Facts

This is a hammer.

Factsheet

Men’s Hammer

• Weight: 7.26-kilograms / 16-pounds
• Length: 121.5-centimeters / 3-feet 11.75-inches
• World Record: 86.76-meters / 285-feet 7-inches

Women’s Hammer

• Weight: 4-kilograms / 8.8-pounds
• Length: 119.5-centimeters / 3-feet 11-inches
• World Record: 79.42-meters / 260-feet 6-inches

The Field

• Cage: Throwers are surrounded on three sides by a net cage that protects spectators. While the cages vary in size, they can stand more than 10 meters tall.
• Ring: Throwers must execute the throw from inside a seven-foot diameter concrete circle.
• Sector: The throw must land within a 34.92 degree sector.
• Landing Surface: Typically grass, but sometimes dirt.

Origin: Celtic. You can read more about the ancient origins of the hammer throw here.

Implement: Both current men’s and women’s hammers consist of a metal ball (normally stainless steel, steel, or brass) attached to a thin wire using a swivel. A handle is attached to the other end of the wire. See the photo above to get a better idea of what it looks like.

Technique: Hammer throwers grab the implement with both hands, with their dominant hand on top of their other hand. After swinging the hammer around their head a few times to gain momentum, throwers will then execute three or four turns through the circle before releasing the hammer into the field. Want to see what it looks like? Check out the video below.