Proper Flight

For the javelin to fly a long distance, two things are essential:  

proper flight** and speed of release!  

Just like trying to hammer a nail into a block of wood in one stroke, the application of throwing force to the javelin must be precise.  

If you don't 'nail the flight', then the javelin catches a lot of air resistance (drag) and will not fly far.  Therefore, you must practice throwing the javelin into a proper flight by doing the following Flight Drills: 

**Proper flight defined as:

A.  Straight line throw  (imagine a catcher throwing to the pitcher, then to second base, then to the center fielder).  Fix your sight line:  look and aim to hit the straight ahead targets (cones).  

B. The javelin should be slightly somersaulting forward (grip over point = 'negative angle of attack') and, at the flight apex, the javelin should 'shelve' (fly parallel to the ground).

1. Standing Pegs:  Aim at a target 5 to 10 yards away. Stick the javelin so that the tail points directly back at you.  Don't forget to spin release!     

2. 3 Step Pegs (Spear Fish):  Impulse Step and Throw: Increase your target another 5 yards.

3. Seven Steps (1 & 2 & 3 & throw):  Increase target distance where the javelin is sticking point first into the ground.   Note the max distance that can be thrown with arc over point stick ('spearing fish').

4. Shelve Throws: Throwing from 8 steps, the javelin will fly several meters through the air parallel to the ground at the apex of  the flight arc. Yes, when you can do this, you will have 'nailed' the javelin flight!  Watch the following videos showing how to do these pegging throws (in our flight drill practice, we will replace the 2 step throws with 8 step throws):

Coach Scott Halley's Youtube Video ('Learn to Throw The Javelin in under Ten Minutes') underscores what you should be doing in regard to pegging the javelin from standing, then 3 steps,  5 steps, and 7 steps.  

Speed of Release

How far your javelin will fly is dependent on its flight and speed of release.  The velocity of your javelin at the moment of release is a result of the power created by the 'stretch reflex' of your muscles and the 'kinetic chain' of force created by proper body throw technique.  

Kinetic Chain = Foot, Knee, Hip, Shoulder, Arm, Wrist, Fingers.  Like crack the whip, the fastest part is the throwing hand's wrist and fingers.  Grip and Hand Release of the Javelin is very important to imparting velocity (speed) to the javelin itself. 

Watch the following videos for explanations:

German Training Machine:  Note how the cord is being spun off the fingers!  

American Cyrus Hostetler on the German Training Machine:  Note close up of the finger spin release!