Hey guys.

Just got a football (or an American football as we call it in Euroland), and been throwing it around with my mates. Needless to say we're not exactly quarterback material any of us.

I've watched some utube vids and gotten some hang of it, BUT: I have a tendency to throw so "hard"/with so much force that I sling my arm into full stretch, and when it does it's like the two bones (forearm and upper arm) in the elbow slam together. After a while this starts to hurt, and I'm guessing it isn't supposed to if you do it right?

Any pointers is appreciated. Cheers!

rotate your wrist when you release the ball so your thumb is pointing down

dont start a dog fighting ring

As a Texan, this is like being asked "how do you breathe?" but I'll try to help you out. A lot of the power doesn't come from your arm, but from the feet and hips, so make sure your feet are set and throw off of your front foot. Watch Peyton Manning or someone like that, they drop back and then take a step forward and turn the hips as they throw. Spirals come from rotating your wrist at the end of the throw to put spin on it. Try to find a comfortable grip, with your hand near the end of the ball. Most people who have trouble throwing are trying to throw from the middle of the ball, which prevents spin and causes mad wobbling. Once you get that down work on different types of throws (bullets, lobs, stuff like that) and try running routes and leading your target.

Hope that helps, I'm always glad to see Europeans taking up our most beloved sport.

i only put my pinky and ring finger on the laces

Yeah, exactly. Those are the only two fingers that should be on the laces. When the ball leaves your hand those fingers put the grip on it and give it the spin from your wrist.

The spin is important. If not, you just look like a wobbly retard.

Thanks. I've seen this on some utube-vids too, how to use your feet to get the extra force from the hipswing. I've got the spiral going OK too, still somewhat hit or miss, but I can get them decent about 50% of my throws. The grip with two fingers on the laces I've also got down...

I think my main problem is that I use too much force as opposed to technique. Sometimes I make good throws without extending my arm all the way, I just have trouble doing it again




Every little input helps And "football" is pretty cool to watch, although it'll never reach the heights of the real football game

Thanks so far guys, now I'm going out to practise

Don't try and throw it 50 yards. Not everybody can toss it that far.

Ah, I get you. You'll definitely notice that using the right motion will get you longer throws and better spirals with less effort. A+ for the effort. I actually met a Swedish guy who told me he played linebacker over there, so I guess it's catching on in Scandanavia..

No worries, I'm not even close to that...



Yes, I notice those times when I get the leg placing and movements right that I get some extra distance on it "for free".
But about the arm: Is it never supposed to be fully outstretched, as in 180 degrees?
It's definitely starting to catch on, there are some teams here and there, and for the Superbowl the pubs seem more and more crowded by the year.

You'll find that you'll follow thru with the throw and your arm will go out and diagonally down across your body.

i pull my shoulder way back like vick when he throws, i think this is one of the reasons my fuckin arm kills me after i throw for a while



yeah me too

You should start by posting video of you throwing it.

...

That's a good idea. Will try..