Optimisation of the hammer throw using parameterised synthetic motion kinematics in a multi‐body simulation

Abstract Hammer throwing is a motorically demanding sport in which the execution of the movement significantly influences the result, that is the throwing distance. There are many approaches for supporting technical training that are based on measurement technology and image capturing. The accelerations and locus curves of the athlete and hammer are recorded and compared. In this article, these methods are supplemented by a multi‐body simulation (MBS) of the hammer throw. The kinematics of the hand movement is described using a parameterized synthetic trajectory. Scalar parameters in the approach allow the trajectory to be modified. With a MBS model of the wire cable and the hammer, the movement of the hammer can be determined by numerical time integration from the hand's trajectory. As a result the final throwing distance after free flight phase can be analyzed. Due to the complex spatial motion of the hammer during the acceleration phase only heuristic methods can be used to optimize the maximum throwing distance. In a final step the optimized movement can be used to improve the athlete's training.