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How Do I Properly Throw My Throwstick?

Q: How Do I Properly Throw My Throwstick?

Proper throwing requires activating the kylie’s gyroscopic mechanism through rapid spin, a forceful hammer‑grip release, and full‑body rotation rather than arm‑only velocity. The wrist must stay aligned so the stick slices the horizon cleanly without jumping up or down, and the throw must stay horizontal at roughly 3 o’clock to maintain a straight trajectory. Wind conditions affect altitude and range, with headwinds lifting the stick and backwinds reducing performance, so velocity and spin must be adjusted accordingly. Mastery comes from repeating the four core rules: generate fast spin, slice the horizon, throw horizontally, and use optimal velocity while accounting for breeze. Grip chalk, tape, and consistent practice help refine form and build reliable muscle memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqZetsJsBzQ

The above, brief video covers all the basics you need to know. We highly recommend the hammer grip over the extended grip for anyone wanting to achieve long ranges. A kylie must spin rapidly in order for its mechanism to operate properly and strong wrist force is beneficial. The Sidewinder Scout has been designed to use with the extended grip and can provide a more ergonomic feel for shorter range accuracy.

This spin should feel natural when one throws and snaps the kylie into a crisp release. A focus on forward velocity and throwing with the arm as one would do when skipping a rock across a lake, will not work with a kylie. Kylies are thrown with a rotation of the whoe torso, not with the arm alone. Throwing at high velocities at the expense of the spin on the kylie will inevitably be counterproductive to long range acheivements, no matter how much power one has. The kylie operates by a gyroscopic mechanism which must be activated.

Wrist alignment is also important. If the wrist isn't aligned at release, then the kylie will tend to jump up or down, experiencing a brief moment of significant drag right out of the gate until it corrects its attitude and continues flying. Maximal range will be limited somewhat by this error in alignment, but a well made kylie has a remarkable ability to compensate for user error and still keep on going. We've even see kylies keep flying to their target after clipping small branches on their journey there.

Breezy conditions may significantly affect your results depending on the model of throwstick you choose. Be aware of this if you are a target thrower or hunter. The Central Desert Hunter is presently the most wind tolerant model we carry. If you throw up wind your kylie may rise and climb slightly, and if downwind, it may lose altitude and significant range. You can compensate for this with practice, but do not expect your kylie to behave in the breeze as it would in still conditions. Kylies are at least somewhat airpeed dependent instruments.

In summary the 4 rules are stated below.

Rule #1 A kylie must spin rapidly. Use a hammer grip applied to the edges of the stick, and a solid, forceful wrist. Throw at full force with your arm and full body. Do not baby the kylie. Throw it hard and snap your wrist to make it spin fast.

Rule #2 A kylie must slice the horizon/target. Throw the kylie directly at your target with proper wrist alignment to slice the horizon as precisely as possible. Do not lob the kylie into the air or throw above your target. Trust the kylie to fly straight to your target on a flat, straight and level trajectory. Keep the kylie aligned so that it doesn’t flap out of alignment after release. Slice the horizon!

Rule #3 A kylie must be thrown horizontally. Throw the kylie side arm at or very near to 3 o’clock (9 o’clock for lefties). If you throw at 2 o’clock the kylie will curve to the left in flight. If you dip the tip of the kylie down to 4 o’clock at release, then it will curve off to the right. The levelness of the kylie at the moment of release determines whether it will travel straight or not, so adjust your technique until it stays straight until the end of the flight.

Rule #4 A kylie must be thrown at optimal velocity (including a consideration of wind/breeze conditions). Throw your kylie at or near to your full strength. With practice your technique will become smooth. Be conscious of wind conditions. A headwind generally creates a slight gain in altitude, side winds create little effect other than drift, and a back wind is fatal to a kylie’s flight and will reduce flight ranges considerably. Generally, if you find your stick falling low then throw harder. If it flies high, then focus more on spin and/or lower throwing velocity slightly.

You can start out throwing slowly to get your form right, but keep going back to these four rules until you get success. It takes time to adjust technique and building up your muscle memory, just like any other sport. One additional tip is the use of grip chalk and sports tape to aid in grip, release, comfort, and easing finger soreness across a range of weather conditions or during long throwing sessions.

For the most in depth info on how to throw, visit. https://www.throwsticks.com/throw