A Pilot Study Comparing Maximum Joint Linear Velocity and Sequencing Patterning between an Overhead, Single Handed Fly Distance Cast and a Standing Javelin Throw

Introduction: The aims of this study were firstly to identify the maximum, linear, horizontal velocity of the ipsilateral hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist, and the joint sequencing pattern used by casters and throwers. Secondly, measure the maximum angular velocity of the ipsilateral elbow and the angle of the shoulder axis to the casting or throwing direction at the time the ipsilateral elbow attained maximum angular velocity.

Method: Nine casters having a mean age of 65.89 ± 4.24 and four javelin throwers with a mean age of 66.0 ± 14.85 years participated in this pilot study. Motion sensors were affixed to each joint and data was collected using 3D Qualisys movement system.

Results: Javelin throwers (1) generated greater ipsilateral hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist maximum, horizontal, linear velocity than casters, (2) exhibited greater compliance to a proximal to distal movement patterning than casters, and (3) generated greater ipsilateral maximum, elbow angular velocity and rotated their shoulder axis more to the direction of the throw than casters.

Conclusion: This study is the first to compare the movement patterning used by casters and throwers and identifies opportunity for casters to improve casting performance by adopting the movement patterning used by javelin throwers.

Introduction

From the late 1800s, anglers have practised their fly-casting skills during the months the fishing season was closed, and from these local practice groups, regional and national competitions in fly-casting evolved across Europe and the USA. Interest in competition fly-casting grew worldwide and in 1952, the International Casting Federation, now called the International Casting Sport Federation, was formed to standardise rules and conduct world casting championships (Waterset al., 2024). The first world casting championship was held in Germany in 1957 (Röijezon & Siikavaara, 2012). Casting sport comprises accuracy and both single and double handed fly distance competitions. This study focuses on the three single handed fly distance casting sport events competed for at world casting sport championships, namely the 38-gram-sinking line fly distance event, and both the 5-weight floating line and the 27-gram floating line events.

Elliott (Elliott, 1999) stated research in sports biomechanics enhances the understanding of specific movement patterns used in sport, improves sport performance and mitigates sport injuries. Biomechanics based research has been conducted into a number of throwing and hitting sports e.g., javelin (Morrisset al., 1995), baseball (Fortenbaughet al., 2009) and discus (Leighet al., 2008). In contrast, single handed fly distance casting sport has had little biomechanics research conducted into the movement patterning used by casting sport athletes (Waterset al., 2024). The authors contend that, as has been the case in other sports, biomechanical analysis of the movement patterning used in competition fly distance would benefit casting coaches and casters who seek to improve casting performance. The contention that biomechanics would be beneficial to fly distance casting coaches and competitors was acknowledged by the casting coaches surveyed in the study by Waterset al. (2024). The survey of fly-casting coaches (Waterset al., 2024) also identified javelin was the sport most similar to fly distance casting and line speed was a key determinant of fly distance casting performance. Several studies (Leighet al., 2010; Vassilios & Iraklis, 2013; Viitasaloet al., 2003) have identified release speed as a key determinant of javelin performance, however, there has been no research conducted that compares the movement patterning of fly distance casters and javelin throwers, or the hand speed generated by each.

To redress that research gap, this study comprises two aims. The first aim was to compare the maximum, horizontal, linear velocity and sequencing patterning of the ipsilateral hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist generated by fly distance casters and javelin throwers. The second aim of this study was to measure the maximum angular velocity of the elbow and compare the angle of the shoulder axis to the casting or throwing direction at the time the elbow attained maximum angular velocity.

Method

Participant

An advertisement inviting volunteer casters to participate in this pilot study was posted on the Facebook sites of three fly fishing and casting clubs based in Melbourne, Australia. Nine casters and four javelin throwers were considered appropriate for the pilot study. Casting participants ranged from experienced fly fishers, Fly Fishing International certified casting instructors and Australian and World Casting Sport champions.

To ensure age compatibility between the casters and throwers, an invitation to participate in the study was extended to the Victorian Masters Athletic Association for circulation to members. Participant demographics are displayed in Table I.

Table I. Mean and Standard Deviation of Casters and Javelin Thrower Participants

	Age	Height (cm.)	Weight (kg.)	Years participating in the sport
Casters	65.89 ± 4.24	180.33 ± 0.0	81.56 ± 31.11	40.11 ± 11.31
Javelin throwers	66.0 ± 14.85	175.00 ± 1.41	79.25 ± 4.95	34.25 ± 23.33

Equipment

An Echo indoor casting rod was used with a modified fly line made from nylon curtain chord and wool yarn. The Echo indoor casting rod is a two-piece graphite rod 1.2 metres long and is marketed for indoor training of fly-casting movement. After experimenting with different lengths and densities of line materials for use in this study, a fly distance shooting head fly line made from nylon curtain chord, 5 metres long with a 5-ply wool yarn made leader, 0.5 metre long, attached to 0.50 mm monofilament line, was selected to best match the line used in casting sport fly distance events. The wool yarn leader was knotted at the end and frayed to replicate an artificial fly.

Data Collection

Thirty-two 12 mm diameter reflective markers were applied to the bony landmarks of the left and right lower limb (toe, ankle, knee, hip, and pelvic), trunk (sternum and C7), and upper limb (shoulder, elbow, and wrist) using double-sided adhesive tape. Reflective markers measured movement of each anatomical segment in space during each trial. Upper and lower body kinematics were captured using 12 infra-red cameras that identify the position in space (<1 mm error) of each reflective marker. The position of each marker was recorded in meters along the x, y, and z axes. All data were captured using the 3D Qualisys movement system. Shapiro-Wilks normality tests were performed using R Studio and the distribution of joint velocity and temporal data for each trial was considered normal. Outlier testing was performed using RStudio and no data were deleted from the analysis.

Results

After completing three familiarisation casts or throws, three delivery, release trials were performed and horizontal, linear joint velocities for the ipsilateral hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist, as well as the angular velocity for the ipsilateral elbow, were recorded for each participant. In addition to the linear and angular velocity data, the time each joint attained maximum linear and angular velocities was recorded for both casters and throwers.

The elapsed time interval used for recording data was defined as the period between the ipsilateral hand having zero velocity at the start of the forward delivery movement and the contralateral hand slowing to zero velocity at the completion of the forward delivery movement. All participants were right-handed. Fig. 1 illustrates the interval parameters selected for each trail.

Fig. 1. Forward body movement interval start and end parameters.

Participants were classified into two groups, namely casters or throwers, and the three trials selected for analysis by each participant were labelled trial 1, trial 2 and trial 3. The data analysis is presented in four sections. The first section is the maximum, horizontal, linear velocity of the hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist. The second is the differences in velocity across various joint couplings. The third is the temporal analysis of joint velocity achievement and the final section is the ipsilateral elbow angular velocity of the cast or throw.

Analysis of Joint Maximum, Horizontal, Linear Velocity

The mean and standard deviation was calculated for maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocities for trials 1, 2 and 3 for the hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist, respectively. A two-way repeated ANOVA was performed to determine any significant variability between casters and javelin throwers, trial data and trial data within groups.

There were significant differences between the maximum, linear velocities of the hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist attained by throwers compared to casters (p-value adj. < 0.05). Maximum, horizontal linear joint velocities for the hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist generated by throwers were greater than the same joint velocities generated by casters, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2. Comparison of mean horizontal, linear velocity of hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist for casters and throwers.

In the 27 trials performed by casters, maximum horizontal, linear wrist velocity exceeded 5 m/s in 5 delivery casts. The highest maximum, horizontal, linear wrist velocity generated from all trials of casters was 5.42 m/s. The mean wrist velocity achieved by casters was 4.51 ± 0.56 m/s. In contrast, of the 12 trails performed by throwers, all throwers generated maximum, horizontal, linear wrist velocities over 5 m/s. The highest maximum, linear wrist velocity generated from all trails of throwers was 9.64 m/s. The mean maximum, horizontal, linear wrist velocity achieved by throwers being 7.77 ± 1.24 m/s.

Pairwise comparisons, using a paired t-test, show that the mean maximum, linear joint velocity was significantly different for the wrist between trial 1 and trial 3 (p-value adj. = 0.034), however, the mean maximum horizontal, linear joint velocity was not significantly different for the wrist between trail 1 and trial 2, or between trial 2 and trial 3 (p-value adj. > 0.05). For all other joint pairwise comparisons, i.e., hip, shoulder and elbow, the mean maximum horizontal, linear joint velocity was not significantly different between trial 1 and trial 2, trial 1 and trial 3, or between trial 2 and trial 3 (p-value adj. > 0.05).

