The Composition of a Shot Put Ball

Shot putting is a track and field event where an athlete throws a heavy, metal ball called a shot as far as he can. The ball is thrown in a pushing fashion called "putting." The shot put event has been part of the Summer Olympic Games since their revival in 1896. Shot puts are made up of different alloys and compositions in order to be used in a wider variety of situations and different weights according to differing preferences of athletes.

  1. Indoor Shot

    • Using a standard shot is impractical for indoor use, which may be required because of weather restrictions. In this case, an indoor shot is needed, as it can simulate the weight of a shot while being unlikely to damage the floors and walls of a gym. These balls are hard, heavy rubber all the way through.

    Brass Shot

    • The brass shot is one of the common balls used in serious competition. Its weight and heft are ideal for the event. The brass shot was one of the shot variations used for the event during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. These balls are hollow, highly polished brass shells filled with lead to give them the proper weight.

    Stainless Steel Shot

    • The stainless steel shot is a heavier version of the classic brass shot put. It has a distinct advantage over the brass shot because in outdoor competitions it will not rust if left damp or moist after use. This variation of the shot put was also used in the 1996 Olympics. The stainless steel shot put is made up of a stainless steel shell over a core of lead in order to give it a competition weight.

    Alloy Iron Shot

    • The alloy iron shot is a more traditional shot put ball, closer to the original pure iron and pure lead balls used in the past. This kind of shot is made up of a shell constructed of an alloy that is mostly iron, put has a few additional elements to help it avoid rusting or deforming easily during use. Like the other shots, the alloy iron shell is filled with lead to give it a proper competition weight.