How to Throw a Discus

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Last Updated: November 22, 2024 Approved

Discus throwing dates back to at least 708 BC. During that time, a Greek sculptor named Myron created his famous statue, Discobolus, of a discus thrower. The poet Homer even referenced discus throwing in his Iliad.^{[1]
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Research source} Discus throwing formed an important part of the Greek pentathlon, though iron and bronze discs of that time were much heavier than the ones used these days. Today, both men and women of all ages participate in this Olympic event.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting into Position

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1
Choose the right disc. The size and weight of the discus you throw is determined by your age and gender. However, if you feel that the weight suggested for you is too heavy or light, you may need to adjust the weight to suit your needs. The following list should help you choose a suitable discus:^{[2]
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- Women (all levels) - 1 kg Discus
- Boys (up to age 14) - 1 kg Discus
- Men (high school, 15-18) - 1.6 kg Discus
- Men (college) - 2 kg Discus
- Men (masters to 49) - 2 kg Discus
- Men (ages 50-59) - 1.5 kg Discus
- Men (ages 60+) - 1 kg Discus
2
Practice the stance. This is one of the most important steps to throwing a discus well, along with holding the disc correctly. Your feet should be a little wider than shoulder width apart. Your arms should both be extended to their full length.
- The ideal stance will also have a slight bend in the knees and waist. Think of yourself as a coiled spring, getting ready to release.
- Throughout your throw, keep your head relaxed and stationary. Your core, especially your torso and shoulders, are key to a good delivery.^{[3]
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- Practice the chin-knee-toe technique, where you ensure that the knee of your left leg is in line with your toes and chin as you stand.
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3
Find a comfortable foot position. If you're right handed, your left foot will be pointed out of the ring at the ring exit. Your right foot will be pointed 90° clockwise from your left one. So, the left foot will be at 12:00 and the right at 3:00.^{[4]
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- The stance for left-handed throwers will be exactly the same as right-handed throwers, only in reverse, with the right foot at 12:00 and the left at 9:00.
- Try not space your feet too far apart; this could block your wind-up. Think of the foot position like an "L," with your right foot in line with the L’s bottom, and your left with the L’s top.
4
Enter the discus cage with your disc. The discus cage is a U-shaped net that surrounds the discus thrower.^{[5]
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Research source} Avoid throwing a disc in an open area if there are people around. Anyone who is watching you should stand safely behind the net.
- Even pros sometimes loose their grip on discs at competitions. You should be the only person in the ring and no one should be in the throwing area, otherwise you risk injuring other people.
5
Position your feet in the ring. Stand inside of the discus circle, which is a 2.5 meter (8.2 ft) diameter circle, towards the back of the cage.^{[6]
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Research source} Face away from your target. Your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder width.
- As you wind up, your weight should be distributed so that about 60% - 70% is on your right foot.^{[7]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Throwing the Discus

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1
Grip the discus with one hand. Hold onto the discus with one hand. Place your palm down on the top of the discus so that it is facing the ground. Then spread out your fingers along the outer edge of the discus so they are evenly spaced.
- This may go without saying, but if you are right handed, use your right hand. Left-handed throwers will use their left hand.
- Don’t grip the discus too tightly. Your fingers should not wrap all the way around the edge of the discus. This will make it easier to throw.
- Use your free hand to support the bottom of the discus until you are ready to throw. However, throwing with both hands is considered a foul.^{[8]
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Maintain the position of the discus in your right hand so it is face down, with your other hand supporting the bottom. Remember to remove your bottom hand before you start your throw.^{[9]
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3
Swing your arm and spin your body. Swinging the arm that is holding the discus and then spinning your body around will help you to gain momentum for the throw. The more momentum you can build, the better.
- Most discus throwers spin around one and a half times before releasing the discus.^{[10]
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  Research source} Some throwers, though, prefer to keep their feet stationary.^{[11]
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4
Watch your body position in the spin, if applicable. It may feel natural to lead with your left arm, but resist this urge. Lead with your right leg. As you do, drive with your left leg. Keep the discus at shoulder level, your body leaning forward, and your eyes up mid-spin.
- You should pick up your right foot to step before your shoulder passes over it. Try to keep your right shoulder behind your right hip.
- To keep your left arm in position during this part of the throw, hold it above your left leg as though you’re reading the time.
- As your left foot sweeps through the last part of the turn (between 6:00 and 5:00), your arm should stall the discus at about 4:30. At this point, the discus should be at least head height.^{[12]
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5
Carry momentum through to the release. On the final arc of your spin, ground your left foot in the direction you are throwing. Your right foot will continue to pivot, adding momentum. When the disc is directly opposite the release point, lower your left heel.
- At the start of the final rotation of your spin, the disc will be at head level or higher. Turning into the release, the disc will dip low to about your hip. On release, the disc should be as high as possible.^{[13]
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6
Release the disc. This may sound silly, but it may help your release if you pretend you are slapping a person taller than you who is standing directly in front of you. As you come around to the opening of the cage, release the disc.
- During the throw, never go over the ring line because this will result in a foul. Your feet may touch the inside of the ring, but must not go over it.^{[14]
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Check the landing position of your discus. If it's not as far as you had hoped, keep at it. Frequent practice, discus drills, and training will improve your distance. A well-thrown disc should travel parallel to the ground.
Even if you’re practicing with other throwers you trust, do not stay in the ring with the next thrower. While you’re waiting for your next chance to throw, practice the motions of the wind-up and release. Rock solid form will only improve your performance.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Training to Throw Discus

