Throwing sports are often misunderstood and are seen as requiring brute force and little else. This misunderstanding is at least in part due to the fact that shotput and discus both require a lot of strength to throw effectively. In truth, both sports require a tremendous amount of skill, but throwing a discus is also largely dependent on the quality, type, and weight of the throwing equipment itself. Before you buy your throwing discus, make sure you understand exactly what to look for in your equipment. Contact Coach Fouts for more information >>
What is the best throwing discus?
There is no one “best throwing discus” because the best equipment will vary from one athlete to another. A women’s discus will be different from a men’s discus, and olympic discus weight is different from college throwing weight. Different rim weights will perform differently in the hands of one athlete or another. Understanding your needs and preferences will help guide you in discovering which throwing discus is the best for you.What are the best throwing discus brands?
ThrowsLab athletes tend to throw with FiberSport, Nelco, Denfliy, and VS discus product lines. These brands all make products that offer superior performance and offer excellent customer service. Other brands that we recommend include Cantabrian, Gill, Nishi, and OTE. When athletes buy discus online, we advise them to do their research first, and get their hands on the product if possible. This is more than an investment in a piece of throwing equipment, it is an investment in your future success—choose wisely.How do I choose the right throwing discus weight?
Discus looks pretty simple: pick up a round metal disc, twirl it around a couple of times and then fling it as far as possible. How can you go wrong? Surprisingly easily, especially with weight. To optimize your throws and get the greatest distance, you need to start with the right sized discus. Fortunately, there is a formula for finding the right weight for you. Below is a chart that indicates the right sizes for the right contestants.
To use this chart, find the line that best represents your throwing range, and then multiply the specified competition weight by the percentage indicated. The number you come up with is the optimal weight of the discus you should be training with.
What are the specified competition weights for throwing discus?
Even though coaches may use different weights, the official competition weights are as follows: High School Boys throw a 1.6kg discus NCAA Men throw a 2kg discus High School Girls throw a 1kg discus NCAA Women throw a 1kg discus (weight does not change).What is rim weight on a throwing discus?
Each throwing discus will list a percentage of weight that is in the rim, or rim weight. This is literally the percentage of the entire discus weight that is located in the rim. For example, if you have a 1 kilogram discus with 75% rim weight, that means that the rim itself weighs .75 kilos, and the remaining .25 kilos is in the rest of the discus.How does the rim weight of a throwing discus affect the throw
If your rim weight is too heavy or too light, you just won’t get an optimal distance. Like a frisbee, a discus needs to spin to fly. Not enough spin and it will hit a certain point and just drop. Plenty of young athletes believe that a heavier rim will give them a greater throwing distance, but if you can’t spin it, there is no real advantage.So, is it better to train with a lighter or heavier throwing discus?
The answer is complicated, but in a nutshell: it’s better to train with both lighter and heavier discus than your competition weight. Put very simply, throwing a heavier discus makes your normal throwing discus feel lighter, but throwing a lighter discus helps with a speedy release. However, using a too-heavy discus will cause technique to suffer, while throwing lighter discus helps teach athletes to throw far with clean technique. At ThrowsLab, we recognize that every athlete is different, and using a combination gets the best performance out of our athletes.Testimonial
Nick Momaney
Great Coaching! Working with throwslab through high school led me to a current d1 opportunity.
Jeffrey Williams
Coach Fouts has coached me (Malan Potts) for 4 years. During that time, he has proven himself to be a generous and giving leader who trains his athletes hard and encourages them to do their best. I saw a huge improvement in my technique after my very first training session. He coaches me in a way that I never feel like he is being critical. I look forward to my training sessions and camps. He is always willing to give me advice on the college process which has been extremely helpful. My entire family appreciates, Coach Fouts!!!!
Frequently asked questions about ThrowsLab Camps
A ThrowsLab camp offers a balance of drills and throwing. The order is usually drills, lunch, then throwing. We make adjustments as-needed, depending on the format and time of year.
Yes. Not having throwing shoes isn’t ideal but still manageable to learn the technique, drills, and movements. We provide other equipment in limited quantities for ThrowsLab camps. You can also buy equipment from ThrowsLab at the camp.
Bring a shot put, two discs, throwing shoes, water bottle, and a towel to dry off implements just in case it’s necessary.
No. There are usually local places to eat lunch or you can bring food. There is an an hour for lunch each day at ThrowsLab camps.
We are very committed to keeping our coach-to-athlete ratio as small as possible. Our goal is no more than a 7:1 ratio. This means every athlete gets a ton of one-on-one instruction, but we’re also able to attend to a broad range of skill levels.
About your Throws coach
Coach John Fouts is the owner of ThrowsLab. He is certified by USATF as a level 2 coach, completed level 2 of Arete Throws Nation TCR™ system, and holds an NCACE Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification. He was a two-sport athlete in high school (Football & Track) and played his college football at Santa Clara University and UCLA. In 2011 he became a full-time coach and currently coaches Track at Diablo Valley College.
Over the past 7 years his athletes have won 2 Junior Olympic National Titles, achieved two top 5 finishes at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships, has had 5 podium finishes at state, won 58 discus and shot put titles, broke a 42 year old NCS section record in Discus (205’ 7”), and 9 school records. John currently lives with his wife Carol (Mrs. ThrowsLab) and their children in Clayton.