Athletics (British Sports Library)

168 ATHLETICS which has on the curve of the front half a stop– board made of wood and measuring 4 feet around the curve. It is 8 inches wide and 4 inches high. Stepping upon the stop-board .or allowing any part of the body to touch the ground outside the circle until the shot has struck the earth constitutes a foul. It is also a foul to bring the hand holding the shot behind the shoulder. The put is made with one hand only. Puts are measured from the point of impact to the edge of the circle on a line with the centre. It is held generally that weight, height, speed, and nervous energy comprise the make-up of the shot putter, and yet some comparatively small men have achieved amazing results. Success is, to a large extent, a matter of pq.tience and constant practice. The actual method of shot putting is easy enough to master. The difficulty lies in dovetailing all the movements in such a way that there may be no diminution in speed from start to finish and no break in the smoothness of the shot putter's rhythm of movement. The best method of holding the shot is shown in Sketch A. It will be seen that the shot rests upon the lower joints of the fingers, which impart the final impetus just as the shot leaves the hand. It is not every athlete, however, who has fingers and a wrist strong enough to impart this final flick.