Caber Toss: why long sticks give you trouble

Caber, highland games, mckim -

Caber Toss: why long sticks give you trouble

It can all crumble at the end if you're not careful. You might have an amazing "pick" that just drops into your hand cradle, a high carry that allows you to drive the stick with speed, and a quick gather step that puts you in just the right position to finish the throw ... but now what? I've seen it countless times in competitions and all too many times to me. When, and how, should we pull the caber?

Timing
This is such a hard, hard thing to coach, as it all depends on the length of the caber - that is, physics wise. Now, this won't surprise anyone, but I'm no genius thrower. I never have been, and never will be. You see, I'm a simple man and I like my throwing to be as simple as possible, too, as I believe it equates to fewer errors. I'd like to give you "x" recipe for long sticks and "y" recipe for short sticks, but I just can't. I have to make it more simple than that.
I was once told I needed to initiate my pull as soon as the caber left my shoulder. I've really stuck with that through the years, as it works better than the other cue I hear a lot; "pull as soon as the caber passes your eyes." I've found that when I do that, I pull far too late.
Think of it this way, as soon as you stop running, the caber is slowing down. Once you stop applying speed to it, it's no longer gaining - you're losing. Whatever the visual you need, realize you will rarely EVER hear the words, "Wow. You just pulled too early." I've only seen this a few times in my career, as the opposite is almost always the case. I feel I can best say it this way: pull sooner than you think you should or need to.
Now, I do have a small "recipe" for a long stick, but it's not really a "recipe;" more of a microwave meal.
Longer cabers fall much slower than the shorter, heavier cabers. You'll hear throwers say, "I just can't get it off my shoulder." That's code for, "Wow, this caber is huge," or, "Wow, this caber is long." To help with that, you've got to give it some shoulder. As you're driving the caber and sprinting down the field with the speed of a deer, fleet-footedness of a mountain goat and the physique of a Greek statue, throw your shoulder forward into that stick when it comes time to pull. This helps speed up the top of the caber and gets it falling faster. This "recipe" is important, and none more critical when it comes to a long caber (20'+). Admit it, you've always enjoyed throwing your weight around.

Pull
The pull is such a critical component of the throw, and is the final piece to turning big sticks and getting 12:00's awarded. The big thing to remember is that you aren't throwing it out away from you - you want an upward pull. Letting your hands get out and away from your body on the pull limits your power and control of the caber. Instead, think of pulling the caber up and through your chin. Pull fast and pull hard, but don't stop those hands! I hate seeing people stop their hands at chest level - it completely kills the caber's speed and your power to flip it. Follow through! Finish with your hands up and over your head.
Lastly, use your legs. My absolute best pulls have always included me actually leaving the ground. If I am in a caber funk, I can usually accredit it to a few things, and if I'm struggling with heavier or longer sticks, my lack of "pop" off the ground is a part of it.

So, in short, the caber is super easy, right? Wrong. Get your time in with one in your hands - you'll be glad you did, and so will the crowd.

443 comments

  • Heather Delaney

    Hello!
    I just finished using Dr. Excellent Love spell and it is amazing how quickly Dr. Excellent brought my husband back to me. My name is Heather Delaney. I married the love of my life Riley on 10/02/15 and we now have two beautiful girls Abby & Erin, who are conjoined twins, that were born 07/24/16. My husband left me and moved to be with another woman. I felt my life was over and my kids thought they would never see their father again. I tried to be strong just for the kids but I could not control the pains that tormented my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because I was really in love with my husband. I have tried many options but he did not come back, until i met a friend that directed me to Dr. Excellent a spell caster, who helped me to bring back my husband after 11hours. Me and my husband are living happily together again, This man is powerful, contact Dr. Excellent if you are passing through any difficulty in life or having troubles in your marriage or relationship, he is capable of making things right for you. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work with the best spell caster.
    Here his contact. Call/WhatsApp him at: +2348084273514 "
    Or email him at: Excellentspellcaster@gmail.com ,
    For more information visit his website:https://drexcellentspellcaster.godaddysites.com

  • Tracy Manalo

    HIRING GENUINE HACKERS TO CONSULT RECOVERY SPECIALISTS

    I want to sincerely thank Safeguard Recovery Expert for their extraordinary skill; they are real heroes, and I wish I had met them sooner rather than reaching out to other hackers for help.  If you read this comment, you might be able to get your hacked or blocked bitcoin investment back. I’m posting it for anybody who have been affected by cryptocurrency investment, mining, and trading frauds.

