Post by Coach Campbell on Jun 19, 2009 7:05:06 GMT
How to Throw a Football
Try having a very light grip, as gripping too hard will cause decreased ball control and can affect the release. Grip the football on the under belly with your index finger on the ball seam making a sort of "L" shape with your index finger and thumb
Hold the ball up near your right ear, if you're right-handed, or left ear if you're left-handed. You will have a much quicker release, which will give a defender less time to react to your throw, hence increasing your completion percentage.
Keep your eyes on the target, your shoulders close to parallel to the intended target and your pivot/plant foot pointing nearly at the target you intend to throw to. (Your pivot foot is the opposite side of your throwing arm.)
Make the throwing motion circular, albeit a half circle from top to finish; think of centripetal effect, with the release being at the top of the arc. The longer the radius of the circle, the faster you will be able to throw the ball (i.e. the further you extend your arm from your shoulder, the more velocity you can achieve with less arm speed).
Shift your weight nearly evenly at release. About 60% of your weight will be on your front foot at release. As you get more comfortable slinging it around, you will be able to step into your throws. A good QB will need to step into his throw to complete a 20 yd sideline pass.
Use the rotation of your shoulders timed well with the throwing motion of your arm to generate the torque needed to achieve maximum velocity on your throws.
Find your release point. Footballs tend to sail through the air quite well when a decent amount of spin has been imparted on it. A certain release point will generally be good enough to cover 5-15 yds, a slightly higher release will rocket the ball 15-25 yds and so on and so forth.
A three quarter release is generally a very easy way to throw.
Remember to follow through with your arm fully to the hip opposite of your throwing arm. If released properly the ball will drill through the air.
To throw a deep ball, just change the launch angle. A perfectly thrown deep ball will nose dive beautifully at its peak.
Practice throwing with 50% or less effort - the release is very important. Next, with very low effort, get the timing of your shoulder rotation in tune with your arm's throwing motion to generate maximum velocity without maximum effort. Also it will be harder to throw the ball with pads on.
A proper throw will feel like it's only utilizing the thumb, index, and middle finger. Good release will "roll" off of your index and middle finger. To impart more spin, you may snap your wrist through as you follow through to the hip. The other two fingers on your hand stabilize the ball as it's being flung. They should not be used to impart spin on the ball, unless you really know what you're doing. The most important finger to throwing a spiral is the index finger, as it is the finger that holds the most leverage in putting spin on the ball.
The release and follow through are very important, more so than the throwing motion.
Release and follow through are the difference between throwing a wobbly "duck" and rifling a throw that nails your receiver between the numbers. Try to "throw" your shoulders when you throw, using your torso to rotate your shoulders to give you more power on your throws. Your hand should also touch your opposite hip on the follow through.
Your fingertips should be the last part of your hand to touch the ball. This helps ensure good spin.
An excellent exercise is to throw the football up and down. You can really grasp the concept of the release by using this exercise and as you learn to throw higher and higher, your catching will become better, too.
Watch videos of Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke, consensus All-American and 2000 Heisman trophy winner. Weinke's throwing motion is close to being perfect. His release is a little slow, but near perfect. He throws one of the best high arcing and accurate deep ball in the NFL. Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals is also famously mechanically sound.
When following through, make sure your thumb points to the ground just after you release the ball. This way, you get more spin and accuracy into your throw.
Make sure to first try without really putting your whole body into the throw. Use small steps and and slowly start leading up to taking a step before a throw
Throwing the football is simple. Put your non-throwing side foot in front of you. Have your pinkie, ring, and middle fingers around the laces with your index finger on the strap. Put the other hand up on the ball. Put the ball up by your ear. Twist your hips towards the front foot, throw the ball at the receiver, make sure that you keep your eye on the receiver, and follow through with your hand as if you are trying to shake the defenders hand. Make it happen in one big movement.
Do not hurl the ball with the palm of your hand. It will have no spin, and instead of spiraling, it will just flop end-over-end in the air.
Make sure to follow through on every throw you make. If you throw hard and often without following through, you put yourself at risk for injury, most commonly tendonitis.
Remember to throw by the ear, and not like Vince Young, who throws off to the side, unless you are more comfortable with that method, in which case, whatever works best for you will work.
Always try to avoid throwing... with only one foot on the ground. while leaning back.
across your body (i.e. throwing to the left when facing right).
turning and throwing (i.e. facing one way and making a 180 degree turn, then throwing; making a smaller turn is OK, and may actually help the throw).
Avoid throwing with the other arm unless if you are getting flushed off the pocket and trying to avoid the sack by dumping the ball for a short getaway completion. Most receivers need time to adjust the different spin on the spiral if you do try to throw with both hands.
