Variables Associated with the of Personal Best Performance in the Glide and Spin Shot Put for U.S. Collegiate Throwers

The preseason one repetition maximums (1RM) for the bench press, back squat and power clean were collected from the coach of each 53 collegiate or elite athletes together with the subsequent personal best effort in the glide or spin shot put during the competitive season. The data was analyzed first via partial correlations (controlled for gender) and secondly through ratio of 1RM strength to distance thrown between the glide and rotational style athletes. Partial correlations controlled for gender revealed that preseason bench press (r=0.767, p<0.001), back squat (r=0.771, p<0.001) and power clean (r=0.868, p<0.001) were all significantly related to best mark achieved with the competition shot put during the competitive season. Independent t-test revealed for the male participants the ratio of bench press strength to personal best in the shot put was significantly (t=2.132, p = 0.044) higher in the glide throwers (11.03kg per metre ± 1.2) versus the rotational shot putters (9.98kg per metre ± 1.2). A similar significant difference (t=3.166, p=0.004) was between the glide (6.62kg per metre ±0.63) and rotational (5.69kg per metre±0.87) among the female participants. Based upon these results higher levels of bench press strength may be required for athletes using the glide technique.