Biomechanics Analysis

Throw Results

The overall question of what the optimal distance of a person’s run up is when trying to maximise the distance of a vortex throw comes down to many different factors such as the projectile motion which can be described as projection angle of release, the speed of release etc (Wood, 2010).

The Kinetic chain also plays a vital role when throwing an object as mentioned. The movement of throwing relies on sequential activation of body segments starting from larger muscles, mostly found at the bottom half of the body, then sequentially progressing to smaller parts, found on the top half of the body (Weber et al, 2014) . This sequence effectively transfers energy from the ground resulting in more throw velocity and accuracy.

Newtons second law also applies when throwing a vortex. The second law is described as “the force acting on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration” (Blazevich, 2017) . This is applied in the throwing phase when you apply a force that accelerates the object or in this case the vortex. This can be described as F= ma (Force = Mass x acceleration). Once the vortex is in the air, gravity applies a constant downward acceleration of 9.81m/s/s. To optimise distance when throwing we can use the angle of projection and speed of release to maximise the distance thrown.  

The most optimal angle of release when throwing an object is approximately 45 degrees. However different sports may require different angles such as shot put which is slightly lower between 40-42 degrees. Findings show that the vortex should be thrown at approximately 40-45 degrees (Jang et al , 2023). This way we can maximise the horizontal distance and get the vertex to spin correctly (resulting in less friction and drag when in the air).

The furthest throw of the vortex came from participant 3 which was a three-step approach; the vortex went a total of 51.1 meters (m). The angle of projection for this throw was 55 degrees (figure 1). Comparing this to the throw with the least amount of distance which was from participant three the total distance of this shot was 39.8m, the angle of this throw however was 66 degrees (figure 2). The results effectively tell us that the angle of release plays a vital role in the distance of the vortex. Hence the vortex that is thrown closer to 45 degrees is more likely to go further and spin more effectively in the air resulting in longer distances. Note this is if the speed of release is the same between the throws.

The speed of release is also a key factor in the distance of the vortex. The data collected shows that there is a positive link between speed of release and distance gained. The furthest throw of the participants as previously mentioned reached a total distance of 51.1m. The speed of release for this shot was 12.10m/s/s (figure 3) which is 4.44m/s/s slower than the shot with the least distance (39.8m) which had a speed of 7.66m/s/s (figure 4).

The more speed that is utilised when throwing results in longer distance, this is also supported through the rest of the data as the three throws which all had the longest distances all recorded a speed of over 9.91m/s/s and compatibility the bottom three distances had under 9 seconds, however there is an outlier in this data with participant number two, however the theory is still supported as his release was speed was 10.3m/s/s which was his lowest speed of all different step approach.

In conclusion the angle of release plays a vital role in the distance gained, the closer the angle release of the vortex is to 45 degrees the more likely the vortex is to travel further. However the data collected also suggest that the speed of release plays a more important role in increasing the distance of the vortex. "The angle of reach is the angle the object must be launched at in order to achieve a specific distance," but the distance itself is heavily influenced by the square of the initial speed (Guzman, 2025). Utilizing this research the degree of realise is not as effective as this angle is only used if air resistance is ignored, and the angle of release is from the ground (Henelsmith, 2016). 

Run Up Approach and how it Affects the Projectile Speed and Displacement 

The run up phase when throwing something like a vortex plays a crucial role in developing the ideal momentum to optimise performance outcomes like speed and displacement. By examining the number of approach steps, testing 0, 3, and 5 step approaches, we can analyse the effect on both the projectile speed and displacement of a vortex throw using data collected from our testing. The changes in performance outcomes will be interpreted through biomechanical principles, including impulse, Newton’s second law, kinetic chain efficiency, and projectile motion.

 

The Role of the Run Up for Projectile Velocity

One key biomechanical principle in projectile sports is the generation and transfer of momentum. According to Newton’s second law, force is a direct product of mass and acceleration (F = ma), so by increasing either the mass or acceleration, we can increase the force output (Blazevich, 2017; Kerr & Rowe, 2019). In the context of a vortex throw, the athlete’s body acts as the source of the force, and a longer run up (within reason) contributes to greater linear momentum, which can be transferred into angular velocity during the throw.

