# Throwing > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Throwing > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Throwing.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throwing > Source revision: 1356688207 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Action of launching mass}} {{about|the process of launching a ballistic projectile with a throw|other uses of "throwing" and "throw"|Throwing (disambiguation)}} thumb|Throwing stones into a river '''Throwing''' ({{IPAc-en|T|r|ou}}) is a physical action that consists of [mechanically](/source/mechanics) [accelerating](/source/acceleration) a [projectile](/source/projectile) and then releasing it into a [ballistic](/source/ballistics) trajectory, usually with the aim of [impact](/source/impact_(mechanics))ing a distant target. ''Throwing'' typically refers to hand-throwing by [animal](/source/animal)s with [prehensile](/source/prehensile) [forelimb](/source/forelimb)s, in which the projectile is [grasped](/source/grasping) in a [hand](/source/hand) and the proximal limb segments move through compounded [kinematic chain](/source/kinematic_chain)s to impart a [mechanically advantage](/source/mechanical_advantage)d swinging motion. For other animals, the definition of throwing is somewhat unclear, as other actions such as [spitting](/source/spitting) or [spraying](/source/spray_(liquid_drop)) may or may not be included. [Primates](/source/Primates) are the most prolific throwers in the animal kingdom, and they typically throw [feces](/source/feces) as a form of [agonistic behavior](/source/agonistic_behavior). Of all primates, [humans](/source/Homo) are by far the most capable throwers, able to throw a large variety of projectiles with great force and accuracy. Throughout [human evolution](/source/human_evolution), humans (especially ''[Homo sapiens](/source/Homo_sapiens)'') have used hand-thrown projectiles for [hunting](/source/hunting) and in [warfare](/source/warfare)—first through [rock-throwing](/source/rock_throwing), then refined weapon-throwing (e.g. [spear](/source/spear), [axe](/source/throwing_axe) or [dart](/source/dart_(missile))), and into modern day with payload-carrying devices such as [hand grenade](/source/hand_grenade)s, [flashbang](/source/Stun_grenade)s and [tear gas](/source/tear_gas) canisters. To overcome the biophysical limitations of throwing by hand, humans also designed tools to improve the efficiency of their throwing techniques. The [atlatl](/source/atlatl), [amentum](/source/amentum), [sling](/source/sling_(weapon)) and various models of [catapult](/source/catapult)s are notable examples of throwing [mechanism](/source/mechanism_(engineering))s. With the advent of the [bow and arrow](/source/bow_and_arrow), and later the [gunpowder](/source/gunpowder)-based [firearm](/source/firearm), human innovation into throwing tools as weapons essentially halted, but throwing either by hand or with tools has persisted for [recreation](/source/recreation)al purposes (such as thrower tools in [fishing](/source/fishing) and [clay pigeon shooting](/source/clay_pigeon_shooting)) or as a form of [exercise](/source/exercise). Throwing is thus still performed in many [sports](/source/sports) and [games](/source/games), particularly [ball game](/source/ball_game)s. In [throwing sports](/source/throwing_sports) (especially [track and field](/source/track_and_field)) throwing is the main determiner of the outcome. ==Evolutionary history== Throwing dates back two million years to ''[Homo erectus](/source/Homo_erectus)''.Melissa Hogenboom, "[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23061016 Origins of human throwing unlocked]", ''[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)'' (26 June 2013). Development of the offensive throwing of [projectile](/source/projectile)s is mostly a development of the [human lineage](/source/Homo), although the aimed throwing of sticks and rocks by male chimpanzees during [agonistic](/source/Agonistic_behaviour) displays has been observed, first described by [Jane Goodall](/source/Jane_Goodall) in 1964.Goodall, J. Tool-using and aimed throwing in a community of free-living chimpanzees. Nature 201, 1264–1266 (1964). "Accumulative throwing", that is, the targeted throwing of rocks at a specific target, leading to the gradual accumulation of a stone pile, has also been described for chimpanzees.H. S. Kühl et al., "Chimpanzee accumulative stone throwing", Scientific Reports 6, 22219 (2016), {{doi|10.1038/srep22219}}. Wooden [darts](/source/Dart_(missile)) were used for [hunting](/source/prehistoric_hunting) at least from the [Middle Paleolithic](/source/Middle_Paleolithic), by ''[Homo heidelbergensis](/source/Homo_heidelbergensis)''. The [spear-thrower](/source/spear-thrower) is a development of the [Upper Paleolithic](/source/Upper_Paleolithic), certainly in use by the [Solutrean](/source/Solutrean) (c. 20,000 years ago). Human athletes can achieve throwing speeds close to {{convert|145|km/h|abbr=on}}, far in excess of the maximal speed attainable by chimpanzees, at about {{convert|30|km/h|abbr=on}}. This ability reflects the ability of the human [shoulder](/source/shoulder) [muscle](/source/muscle)s and [tendon](/source/tendon)s to store [elasticity](/source/Elasticity_(physics)) until it is needed to propel an object. ==Types== Types of throws include overhand throws, underhand throws and using both hands. Overhand throws are thrown predominantly above the shoulder, underhand throws below. Overhand throws are usually significantly faster, and ball speeds of {{convert|105|mph|km/h}} have been recorded in [baseball](/source/baseball).{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/thebuzz/2010/08/aroldis_chapman.html|title=Aroldis Chapman hits 105 mph|publisher=[Boston.com](/source/Boston.com)|date=2010-08-26|access-date=2010-08-30|first=Matt|last=Pepin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831185316/http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/thebuzz/2010/08/aroldis_chapman.html|archive-date=31 August 2010 |url-status=dead}} Thrown objects can often be intentionally spun for stability or aerodynamic effects. The notion of throwing typically refers to an action performed without mechanical assistance, but mechanical assistance, as long as it does not involve the release of [chemical](/source/chemical) or [electric](/source/electric) energy, does not fundamentally change the nature of the action, and can thus be considered as throwing too. As such, throwing mechanisms will be discussed in this section. ===Overhand throwing motion=== {{main|Overhand throwing motion}} The overhand throwing motion is a complex [motor skill](/source/motor_skill) that involves the entire body in a series of linked movements starting from the legs, progressing up through the pelvis and trunk, and culminating in a [ballistic](/source/Ballistics) motion in the arm that propels a projectile forward. It is used almost exclusively in athletic events. The throwing motion can be broken down into three basic steps: cocking, accelerating, and releasing. Desired qualities in the action produce a fast, accurate throw. These qualities are affected by the physical attributes of the thrower like height, strength, and [flexibility](/source/Flexibility_(anatomy)). However it is mainly the throwing motion mechanics and the thrower's ability to coordinate them that determines the quality of the throw. Determining the desired qualities of the throwing motion is difficult to assess due to the extremely short amount of time that it takes professionals to perform the motion. ===Throwing mechanisms=== {{see also|catapult}} {{see also|archery}} Throwing mechanisms, along with projectiles themselves, rank amongst the oldest technological artefacts in the archaeological records. They vary greatly in size and complexity, from the hand-held and extremely simple [sling](/source/sling_(weapon)), to the very heavy and complex [catapult](/source/catapult)s. These two types of devices have in common with hand-throwing the fact that the only requirements for their projectiles are size and weight. In that sense they differ from more specialized throwing techniques such as those developed in [archery](/source/archery), where the projectiles have very strong requirements for their shape. ==Uses== [[File:Ken Westerfield Sidearm throw.jpg|thumb|[Ken Westerfield](/source/Ken_Westerfield) sidearm (forehand) [frisbee](/source/frisbee) distance throwing, 1970s.]] ===Thrown weapons=== Throwing is used for propelling weapons such as stones or spears at enemies, predators, or prey. *[Knife throwing](/source/Knife_throwing), the art of throwing a knife at a target *[Spear](/source/Spear) throwing was used and until relatively recent times was the predominant mode of weaponry used in warfare *[Throwing axe](/source/Throwing_axe)s are thrown, usually overhand *[Boomerang](/source/Boomerang)s (throwing sticks) are used by [Aboriginal](/source/Aboriginal_Australians)s for hunting purposes. *[Shurikenjutsu](/source/Shurikenjutsu) are traditional Japanese thrown weapons *[Hand grenade](/source/Hand_grenade)s