Abstract
PURPOSE: The rotational style shot put, introduced in the 1970s, has become the predominant technique in elite competition, yet its biomechanical determinants remain underexplored relative to the glide. This study investigated the predictive influence of release velocity, release angle, and release height on throw distance among world-class male rotational shot putters.
METHODS: Biomechanical and performance data from men’s World Athletics Championship finalists (n = 32) were analyzed across four competitions (2017 London, 2018 Birmingham, 2019 Doha, and 2022 Eugene). Variables included release velocity (m·s−1), release angle (°), and release height (m); the dependent variable was the official throw distance (m). Multiple linear regression was performed using JASP 0.18, with significance set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS: The regression model was significant, F(3, 31) = 5.55, p < 0.001, explaining 61% of variance (R2 = 0.61). Release velocity was the strongest predictor (β = 0.882, p < 0.001), followed by release angle (β = 0.334, p < 0.001) and release height (β = 0.213, p = 0.003). Practically, a 1 m·s−1 increase in release velocity corresponded to an estimated 2.35 m gain in distance, while each additional degree of release angle contributed ~0.09 m.
CONCLUSIONS: Release velocity is the primary determinant of throwing distance in the rotational shot put, with angle and height providing complementary effects. These findings establish performance benchmarks for optimizing kinematic efficiency and guiding evidence-based strength-power training interventions in elite shot-put preparation.