?" A good question would be "What are some drills to learn how to unseat my hips during the glide?"

3) Develop a training regime, and stick with it.
- Develop a weekly, monthly, and yearly training regime
- Strength is great to have, but it doesn't equal big throws. Lift to throw farther not to be strong or good looking. It's not how much is on the bar, but how fast you move the bar.
- SET GOALS!! <- this is a no-brainer
So,those are a few of the things I did to help improve my throws. This is getting way to long, if you have any questions relating to anything about throwing shoot me a message I'll be happy to help. Keep Gliding, America needs more Gliders. Peace.

Bob,

Thank you for your excellent response to this post! The guidelines and advice you provided is a great checklist for the many, many throwers out there without proper coaching but are still very motivated to succeed and get better. I particularly like your point about "Perfecting the Principle, not the Technique". While trying to perfect technique too many young throwers get caught up on minor details and miss the 'big picture', I am very guilty of this myself and I believe it can really hold someone back with a strong desire to succeed and athletic ability.

Your other point about watching videos is excellent as well and is the reason this site exists. Make sure to watch as many videos as possible and study your own technique in comparison to those that you admire. If you really want to look at the technique in more detail go to the Premium Videos section on this site - here you can pause the videos and scroll through them frame by frame. This can be very valuable.

Thanks again for your contribution to the site!

ThrowFarther.com

Bob, nice advice. I was told by my coach to always remember that you are a thrower and not a lifter, so what you do in the weightroom needs to make you better at throwing and getting stronger is not the end goal. The end goal is to throw farther.

That being said your weightroom focus should be on developing dynamic strength through things like olympic lifting and plyometric exercises. When being a smaller athlete, the same as i am 5'11" 195 lbs, being a better athlete than the big guys will be your bread and butter, the ability to accelerate and stay in good positions are a must.

Good luck, and throw far.

Wil