I noticed while watching the women’s 4x100 at worlds this past week that the French team who won the women’s race used the underhand technique to pass the baton. Personally, I prefer to teach the over hand method because I find that it does not require readjustment of the baton (lack of room left for the anchors hand by the third exchange). I was wondering what everyone taught their relay teams and why you guys prefer which ever method you teach.
Underhand technique is more for safety in my opinion. I don’t think it’s all that efficient, but it has less casualties than the overhand technique. I actually think ig does the opposite of what you were suggesting. Usually when you do the underhand exchanges, you’ll get the baton at the bottom. So it would seem like you would have to adjust. 3rd leg for France(Felix) had to adjust the baton when she got it. Arron, didn’t have to worry about it since she was last leg. I prefer the over hand technique over all the others, because of the efficiency, and it allows for the most extension. It’s the hardest to do with no practice, but also gets the best results when done right. And you’re almost forced to get the baton in the right spot. If you don’t the exchange was probably bad to begin with.
You might want to review a previous discussion related to this subject:
http://www.charliefrancis.com/community/showthread.php?t=2758
Charlie’s comments are quite insightful.
I have observed true push passes by some college teams and international high school programs (Jamaica comes to mind). In addition, Rob Johnson of Wabash College has done some very good instruction with USA teams in the past.