Scottish hammer throw is a traditional throwing event derived from ancient Scottish Highland games. It involves heaving of an implement consisting of a wooden handle with a spherical weight attached to one end of it as far as possible.

History, implement and technique

The event dates back centuries and is regarded the precursor to the modern

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. However, the traditional Scottish hammer throw has distinct differences in both the implement and the technique. The implement consists of a metal sphere weighing or for men, and or for women, which is attached to the end of a shaft about 4 feet (1.2 metres) long made primarily of wood or occasionally bamboo, rattan or plastic. With their back facing the field and feet in a fixed position, competitors whirl the hammer around their head once, twice or thrice and throw it over the shoulder, twisting the upper body nearly 180 degrees. Hammer throwers sometimes employ specially designed footwear with flat blades to dig into the turf to maintain their balance and resist the centrifugal forces of the implement as they whirl it. This substantially increases the attainable distance and is allowed by all Highland games federations.

World records

* light hammer for by Daniel McKim (2014 Utah Highland Games) * heavy hammer for by Daniel McKim (2014 Utah Highland Games) :→ ''Holding both records, McKim arguably is the greatest of all time at this event. Some other all-time greats who have held both records are Matt Sandford, Stephen King and

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Progression of the world records

7.3 kg (16 lb) light hammer

10 kg (22 lb) heavy hammer

References