Biomechanics of the Hammer Throw: Narrative Review

Abstract

Hammer throw is a discipline characterized by unique biomechanical features, which have often captured the interest of scientists and coaches in athletics. However, most studies have been published on technical journals for coaches and there are only few works on the biomechanical aspects of hammer throw in scientific literature. This narrative review provides a critical evaluation of the articles published in scientific and the most relevant technical journals with a particular focus on the biomechanical aspects that underlie the throwing technique and contribute to performance enhancement. The modern throwing technique has many elements in common with that used by the best throwers in the Eighties, underlying a limited development in the biomechanical understanding of throwing motion in recent years. This review analyses the ballistic and environmental aspects of the discipline as well as the motion of the center of mass of both the hammer and thrower. Furthermore, the orbital movement of the hammer and the forces involved in the throw are evaluated. This review emphasizes the kinematic and dynamic parameters that emerge as the most relevant to improve the throwing performance. Among these, linear release velocity appears to be a fundamental element. To maximize this variable, the athlete is required to accelerate the hammer by applying force. The curve of the time-tangential velocity of the hammer follows a trajectory very similar to that of the forces applied to the hammer-thrower system indicating a strong relationship between the two variables. The thrower uses the action of the leg muscles to gain momentum, which is then transferred to the hammer through the trunk and arm muscles, thus obtaining an increase of the linear release velocity. This review provides coaches with a critical analysis of the hammer throw technique, highlighting relevant factors for future development of training programmes. Our work reveals a substantial gap in the literature, particularly concerning the evaluation of fundamental key aspects of the throw such as the assessment of preliminary winds, the entry to the first turn and the definition of the rotation axes involved in the throw. A more in-depth analysis of these key elements is required to improve the understanding of the biomechanics of hammer throw.

Keywords: athletics; biomechanics; hammer throw; performance; technique; throws; track and fields.

Figure 1

Phases of Hammer Throw. Preliminary swings [1–3]. Entry phase [3–4–5–6]. Single support of the first turn (SS₁) [6–8]. Double support of the second turn (DS₂) [8–10]. Single support of the second turn (SS₂) [10–12]. Double support of the third turn (DS₃) [12–14]. Single support of the third turn (SS₃) [14–16]. Release [16–20]. First turn (T₁) [3–8]. Second turn (T₂) [8–12]. Third turn (T₃) [12–16]. Low point of the hammer in the first turn (LP₁) [5]. Low point of the hammer in the second turn (LP₂) [9]. Low point of the hammer in the third turn (LP₃) [13]. Low point at release (LP_R) [18]. High point of the hammer in the first turn (HP₁) [7]. High point of the hammer in the second turn (HP₂) [11]. High point of the hammer in the third turn (HP₃) [15].

Figure 2

Azimuthal displacement of high point of the hammer (HP), low point of the hammer (LP), SS and DS phase.

Figure 3

Rotation and translation in hammer throw. Adapted from Dapena (1986).

Figure 4

Adapted from Bartonietz (2008). Tangential velocity, V_H, radius, r_H, (A) and angular velocity, ω_H (B). The bar on the x-axis shows the instants of the DS (black) and SS (white) phases.

Figure 5

Inclination, translation and torsion.

Figure 6

(A) positive separation angle (pelvis leading thorax) and (B) negative separation angle (thorax leading pelvis). Adapted from Brice et al. (2018).

Figure 7

Adapted from Brice et al. (2008). Development of the cable tension during the hammer throw.

Figure 8

Components of cable tension when the cable tension vector is pulling in front (A) and behind (B) the axis of rotation. Adapted from Brice et al. (2011).