Matt Marcoccia | technique analysis (video)

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    • I'm not an expert but what I've seen is that you do open with your upper body way too early. YOur legs are still (especially the right one) not pointing in the direction of the shot put. As far as I know one would need to have the legs moving upfront and not following the upper body.
      Try to keep your upper body as long as possible behind to create tension within your body, then turning your feet in the right position before moving further with your upper body to release the shot

    • Florian van Dijck wrote:

      I'm not an expert but what I've seen is that you do open with your upper body way too early. YOur legs are still (especially the right one) not pointing in the direction of the shot put. As far as I know one would need to have the legs moving upfront and not following the upper body.
      Try to keep your upper body as long as possible behind to create tension within your body, then turning your feet in the right position before moving further with your upper body to release the shot


      That has been a problem of mine quite a bit this year and it is getting better. I have been able to feel the separation from my upper body and lower body lately but as always needs more work.

    • Matt, good throw, focus on PUSHING more with the right leg outta the back, I used to go balls-out and open a super-wide L leg out of the back too, but this yields pulling, while pushing is much more efficient, yielding a hell of a lot more force forward, thus more distance through the circle. Practicing clock turns with NO WIND-UP focusing on pushing with the right leg are most beneficial. The best example can be seen watching some of Taf's videos... he has nearly 0 wind into his turn out of the back; and while you're doing these, don't come UP with the right, keep it closer to the ground.

      You're coming up into your 9 o'clock drop, spilling the proverbial bucket of water that is your hips to the left, this is how you can FEEL you're pulling. Just keep that right foot 3-4" off the ground into your drive phase, hips low and even.

      Good job attacking with the instep through the middle! LAND LOW and DO NOT PRE-TURN...when you touch down into double support (when L foot touches), you're already turning the hips past the 9'oclock position. Practice those flamingos, land it facing hips to the rear(STOP), then toe-knee hip through a solid non-reverse. Just practicing landing focusing on hips-to-the-rear of the circle will create the necessary separation for really big throws. Land deeper, SOFT R LEG, great ups on the release! Keep it up, progress is looking good.

    • @Sam Healy that ring the wood was particle board rather then plywood and it was really grippe and felt really good with some spit on the bottom of the shoes. I had my SD's with me as well and did some turns with them the day before and they were too slow.

      As for the knee/foot issue I have a nagging injury just minor with my knee, quad and hip. As you can see I'm loading the left prior to starting and partially pre-turning my left as well. It's been something I'm working on but my body just won't let it happen.

    • I am learning all the tricks so you wipe some spit on the front of your shoes before you spin. Would it be both? Does that just allow you to rotate a little faster. Someone recently told me about wipping the sole with baby wipes before you throw. Would you do this on concrete as well? For the left foot turning have a look at the finnish throw video nekkari put up. Look at this guy at the back in the winning throw. I think he looks really good even though I question whether he was touching the ring.

    • Threw in a random meet because I haven't been throwing well in my first two outdoor meets and my confidence was kinda shot. It was a small 4 throw meet with some good guys there and I was just there to have fun. Well ended up throwing a new overall PR of 17.72m. This throw also qualifies me for World University Games this summer. Still have some things to clean up around the finish and in the middle but 18m+ and 60ft could be attainable soon.

    • Nice Matt, you're getting over the left much better; now 'close the hinge out of the back', that left foot is a bit active out of the back, more push with the R out of the back and through the middle, and way to attack with the instep, think of the left as a hinge with a 270deg valance. Also, youre getting off the left a bit late...envision a line parallel with the right sector about 3' to the right of that sector line from a South African, that's where you want to get off the left, not when you're facing the circle. Great progress, keep it up!

    • ThrowerFanatic wrote:

      Nice improvement!
      What is your next goal?
      Any plans made up yet?
      Well Nationals is in 3 weeks and I have a tune up this week. Short term goal is to keep this feeling/consistency until then as it would set me up with a solid chance to win.

      After I'm done with school I should be representing Canada this summer at one or two competitions. I would like to throw 19m this summer as long as I'm healthy and I'm mentally/physically capable of doing so since I would be a long season.

      I also may have one more collegiate season left pending an appeal with the NCAA. So if I get that year back I'd like to find a school to complete my masters degree and where I can also compete and hopefully get a scholarship as money is tight.

      If I take the post-collegiate route I plan on working as a throws coach or strength coach. That should allow me to continue training for a bit. Also depending on where I'm located I may be able to work with a coach.

    • ThrowerFanatic wrote:

      How high are you ranked right now? WHat are you chances?

      Matt Marcoccia wrote:

      So if I get that year back I'd like to find a school to complete my masters degree
      What kind of masters are you looking for? Sounds interesting to combine professional sport with a degree. I guess that's only possible in the states though...
      What rankings are you talking about and chances for what as well?


      I'm looking at earning my masters in strength and conditioning. I'm not sure if it would be considered professional as I will most likely never see any monetary compensation and any sponsorship would most likely be from a small company with very minor things to aid in training/competition. I mainly want to continue throwing as long as I can and as far as I can to where I can still make a living by actually working.