Athletics of To-Day 1929

Putting the Shot 341 sketches, Figs. 53 and 54· In the first position the athlete takes one end of the expander in his left hand, which is held with its back in the region of his left hip. The other end of the expander lies across his right palm, the hand being given the same position as it would have if the shot were in hand. The putting action is th n gone through in slow motion time so that the body and right side and arm are working against the strength of the expander, the lower end of which the athlete keeps firm in its original hip position. Of shot putters it has long been the popular opinion that " the good big 'un will always beat the good little 'un." But there are dangers about such a generalisation. Most big men FIG/ .53 Fxo• .54 are inclined to be a bit pond rous in th ir action ,while the small fellow oft n make up in p d and co-ordination what h lacks in stature. In this conn ction, ray has b en alr ady mentioned. There was al o W. . Knox, anadian and British Olympic coach. H stood 5 ft. 8 ins. and weigh d less than rr stone, and yet attain d th surpri ing di tanc of 46 ft ., only 5 ft. 1 s than os 's world r cord, and o e had th advantage of nearly 9 inch sin height, besides weighing almost twice as much as th anadian. It will be seen, ther - fore, that science and the appreciation of m chanical principles play an important part in shot putting.