Jeff Kajtsa, Director of Athlete Training, Impact Throwing Academy
Full video on Glazier Drive: Shot Put Glide: Faults and Corrections
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COACHING APPROACH
- Identify the fault, then find the cause — strength, rhythm, balance, or fear.
- Use one cue, one drill, and one technical target at a time.
- Coach from the side/back of the ring to best see the athlete’s movement.
GLIDE
- Keep the shot tight to the neck and eyes looking toward the back of the ring.
- Unseat the hips to initiate the glide.
- Drive low and horizontally across the ring rather than jumping.
- Keep the upper body controlled and avoid standing up.
POWER POSITION
- Right foot lands under the center of gravity.
- Left foot lands quickly to establish the block.
- Land with legs under tension, ready to explode.
- Maintain hip/shoulder separation and keep the shot connected to the neck.
DELIVERY
- Cue: “STRIKE UP AND OUT.”
- Hit the block effectively.
- Recover legally.
- Finish “TALL AND PROUD” — straight legs and head up.
COMMON FAULTS
- Too tall at the start: Load the back leg and relax the shoulders.
- Hips don’t unseat: Teach the athlete to drop and shift the hips before pushing.
- Jumping instead of gliding: Cue “DRIVE LOW ACROSS THE CIRCLE.”
POWER-POSITION CHECK
For a right-handed thrower, when the shot is dropped from the power position, it should land about 3–4 inches outside the right foot. This helps identify feet that are too wide or too narrow.
RETEST
Don’t judge the correction by one big throw. Look for a series of legal, consistent throws with improved posture, sector consistency, and distance.
MAIN TAKEAWAY: Keep coaching simple — find the problem, understand why it happens, give one correction, drill it, and retest.