Hammer Boots/Shoes
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Category: Nasgaweb Forums
Forum Name: Training
Forum Discription: This forum is for discussion about training for the Scottish Heavy Events.
URL: http://www.nasgaweb.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=915
Printed Date: 3/26/26 at 9:51pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 10.11 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hammer Boots/Shoes
Posted By: Dave Carl
Subject: Hammer Boots/Shoes
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 6:54am
|
Just curious, does everyone use hammer boots/shoes? I was
thinking of making/getting a pair. Will it add distance to my throws? Thanks, -Dave |
Replies:
Posted By: damon
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 8:10am
| Hey Dave, I made my boots last year and just couldn't get use to them at all. This spring I really put time in practicing with them and it just started to click. Now I can keep my arms straight through almost the entire range of motion and really build some momentum. I have added around 8-10' to my throws, so in my opinion they help a lot, but it will take some practice to get use to them. Although I'm still no Craig Morhead or Jody Gilbert. |
Posted By: McBain1975
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 8:34am
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I tried practicing with them for about a month...just couldn't get used to
them. What was it that made them click for you? ------------- N�l m� ag duine le daoine. |
Posted By: damon
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 8:55am
| Forcing myself to wear them while practicing twice a week. Defintiely not the same event with and without boots. |
Posted By: McBain1975
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 8:57am
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How long are your blades? I think mine are too short (and no this is not
an invite for a filthy joke). ------------- N�l m� ag duine le daoine. |
Posted By: damon
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 9:50am
| I actually cut mine down a little, at first they were a little over 5" past the tip of the boot, I cut them down to 4" and I like it a little better. |
Posted By: Wiggs
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:31am
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Do you have heels on your boots? I made my first pair without a prominent heel and could never get any distance, or feel comfortable with them. Now I have a 2" heel on my boots and they feel much better, and it's easier to get your hips into it. I'm now up to my old PR's without boots and have only thrown with them a handful of times... |
Posted By: Tim
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 12:56pm
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Generally, boots will add about 10' to your throws once you get used to
them. To get used to them, I suggest making yourself a practice
implement like Larry Brock, Kerry Overfelt, and Jumbo showed us in
Charlotte. Get a few weight plates and attach it to a length of
chain (ie dog leash type). use about a 1 1/2 foot section of PVC
for your handle. Start with about 14-16 lbs of weight. The
flexiblity of the chain will force you to counter-balance the weight
with your hips. Just do this nice and easy for a while and you
will become comfortable with your boots (even without boots).
------------- "Remember, you don't take respect, you can only give it." Myles Wetzel-Forum post 10/2/07 Rock the House |
Posted By: big MAC
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 5:40pm
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I did 4 throws with the 16 in a pair of boots, didn't liek them, landed on my butt twice, and got 5 feet less than I did in rugby boots. But I will get some soon, 102 feet with the 16 ain't going to hack it. ------------- |
Posted By: agm_
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:20pm
No, boots will take away distance. Until you get comfortable with them and stop worrying about falling over, and then you'll be back to normal distances. And then you'll learn to actually use them, and then yes, you'll throw farther with them than without. But it may take some time. |
Dave Carl wrote:Posted By: Dave Carl
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:44pm
|
Thanks to all.
Damon- there is only one Jody and one Craig, all the rest like them are locked away somewhere. -Dave ------------- DAVE'S GRIDDLE COOKIES ~THEY MAY MAKE YOU THROW FARTHER~ |
Posted By: crazysaladboy
Date Posted: 5/13/05 at 2:37am
|
Dave-
For us small guys I think that these boots are a large help. We just need something to hold us to the ground. The first practice that I used them I progressed 20+ feet, and I think you will progress just being able to keep your feet on the ground. |
Posted By: Dave Carl
Date Posted: 5/13/05 at 4:42am
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Nathan,
I agree. After watching you and Issac throw the hammer I can see the need for them. Did you make your blades? -Dave |
Posted By: Borges
Date Posted: 5/13/05 at 5:56am
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Blades can definitely help although most folks lose distance at first while they get used to them. On the other hand, you can throw very far without them too. Mike Pokowski consistently throws the 16 in the low 120s without even a pair of cleats. ------------- Cheers, Carlos "Live free or die" |
Posted By: Edward
Date Posted: 5/13/05 at 4:24pm
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Believe it or not, I made mine from barbecue forks. (coleman, to be specific from the camping section at Wal-Mart) Everyone that sees them laughs and says they will help me get a new pair, but so far they work great. And even for us big guys, it helps you stay connected to the ground. Nathan's seen them, he too laughed and asked if they worked. But even in the rough soil of Wakeeney I got a good stick. My distances won't support the rest of it. ------------- Ed |
