Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

THROWING THE JAVELIN 185 adversely influence the flight, it is necessary that such tremors, or vibrations, should be made equal through– out the length of the javelin. To bring about this result, the binding should lie between the top and middle joints of the fingers, and be held in place by the thumb, which is disposed centrally on the binding opposite to the division between the second and third fingers. In this way any pull which the fingers exert when the javelin leaves the hand is right at the centre of gravity, so that the v~bration which is set up passes equally from the centre of gravity to the point, and also from the centre of gravity to the tip of the tail; thus a perfectly steady flight is imparted to the weapon. Now, if the pull is put on at the back half of the bind– ing, the head of the javelin is forced up and the flight is against the resistance of the wind; if, on the contrary, the pull is put on at the front half of the binding, then the head of the javelin is bent down, and the weapon quickly comes to earth,-in either case the flight will be unsteady, and a lot of shaking will occur. It must not be fhought from these remarks that the thrower is to try to put a pull upon the weapon; on the contrary, he tries to avoid doing so. But some pull, however small, i? bound to be put on, and if it is applied right at the middle of the binding, then the flight of the javelin will be perfectly steady, because the centre of the gravity is steady in its flight, and the vibrations pass out from it 'equally in either direction. Now, with regard to the question of " pull" and its subsequent effects, it must be remembered that the javelin is flexible, and considerably more so at the " tail end" than the head. It is practically impossible to avoid any pull, but, speaking theoretically, if the