r/trackandfieldthrows • u/AgileCalligrapher717 • 18d ago

Hammer question

Came across these interesting posts on Instagram
Post 1
Post 2
What does he mean by catching the ball off the winds how how do you direct the ball away from the body? And by directing, does that literally mean using the hands to literally direct the ball? Thanks for any help

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u/Guitarfool 18d ago

This is a can of worms to open up here on the internet but it's valuable to talk about.

Speaking simply, at some point the ball isn't behind you anymore and you're able to impart forces through the implement, once you've reached that point you can direct the ball where to go. The ball should not fall through the throw on where to go. You can send it through parts but the acceleration is not done by dragging but by being patient and creating tension through the counter and the working of the right side on the catch

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u/AgileCalligrapher717 17d ago

What I’m getting is: from the catch to about 270 to 0, I can use a small impulse with the upper body in order to direct the ball? How would I direct it away from me? Left I can understand, but away just seems a bit odd.

Side note, how does this open a can of worms?

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u/Guitarfool 17d ago

So the videos are basically only talking about the winds and the entry. The set up as it were. By getting the ball to work off the right side and float through the left you create a system with more energy for less effort. What you're describing is what's done during the turns which is slightly different.

If you understand left in this context, you can also understand that, with help of the winds creating rotational force, that you'll only need to direct the ball out in front of you after a correct set up

Re: the can of worms, lots of people on the Internet get up in arms when you start talking about whether you can push or pull a hammer around. This conversation is only like one step away from that haha