 

Participant 3’s results had the most consistent progression from 0 to 3 to 5 steps, as it corresponded with consistent increases in both speed (from 7.66m/s/s, to 9.52m/s/s, to 10.30m/s/s) and displacement (39.8m, to 46.1m, to 49.5m). This progression reflects an effective summation of forces, where the energy he generated from his legs in the run-up was efficiently transferred through the hips, torso, and ultimately into the arm and the vortex (Trasolini et al., 2022). Participant 2’s results indicate similar progression from 0 steps to 3 steps (10.50m/s/s to 12.10m/s/s and 46.2m to 51.1m) however, his performance declined at the 5-step approach, suggesting a possible breakdown in technique or coordination due to the increased momentum. Participant 1’s progression was not as linear as the others, with a slight dip in displacement from 0 to 3 steps despite a minor increase in speed, followed by a significant improvement at 5 steps.

 

Kinetic Chain Efficiency

The sequential activation of the body’s joints and muscles to produce movement, also known as the kinetic chain, is a critical factor in throwing performance (Karandikar & Ortiz, 2011). Utilising a longer run up allows for more time for the athlete to prepare, coordinate their movements, and use effective technique. In a throwing motion like a vortex throw, proximal joints and muscles initiate movement and accelerate, followed by distal joints and muscles that accelerate later. This proximal to distal sequence allows for faster and more efficient movement, generating greater velocity in the throwing arm before releasing the vortex (Karandikar & Ortiz, 2011; Serrien & Baeyens, 2017).

 

This was exemplified in the results. With Participant 3’s throws, the more steps he took in his run up allowed for a more efficient kinetic chain and therefore a greater throw. Similarly, although Participant 1’s 3 step throw was slightly shorter than his 0-step throw, a higher speed was recorded, and his 5-step throw saw a significant increase. And Participant 2’s results also increased from 0 to 3 steps before the significant decrease in the 5-step throw, which can likely be attributed to a breakdown in technique or timing. These user errors can disrupt the kinetic chain, resulting in inefficient force transfer and therefore a decrease in projectile speed and displacement. This accentuates that more steps does not always guarantee better performance outcomes unless the fundamental biomechanics remain proper (Karandikar & Ortiz, 2011; Serrien & Baeyens, 2017).

 

 

Impulse-Momentum Relationship

The impulse-momentum relationship, which states that the change in momentum of an object is equal to the impulse applied to, it is especially relevant when analysing how the run up approach can improve throwing performance (Blazevich, 2017). In the context of a vortex throw, the participants generate force through muscular contractions and apply it over the duration that the vortex is in hand before release. A greater impulse results in a greater change in momentum, which will create a higher release velocity and typically a further throw.

 

By increasing the steps of the run up, the participants should be able to generate more horizontal momentum through their lower body and transfer it through the kinetic chain to the throwing arm, allowing them to apply a greater magnitude of force over a longer period of time during the throw, consequently increasing the final momentum of the vortex (Blazevich, 2017; Chu et al., 2016).

 

This was again evident in the results apart from the anomaly presented in Participant 2’s 5-step throw. An effective kinetic chain requires optimal anatomy, physiology, and mechanics throughout the entire throw, including the windup, stride, arm cocking, acceleration, deceleration, and follow-through. The significant decrease in Participant 2’s 5 step throw suggests a break or deficit somewhere within the kinetic chain (Chu et al., 2016).

 

Projectile Motion

Finally, the laws of projectile motion must be considered. The distance of any projectile depends on the initial velocity, angle of release, and time of flight. As previously, mentioned, increasing the run-up approach steps substantially enhances the amount of initial velocity. However, differences in the participants’ throwing technique and the angle of which the vortex was released likely influenced the efficiency of which the initial velocity translated into distance (Blazevich, 2017; Hamm, 2020).

Dynamics of The Vortex: