Athletics (British Sports Library)

SHOT PUTTING 169 These others should rest the shot upon the upper part of the palm, using the fingers only to retain it in position. Never attempt to grip the shot. Sketch I, A suggests an easy relaxed position which is to be highly recommended. The body weight is pretty evenly carried by both legs. The free arm shows no tension and has, as is right, been kept down to the level of the shoulder plane, while the putting arm is also correctly disposed with the shot tucked well into the neck. Throughout the whole evolution the shot should remain in this position until the final delivery is effected. Sketch B illus– trates the position from which the standing shot put, without preliminary glide, should be practised. Sketches I to 10 are of Ville Porhola, the great Finnish shot putter.. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 show the W€11- balanced forward and back swing of the leading leg, which sets the glide in motion. No. 4 carries on the swing to a full leg extension at , the fork, with the right knee still slightly flexed for the final drive propulsion of the glide and the left knee well bent so that it may not take the gr~mnd forcibly to the left front until the right foot is down. The right foot should pass close to the surface of the ground in the glide shown in No. 5 and should not travel more than thirty inches forward in effecting the glide until it lands at R2, Sketch D. Particular attention should be paid to the manner in which