Athletics of To-Day 1929

Throwing the Hammer 315 thrower releases the pressure on the left foot and quickly reverses both feet so that he faces the :flight of the hammer and stops himself from fouling, through coming out of the circle after the hammer, as shewn in Picture No. r6, Plate 57· The importance of giving the hammer head the biggest possible radius in preliminary swings and keeping it out at full arm and shoulder stretch during the turns may be appreciated if the reader will consider the formula for finding the circum– ference of a circle, which is 21rr, 1r being 3.1416 and r being radius. Velocity and a large path for the hammer-head are the desired factors. If it takes six seconds to describe a 40 ft. circumference, then obviously, if the radius be increased and a circumference of 45ft. is described in the same space of time, it follows that the hammer-head must acquire an increased velocity and that the whole implement will therefore fly through a greater distance when it is released from the hands. During the preliminary swings it is the arms and not the body that increase the speed. The turning movement commences on the 1 ft foot as the hammer descends on the right side, at the end of the last of the preliminary swings, and when it is off the right hip. An instant before the turn begins the right knee is inclined inwards to the knee of the left leg, then the body is twi ted to the left, moving ahead of the hatnmer, and the turn is commenced on the heel of the left foot. Take care to keep the 1 ft arm fully extended across the body, as shown in Picture No. 7, Plate 55, of Matt McGrath, and lean the body towards and over the left leg, which must support the whole weight. The right foot follows close behind with a full circle, and begins early to get the pivotal movement ov r on to the outer edge of the left foot. A few good throwers prefer a spin on the toes, as Tom Nicholson is seen doing in Picture No. 8, Plate 55, and thus the sooner gain a double straight-arm position, but there is a slight danger here of the hammer travelling ahead of the body, when it will take control and drag the athlete round, so that he will have neither form nor length of pull for his final heave.