Plant Foot

[MikeD]

Hello!

What is the correct way the plant foot should hit the ground?

I've seen photosequences in which it looks like the heel of the foot hits first, but I might be missing the picture that shows the foot flattening out before hitting the ground.

So which is it, heel hitting the ground first or entire foot landing flat?



Thanks

[beepee]

The correct way is for the plant foot "heel" to ground first.

If this has not happened then it means that the thrower has landed "flat footed" and the CoG (Center of Gravity) is too near or even over the left foot and will lose drastic distance by " losing work applied to the javelin or range."

In English that means that the base is not long enough and the time that you actually pull on the javelin has been severely restricted, ie, you have a shortened time that you actually have to pull on the javelin.

All of the top world class throwers land heel first without exception backed up by hours of video footage and confusion is caused by our American friends advocating getting over the right foot as quickly as possible or the "soft step".

This has always been the case to facilitate the right hip getting forwards (right handed thrower) to create the stretch relfex position or the perceived inverted "C".
but over here in England we say get the right ankle turned quickly, same difference and effect.

To summarise then:- get over the right foot quickly and turn out the heel but get the left foot down in front of you, heel first? so that the base of the throw allows you get maximum pull on the javelin.

The speed of the pull will be determined by hereditary factors given to you by your parentage, pull long, pull fast.

[MikeD]

Thanks Beepee