Hey Alan H and o1d dude, thanks for posting up your counsel here! I've been wrestling with the DIY gear question myself, and had figured on using simple loops of 1" diameter rope passed through the center hole of plates, tied off with a square knot for a handle, and just throwing loops with various weights around in the field. But I was a bit concerned with the hammer because the mechanics of throwing an object seemed it would be different than what I would get out of a long rope loop.

... well, all of this is to say thanks for the info posted above. Now, how about sheaf throw practice gear and routines????