Comments on: Is There a Perfect Technique?

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:31:25 +0000

Hi Martin, I am new to your website, having found it navigating youtube to find throwing videos. The discussions are great to read and I would not want to ever be the one to dispute Dr.B’s accomplishments. I believe he is the most knowledgeable coach in the world by virtue of his personal achievements as well as his coaching record. What puzzles me is why no one ever gives a difinitive statement about how to achieve hammer acceleration. If it is pushing with the right hand,driving with the right foot,dropping onto the right foot early,lowering the left shoulder on the entry, etc. why not jus say so plainly!! Surely, this would make it easier to disseminate information in a more practical way. It seems to me that someone needs to step-up to the plate and say: this is how you make the hammer go faster, and this is how you best counter the forces that you produce. I realize that this may be over simplifying the situation greatly but not all of us are scientists or biomechanists. Can’t someone like Dr. B write the most comprehensive work that is possible given the information currently at hand. I understand that just reading something is not the total answer, but at least it is a place to start! Sorry to be so long winded.

By: Sergej Litvinov Jr.

Sergej Litvinov Jr. — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:16:31 +0000

This is how we train. Dr B. knows a lot about the right technique and methodic and my father (Sergey Litvinov sen.) learn a lot from him.

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:19:18 +0000

Once an athlete gets to being able to do 3-4 turns, I don't think there is a place for doing one turn throws. The rhythm and technique are different and it doesn't help the athlete much to do this. Dr. B is not alone in thinking this way. Harold Connolly has also put together a youth coaching guide that also recommends it: http://hammerthrow.com/technique/guidebook/default.asp. Harold. however, also recommends lots of turn drills, which is something I did a lot when learning and seemed to help me at the time. Dylan will do some stand throws, but mostly as a warm up and strength exercise. I think it is a bit different for the shot put since the throw can be broken up easier.

By: AxeCoach

AxeCoach — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:25:15 +0000

This amazing stuff for me….I am a high school coach and am starting a Youth Hammer program and am curious about the no drill aspect as I sit somewhere in the middle here. And although Coach B’s sucess cannot be argued and has to be doing everything right, what do you guys consider throwing vs drills? Is it purely full throws Three and four turns or is there one and two turn stuff in there as well? And same with the shot, does he have Dylon do any standing throws or pauses or is it just pure live throwing?? Please keep writing on your training it is great insite!!!!

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:10:09 +0000

Watching him coach Dylan Armstrong (21.04m) and Justin Rodhe (19.44m), it seems that he uses the same approach in the shot put. They don’t really do any drills, but throw a wide variety of implements.

He doesn’t have as much experience coaching beginning hammer throwers with prior weight room experience, but I don’t think that would change his approach. It is easier to teach a 10-year old, but one of our throwers converted from the discus to the hammer after college and he had her in the ring throwing immediately and switched for from three to four turns within a few months.