Analysis of the Differences in Velocity across Various Joint Couplings

A two-way ANOVA was performed on the differences between the mean maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocities for the hip/shoulder, shoulder/elbow and elbow/wrist joint couplings for each trial.

The differences in the mean of the maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocity for the hip/shoulder and the elbow/wrist joint couplings, across all trials, were not significantly different between casters and throwers (p-values adj. > 0.05). However, the mean of the maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocity for the shoulder/elbow joint coupling, across all trials, was significantly different between casters and throwers (p-values adj. < 0.05). Comparative joint coupling horizontal, linear velocity data is displayed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3. Comparison of mean maximum horizontal, linear velocity for selected joint couplings.

Temporal Analysis of Joint Velocity

For each trial, the time each joint attained maximum, horizontal, linear velocity was recorded. The data was normalised as the percentage of time (seconds) that each joint attained maximum, horizontal, linear velocity, calculated as a percentage of the time (seconds) that maximum, horizontal, linear velocity was attained by the last joint in the trial sequence.

A two-way ANOVA was performed on normalised temporal data for maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocity attainment. There were no significant differences in the normalised time at which joints achieved maximum, horizontal, linear velocity between casters and throwers. Nor were there any significant differences when comparing the normalised time differences at which joints achieved maximum, horizontal, linear velocity across trials, or between trials within either the caster group or thrower group.

A number between 1 and 4 was assigned to each joint to reflect the order in which that joint attained its mean maximum, horizontal, linear velocity during the cast or throw, “1” being the first joint in the sequence to attain mean maximum, horizontal, linear velocity, “2” and “3” the next joints respectively, and “4” being the last joint in the sequence to attain mean maximum, horizontal, linear velocity. The normalised sequence of each participant attaining mean maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocity is detailed in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. Mean maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocity sequencing. The time each joint attained mean maximum horizontal, linear velocity was normalised as the percentage of time (seconds) that each joint attained mean maximum horizontal, linear velocity calculated as a percentage of the time (seconds) that mean maximum horizontal, linear velocity was attained by the last joint in the trial.

Casters exhibited a comparatively random patterning in the sequencing of when they attained mean maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocity, compared to that exhibited by throwers. Each thrower attained maximum, horizontal, linear hip velocity first in the joint sequence and mean maximum, horizontal, linear wrist velocity last in the joint sequence.

Ipsilateral Elbow Angular Velocity

The mean maximum, elbow angular velocity, measured in degrees per second was recorded for each trial and listed in Table II.

Table II. ANOVA Results of Maximum Elbow Angular Velocity Data

Variable	Trial mean ± for CastersV			Trial mean ± for Javelin throwers			p-value adj. groups	p-value adj. trials	p-value adj. grp/trial
Maximum angular velocity	Trial 1 (d/s)*	Trial 2 (d/s)*	Trial 3 (d/s) *	Trial 1 (d/s)*	Trial 2 (d/s)*	Trial 3 (d/s)*
Elbow	197 ± 67.8	207 ± 97.3	160 ± 82.7	384 ± 194	360 ± 206	334 ± 179	0.067	0.267	0.093

There was no significant difference identified (p-value adj. > 0.05) in the mean maximum elbow angular velocity between the caster and thrower groups, trials, or trials within groups. However, throwers achieved higher mean maximum angular elbow velocity, measured in degrees per second, than casters (see Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Comparison of mean maximum angular elbow velocity (degrees/second) of casters and throwers.

In addition to recording participants’ elbow angular velocity data, the angle of the shoulder axis to the direction of the cast or throw, at the time of maximum angular elbow velocity, was also recorded. A two-way ANOVA was performed on the mean shoulder axis angle data, and the results are displayed in Table III.

Table III. ANOVA Results of Mean Shoulder Axis Angle to Direction of the Cast or Throw at Maximum Elbow Angular Velocity

Variable	Trial mean ± for Casters			Trial mean ± for Javelin thrower			p-value adj. groups	p-value adj. trials	p-value adj. grp/trail
Shoulder axis angle at maximum elbow angular velocity	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3
Angle (degrees) to cast/throw	32.7 ± 11.9	33.0 ± 10.9	32.5 ± 12.8	1.18 ± 12.9	−4.8 ± 17.9	−12.4 ± 27.1	<0.05	<0.05	<0.05

Significant differences at mean maximum elbow angular velocity were identified in the angle of the shoulder axis, relative to the direction of the cast or throw between participant groups, trials, and trials within groups.