    Email:
    safeguardbitcoin@consultant.com

    safeguardbitcoin.wixsite.com/safeguard-bitcoin—1

    WhatsApp: +44 7426 168300

  • Stephenchilton

    HOW TO FIND A LEGITIMATE CRYPTO RECOVERY EXPERT VISIT SMITH WHITE HACK SERVICE.

    Consider losing your wallet containing all of your cash or losing access to your bank account. That is essentially how it feels to lose bitcoin. Because Bitcoin recovery gives you back control over your digital assets, it is essential. Recovering lost or stolen bitcoin is crucial to safeguarding your financial security, regardless of whether you need to access the money for personal or business-related purposes. Experience counts in the recovery of bitcoin. With years of experience, the staff at Smith white hackservice is skilled at recovering bitcoin that has been misplaced or stolen. They differ from other recovery services due to their proficiency with blockchain technology, digital signatures, and digital investigations. They have a proven track record of accomplishment and the respect of many happy customers. It’s important to pick the correct team to manage your bitcoin recovery. Smith white hackservice is distinguished by its efficiency, professionalism, and dedication to their customers. They put up a great deal of effort to deliver prompt solutions because they recognize the anxiety and urgency that accompany losing bitcoin. They provide your peace of mind at every stage of the rehabilitation process by using a straightforward and individualized approach. An initial evaluation and consultation with the professionals at Smith white hackservice constitute the first step in the bitcoin recovery procedure. They’ll assess the circumstances, compile pertinent data, and offer advice on the best course of action. Understanding the particular difficulties in your case and creating a recovery plan that works for you both depend on this consultation. Ensure to contact Smith white hackservice customer service through:Smithwhitehackservice@gmail.com
    WHATSAPP +1 559 – 508 – 2403

  • Rita Hensley

    SMITH WHITE HACK SERVICE RECOVERY EXPERTS

    I was scammed over ( $645,000 ) by someone I met online on a fake investment project. I started searching for help legally to recover my money and I came across a lot of Testimonies about SMITH WHITE HACK SERVICE Recovery Expects. I contacted them providing the necessary information’s and it took the experts about 27hours to locate and help recover my stolen funds. I am so relieved and the best part was, the scammer was located and arrested by local authorities in his region. I hope this help as many out there who are victims and have lost to these fake online investment scammers. I strongly recommend their professional services for assistance with swift and efficient recovery. They can reached through the link below.
    Gmail Address SMITHWHITEHACKSERVICE@GMAIL COM WHATSAPP +1 559 508 2403

  • NIKKI JOCY

    i got 100 % cure and all the warts and pains got disappeared , i shared this post because it’s part of my life experience , encase anyone need speedy help about this cure Dr Agbon i was diagnosis with Herpes Simplex Virus ( HSV1&2 ) 7years ago and i meant a doctor he told me there is no cure. and i have taking some medication the warts multiplied when trying to removed them and it got me embarrass and pains , luckily few weeks ago i was recommend to Dr Agbon for natural treatment after Three weeks medication i was totally cured … him also cure the following list 1 ) Herpes 2 ) Diabetes 3 ) Hepatitis 4 ) Asthma 5 ) HPV 6 ) cold sores 7 ) arthritis 8 ) cancer 9 ) thyroid 10 ) Lupus 11 ) Ringing ears, Contact him now WhatsApp Number +2349058797761, Gmail: dragboherbalhome@gmail.com, Website: https://dragbonherbalhome.wixsite.com/my-site-3

Leave a comment