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International Test Matches
England 2021/22
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<blockquote data-quote="RedruthRFC" data-source="post: 1094200" data-attributes="member: 58362"><p>I don't agree with the goal kicking analogy. Kickers aim the ball at a fixed point and try and make it go there at their leisure. Hookers are aiming to hit a spot of thin air, which is much harder to visualise and have to get it there at as close as possible to the apex of the jumper's leap, which adds a timing aspect that doesn't exist in goal kicking. A kicker can replicate everything but the pressure by staying after training with a bag of balls. A hooker can replicate the mechanics of throwing a ball (the easy part), but without a pack to join in, it's hard to practice visualising an invisible target and putting the ball there at just the right time. I'd be interested to hear what practice routines hookers use these days, the last time I remember seeing anything about this, it was Mark Regan throwing balls at a target on the side of his garage in the early 90s!</p><p></p><p>I'm not sure if it's an innate skill that some people are never going to get really good at no matter how much they practice (like making clean contact with a golf / snooker ball or sticking three darts in the same bed) or whether there isn't the opportunity to get sufficient practice to get really good.</p><p></p><p>[USER=73144]@Old Hooker[/USER] the LCD thing is interesting. For starters, I'm pretty sure that stats proved that his throwing wasn't as bad as was made out. Whenever anyone switches to hooker, it's easier for the rugby media to highlight their throwing whether it's merited or not, then the rugby community group think attitude kicks in. I'm not necessarily saying that his throwing hasn't improved, he is lucky that Exeter had faith in him from very early on (or didn't have anyone better - delete as appropriate), so he got to hone his craft.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RedruthRFC, post: 1094200, member: 58362"] I don't agree with the goal kicking analogy. Kickers aim the ball at a fixed point and try and make it go there at their leisure. Hookers are aiming to hit a spot of thin air, which is much harder to visualise and have to get it there at as close as possible to the apex of the jumper's leap, which adds a timing aspect that doesn't exist in goal kicking. A kicker can replicate everything but the pressure by staying after training with a bag of balls. A hooker can replicate the mechanics of throwing a ball (the easy part), but without a pack to join in, it's hard to practice visualising an invisible target and putting the ball there at just the right time. I'd be interested to hear what practice routines hookers use these days, the last time I remember seeing anything about this, it was Mark Regan throwing balls at a target on the side of his garage in the early 90s! I'm not sure if it's an innate skill that some people are never going to get really good at no matter how much they practice (like making clean contact with a golf / snooker ball or sticking three darts in the same bed) or whether there isn't the opportunity to get sufficient practice to get really good. [USER=73144]@Old Hooker[/USER] the LCD thing is interesting. For starters, I'm pretty sure that stats proved that his throwing wasn't as bad as was made out. Whenever anyone switches to hooker, it's easier for the rugby media to highlight their throwing whether it's merited or not, then the rugby community group think attitude kicks in. I'm not necessarily saying that his throwing hasn't improved, he is lucky that Exeter had faith in him from very early on (or didn't have anyone better - delete as appropriate), so he got to hone his craft. [/QUOTE]
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