Ryan Crouser shows great technique for a high school thrower. The rotational shot put is all about rhythm. Great analysis and break down of his form by Mac Wilkins.
Watch and learn...then...
Throw Far,
Coach Frontier
Read pieces of an Article By Doug Binder 01/30/11
Ryan Crouser’s Herculean performances in the shot put where he’s headed in 2011 and beyond. Could he be the next big thing in U.S. Shot Put and Track and Field for that matter?
He is rotating for the first time this year as a Senior at Barlow High School in Oregon. As you watch the video he is incredibly controlled and balanced. I believe he will continue to get faster as he becomes more confident with what he is doing rotationally.
Crouser employed spin technique for the first time in competition at Boise State, throwing U.S. #2 all-time 73-1 with the 12-pound high school shot in January at the New Balance West Invitational. He destroyed the U.S. high school indoor record with the 16-pound implement, throwing 63-11 to better the record by more than three feet. That mark, moved him to No. 2 all-time, behind Michael Carter, who threw 67-9 outdoors 32 years ago. If he was in college, it would have landed him an NCAA auto qualifier.
“I think it’s a really good starting point,” Crouser said. “I didn’t get anything too crazy or that will be tough to get again, but throwing with the 16 was solid.” Crouser will focus on the 12-pound high school shot put and his goal is clear: Carter’s 1979 high school record of 81-3.
“I’m thinking by the end of outdoors (season), I’ll try to get Carter’s record,” the University of Texas recruit said.
Crouser’s improvement comes in spite of rehabbing a broken foot last summer. He focused on weight lifting, conditioning and technique – and all of that work is evident in his performances in Boise. He has also grown to 6-feet-7 inches, 240 pounds. That’s up 20 pounds from where he was last spring.
“He’s gotten bigger and stronger,” Ryan’s father, Mitch Crouser, said. “He wouldn’t have been able to do this last year (at the time he got hurt). With that 16-pounder, it takes a lot of horsepower.” He began to dabble with the spin technique last fall, and is still working on perfecting it. His days as a glider appear to be over. “It’s a work in progress,” Crouser said. “It’s a different approach. You generate more power but also can be more inconsistent.”
