quote:Originally posted by DDL
Ok, maybe I have a recent minor obsession with PP3 and lag, but while watching Brian Clay last night throw the javelin while he competed in the decathlon, I noticed his right wrist bent back, and his trigger finger underneath the javelin. COuldn't help but wonder if javelin throwers thrust the lag and monitor it with their version of PP3. I expected Yoda to appear on the broadcast and explain a javelin thrower's power accumulators and magic of the right forearm.
I better finally get a golf lesson , or else I will start looking for lag in synchronized swimming.
When defining the Principle of the Inclined Plane (2-F), Homer Kelley states: "Picture the javelin thrower with the right elbow and On Plane Right Forearm leading the hand toward the target (Delivery Line) all during delivery." To make that "picture" crystal clear, I did a fair amount of study earlier this year on the javelin technique, to the point of actually consulting a track and field coach and studying videos and various practice aids. I'm glad I did.
As DDL noted, the javelin grip -- there are three basic variations (American, Finnish and Fork) -- has the right wrist
bent back. The javelin rests lengthwise in the
cup of the right hand with the palm of the hand always turned upwards -- funny, I never pictured it that way -- and thus
in line with the right forearm.
This alignment and that of the golfer's Right Forearm Flying Wedge are identical. The only difference in practice is the plane of motion, i.e., vertical for the javelin thrower and Inclined for the Golfer. And that is why Homer called the javelin throw to our attention.
Interestingly, the javelin throw is made with a straight right arm. In golf, extensor action
attempts to straighten the right arm, but cannot due to the Checkrein Action of the Left Arm. All during the 'approach' -- a carefully choreographed sequence of 'steps' that include the straight ahead run to crossover strides and finally to the throwing position -- the javelin thrower remains focused on 'the carry,' i.e., maintaining the In Plane alignments of the right forearm and javelin. This equates to the Hand Controlled Pivot TGM procedure where the focus is on the Hands and their On Plane alignments, and the Pivot is relegated to its proper supporting role.
Finally, and this gets directly to your question, the javelin is pulled hard 'over the top' of the head and thrown 'through the point.' In other words, when
the throw begins -- and it is basically a shoulder driven 'heave' -- the thrust is
In Plane and directed all the way
through the 'tip end' of the javelin. This is the same as the Golfer's Aiming Point procedure (6-E-2) where the Clubhead Lag is driven Down Plane
through the Aiming Point to Both Arms Straight, triggering a Snap Release, Impact and a complete Follow Through as its result. Interestingly, in one of the videos I studied, the World Champion finished with his Right Wrist still bent!
These guys call themselves 'Throwers,' and it's for a reason:
That is exactly what they do! Homer labeled the TGM
Release Triggers Throws(10-20), and when I teach these, I actually wear a Track and Field cap with the word THROW in big red letters. It helps me to never forget that this is
exactly what
we do when we Release the Club toward Impact. God did not make one set of 'javelin' Laws and another set of 'Golf' Laws. He made only one set.
And one is quite enough.