Try having a very light grip, as gripping too hard will cause decreased ball control and can affect the release. Grip the football on the under belly with your index finger on the ball seam making a sort of "L" shape with your index finger and thumb
Hold the ball up near your right ear, if you're right-handed, or left ear if you're left-handed. You will have a much quicker release, which will give a defender less time to react to your throw, hence increasing your completion percentage.
Keep your eyes on the target, your shoulders close to parallel to the intended target and your pivot/plant foot pointing nearly at the target you intend to throw to. (Your pivot foot is the opposite side of your throwing arm.)
Make the throwing motion circular, albeit a half circle from top to finish; think of centripetal effect, with the release being at the top of the arc. The longer the radius of the circle, the faster you will be able to throw the ball (i.e. the further you extend your arm from your shoulder, the more velocity you can achieve with less arm speed).
Shift your weight nearly evenly at release. About 60% of your weight will be on your front foot at release. As you get more comfortable slinging it around, you will be able to step into your throws. A good QB will need to step into his throw to complete a 20 yd sideline pass.
Use the rotation of your shoulders timed well with the throwing motion of your arm to generate the torque needed to achieve maximum velocity on your throws.
Find your release point. Footballs tend to sail through the air quite well when a decent amount of spin has been imparted on it. A certain release point will generally be good enough to cover 5-15 yds, a slightly higher release will rocket the ball 15-25 yds and so on and so forth.
A three quarter release is generally a very easy way to throw.
Remember to follow through with your arm fully to the hip opposite of your throwing arm. If released properly the ball will drill through the air.
To throw a deep ball, just change the launch angle. A perfectly thrown deep ball will nose dive beautifully at its peak.
Practice throwing with 50% or less effort - the release is very important. Next, with very low effort, get the timing of your shoulder rotation in tune with your arm's throwing motion to generate maximum velocity without maximum effort. Also it will be harder to throw the ball with pads on.
A proper throw will feel like it's only utilizing the thumb, index, and middle finger. Good release will "roll" off of your index and middle finger. To impart more spin, you may snap your wrist through as you follow through to the hip. The other two fingers on your hand stabilize the ball as it's being flung. They should not be used to impart spin on the ball, unless you really know what you're doing. The most important finger to throwing a spiral is the index finger, as it is the finger that holds the most leverage in putting spin on the ball.
The release and follow through are very important, more so than the throwing motion.
Release and follow through are the difference between throwing a wobbly "duck" and rifling a throw that nails your receiver between the numbers. Try to "throw" your shoulders when you throw, using your torso to rotate your shoulders to give you more power on your throws. Your hand should also touch your opposite hip on the follow through.
Your fingertips should be the last part of your hand to touch the ball. This helps ensure good spin.
An excellent exercise is to throw the football up and down. You can really grasp the concept of the release by using this exercise and as you learn to throw higher and higher, your catching will become better, too.
Watch videos of Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke, consensus All-American and 2000 Heisman trophy winner. Weinke's throwing motion is close to being perfect. His release is a little slow, but near perfect. He throws one of the best high arcing and accurate deep ball in the NFL. Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals is also famously mechanically sound.
When following through, make sure your thumb points to the ground just after you release the ball. This way, you get more spin and accuracy into your throw.
Make sure to first try without really putting your whole body into the throw. Use small steps and and slowly start leading up to taking a step before a throw
Throwing the football is simple. Put your non-throwing side foot in front of you. Have your pinkie, ring, and middle fingers around the laces with your index finger on the strap. Put the other hand up on the ball. Put the ball up by your ear. Twist your hips towards the front foot, throw the ball at the receiver, make sure that you keep your eye on the receiver, and follow through with your hand as if you are trying to shake the defenders hand. Make it happen in one big movement.
Do not hurl the ball with the palm of your hand. It will have no spin, and instead of spiraling, it will just flop end-over-end in the air.
Make sure to follow through on every throw you make. If you throw hard and often without following through, you put yourself at risk for injury, most commonly tendonitis.
Remember to throw by the ear, and not like Vince Young, who throws off to the side, unless you are more comfortable with that method, in which case, whatever works best for you will work.
Always try to avoid throwing... with only one foot on the ground. while leaning back.
across your body (i.e. throwing to the left when facing right).
turning and throwing (i.e. facing one way and making a 180 degree turn, then throwing; making a smaller turn is OK, and may actually help the throw).
Avoid throwing with the other arm unless if you are getting flushed off the pocket and trying to avoid the sack by dumping the ball for a short getaway completion. Most receivers need time to adjust the different spin on the spiral if you do try to throw with both hands.