What is the Discus Throw?
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What Is the Discus Throw?
One of the oldest athletic events in history, the discus throw combines rotational power, timing, and technique into a single explosive release. Check out our quick video on it here.
A Spinning Disc
The discus throw is a track and field event in which an athlete spins inside a concrete circle and releases a disc as far as possible into a designated landing sector. The disc itself is a smooth, lens-shaped implement with a metal rim. At the high school level, boys throw a 1.6 kilogram discus and girls throw a 1 kilogram discus. At the collegiate and open level, men throw 2 kilograms and women throw 1 kilogram.
Dragging the Disc
One of the most important and most misunderstood concepts in discus throwing is dragging the disc. Rather than actively pulling the arm through early, elite throwers keep the discus trailing behind the body as they rotate through the circle. The disc is the last thing to come through, whipping off the index finger with maximum speed at the point of release. When a thrower rushes the arm or lets the disc lead too early, that lag is lost and the throw collapses. Developing the feel for dragging takes repetition with quality implements, and many coaches use training discuses at varied weights.