Stones

Stones are everywhere. Good stones are not. Always carry a good stone.

Flat\Flatish Stones

Flat stones are suited to being thrown from the hip.
In this technique the arm action is compact and rapid, and the stone will have a flat, direct trajectory towards your target.
Pick up you stone. It should be a good weight, if it is too light it will capsize in flight. It is generally good to have the edge of your stone as thick to half as thick as your index finger, and for its bulk to fit easily into you grip. Find the best place to lay you index finger. This will be the point at which the stone will achiever the most consistent launch, where the stone is best balanced. The bottom of the stone rests on your middle finger with your thumb keeping it in place. Put the leg opposite to you throwing arm forward (left leg for right handed throwers), point the toes on your lead foot at your target. The rear foot should be pointed between 45 and 90 degrees. This feels unnatural but it will open up your hips and orientate your shoulders improving power and accuracy. Drop your throwing hand down just behind you rear leg.

Look intently at your target.

To throw, bring you arm swiftly forwards so your elbow is level with your hip and you hand is horizontal with your elbow. This is a critical point. Continue the movement but focus on you index finger. When you hand is in front of the centre line of your body, push the stone from your index finger towards the target, spinning it off the tip. Continue the motion, your hand should end up the other side of your leading hip. The stone will fly. See this technique as three continuous movements. Practice every day and you will be able to throw round corners..

Not flat stones

Not flat stones are suited to being thrown over head, and often have a looping trajectory. They are useful for reaching high targets or overcoming obstacles, for example you could loop the stone over a large bough which is obstructing a flat trajectory. It is also possible to throw very large stones with the over head technique. As the title suggests, this technique relies on your stone hand passing over your head. This throw is more flexible than the flat throw, and you can go from an inverted over head throw all the way to an almost hip throw. Find a good stone, this will be typically heavier than a hip throwing stone, and be squarer. The index finger is still crucial, and you must find the best place to hold the stone. Point the toes of your lead leg forward, toes of your rear leg between 45 and 90 degrees. This will feel more natural when it comes to throwing as more weight is placed on the front foot in the throw. Begin with your throwing arm bent with you stone hand roughly opposite your ear.

Look intently at your target.

Drop some weight on to your rear foot and extend your arm so it is almost straight, with your hand approximately level with your head behind you. It will naturally point in a diagonal. To complete a straight line throw, bring your arm with elbow slightly bent above your head, then follow through down the centre of your body, releasing the stone when appropriate. The stone should reverse spin off your finger. This is similar to a cricket bowl, and requires big movement. For a more natural throw repeat the first few steps but when passing above the head take a more diagonal line across the body. This style requires a good understanding of trajectory.

Notes

James Kennard Menu