We’ve previously discussed getting into the first turn in the weights for distance, but when it comes to the “sprint” or “drive” to the front of the trig, how do you optimize that movement? How do you keep from driving yourself right out of the box; better yet, to avoid the dreaded front center foul?
For me, this is the most critical component of my throw; it’s the difference of about 6-8' for me. And, when I threw over 94’ in Utah in 2014, I was finally getting this movement down and applying speed to the weight in the box. I will say that Ryan Stewart was the one who helped me dial this in and see the deficiency of my throw. Thanks, man! So, let’s dive in.
Once you’ve landed in the first turn, you’re going to be driving to the front of the trig box, and it all starts with your upper body. Now, I know that absolutely threw some of your for a loop, as that is almost always not the answer when it comes to throws. The key here, for me, is to push the weight across the body and into the center of the trig. If you do not do this (I’ve struggled with it for years), you wind up dragging the weight, thus not allowing the weight to work to your advantage. If you drag the weight, you can never full apply speed to it throughout the throw.
For this to work, you’ll need to remember the importance of your left shoulder in this movement. You should be pushing the weight with your arm, while driving with your feet. The tendency will be to drop that left shoulder to the front left corner of the box, thinking you are really accelerating the weight and “leaning” into the throw. If you’re by yourself, a good way to check if you’re really leaning into the turn and dropping that shoulder is to look and see where you finish the throw. If you’re outside the box, well, guess what; you’re leaning! If you accelerate the weight and push it with that right hand, then you should line up and finish at the middle of the trig board.
If you can’t keep your throws in the box, then it usually stems back to your ability to do those two things efficiently: 1) push the right hand and accelerate the weight, and 2) drive and push to the board without dropping your left shoulder and leaning into the throw.
Keep it in the box!
