Athletics of To-Day 1929

Throwing the Hammer 3 r 3 See Pictures Nos. 5 and 6, Plate 55, and note that although the trunk is swaying to the left, the weight is on the left leg and the body from the waist downwards is kept over to the right in counter balance. Note that the back of the right hand is still uppermost. The muscles of the thighs, back, abdomen, and sides are doing the main part of the work here. From Pictures Nos. 5 and 6, Plate 55, it will appear that the high point in the swing has been reached with the hammer-head in rear of the left shoulder. Flaxman shows a finely powerful pulling position for the downward swing. The t( play" of the body muscles is especially interesting. Observe the full reach of the hands behind the head, the fl.exion of the knees, body sway forward and to the left to resist rear and commencing of right pull of hammer, and that the right forearm has maintained its parallel to the ground position. The right upper arm is pressed into the side an instant later. Note that the hammer has a wider radius on the right side of the body than it has on the left. In these two pictures the use made of the head as a "rudder" to the hammer path should be considered, because the head is really the helm of the body and an athlete who uses it properly-not only to think with-gains a big advantage in the throwing events and the jumps. Note in Picture No. 5, Plate 55, that the chest, head and hips are square to the front, the shoulders alone being twisted to the right, and that the weight of the body is still disposed over the right leg. As the hammer-head is pulled down and out to the right of the body, the weight passes from the right leg to the left, the arms and legs straighten out, and all is at full stretch once more when the hammer-head again reaches its low point in front of the right foot. The preliminary swings may be repeated as many times as desired, but each should be faster than the preceding one. Three is usually a sufficient number of swings. When the hammer reaches the position shown in Picture o. 5, Plate 55 in the third or last preliminary swing, the athlete gathers him– self for the throw, but the actual throw does not commence until the hammer-head is reaching its low point and is off the right