Quote Originally Posted by Alan H View Post
Stones are NOT a strength event. They're a speed event. It's not about being a hulking brute. It's all about how FAST you can accelerate that rock. Strength only gives you the ability to accelerate quickly. But massive strength without speed is useless on the field. Save it for a powerlifting meet.
Speed will always trump simple strength in the throwing events. Explosive strength is the key. This was my advice to you in the PM. The Human Wall vs Pit Bull.

Developing strength is pretty easy to do. Just look around at how many strong athletes are in the games. The number of athletes who have developed increased speed is much much smaller. Pro's and the genetically gifted (of which most of us are not).

Plyo or lifting bands are far more effective in developing speed than a simple cable machine. Cable machines provide constant resistance while bands provide increasing resistance as the band elongates. This is a good thing because as we extend our arms and legs, our leverage improves. Increasing resistance allows us to work all points along the leverage curve.

Westside power lifters use chains for similar reasons. Drape the chain over the barbell. As you lift the bar, more of the chain is suspended in the air increasing the load. It's kind of a Nautilus principle without the cam-shaped pulleys. BTW, the same guy invented/popularized both chains and Nautilus training equipment: Arthur Jones.

I have chains and bands in my home gym and use them at least once a week. In my case, at best I'm only slowing down the normal decline in strength due to aging.

I battle gravity.