mechanics of football throwing - - (update) SUCCESS!

[Jfur]

when one throws a football (a full-sized, otherwise normal one), where do you position your hands and do your nails scrape on the skin on release?

is there a "proper" form, or does it depend?

 

[murphy55d]

this is very individual... 30 starting QBs in the NFL, and I bet none of them have the exact same mechanics.

some guys like Bledsoe throw almost sidearm and hold the ball one way, while Kurt Warner keeps his index finger almost on the point of the ball.

it's just preference.

 

[silverpig]

It depends on your hand size and personal feel etc...


I put my middle finger in the last stitch towards the back of the ball, my ring finger right beside it, and then my pinky finger a few stitches down. Uh, then I just throw it. My fingernails are pretty short so they don't scrape against the ball at all.

 

[murphy55d]

I can hardly even grip a football to throw it...

My hands are too small.

 

[Jfur]

there is naturally a lot of power coming from the wrist, right?

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Jfur
there is naturally a lot of power coming from the wrist, right?

Naw, most comes from the shoulder rotation and body movement (try throwing without moving your body... I bet it doesn't go 20 yards).

The wrist action gives it spin and direction.

 

[illusion88]

The ball must spiral to go really far...
yeah

 

[wfbberzerker]

you should throw it so that it passes by your ear (at that height) in order to get a good spiral

 

[kranky]

How to throw a spiral

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
you should throw it so that it passes by your ear (at that height) in order to get a good spiral

I can get a good spiral about 25 yards, but only if my nails scrape the ball, and that feels really strange. I want to learn a better technique.

edit: thanks for link

 

[kranky]

This guy has good form, and he's accurate, too!

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: Jfur
there is naturally a lot of power coming from the wrist, right?

Naw, most comes from the shoulder rotation and body movement (try throwing without moving your body... I bet it doesn't go 20 yards).

The wrist action gives it spin and direction.

I usally throw baseball, and I use my hips and shoulders for that, but I notice the full-sized footballs require a lot more wrist and forearm control. Maybe my wrists are just relatively weaker so they feel it more.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: kranky
This guy has good form, and he's accurate, too!

hahaha, awesome

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: kranky
This guy has good form, and he's accurate, too!

haha, poor kid. at least he popped back up

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

When throwing a baseball, the power comes from shoulders, hips, and legs. A football requires more of an arm "snap."

The most common problem I see, most people extend there arm too far and don't point the palm of their hand forward - they basically throw it like a baseball.

Edit: That video is great!

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed
When throwing a baseball, the power comes from shoulders, hips, and legs. A football requires more of an arm "snap."

The most common problem I see, most people extend there arm too far and don't point the palm of their hand forward - they basically throw it like a baseball.

Edit: That video is great!

ah, that helps. Does the snap come from wrist and forearm?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Jfur
ah, that helps. Does the snap come from wrist and forearm?

Well, realistically, you aren't going to get much snap from your forearm as its simply not strong enough for the weight of the ball. Your forearm/wrist is primarily to get spin on the ball (spiral). Most of the force comes from your bicep and upper pecs.

1) Bend your arm at 90 deg angle.
2) Hold your arm prependicular to your body.
3) Pull your elbow back. You should feel the muscle in your pecs tighten.
4) The weight of the ball will unbend your arm slightly as you start to move your arm forward. This is the "whipping" action.
5) The ball should never move above your head - unless your play for the NFL and need to throw overtop several 300lb linemen.

 

[NeoV]

as a high school and college QB, I fell qualified to chime in here..

One of the things about throwing a football well that most people don't know is that your follow-through is different than it is when you throw a baseball...the key is that your hand shouldn't turn over, but your hand should go straight down, almost like a screw-ball follow through with a baseball....the best way to explain it is to hold your arm straight out in front of you with your hand extended out as well...most people tend to have their hand turn clock-wise after or as they are throwing a football, but it should actually turn a bit counter-clockwise...this keeps the spiral "tighter"...the motion isn't as obvious with guys like Gannon whose arm is at all sorts of different angles when he throws, but it is very apparent in over-the-top guys like Favre and Peyton Manning..

Many of you are also correct about a pitcher's power coming from from several different parts while a QB relies more on the arm/wrist/hand, but still uses legs/hips as well, when the protection allows it!

 

[Jfur]

thanks, when daylight returns I'll see if I can get some improvement

 

[silverpig]

Most of the force comes from your bicep and upper pecs.

Try throwing a ball with just your arm and see how far it goes. Most of the power comes from your body. Your arm gives it direction.

 

[Chaotic42]

Index finger almost on the tip, next finger on the leather, the rest inbetween every other lace.

I throw slanted to put spin on it.

 

[Desslok]

How long are your nails Jfur? The reason I ask is that I have never heard of someone's nails scraping the ball.

Most of the other posters have it right, it is VERY much what is most comfotable for you.

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: Desslok
How long are your nails Jfur? The reason I ask is that I have never heard of someone's nails scraping the ball.

Most of the other posters have it right, it is VERY much what is most comfotable for you.

I don't have really long foofoo nails, but they are definitely longer than a man's. I grow them a little longer than "natural" but not so long that I am always breaking them during sports or when fixing things. When I throw I try to stay away from the laces because it will catch there sometimes; the other side I can get a good grip but near release my nails sometimes drag on the skin

 

[Farmall]

You need a series of coordinated efforts starting from your legs on up through your wrist in order to get some good distance on the throw, you will have a far better chance of throwing a spiral as well. No matter how strong your arm is you won't get decent distance or accuracy without using your legs.

IMHO accuracy is far better than distance, take a old tire and hang it from a tree and practice throwing through the hole, start close and move back as your accuracy improves. You'll also reap the benefits of improved throwing mechanics as well as arm strength, which combined will allow you to be able to throw the ball with distance and accuracy.

Can't help out with the nail problem, never had that happen before.

 

[Triumph]

You mean to tell me that there are nerds here who actually know how to throw a football? :Q Get back on your computers!