Athletics of To-Day 1929

Athletics of To-day (3) Keep the discus well under the hand with the upper sur– face against the forearm, as in Picture No. 5, Plate 48 of Hoffmeister. (4) Maintain a direct line from the left shoulder to the right hand until the discus is in advance of the right shoulder and then complete the throw by hooking the arm right across so that the hand, with wrist also hooked, finishes up at the front of the left shoulder. (See Plates 48 and 49.) (5) Let the fingers give the discus its gyroscopic spin in rotation. As the throwing arm carries the discus in front of the right shoulder the little finger starts the spin, the other fingers carry it on, but the final spin and direction of flight must be supplied by the index finger alone. In the instant of release try to turn the hand, palm upwards, so that the extreme tips of the fingers may be drawn across the underside of the discus as it leaves the hand. This little trick helps to keep the discus flying through the air edge on and tilted slightly to the right, instead of presenting a fiat face to the atmospheric resistance. (6) The discus is given a lower trajectory than any other missile. The correct angle of departure into the air is one of 30 degrees. (7) The discus should mount into the air slightly inclined to the right ; at the top of its trajectory it should be flying gyro– scopically fiat, and, as it begins to descend earthwards, should tilt over to the left a little. The angle of ascent is well shown in Pictures No. 8, Plate 48, and No. g, Plate 49· (8) Try to keep the hand and discus as far out to the right as possible in delivering the throw; it should be slung round the body from hip level. Do not allow the discus to get close to the thigh. (9) If the wind is behind you give the discus greater elevation by dropping the arm a little as the throw is started. If the wind is against you, throw lower, by bending the knees a little more. (ro) Follow the discus out with the right hand and shoulder, keep the left shoulder as high as the right and the eyes directed on the discus in flight.