The short answer
Throwing implements get heavier as athletes age up to senior level, then lighter again for masters. A boy throws a 6 lb shot at 11, a 12 lb in high school, a 16 lb (7.26 kg) in college, then back down to 6 kg at 50 and 3 kg at 80. The full chart for shot, discus, hammer and javelin is below.
Key takeaways
- Senior men throw a 7.26 kg (16 lb) shot; senior women throw 4 kg
- High school boys use 12 lb shot and 1.6 kg discus; girls use 4 kg and 1 kg
- USATF youth shot rises from 6 lb to 4 kg to 12 lb by age 16
- Masters weights step down by age band to keep throwing speed and protect joints
- Implement weight changes the whole technique, not just the distance
The short version
Implement weight climbs as athletes mature toward senior level, then steps back down for masters. The logic is simple: match the implement to the strength and the joints behind it. A child needs a ball light enough to throw with real speed and no injury risk. A senior man needs the full 7.26 kg. A 70-year-old needs something lighter again, so the movement stays fast and the shoulder stays safe. The full chart is below, and every weight here is from the governing rulebooks, verified 2026.
A four-fold range in one event
The shot put alone runs from a 6 lb (2.72 kg) youth ball to a 16 lb (7.26 kg) senior men's ball, then back to 3 kg for men 80 and over. Same event, very different implement.
Source: USATF, NFHS, WMA implement specifications (verified 2026)
The master chart: shot, discus, hammer, javelin
Read down for your level, across for the implement. Weights are listed in the unit each governing body uses, with conversions where it helps.
Throwing implement weights by level
USATF youth, NFHS high school, NCAA and World Athletics senior, and WMA masters. Verified 2026.
| Level | Shot put | Discus | Hammer | Javelin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USATF Bantam (9-10) | 6 lb | n/a | n/a | turbo jav |
| USATF Midget (11-12) | 6 lb | 1 kg | n/a | turbo jav |
| USATF Youth boys (13-14) | 4 kg | 1 kg | n/a | 600 g |
| USATF Youth girls (13-14) | 6 lb | 1 kg | n/a | 600 g |
| High school boys (NFHS) | 12 lb (5.44 kg) | 1.6 kg | 12 lb | 800 g |
| High school girls (NFHS) | 4 kg | 1 kg | 4 kg | 600 g |
| NCAA / senior men | 16 lb (7.26 kg) | 2 kg | 16 lb (7.26 kg) | 800 g |
| NCAA / senior women | 4 kg | 1 kg | 4 kg | 600 g |
| Masters men 50-59 | 6 kg | 1.5 kg | 6 kg | 700 g |
| Masters men 60-69 | 5 kg | 1 kg | 5 kg | 600 g |
| Masters men 70-79 | 4 kg | 1 kg | 4 kg | 500 g |
| Masters men 80+ | 3 kg | 1 kg | 3 kg | 400 g |
| Masters women 50-59 | 3 kg | 1 kg | 3 kg | 500 g |
| Masters women 60-74 | 3 kg | 1 kg | 3 kg | 500 g |
| Masters women 75+ | 2 kg | 0.75 kg | 2 kg | 400 g |
Two notes. Masters men 35 to 49 throw the full senior weights (16 lb shot, 2 kg discus, 16 lb hammer, 800 g javelin), and masters women 35 to 49 throw the senior women's weights, so they are not listed separately above. And the discus weight for senior men (2 kg) is the one implement that does not get lighter in high school by as much: boys jump from 1.6 kg in high school to 2 kg in college.
The weight throw, an indoor and masters event
The weight throw is the heavy indoor cousin of the hammer, and it has its own ladder. Senior men throw a 35 lb weight, senior women a 20 lb. Masters step down from there.
Weight throw by level
Indoor weight throw, NCAA and WMA masters. Verified 2026.
| Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA / senior | 35 lb (15.88 kg) | 20 lb (9.08 kg) |
| Masters 50-59 | 25 lb (11.34 kg) | 16 lb (7.26 kg) |
| Masters 60-74 | 20 lb (9.08 kg) | 12 lb (5.45 kg) |
| Masters 70-79 (M) | 16 lb (7.26 kg) | - |
| Masters 75+ (W) / 80+ (M) | 12 lb (5.45 kg) | 4 kg (8.8 lb) |
Why weight changes the technique, not just the distance
A lighter implement is not just easier to throw far. It changes the movement. A lighter shot leaves the hand faster, so timing has to be quicker and the release angle tends to climb. A heavier ball forces a longer, more patient drive through the power position because you cannot muscle it. Coaches who move an athlete up a weight class almost always see the same faults appear: the throw gets slow, the block weakens, and the finish drops. That is why you cannot judge a thrower's technique without knowing the implement.
Watch the weight jump
The biggest technique disruptions happen at the transitions: youth to high school shot (6 lb to 12 lb), and high school to college (12 lb to 16 lb). Distances usually drop for a season while the body relearns the timing.
Source: Track & Field AI coaching desk
What stays the same
The positions that win throws do not change with the weight. A strong power position, a grounded block, a full hip-to-shoulder sequence, and a high, fast release matter whether the ball is 6 lb or 16. That is the case for filming your throw: the camera sees the positions a tape measure never will. For masters throwers especially, where a lighter implement rewards speed, clean mechanics are the difference between a good mark and a record.
Quick reference by question
- How heavy is a men's shot put? 16 lb (7.26 kg) at college and senior level.
- How heavy is a high school shot put? 12 lb (5.44 kg) for boys, 4 kg for girls.
- How heavy is a women's discus? 1 kg at every level from high school up.
- What does a youth shot put weigh? 6 lb through age 12, rising to 4 kg for boys at 13 to 14.
- What does a masters shot weigh at 60? 5 kg for men, 3 kg for women.