Posted By: crazysaladboy
Date Posted: 5/13/05 at 5:36pm
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Dave- Yeah I made mine. I also made my dad's and my sister's boots. We just had some 1/4 inch steel strips that we cut to the right size and bolted them to some boots and they work great. Ed's boots do look cool. I was just looking for him to start eating the feast at Wakeeney with his boots though. But if they work don't change them. |
Posted By: Tim Pinkerton
Date Posted: 5/14/05 at 1:53am
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Dave if the hammer spikes help you throw the hammer anything like Nathan then get some. Hell, last season I almost shaved my head and grew a long go-tee to try to get my hammer distance up but now that Nathan is sporting a different look this year I guess the his secret has to be something else. ------------- "Big ain't Strong...Strong is Strong." Visit our training page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Get-U-Fit-Training-Systems/119414814828174 - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Get-U-Fit-Training-Systems/ 119414814828174 |
Maybe it's those orange circus peanuts. What do you think CrazySaladBoy?Posted By: Dave Carl
Date Posted: 5/14/05 at 2:32am
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I think it is the circus peanuts, if this secret falls into the wrong hands, it could disrupt the space-time continuum. TP go get some rest. -Dave ------------- DAVE'S GRIDDLE COOKIES ~THEY MAY MAKE YOU THROW FARTHER~ |
Posted By: crazysaladboy
Date Posted: 5/15/05 at 9:47am
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Tim- You forgot about the large amount of Mountain Dew. Circus Peanuts and Mountain Dew. The Secret is out. Go fill up on them. |
Posted By: Wayne Hill
Date Posted: 5/15/05 at 12:35pm
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All Tim needs right now is something else to keep him awake! -Wayne ------------- "We may be small, but we're slow." - MIT Rugby |
Posted By: Tim Pinkerton
Date Posted: 5/15/05 at 1:00pm
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Ah, I forgot about the Mt. Dew. Maybe adding that to the mix will get me back on track next year. I still think, though, that there is something genetic that I'm missing that you've got. You are a freak...but in a good way. Wayne, you ain't lying. We just brought Jayden home today and the two girls will come home tomorrow. ------------- "Big ain't Strong...Strong is Strong." Visit our training page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Get-U-Fit-Training-Systems/119414814828174 - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Get-U-Fit-Training-Systems/ 119414814828174 |
Posted By: DarylB
Date Posted: 5/17/05 at 3:26am
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Sleep is for wusses, Tim. Congrats again on those babies. Now for the
question the world wants to know...When are you coming out to play
again? You know you are always welcome down here in MO. Just bring the
kids along since we have a kid safe house because of the grandkids.
Roni and Kelly could talk about babies and we can throw!
------------- Yeah, those are all my kids. Same wife. Yes, there are eight. |
Posted By: LEM II
Date Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:25am
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Okay, I've read through the thread, but there's nothing there about a good pattern for the blades. I understand the 5" extension from the toe of the boot, but how much of a drop from the bottom of the boot? If you're adding two inches to the heel, does that mean you've got a 2" offset on the blades from the bottom of the boot? Thanks. ------------- -In the beginning God... |
Posted By: Tim Pinkerton
Date Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:00am
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Daryl- I have told my wife that I am taking the year off. I kind of want to anyway. I don't want to miss anything during this hectic but fun first year. Your games may be one of the ones I do next year, though, due to that "kid & thrower friendly" environment. Besides, that way Nathan can wax my a$$ in front of the home crowd. With all of the hard work and practice that he (and let's not forget Issac) puts in he is really becoming remarkable. If he gets much better Randell will have to adopt him as an idol instead of Mark Howe. ------------- "Big ain't Strong...Strong is Strong." Visit our training page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Get-U-Fit-Training-Systems/119414814828174 - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Get-U-Fit-Training-Systems/ 119414814828174 |
Posted By: Wayne Hill
Date Posted: 5/17/05 at 12:27pm
A lot of hammer forks are basically flat along the sole of the boot, then drop an inch, then go straight forward parallel to the surface. This kind of spike only works well if the turf is in pretty good shape. I've had a set like those, but after frustration with sandy turf at one games, which totally negated any advantage, I made a different pair where the forks dive at about a 45 degree angle into the turf. These worked better, but I gave up on them anyway, because the turf on my practice field is so much better than at any games I've seen that I can't practice in realistic conditions. Anyway, ... Hammer spikes are typically attached to the forward part of the sole, not all the way to the heel. When you're standing there in hammer boots without raised heels, in many cases you'll find that the spikes want to point up (with standard spikes): the sole just isn't flat on the ground. In this case, raising the heel will make a big difference in improving your stance. It also doesn't hurt to raise yourself, allowing you to incline the plane of the swing a tad. -Wayne ------------- "We may be small, but we're slow." - MIT Rugby |