Overhand throws are usually significantly faster, and ball speeds of 105 miles per hour (169 km/h) have been recorded in baseball. Overhand throws are thrown predominantly above the shoulder, underhand throws below. Types of throws include overhand throws, underhand throws and using both hands. This ability reflects the ability of the human shoulder muscles and tendons to store elasticity until it is needed to propel an object. Human athletes can achieve throwing speeds close to 145 km/h (90 mph), far in excess of the maximal speed attainable by chimpanzees, at about 30 km/h (19 mph). The spear-thrower is a development of the Upper Paleolithic, certainly in use by the Solutrean (c. Wooden darts were used for hunting at least from the Middle Paleolithic, by Homo heidelbergensis. '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. ĭevelopment of the offensive throwing of projectiles is mostly a development of the human lineage, although the aimed throwing of sticks and rocks by male chimpanzees during agonistic displays has been observed, first described by Jane Goodall in 1964. Throwing dates back 2 million years to Homo erectus. Throwing is thus still performed in many sports and games, particularly ball games, and in throwing sports the action is the main determiner of the outcome. With the advent of gun powder, research in throwing mechanisms as ranged weapons essentially halted, but throwing either by hand or with mechanical assistance has persisted for recreational purpose or as a form of exercise.

The sling, the bow and arrow, and various models of catapults are notable examples of throwing mechanisms. If humans initially threw objects by hand, they very early designed tools to improve the efficiency of their throwing techniques. spear), and into modern day with hand grenades and tear gas canisters. Humans have thrown projectiles for hunting and in warfare – first through rock-throwing, then refined weapon-throwing (e.g. They throw a large variety of projectiles, with a much greater efficacy and accuracy. Of all primates, humans are by far the most capable throwers. Primates are the most capable throwers in the animal kingdom, and they typically throw feces as a form of agonistic behavior. For other animals, the definition of throwing is somewhat unclear, as other actions such as spitting or spraying may or may not be included. This action is best characterized for animals with prehensile limbs: in this case the projectile is grasped, while the limb segments impart a motion of the hand through compounded mechanical advantage.

Throwing is an action which consists in accelerating a projectile and then releasing it so that it follows a ballistic trajectory, usually with the aim of impacting a remote target.

Cespedes underhand throw