Foot-slide during hammer practice

[Detroitpete]

Ok guys--got a question here:

I practice at a local park (great tips in this forum on making toys out of chains so they don't divot everything-thanks!). When I practice with the hammer I like having the back-stop handy incase I lose a grip. The problem is that the back-stop is surrounded by a loose gravel softball infield on both sides.

I wear cleats with more than enough grab on turf, but they tend to slide at the WORST possible moment just before release of the hammer.

Any ideas on keeping my feet planted, or do I just have to lose the back-stop?

-Pete

[Arizona Scot]

Detroitpete where we practice there is no back stop, we just make sure that everyone is well out of the way. The grass helps with the stopping of the slide, I personally don't were cleats just hiking boots and haven't had any problems with sliding. Adding a pair of gardening style gloves from wall mart or the such will help you hold on the the hammer handle and should eleviate any fear of losing your grip. You may also try some tacky and the handle. Good luck with the practice when are you going to compete?

[Detroitpete]

Thanks for the advice. I haven't let one slip yet, so maybe I'm just being overly cautious using the backstop. I plan on trying a few different gloves--right now, my Craftsman mechanics gloves seem to work well for all events I've been practicing.

I hope to compete before the summer is completely blown, but with the knee still not completely out of rehab, I don't want to rush. I have a good heavy duty brace (think football "O" lineman style)--this may take until next year--ugh--hate to think of that, but then again, it would give me a year to practice and work on form.

Maybe I'm just getting to be an old codger, but I figure that if I keep in shape and focus on form, then distance and height will take care of themselves.

-Pete

[Arizona Scot]

Thanks for the advice. I haven't let one slip yet, so maybe I'm just being overly cautious using the backstop. I plan on trying a few different gloves--right now, my Craftsman mechanics gloves seem to work well for all events I've been practicing.

I hope to compete before the summer is completely blown, but with the knee still not completely out of rehab, I don't want to rush. I have a good heavy duty brace (think football "O" lineman style)--this may take until next year--ugh--hate to think of that, but then again, it would give me a year to practice and work on form.

Maybe I'm just getting to be an old codger, but I figure that if I keep in shape and focus on form, then distance and height will take care of themselves.

-Pete

Thats exactly right, I just got into this sport around February. I have been in the gym 4-6 days a week and now practice throwing the emplements about twice a week. I am over 40 and have been active most of my life, I figure and am starting to see that form and technique are as important as raw strength. Just keep it up and it will come to you. My first games will be in November hopefully.

[Alan H]

I wonder how baseball cleats would do on that loose dirt....

The mechanics gloves are good. They're just a little bit pricey, so I haven't bought a pair. My usual grocery store started stocking the latex-coated work gloves. I hadn't bought a pair of those yet at other stores because I HATED the colors (I'm vain) but these were made out of bamboo cloth instead of cotton and were a MANLY dark brown. Since they were all of $3.00 I sprung for a pair. We'll see how they work out, today.

We also don't have a cage here where we practice, we just make sure nobody is within range.

[Detroitpete]

Yep--switched to my old football cleats and they seem to dig in better--don't really want to ruin a good pair of boots by driving a spike out of the toe ;-)

I'm finding that if my legs can stay put, the last 1/4 of my last swing it feels like the hammer is gonna rip out of my hands...better distance and a higher release