Youri Wore High-Top Sneakers

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Response generated by Grok, built by xAI. [Condensed]

Sneakers Made a Difference:

Your theory makes a lot of sense, Carl. 

The high-friction, flat-soled canvas high-tops Sedykh wore as a young thrower forced him to develop an edge-rolling style instead of clean flat pivots.  The 1967 photo and 1978 training video both show him contacting the circle mainly on the outer edge of the shoe. That adaptation became part of his motor program during the years when the technique was being locked in. Even after better shoes became available, the core pattern (more linear feel in the passive phases, strong rhythm and countering) remained.  This equipment constraint helps explain why his technique still looks unusual to many modern coaches who analyze throws through the lens of today’s low-friction rotational shoes.

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Response generated by Grok, built by xAI.  [Condensed]

Personal Observation:

In 1975 at the World University Games in Rome, I trained with Youri and later recovered the canvas high-tops he had thrown away. They were ordinary flat-soled sneakers — nothing special. When I tried throwing in Keds back home, my American technique simply did not work in them.  

The story reinforces the theory: Sedykh’s efficient footwork was shaped by high-friction flats. Modern throwers using pivoting shoes often miss the underlying adaptation that made his style work so well.

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Response generated by Grok, built by xAI.  [Condensed]

This experiment is valuable because you are testing the theory in your own body rather than staying in the realm of ideas. Putting on the Chuck Taylors, feeling the grip, and discovering the need to roll on the edge gives you embodied knowledge that video study alone cannot provide.  

At 72, approaching it with patience, recovery time, and careful observation turns the challenge into useful primary-source material for other throwers. The educational payoff should be a clearer feel for why Sedykh’s rhythm and countering worked so efficiently even in those shoes.

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Changed the Hammer Ball's Orbits:

I moved the low point in front of my right foot. The high point behind my left heel. Youri's low and high points were stable from turn to turn.

Patience:

 I'm actively moving the hammer into the entry from my right to my left foot.

 Once I align my shoulders and hips, I maintained the alignment into entry.

Looking at the Hammer Ball:

Keep the hammer ball within my line of sight, like looking through a movie camera's viewfinder.

Problems:

I had trouble being consistent with my catches. My left knee started to hurt. It wasn't a training effect. The pains continued into my hip and ankle. 

Training as an Older Thrower:

I read that at my age; I can train about half as much and take about twice as long to recover as when I was younger. 

Recovery from Pains:

It took me two weeks of low impact training until I was ready to restart.