Force, velocity and energy flow during the overarm throw in female handball players

The overarm throw of 56 female handball players was analysed cinematographically. The time courses of the ball velocity, the force on the ball, the energy flow to the ball as well as the velocities of wrist, elbow and hip were calculated. The mean ball velocity at release was 17.2 m s-1. The major part (73%) of the work on the ball appeared to be done in the last 50 ms of the throw. It is shown that high maximal segmental velocities are important pre-requisites for an optimal flow of energy to the ball during that last phase of the throw. The consecutive actions of body segments from larger proximal segments to the relatively smaller distal segments seem to be connected to intrinsic muscle properties and to a flow of energy from proximal to distal segments.