The caster and thrower mean shoulder axis rotation results are displayed in Fig. 6. Zero (0 degrees) is defined as being square, or perpendicular, to the casting or throwing direction. All casters were right-handed so the shoulder axis angle to the casting or throwing direction indicates the amount of counterclockwise rotation the shoulder axis has internally rotated. A positive angle (>0 degrees) indicates the shoulder axis has not rotated to square to the casting or throwing direction. A negative (<0 degrees) indicates the shoulder axis has rotated past square to the casting or throwing direction.

Fig. 6. Mean shoulder axis angle to throwing direction at maximum elbow angular velocity.

A Pearson Correlation Coefficient of the time mean maximum elbow angular velocity was attained, and the time mean maximum elbow horizontal, linear velocity was attained, returned a value of 0.88417.

Discussion

Competition fly distance casting is a throwing sport, (Sommercorn, 2016), the objective being to throw the fly line as far as possible. In all throwing sports, release speed is a key component of performance (Worthingtonet al., 2013). Fly-casting coaches have nominated line speed as a key determinant of casting performance and have defined line speed as the sum of rod tip speed and haul speed (Waterset al., 2024). Röijezonet al. (2017) also identified line speed as a key determinant of fly distance casting performance. In a baseball study using 3D motion analysis, MacWilliamset al. (1998) found a high correlation existed between linear wrist velocity and ball velocity. Indeed, Seroyeret al. (2010), Fleisiget al. (1996) and Nealet al. (1991) referred to the generation of joint velocity in a proximal to distal pattern, and the transferring of velocity through the body along the kinetic chain, as the key determinants of release speed in throwing sports. In fly distance casting the ipsilateral hand holds the rod, and the contralateral hand performs the haul so it is reasonable to conclude that casters’ horizontal, linear wrist velocity can be used as an indicator of rod and hence, line velocity.

The aim of this study was twofold. The first aim was to measure and compare the maximum, linear horizontal velocities of the ipsilateral hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist joints, and the sequencing pattern used by casters and throwers to generate joint maximum, horizontal, linear velocity. The second aim was to measure the maximum angular velocity of the elbow and compare the angle of the shoulder axis to the casting or throwing direction at the time the elbow attained maximum angular velocity.

The format of this discussion comprises five subsections. The first subsection discusses the maximum horizontal, linear velocity of the ipsilateral hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist comparison between casters and throwers. The second and third subsections discuss the study’s comparative temporal results, and the joint sequencing patterning used by casters and throwers. The fourth subsection discusses the joint coupling data results, and the final subsection discusses the comparative elbow angular velocity generated by casters and throwers together with the shoulder axis angle to the casting or throwing direction comparison between the two groups.

Maximum, Horizontal, Linear Joint Velocity

A key outcome of this study was that throwers generated greater maximum, horizontal, linear velocity for the hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist joints than did casters (Fig. 2). The generation of body segment velocity through a sequential progression from the hip, through the shoulder, to the elbow, and then to the object being thrown has been identified as a determinant of throwing performance in a number of studies of javelin and baseball performance. This study’s joint velocity results reflected the same joint patterning found in other studies of javelin by Whitinget al. (1991), Bartlettet al. (1996) and Palaniyappanet al. (2024) as well as the studies of baseball pitchers by Howensteinet al. (2018), Seroyeret al. (2010) and Putnam (1993).

The javelin throwers who participated in this pilot study achieved greater maximum, horizontal, linear velocity than did fly casters for each joint measured. They achieved this comparative result when using the same equipment as casters, namely a fly rod and line. Bartlettet al. (1996) identified elite javelin throwers achieved greater shoulder, elbow and hand speed than did club and novice throwers and concluded the greater joint speeds identified were a major determinant of elite throwers generating greater release speed than was achieved by club or novice throwers. This pattern of maximum body segment speed generation was supported by Anttiet al. (1994) in a study of male and female javelin throwers.

Pavlović (2020) identified release velocity as a key biomechanical parameter in the analysis of javelin performance and concluded a proximal to distal transfer of momentum from the lower body to the throwing arm and then to the javelin, maximised javelin release speed. This study found javelin throwers generated higher maximum, horizontal, linear hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist velocities than casters and identifies an opportunity to further study the differences in the movement patterning used by throwers and casters.

