So, I saw this question online – can you throw a shot put like a baseball? And, honestly, I got curious. I mean, I’ve thrown baseballs my whole life, and I’ve seen shot putters at track meets, but I’ve never really tried it myself. So, I figured, why not? Let’s give this a shot (pun intended!).
First things first, I needed a shot put. I didn’t have one just lying around, obviously. I ended up finding one at a local sporting goods store – a 12-pounder. It felt heavy. Way heavier than a baseball, that’s for sure.
The Experiment Begins
I headed out to my backyard. Plenty of space, no windows to break (important!). I held the shot put in my hand, trying to get a feel for it. It was awkward, to say the least. A baseball fits snugly in your palm; this thing felt like I was trying to grip a small cannonball.
- Attempt 1: The Overhand Throw. I wound up like I was pitching a fastball and… let it rip. Okay, maybe “rip” is too strong a word. It went maybe ten feet, and mostly downwards. My arm felt weird, like I’d just tried to throw a brick. Not good.
- Attempt 2: More Windup. This time, I tried a bigger windup, really putting my whole body into it. I figured more momentum, more distance, right? Wrong. It went a little further, maybe twelve feet, but it felt even more awkward. I almost twisted my ankle trying to keep my balance.
- Attempt 3: Focusing on Form (Sort Of). I watched a couple of shot put videos online, trying to get a sense of the technique. They do this whole spinning thing, which looked way too complicated for me. But I noticed they kind of push the shot put, rather than throw it like a baseball. So, I tried that – a sort of pushing motion from my shoulder.
This…was slightly better. I managed to get it to go about fifteen feet. Still pathetic compared to a real shot putter, but progress! It felt less like I was going to injure myself, which was a definite plus.
The (Not-So-Surprising) Conclusion
Can you throw a shot put like a baseball? Technically, yes, but you really, really shouldn’t. It’s awkward, inefficient, and probably a great way to hurt yourself. The weight and shape are completely different, and the techniques are worlds apart. You just can’t get the same leverage or power.
My backyard experiment definitely proved that. I’m sticking to baseballs. My arm and my pride will thank me for it.
