Med Ball Rotational Throw

A hard sideways throw into a wall driven from the hips. The most direct way to train rotational power for throwing, striking and swinging.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Med ball · Wall
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Obliques · Glutes
ALSO WORKS
Abs · Adductors · Deltoids · Lower back
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Stand side-on to a wall, two metres away, feet hip-width, ball held at waist height.
  2. 02Rotate away from the wall, loading weight into the back hip and letting the back heel lift.
  3. 03Drive the back hip through toward the wall and let the trunk follow.
  4. 04Release the ball at hip-to-chest height and let it hit the wall hard.
  5. 05Reset your stance and do 5 to 8 throws per side.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Hips first, hands last.
  2. 02Turn the back foot over.
  3. 03Throw through the wall, not at it.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Throwing with the arms only — the ball travels but you have trained nothing rotational.
  2. 02Keeping the back foot planted flat — the hip cannot rotate through and the lumbar spine twists instead.
  3. 03Standing too close to the wall — you shorten the throw and never reach full speed.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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