I can't throw :/

[Susan]

For an education I'd like to start I have to pass a test in different basic athletic skills. One of them is to throw a ball (about the size of a basketball, weighting 2 pounds) for at least 14 meters distance.
And I just can't do it.

Thinking about it I was never good at throwing or playing with balls.
My teachers in school, my husband, a close friend and now a trainer have tried to teach me how to do it. But despite knowing what I SHOULD do, I just can't do it right.

I often lose the ball because it rolls over the tips of my (small ) hands. Or I am told that I "stop" the throwing motion too early. Or my hip doesn't assist the throw. Or I am not looking "up" but "down"....
I guess the big heavy ball makes this even harder, it feels really awkward.

I am frustrated beacuse I usually am able to learn quickly from things people tell me to do better. But drills and practice didn't work so far. Throwing feels totally wrong for me. It hurts my shoulder and despite being a strong woman I cannot put my strength into a throw at all.
My husband doesn't even have to try to throw twice as far as I am able to throw if I give it "my all"... which isn't much because, as I said somehow I just can't put any strength into my throws.
(I wish we could just lift some weights or do push ups or whatever.)

I have have read such a lot of good advice here, so does one of you wise women maybe have any wisdom how I could stop embarrassing myself whenever I pick up a ball?

[GLC1968]

Hmmm, I'm not sure how to help. I can't throw small balls (tennis balls, baseballs, softballs, even apples on our farm!) but I can throw large balls like basketballs or soccer balls. It sounds like your ball is larger than the ones I have issues with! Oh, and I can throw a nice spiral football pass, too. Luckily, my quarterback father taught me that when I was so young that it took (apparently).

Have you tried throwing it with two hands? Are you doing it over hand or under hand? Or even side-arm? Sometimes an unorthodox position helps!

[Susan]

Hey GLC The size is very much like that of a basketball, but the ball is a little softer (it's a small medicine ball).

We are supposed to throw with one arm and the trainer told me to throw it like a javelin throw - so you start with some steps then turn to the side and throw by stepping left, then turning your hip and letting your arm follow through (overhand).
I think they don't focus very much on the right technique as long as you throw far enough and use one hand.

If I throw with two hands over my head I may look stupid but can throw just as far as using the right technique.
I also suck at throwing smaller or lighter balls like baseballs, it's not just the size of the ball. Somehow I never got the hang of it. I have the suspicion that there must be a secret to throwing I just never discovered

[GLC1968]

Could you maybe launch it like a shotput? I mean, put it on your shoulder with your arm bent and then just 'push' it up and out in front?

Maybe it's the 'thowing' motion...and not the strength?

[malkin]

In 5th grade, someone taught me how to throw and I could do it for a few weeks. I remember being surprised that it had something to do with your feet and we practiced the feet separately with our arms down.

Then I didn't throw for a while and after that I couldn't remember what to do anymore. I think it is possible to learn it.

How about this:
http://www.wikihow.com/Throw-Like-a-...'re-a-Girl

[OakLeaf]

I can't throw either, but I wonder if you're not getting your back into it.

Do you have a friend who coaches kids' sports? Maybe they could coach you for a few sessions?

[FlyingScot]

Have you tried using the non-throwing arm as counter-leverage? Whe I throw I start with both hands kind of together (in the same spot I guess) then I throw my left arm out and back in a sweeping circle that starts just before I start to throw the ball with my right. It definitely increased my throwing power. I'm going to see if I can find a youtube video.