Sheaf Spin

Step 1 - Cast the sheaf up and in front of you.

Step 2 - sprint like in a Modified south african spin (open Stone) and catch the sheaf in a wrapped position with upper/lower separation, without bringing your left foot(if your right handed) all the way around.  You should be facing away from the standard

Step 3 - land with both feet at the same time and think jump, at that same time the bag should be at the bottom of the orbit, then of course you pull

-When you do this correctly, the pull is nothing.  You should feel the bag just jump off the fork from the momentum built up.  Landing with both feet at the same time is crucial.

I have been working on the spin since I got back from the MWC.  I dedicated myself to getting this down and quit standing altogether.  Sean has been my primary coach or example.  Just this weekend I hit a lifetime PR of 33'1" with the 16lb bag, so it is obvious to me the spin is a superior way to toss the sheaf.  Here are some things I have noticed that may or may not be the "right" way, but wanted to get feedback as well.

I take 4 big steps out and set up with the "South African stance like I'm sprinting towards the left upright (the left one as I'm now facing the standards).  I then crouch down a little and swing the fork back and the up really high and as I jump and pivot around and towards the standards.  I try not to hop, but just clear the ground enough to get my feet up and make the landing.  As I do this I rotate the sheaf around so that my fork is now in the classic  back swing of the "standing" position.  In essence, at this point, I look like I'm doing an old fashioned standing sheaf, but with momentum.  I stay kind of crouched, I don't get real upright, but I end up with a lot of torque built up as I begin to drive the bag down.  I know Sean mentioned keeping the bag close, maybe I'm not understanding what he's saying, but I try and keep my arms straight and the bag as far away from my shoulders as possible.  What he may be saying, and I do follow this, my orbit is close and tight to my body, as up and down as I can get rather than out way from my knees.   As I hit the bottom, I come up in the classic hang clean position, I focus on driving the hips forward and this forces me into an upright position and into a standing high jump.  I have been amazed at my progress in this, in a few weeks I've beaten my best standing throw and I am more consistent at 30ft plus with the spin.  I hit 30ft 10 times in a row last week.  I figure my standing sheaf will be there any time I need it, so I'm focused on getting this down for now and any feedback would be appreciated.  As I said, I don't claim to know how to do this, just sharing my experience in the learning process. 

   Debate away my friend...

Eric does know how to spin, and set Am WR's spinning.  Then went back to the stand.  I just don't think it's universal for everyone.  Mike for example.  I honestly don't think he would throw have thrown higher spinning, but i'll ask him.  Some people are just meant to stand and deliver i think.  I understand your point though...  

As for me, i'm too lazy.  I will stand in the sheaf and stand in the WOB til the very end.

Kevin Veit of Midwest Sports Photos and a Missouri Masters thrower has a sequence of pictures of Isaac Burchett doing the spin with the sheaf -- they can be found here.

If you take the sequences of several throws and put them side by side, you can get a pretty good idea of the steps.

http://www.midwestsportsphotos.com/pics/hgstl05.php?picture= 155

I condensed the sequences into one sequence which can be found here.

http://iowahighlandgames.googlepages.com/home

The pictures certainly indicate that Isaac must practiced that method often since he hit the same position on every throw