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Clinic notes: Lothar Altmeyer

SHOT PUT: THE GLIDE TECHNIQUE Is still a technique with which you can get excellent results.

Tomasz Majewski (Poland, 6ft 8in): Olympic champion 2008 and 2012, pb: 21,95m (72 feet)

David Storl (Germany, 6ft 6in): World Champion 2011/2013, pb: 22,20m (72 3/4 feet)

Is usually more suited for the taller and faster athlete.

Which are the most important factors in reaching a good throwing distance?

a) Speed of release; 12m/s=16,54m (54 ft) b) Angle of release; about 40 degrees c) Height of release; more than 2,15m (7ft)

High bodyweight is helpful: The difference in mass between athlete and shot is decisive for the acceleration of both objects in the opposite direction (actio=reactio).

The athlete must develop a high maximum strength to reach a high acceleration of the implement. The ‘launching’ comes about from a complex kinetic chain, starting at the feet and moving up to the throwing arm.

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Photo sequence of David Storl (December 2016)

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Learning the shot put technique

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