Discus Throw Guide

How much does a discus weigh?

Females:

• (Standard) competitors are expected to throw a discus that weighs about 1kg and is 18cm in diameter.

Males:

• Beginners-competitors typically start off with a 1.
• Juniors- competitors use a 1.75 kg discus.
• Seniors (standard) - competitors throw a 2kg discus that is 22cm in diameter

How do I know what kind of discus to buy?

• Very high spin discus - [85-92% rim weight] used by advanced throwers who generate a lot of spin
• High Spin - [80-84% rim weight] above average throwers who generate a little less spin compared to advanced
• Low Spin - [75-80% rim weight] intermediate throwers who generate a moderate spin.
• Center - weighted discus [60-70% rim weight] beginners who generate low amount of spin

The main body of the discus, that is, the upper and lower surfaces, which are referred to as the ?sides?, are usually made of aluminum, wood, ABS plastic or fiber glass plastic. *The outer perimeter is referred to as ?the rim?, which is made of steel or bronze. Some discuses also come with a center ring as well. The types of discuses are determined by the percentage of weight of the metal rim in relation to the overall weight of the discus. The standard discus measures about 25 to 28 ? mm that starts from the edge of the rim to the edge of the inner circle but for training purposes only, discuses can also be purchased in rubber, an overweight wood discus, adjustable weight discus, and indoor.

Do I Need Any Other Discus Equipment?

Weight Throwing Shoes- can come with or without spikes. Specific discus shoes are exclusively designed to withstand the circular motion of the athlete, allowing him or her to keep their anchor foot planted and to avoid stepping outside of the circle. *Depending on the regulations of the track, most synthetic surfaces restrict spikes to be no more than 9mm long. Be sure to check the regulations for each competition first before you make a purchase!

All throwing shoes are different and you are typically not required to limit your options to just discus shoes. Brands such as Adidas, Nike, Saucony, etc. offer weight throwing shoes that are used for all throwing events and are just as good. These shoes are specifically designed for throwing events so that each competitor can perform safely, comfortably, and effectively. They are constructed with a solid rubber outsole and a centrifugal flex groove that allows for a fast rotations and extra support. Additionally, these shoes are tear resistant and durable for all outdoor weather conditions.

Rules of Discus Throw

In track and field, the discus is a symmetrical, thick-centered disk that is thrown by the athlete and is measured in distance. When throwing the discus, competitors are required to stay within the circle at all times. The athlete should also remain within the cage and the circle until the discus has touched the ground. Each participant typically has three throws and some may even be time-limited depending on the level of competition.

In most standard competitions, the discus is thrown from a circle that is about 2.5 meters in diameter (8.2ft) in which it is expected to fall within a 40? segment that is marked in the center of the circle. Once the discus has been thrown and has landed, the assistant takes the zero-end of the measuring tape to the landing site and the official announces the measurement back at the throwing circle. More specifically, the distance is measured in a straight line from the exact spot in which the discus landed to the closest inner edge of the throwing circle.

Important Terms to Know

Discus Cage: A required component of this sport that is used to ensure the safety of other competitors, officials, and observers. The cage is a U-shaped net that surrounds the athlete from behind and on both sides. The mouth of the cage measures out to be about 6 meters wide with the net being a minimum of 4 meters from the ground.

Circle: The discus circle is approximately 2 ? meters in diameter and lies at the opening of the cage. There is a rim that borders the circle and the athletes are not permitted to touch the outside edge of the rim when they throw; however, they are permitted to touch the inside of the rim.

Fouls Occur When:

• The athlete steps outside of the circle
• The discus is dropped outside of the circle during the athlete's first swing
• The athlete throws with both hands
• The athlete exits out the front half of the circle

Did you know?

Discus World Record & Interesting Facts

• Discus was originally started by the Ancient Greeks as a gymnastics exercise that would display the athlete?s precision, coordination, and physical strength.
• Al Oerte, or formally known as Alfred Oerter, Jr., an American, was the first track and field athlete to officially break the 200-foot mark for discus, followed by J?rgen Schult, a German who broke the discus world record in 1986 with a throw that reached 74.08 meters (243.04 feet) and still stands as the current world record.
• German, Lisel Westemann was the first woman to break the 200-foot mark and Russian, Fiana Melnik was the first woman to break the 70 meter.