Mac Wilkins 1984 vs 1976 Discus Throw Technical Comparison

Описание

66.30m vs 67.50m

In the years between 1976 and 1984 Mac’s technique changed quite a bit. His distances had only dropped slightly likely due to age, injures and a loss in interest after losing out on 1980.

Out of the back Mac narrowed his stance and changed his back swing to be less extreme. He wouldn’t shift his weight from left to right so much and his left shoulder/hand was still low, it was not as low. He holds X just as well either way. As he begins the first turn he is pushing low heel low and around with his weight on the inside of his big toe. His left heel scrapes the ground and his hips sink and he picks up his right foot early. He swings his left shoulder long and around the left side over the left knee.

As he exits the SA position and enters the ring with his right foot this is where he begins to diverge. In the 70s he didn’t have much of an orbit of high point and he worked hard to change that. The right foot crosses over the left into the middle of the ring. His chest is bigger and taller in the 84. His shoulders more level as he rises just slight with the left arm/shoulder.

As he moves through the transition he squeezes the thighs tight together and bends both legs at the knees. His rhythm is similar to a stone skipping across the water. He lands without pre-turning the right foot as the whole body pivots together.

Here we see the difference and role in posture in its effects on the orbit. In both he lowers the left arm near hip level, holds the left side stalling a bit, and leans against the direction of the throw.

However in 76 his chest collapses and his shoulders roll forward. This drops his discus down and internally rotates his shoulder shortening his radius and changing his balance to fall more to the left.

In 84 his chest expands, the discus goes up, there is tension in his upper back, his whole back is arched, his shoulders stay in external rotation, and his balance is perfect.

As his left foot lands in 76 he throws the left arm high and begins to rotate over the top of his left side. He slightly falls over to the left side there.

In 84 he keeps the left arm a bit lower as he rotates around his body axis/spine. He is better balanced and keeps his energy moving more straightforward.

In 84 he focuses more on rotating his right foot/leg before he extends at the knee. In both he does a jump turn extending with both legs and hips as he pushes forward into the throw with the hips ahead of the discus. His left leg holds forward as his right arm rips and he finishes the throw.

Discus Throw Information by Dan John
https://web.archive.org/web/20180104112441/http://danjohn.net/2009/11/all-things-discus/

A Contrarian Approach to the Discus Throw by Dan John
https://web.archive.org/web/20161213064003/http://danjohn.net/pdfs/book.pdf

Discus technical Article by Dan John and Ralph Maughan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d33ASP11xNo&t=1s

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