'splain THIS!??

**Detroitpete** · 14th November 08, 09:09 AM

I haven't thrown since my last competition in October. I haven't done much of anything except for work. I've worked out a couple of times each week, but since my knee still isn't up to it yet, my squats are light and I've basically have just lfted to stay in some for of shape until I decide on an off season training regime.

So...

I decide to throw my gear into my truck and go throw on my day off (made a sweet KILLER caber hacked down from a 14' 6X6).

And...

My stones looked like I shot them out of a cannon!!!! WHERE was this during competition? My form didn't seem any different. The only difference I noticed was right at the power position/hip block (the place I call "the Crank") I felt more in the groove and stronger--and BAMM.

Again--I'm only 5'7ish and 189lbs right now--and both my Breamar and light stones 'popped' out there.

Hmmph...maybe I should'nt 'train' so hard during the season???

Thoughts????

**auld argonian** · 14th November 08, 09:21 AM

The only thing that I can suggest is that the layoff allowed your muscle memory to "forget" and that you came back to it throwing with a more natural motion. I look at your situation relative to my golf swing since I don't throw large objects around with any regularity (okay...I used to polka with my Aunt Stella at family weddings but that was the most weight that I ever had to throw around). My swing was very natural when I started out and while I didn't get great yardage, I always put the ball where I wanted it. After seeing some golf videos and getting some tips from friends, my swing became rather unnatural and I lost the control that I once had. Took a while but I've finally un-learned most of the artificial things and now the control is back. Sometimes you're body does it right the first time and over intellectualizing the process hangs you up.

Best

AA

**Detroitpete** · 14th November 08, 09:41 AM

HA!...Aunt Stella--I almost spit my coffee on that one! Thanks, I think you may be right as far as "intellectualizing" form--the saying--"don't think--throw" comes to mind. Instead of visualizing my form--I just focused on the moment of release.

Ahh, Alan H.--I NEED your stone clinic videos :-)

**Ryan Nielson** · 14th November 08, 02:15 PM

Yes I think there are some events that will actually go backwards with practice. I feel I can practice hammer, caber, WFH and it actually does improve. Some of them are very much like a golf swing in that sometimes more practice makes you pick up bad habits. I golf a little as well and I swear if I hit too many practice balls I start to get worse.

I remember I really wanted to improve my WFD I was only throwing about 30 feet and looked ridiculous with my form and started to practice it literally every day sometimes twice a day for 2 weeks my body was aching all over. I never improved hardly a bit from all of that. Then i got frustrated and didn't do any throwing for 2-3 weeks. Then tried a WFD throw with no warmup at all and broke 40 feet for the first time ever.

Of course if we all had a coach that could throw worth a damn constantly watching us and correcting things this would not happen. I'm clear out in the middle of nowhere in idaho basically trying to figure this out all myself so it's tough.

**auld argonian** · 14th November 08, 02:30 PM

One of the famous Yogi Berra-isms of all time was his response to a player whose excuse for striking out was that he was thinking about what the pitcher was going to throw.

"How can you think and hit at the same time?"

Zen master Yogi.

Best

AA

**Derek Conley** · 16th November 08, 09:51 PM

Detroitpete, I'm curious; I'm only 5'6" or so and 175lbs, and always considered myself to short, really, to do much of anything with Highland games. Am I totally incorrect? I have a "stocky" build but the height thing has always deterred me.

**jgorley** · 17th November 08, 12:08 AM

At some of the games there is a lightweight division. I believe it is the under 190# division. And I am pretty sure they use the masters weights. The 42 pounders, instead of the 56. I have a friend who is 5'2" and about 150lbs, and he wants to try it next season! Good luck to you. As for the real thread, I know many A division throwers who take the entire winter off and set new PRs in early season. We all need a break sometimes!!

James

**Derek Conley** · 17th November 08, 12:54 AM

Interesting... I may have to look further into this... thanks!

**Cynthia** · 17th November 08, 06:37 AM

Derek, in the group I train with, we have a fairly short guy. I have no clue how much he weighs, but he's pretty muscular/stocky. One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and puts every bit of his body and heart into his throws and gives it his best and he does a pretty good job, I think! A lot of the folks there are shorter than my husband and I, but we throw the worst because we're so new. They have technique, experience, and some strength over us for the moment -- we'll see how we end up doing over time.

The question is, do you want to do it? Don't worry about what you can or can't do or if you're not tall enough.... go have fun! Seriously

I'm sure you'll do just fine!

**Detroitpete** · 17th November 08, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Derek Conley

Detroitpete, I'm curious; I'm only 5'6" or so and 175lbs, and always considered myself to short, really, to do much of anything with Highland games. Am I totally incorrect? I have a "stocky" build but the height thing has always deterred me.

Sometimes I get lucky and because I'm over 40 years old, get to throw in a Masters Division--but again, that doesn't mean they're all lightweights like me.

The thing is--you and I are about the same size and hey--if I can do it--so can you. The hardest events for us smaller guys can be the 56 WFD and WOB. Buy heck, toss that chunk of iron around and do you're best--at the end of the day you can be proud that you gave it your all.

I've been able to compete with Masters weights and with other lightweights and it's great too. So come on in--you'll LOVE it. We need more lightweights in the Games!

You can believe that at a good Games--when small guys like us pick a monster caber--the crowd REALLY knows the work and effort we're putting forth and responds well.

I've had the fortune of being in games with some of the best pro throwers in the world--and they appreciate us small-guy am's too.

I've met some of the best guys out on the field--there's VERY few with any sort of primadonna attitude. Somehow, you just can't have that and play these games--it weeds out guys like that.

So--Come on out!! Give it a whirl--my guess is you'll get hooked like the rest of us--and if we meet out on the field--I'll by the first round (AFTER we toss the caber)