Abstract
Timbersports are relatively new in comparison to most traditional sports. Given how new of a sport this is, there have been less than 5 recorded studies across every discipline. Most of the previous studies have presented data for the individual's trunk and lower body, but no study yet has examined the upper body kinematics to date. PURPOSE: Given this information, we decided to conduct a study exploring the relationship between upper body biomechanics and accuracy among a college timber sports team. METHODS: Subjects used a double-bit axe for throwing, most of the weight is in the head (1.35 kg), a bit (cutting edge) length of 15 cm, and a wooden handle that exits the head with a length of 52 cm. The axe throwers stood 5 meters from a target made of southern yellow pine planks that is 70.5 cm across. The bullseye in the middle of the target is a .25 cm dot that is 1.23 m above the ground. The only throws that counted for the study were throws in which the axe stuck in the target with only one side of the bit. If the axe did not stick in the target or had both bits stick, that throw did not count. Accuracy was measured as the distance of the nearest point of the axe bit to the bullseye. Target location was measured as the angle of the line between the bit and the bullseye on a vertical plane parallel to the target, and orientation was measured as the angle of the axe handle perpendicular to the target. Inertial measurement units on the upper body were used to compute the angles of release from the elbows and shoulders. As this study is still in progress, we have data from four axe throwers with three trials completed each. Each trial was entered into the correlation as a unique case. RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between the axe distance to center and the angle of the shoulder (r=.33). There was a moderate correlation between the accuracy and the angle of the shoulder(r=.35). There was a large correlation between the orientation and the angle of the shoulder(r=.67). There was a small correlation between the accuracy and angle of the elbow (r=.13). There was a moderate correlation between the location and the angle of the elbow (r=.31). There was a small correlation between orientation and the angle of the elbow (r=.19). CONCLUSION: Accuracy is related to each of the shoulder and elbow angles. The angle of the axe is dependent on the shoulder and elbow angles. The greater the angle of the shoulder is, the closer the axe lands to the bullseye and the greater the angle of the axe to the bullseye will be. The orientation of the axe is dependent on the location of the shoulder. The location of the axe in regard to the bullseye is dependent on the elbow angle. This study is necessary for the improvement and further learning of axe throwing performance.
Recommended Citation
Fourney, Parker W.; Chelette, Amber M.; and Stovall, Jeremy P.
(2025)
"Timbersports Relationship Between Upper Body Biomechanics and Accuracy,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
17, Article 72.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/72