The Function of Your Hip in Javelin Throwing – David Parker Javelin

According to David Parker Javelin – Throwing javelin is a full-body workout. All of your body parts interact to propel that javelin further. Of all your body parts, though, the role of your hip is fundamental.

Why?

Thrust, thrust, and more thrust! As you start to throw the javelin turning on your toes creates momentum, which transfers through your hip. Forcing your hip forward while holding your throwing arm back creates a bow-like tension and allows all of the force created from your toes to your hip to travel through to your throwing arm. 

The effectiveness of this tension depends on how fast and how far forward your hip goes while you maintain your straight throwing arm. Bringing your arm through to throw from this position releasing the tension creates a ‘snap-in your throwing, and the javelin will zip out!

If your hip comes through simultaneously as your arm, you lose all of this momentum and force.

If your arm comes through before your hip, you will throw with your arm.

Also, the whole point of taking a run-up is to create momentum. The momentum comes from your legs, but you may be taking a standing throw if this does not transfer through your hip.

This hip thrust technique takes lots of practice to get right. What I recommend is the following:

Stand sideways to your throwing direction with arms up (throwing arm straight back, blocking arm straight towards the throwing direction). Step out with your planting foot, and as it lands, push off the toes of your other foot. Twist on your ankle; your knee will follow, and then force that back hip through and stop. It is a swift movement. 

David Parker Javelin – Start slowly to see what is happening, but cause it at speed as you get comfortable. Try to maintain your upper body position, i.e., facing sideways, and there is no need to have the javelin in hand. Then REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT!!!

If you find it challenging to keep your upper body facing sideways, try the following:

David Parker Javelin says, Find your nearest pole or end of a wall, etc. Grab it with your throwing hand at around head height. Turn your body away from the wall until you can feel a slight stretch across your pecs/shoulder. Put your blocking arm straight out in front of you. Step out with your planting leg, rotate on your other foot, and push your hip forward beyond the position of your shoulder. You should feel the tension through your hip, up to your side to your shoulder.