need help on my discus spin (video included)

[benjimatt]

please help im trying to beat the school record this year of 158' it is the beginning of the season and im getting about 140.

here is my video i dont think i am low enough. the first throw is a 138'

oh and the video goes through 2 triple jump then the discus throws.

http://www.vidiLife.com/index.cfm?f=media.play&vchrMediaProgramIDCryp=9CF6A257-7E9B-465B-BFFB-6

this is it



[SoCold]

Firstly, and I think this is the most important thing, SLOW DOWN!! You are rushing your throw!! Go through your steps in a nice slow-to-fast 1,2,3, rythm. Think about a drive as you go across the ring. Sweep that right leg out of the back and DRIVE!

Second, you need to work on keeping a better throwing keel. Keep your upper body up and balance, disc on your butt and left arm nice and high. I would stare at my left hand as I go through the motion. Also, your head is all over the place. Keep it up and find a point out towards the right side of the sector to work on a balanced drive to. You can work this with no disc in your hand, or with a throwing ball or weight. Just get the idea of a nice, rythmic motion in your head. As a side-note to this, keep turning your feet through the circle!! You block decently in your throw, but you stop your feet and do not allow a natural block and the use of the right side of your body.

Third, you are way out ahead of your throw. Your arm is finishing the throw before your body is in the right position. Do some standing throws and turn your right foot as hard as you can while simulating elbowing somebody in the chest with your left arm. As you do this, the most imnportant thing to think about is keeping the disc back as long as possible, until you can no longer keep it back. I would work the heck out of a half turn drill to accomplish this also. Work on keeping your upper body facing forward and the disc, once again, on your butt.

I think if you will think about this movement as a drive, not as a spin, it will help you get the right ideas. Watch tons and tons of film of the best throwers. Watch every single facet of their throw until you have it burned into your head. Watch your video 100 times over and think about the things you can do to adjust what you're doing wrong. Lastly, read all you can about this stuff. Its not easy at all, and if anybody could do it, they would.

You've got the right idea with this. Just take the proper time to adjust the things that need fixing and stay confident. It will take time, but I guarantee you'll be throwing alot further than 158' if you work hard.

[benjimatt]

ok wel im going to post a slowed down video tonight.

today i only get to practice disc for like 30 minutes, so im going to try and make it productive.

so i will try and slow down. could explain a little more about using your legs and how my arm is going too quick. i dont really know what u mean when u say think of it as a drive and not a spin

[SoCold]

ok wel im going to post a slowed down video tonight.

today i only get to practice disc for like 30 minutes, so im going to try and make it productive.

so i will try and slow down. could explain a little more about using your legs and how my arm is going too quick. i dont really know what u mean when u say think of it as a drive and not a spin
Think of sprinting or "driving" out of the back of the circle, not spinning.

Your arm actually throwing the discus is the LAST phase of the actual throw (bar the finish of course). You should not release the disc until your left foot is solid on the ground facing the sector, your left arm is "blocking" hard, your chest is forward, your right foot has already turned and is on its toes, and the head is up and looking towards the left of the sector. NOW you sling that thing.

[benjimatt]

here is the video slowed down. alright im going to try and use good technique this next meet. ill post the video of the new meet. st. qualifying is 143 i think ill throw that this weekend.

http://www.vidiLife.com/index.cfm?f=media.play&vchrMediaProgramIDCryp=C823B577-0AFF-4F57-B6A5-F

[benjimatt]

discus my coach didnt get to tape me.

ok some good news. i got a new pr. my first discus throw was 133' then the second was a scratch, one guy was beating me with 139' then i threw 140'4".

so i didnt qualify but i got some a new pr.

[benjimatt]

well i have some good news

now for discus i took first again. some guy threw a 142' and i was amazed and worried. then i threw a qualifying throw of 145' so im getting closer to my 158'

i threw a 160 in practice. but that doesnt mean anything
145' throw was my last throw

here is the video

http://www.vidiLife.com/index.cfm?f=media.play&vchrMediaProgramIDCryp=FA08E68A-C58F-423D-BE49-B

[The Tape Tells]

you need to slow down ur spin not the video... there should not be a skip in the middle of the spin. the first step should just put u in position for the 3 step/south african. you gain speen in the pivot not the initial step.

[tabortiger]

your spin looks good except for one thing.....coming out of the back you lean your left shoulder into the middle of the ring..stay erect and balanced and you'll get that 160 in competition.

[Smitty]

Actually sdon't the better throwers drop their left coming out of the back? That way your right shoulder is coming up as you release and if you balance right, you stay square.

[SoCold]

Actually sdon't the better throwers drop their left coming out of the back? That way your right shoulder is coming up as you release and if you balance right, you stay square.
Nope, you want a big, balanced upper body out of the back. It seems that way b/c they drop their butts, but their upper body stays the same.

[tabortiger]

yeah socold is right....you cant lean out of the back....if you do it messes up the orbit of the discus and you get a release thats too high and cockeyed.

[WestRep]

yeah socold is right....you cant lean out of the back....if you do it messes up the orbit of the discus and you get a release thats too high and cockeyed.

or in my case straight and downward

I'll keep that in mind for my throwin : )

[benjimatt]

good news and bad news.

bad news i pulled my hamstring in practice while working on relays.

good news , even with the pulled hamstring i was able to throw a 150' throw at the last meet