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1
Run through the throwing motion without the discus. Follow through with your motions. Interrupting yourself mid-throw may create a stutter in your form. When you’ve got a good feel for the stance and delivery, repeat this exercise with your eyes closed.
- Be careful when practicing with your eyes closed. Even if you know your practice area well, a misstep could be painful.
- Practicing this motion with your eyes closed will improve your body awareness and help the motion become a more natural reflex.^{[15]
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2
Build back strength. Medicine ball back exercises may be the best place to start, since you can adjust the weight of the balls to meet your needs. Include pullups in your discus training, as these are an excellent back and upper body workout. ^{[16]
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- If you’re really struggling with pullups, get a workout buddy to help you with some assisted pullups until you can do a few on your own.
- Even if you can only manage one or two pullups at first, keep including this exercise in your training routines. Before you know it you’ll be a pullup pro.
- There are many dumbbell back exercises, like bent over reverse flys, that you can easily do at home.
3
Strengthen your core. Sit ups are a classic core workout, but if you find this exercise uncomfortable, try out medicine ball core exercises. Lunges are a great for core strengthening and will improve balance, too. Other exercises you might try include:
- Squats, which will condition your core and legs. The sturdier your core and legs, the better your balance during your wind-up and delivery.^{[17]
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- Planks will work your entire core and improve stability.^{[18]
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  Research source} Hold planks for at least 30 seconds. Hang in there through the burn. You can do it!
Running will improve your stamina, allowing you to practice more and longer. As an added bonus, running should also encourage a smoother, more balanced form. Good balance is necessary to keep your throws consistent.^{[19]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Why do I have to exit the circle?

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If you go out the front, they will scratch it. If you go out the back, it is measured.

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Can I practice discus with a towel?

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Yes, practicing discus with a towel helps you work on the technique. It prevents you from only focusing on throwing far.

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Should I start my spin facing forwards or backwards? I was taught several different ways.

Bellsdavie05

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The full spin starts backwards though you can start forwards if you're just learning the spin. You should do what you are more comfortable doing.

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Tips

Another way you can maximize throwing distance is by releasing the disc at about 45°. The world record for men is 74.08 m (243 ft)!

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For discus throwing, you should wear comfortable shirts and shorts that fit well. When selecting discus wear, think of Goldilocks - not to loose, not too tight, but just in the middle.

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Flick your fingers and aim your arm/hand high as you let go of the disc for more distance.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you're going to do a spin with your throw, make sure to wear shoes that aren’t super grippy at the bottom. Otherwise they will stick more to the cement of the circle and make spinning more difficult!
After releasing your disc, it can be helpful to reverse your stance while the disc is leaving your hand. It relieves pressure from your knee.
Do not wear anything that could fall off during your throw, such as jewelry, hats, or headbands.

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Warnings

Spinning too fast when throwing is not recommended. Doing this can cause backward throws, misguided throws, and/or dizziness.

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Wearing a hat or sunglasses can negatively impact your delivery. Avoid wearing these items when throwing for this reason.

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Be aware of your surroundings. A discus could be deadly if it hits someone.

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