What makes a put legal?
B · Beginner · The throw · 2 of 5The shot must be put from the shoulder with one hand only. When the athlete takes their stance, the shot must touch or be close to the neck or chin, and the hand may not drop below that position during the put. The shot may not be taken behind the line of the shoulders. Any other release is a failure.
How it works
- One hand, from the shoulder: "The shot shall be put from the shoulder with one hand only."
- At the neck: when the athlete takes a stance in the circle to begin, "the shot shall touch or be in close proximity to the neck or the chin".
- The hand stays up: "the hand shall not be dropped below this position during the action of putting".
- Not behind the shoulders: "The shot shall not be taken behind the line of the shoulders."
- Cartwheels: "Cartwheeling techniques are not permitted."
- Glide or spin: the rule names no style. Both the glide technique and the rotational technique keep the shot at the neck and end in a push, so both are legal.
- The penalty: releasing the shot in any other way is a failure.
Tricky cases
Is the spin legal in the shot put?
Yes. The rule limits how the shot is held and released, not how the athlete moves across the circle.
The shot comes away from the neck during the spin and the athlete still pushes it out. Is it a failure?
Yes, if the hand dropped below its starting position or the shot went behind the line of the shoulders.
Can an athlete put with two hands?
No. One hand only.
Can an athlete change hands between trials?
Yes. Nothing in the rule ties an athlete to one hand for the whole competition.
Why the rule exists
A 7.26 kg ball thrown with a straight arm would go further and would also tear at the elbow and shoulder. Keeping the shot at the neck and the hand high makes every legal release a push, which is what separates a put from a throw.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 33.1; TR 32.14.1 |
| Discus and hammer | No rule on how the implement is held or released | TR 34; TR 36 |
| Javelin | Its own rule: over the shoulder or upper arm, never slung | TR 38.1 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 32.14.1 and 33.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).