are thrown explosives ===Sports and games=== thumb|Throwing of a baseball {{main|Throwing sports}} *Pitching or bowling in [bat-and-ball games](/source/bat-and-ball_games), e.g. [cricket](/source/cricket), [baseball](/source/baseball), [softball](/source/softball) *Throwing of balls and clubs is used in [juggling](/source/juggling) *[Bowling](/source/Bowling) *[Darts](/source/Darts) *[Flying disc games](/source/Flying_disc_games) *[Stone skipping](/source/Stone_skipping) [Track and field](/source/Track_and_field) contains four major throwing events: [discus throw](/source/discus_throw), [hammer throw](/source/hammer_throw), [javelin throw](/source/javelin_throw) and [shot put](/source/shot_put). The [weight throw](/source/weight_throw) is the fifth most common field throwing event, while the [club throw](/source/club_throw) is unique to [disability athletics](/source/sport_of_athletics). ===Playing catch and fetch, object transport including disposal === Human beings also throw in cooperative ways, for example when the target of a throw performs a [complementary](/source/Opposite) action, to catch. Humans are perhaps of the only animal capable of throwing with such an intent. Humans play [catch (game)](/source/catch_(game)) with each other, and [fetch](/source/fetch_(game)) with [dogs](/source/dogs) (dogs catch, but do not throw{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}). Related behaviors have yielded phrases such as to (e.g. throw a bone to someone, or throwing someone or something to the dogs. One purpose of throwing can be to transport an object from oneself, to someone or somewhere else, without having to move from one's spot. People building something together, for example, may throw small enough objects to each other. A specific, common variant of this is when the intent is to dispose of something, where we may speak of throwing something away, even when we are not literally throwing anything. ==Sexual differences== Boys throw faster, farther and more accurately than girls.{{Cite journal |last1=Crozier |first1=Dena |last2=Zhang |first2=Zhaoran |last3=Park |first3=Se-Woong |last4=Sternad |first4=Dagmar |date=2019 |title=Gender Differences in Throwing Revisited: Sensorimotor Coordination in a Virtual Ball Aiming Task |journal=Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |volume=13 |article-number=231 |doi=10.3389/fnhum.2019.00231 |doi-access=free |issn=1662-5161 |pmc=6657012 |pmid=31379537}} Some research suggests there exist innate biological differences between the sexes that lead to disparities in throwing efficiency, with males better adapted at delivering more effective throws than females.{{cite journal |first1=Michael P. |last1=Lombardo |first2=Robert O. |last2=Deaner |date=2018 |title=On the evolution of the sex differences in throwing: throwing is a male adaptation in humans |url= https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/698225 |journal=Quarterly Review of Biology |volume=93 |issue=2 |pages=91–119 |doi=10.1086/698225 |url-access=subscription }} ==Non-primates== {{Further|Projectile use by non-human organisms}} Throwing is rare among non-primates but, provided the definition is relaxed to entail for instance [spitting](/source/spitting), several examples can be found amongst various taxa, such as [camelid](/source/camelid)s, [cobra](/source/cobra)s or the [archerfish](/source/archerfish). [Elephant](/source/Elephant)s have been observed throwing rocks and logs, using their trunk to grab and flick items, although they lack the accuracy that primates can achieve, and it is more commonly used as a warning to aggressors. If one is willing to consider ''dropping'' as a special case of throwing, then one can include birds, most notably [vulture](/source/vulture)s, as some species are known to drop stones in order to break shells or other hard food sources on the ground. [Orca](/source/Orca)s are often observed throwing [seal](/source/Pinniped)s in the air, usually by hitting them with their caudal fin. This behavior is speculated to be purely recreational. ==See also== *[Catch (game)](/source/Catch_(game)) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Throwing}} Category:Throwing Category:Ballistics Category:Motor skills Category:Biomechanics Category:Paleoanthropology Category:Articles containing video clips --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Throwing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throwing) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throwing?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.