Temporal Structure of the Cast and Throw

Temporal data showed no significant differences between throwers and casters in the interval timing of joint maximum, horizontal, linear velocity attainment. Given the significant differences identified in the joint velocity data generated by casters and throwers, it is reasonable to conclude that throwers were more efficient in the generation of maximum, horizontal, linear, joint velocity than were casters. Helenbergeret al. (1997) found reducing the elapsed time between the back foot and front foot plants in the javelin release phase equated to longer throws. Studies by Anttiet al. (1994), Ikegamiet al. (1981), and Richet al. (1985) also concluded that shortening the elapsed time of the javelin release phase of the throw improved throwing performance. This study identified that throwers generated greater maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocity than casters in relatively the same elapsed time interval during their respective casting or throwing movement pattern than casters. The finding that similar temporal interval data was generated by both casters and throwers would indicate that the reason for the differences in joint horizontal, linear joint velocities was not sourced to the elapsed time of the cast or throw.

Proximal to Distal Patterning Compliance

This study also compared and contrasted the sequencing pattern used by casters and throwers. The relationship of a proximal to distal sequencing of joint velocity generation to overarm throwing performance has been identified in a number of studies of different sports.

Howensteinet al. (2018) concluded the sequencing of joint movement is a critical determinant in the generation of ball velocity in baseball. Other studies by Elliottet al. (1986), MacWilliamset al. (1998), and Seroyeret al. (2010) into baseball pitching supported the importance that proximal to distal joint sequencing had to pitching performance. In another baseball study, Urbinet al. (2013) emphasised the importance of proximal to distal sequencing of ball velocity and concluded performance was diminished whenever a disconnect to that chaining pattern occurred. The same proximal to distal sequencing patterning of arm throwing movement was found in a study of handball by Jöriset al. (1985) and in a study of tennis serving by Elliottet al. (1986). Studies of javelin movement patterns by Bestet al. (1993), Pavlović (2020), Whitinget al. (1991), Atwater (1979), Anttiet al. (1994), Köhler and Witt (2023), Palaniyappanet al. (2024), and Menzel (1987) all supported the concept that javelin performance was contingent upon a sequential transfer of kinetic energy to the javelin through a proximal to distal sequencing of body segments.

This study shows no discernible proximal to distal pattern of joint velocity generation was identified in the joint sequencing used by casters. In contrast, all throwers started the proximal to distal sequencing with the hips and finished with the wrist. The extensive research linking overarm throwing performance to a proximal to distal sequential transfer of maximum, horizontal, linear velocity progressively from the hip to the shoulder, then to the elbow and finally, to the wrist suggests the two throwers who achieved maximum elbow velocity before maximum shoulder velocity, may improve performance by having their shoulder achieve maximum, horizontal, linear velocity prior to their elbow. The analysis conducted on the data collected in this study indicates fly distance casting performance would be improved if athletes and coaches adopted a proximal to distal movement patterning for transferring horizontal, linear velocity through the body to the rod and line.

Joint Coupling

This study found casters exhibited no discernible proximal to distal sequential patterning when transferring horizontal, linear velocity through the hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist joints during the fly distance cast. The differences in compliance to a proximal to distal transfer of joint velocity through the body to the wrist between casters and throwers contributes to throwers achieving higher maximum, horizontal, linear joint velocities than casters achieved in equivalent time intervals. To understand where in the movement chain those differences occurred, this study examined how velocity was transferred from one joint to the next. The joint coupling data is displayed in Fig. 3. No significant differences were identified in the transfer of horizontal, linear velocity between the hip and shoulder and the elbow to wrist between casters and throwers. However, significant differences were found in the transfer of linear velocity from the shoulder to the elbow between casters and throwers. Throwers transferred more velocity from their shoulder to their elbow than did casters. Throwers increased their mean horizontal, linear joint velocity from 2.307 m/s at the shoulder to 5.103 m/s at the elbow. In comparison, casters increased their mean horizontal, linear joint velocity from 1.543 m/s at the shoulder to 2.354 m/s at the elbow. From their survey of casting coaches, Waterset al. (2024) concluded casting coaches focus on the movement of the elbow and wrist when both are in front of the shoulder during the fly distance casting stroke. This study found a significant difference in the effectiveness of how velocity is transferred from the shoulder to the elbow by throwers compared to casters. It is reasonable to conclude that the differences in the shoulder to elbow segment of the kinetic chain of movement of casters compared to throwers, contributes to the lower maximum horizontal, linear wrist velocity generated by casters. Waterset al. (2024) identified coaches considered the contralateral haul hand and ipsilateral rod hand were the primary sources of line speed. The comparative wrist maximum, horizontal, linear velocities identified in this study would suggest fly distance casting performance could be improved if casting coaches adopted the movement patterning used by javelin throwers as the basis of their fly distance casting instruction.

