How heavy is a shot put? Explaining the weight difference for men's and women's Olympic events

When it comes to the Olympics and some of the earliest competition in those games, nothing comes to mind more than the shot put event.

While some think that throwing the "shot" is the same thing as putting it, it is not. The two are very different. The "throwing" motion resembles what one may see when a pitcher or baseball player throws a baseball to home plate or to one of the bases, using his shoulder in the process.

Putting is more of a pressing maneuver that should not include any shoulder rotation, starting from the neck all the way through to the release of the shot. There are two important putting styles: the glide and the spin.

The glide is more of a linear movement that incorporates the putter being backwards before rotating180 degrees within the circle and tossing the shot.

When it comes to the spin, considered by many as the rotational technique, it involves using high rotational momentum for power. For example, throwers who prefer the spin method will face the front of the circle and drive their foot into the center point of the sphere. The thrower will reach for the front of the circle. Then, using their other foot, the thrower will reach for the front of the circle, twist their shoulders and hips like they would in a glide method and put the shot.

While these are the main two methods, the sizes of the shot put vary in the levels of competition. Here's a look at the differences in weight of the shot used in the women's and men's shot put competitions at the Summer Games.

How heavy is a shot put?

The shot put is made of solid iron and brass. The ball used in the men's competition weighs about 7.26 kilograms while the women’s competition uses a ball that weighs 4.0 kilograms. The goal of the event is to put—not throw—the ball using one hand with hopes of reaching the farthest distance possible.

Men's shot put weight in pounds

The metal ball used in men's competition weighs 16 pounds.

Women's shot put weight in pounds

The metal ball used in women's competition weighs 8.8 pounds.

Olympic shot put weight compared to high school, other levels

The shot put weight varies beyond international and collegiate competition for both boys and girls.

The shot put weight for girls in high school is 8.8 pounds while the weight for boys is 12 pounds in high school The typical weight for girls in middle school (7th and 8th grade) is six pounds. For boys in the middle school in the same grades, the weight is 8.8 pounds.