Release parameters at the foul line and the official result in javelin throwing

Range in javelin throwing is determined by the release parameters and aerodynamic factors. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of release speed, release angle and uncorrected angle of attack measured at the foul line on the official javelin throwing result. The data were collected in international competitions for 26 elite male and 15 elite female javelin throwers (total 248 throws). Multiple regression models were constructed to predict the range of throw for a) individual throwers, b) a group of throwers using the mean value for each thrower in the analysis, and c) all individual throws registered for each gender separately. The data collection was carried out using a computerised photocell gate that consists of two invisible infrared walls two metres apart, perpendicular to the throwing direction. Release speed was found to have the highest correlation with the official throwing result. The three release parameters accounted for 56% of the variance in the official result for the male and 51% for the female throwers. For individual male and female throwers, the variance explained by the model was between 46 and 87%. Among the individual male throwers an increase of 1 m.s-1 in the release speed from 29 to 30 m.s-1 was calculated to increase the official result between 2.12 to 6.14 m while among the female throwers the effect of increase from 24 to 25 m.s-1 in the release speed was from 2.25 to 3.68 m. The study emphasises the importance of investigating javelin throwing biomechanics on an individual thrower basis.