The shoulder to elbow segment of the movement chain is one source of difference identified in maximum, horizontal, linear wrist velocity generation between throwers and casters. The transfer of horizontal, linear velocity from the shoulder to the elbow should be the focus of casting coaches who seek performance improvement in fly distance casting.

Shoulder Axis Rotation at Maximum Elbow Angular Velocity

Given the differences identified in the transfer of maximum horizontal, linear velocity in the shoulder elbow coupling, this study compared elbow angular velocity and the angle of the shoulder axis to the throwing direction at maximum elbow angular velocity achieved by casters and throwers.

Waterset al. (2024) identified coaches advocated that linear translational movement is more important than rotation of the body around a central axis through the body, for fly distance casting performance. This study identified casters do not rotate their shoulders as much as throwers. In contrast, studies by Navarroet al. (1998), Menzel (1987), and Whitinget al. (1991) showed javelin throwing technique is much more focused on rotational movement of the hips and shoulders. It could be concluded that the lack of shoulder rotation by casters, advocated by casting coaches in Waterset al. (2024), compared to that achieved by throwers, contributes to the comparatively lower maximum, horizontal, linear wrist velocity generated by casters.

In a study of elite, club and novice javelin throwers, Bartlettet al. (1996) showed that the shoulder axis of elite right-handed throwers rotated further in a counterclockwise direction at javelin release than was displayed by right-handed club and novice throwers. This finding supported the earlier study by Sing (1984) who found that during the throw, the shoulders rotated beyond square to the direction of the throw. This study found right-handed casters had not rotated their shoulders in a counterclockwise direction as much as right-handed throwers had at the point of maximum elbow angular velocity (Fig. 6). More research needs to be undertaken to identify the significance of shoulder axis rotation on fly distance casting performance.

In a study of baseball, Aguinaldoet al. (2007) found any out of sequence timing in joint velocity chaining can disrupt the transfer of angular momentum from the trunk to the arm. In throwing, Putnam (1993) concluded that the summation of speed principle, created through a proximal to distal pattern of joint movement, applies equally to angular velocity and horizontal, linear velocity generation. Throwers generate greater elbow angular velocity and rotate their shoulder axis closer to the throwing direction than do casters. The greater elbow angular velocities generated, and the greater shoulder axis rotation towards the direction of the throw achieved by throwers, compared to casters, would indicate fly distance casting coaches and athletes would benefit from future research into the impact on fly distance casting performance of both increasing casters’ elbow angular velocity and shoulder axis rotation.

Conclusion

The purpose of this study was to determine any differences in the generation of both maximum joint horizontal, linear velocity and elbow angular velocity between fly distance casters and javelin throwers. It found javelin throwers generated greater hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist maximum horizontal, linear velocities than casters. It also found javelin throwers generated greater elbow angular velocity than casters. Javelin throwers used a different sequencing pattern to that used by casters, in their attainment of maximum joint velocities. Given line release velocity is a determinant of casting performance, and horizontal, linear wrist velocity equates to rod hand speed, it is reasonable to conclude that if casters used the same joint movement patterning used by javelin throwers, fly distance casting performance would increase. The results of this study have identified opportunities for fly distance casting athletes and coaches to improve performance by adopting the proximal to distal sequencing patterning of joint horizontal, linear velocity generation used by javelin throwers. Javelin throwers also achieved higher elbow angular velocity and shoulder axis rotation than was achieved by fly casters. It is reasonable to conclude that if fly distance casters achieved both the horizontal linear and angular joint velocities achieved by javelin throwers, then casters would generate higher line speed at the point of line release and hence, cast longer distances. Opportunity also exists for fly distance casting performance improvement by fly casters coordinating their maximum elbow angular velocity generation with greater counterclockwise (clockwise for left-handed casters) shoulder axis rotation.

As this is the first study to compare and contrast joint velocity generation between fly distance casters and javelin throwers, it suggests further research opportunities exist in the kinematic comparison of fly distance casting to other throwing sports.