It was once thought that athletic hammer throw cages with IAAF certification were the best cage designs in the world. Sadly, this is not the case. Certification of sports equipment generally means that a product complies to physical measurements specified by the sport’s governing body. It has nothing to do with quality, ease of use or practicality.

IAAF certified hammer throw cages may comply with size and positional requirements but they are not built strong enough for the nets to remain erected when not in use. Imagine a tyre manufacturer recommending the tyres be removed from the car when not in use.

Manufacturers testing the boundaries of product compliance has not been lost on cage users and venue operators and the need for more practical designs has been a long time coming. Cages have generally been designed for removal during major events. This has led to flimsy designs which are impractical for day to day use. All of the twenty-four manufacturers of IAAF certified cages worldwide make cages that are similar in design. The cages, therefore, have the same problems, namely poles being too close to the net, low wind rating, visually obtrusive and labour intensive to use.

How PHS are changing Athletics today

The Thor and Apollo throwing cages from Play Hard Sports were designed to be used 24/7. The high wind rating minimises the manpower required to operate the cage and reduced number of net support poles reduces the likelihood of implement contact. The heavy gauge aluminium poles are hinged on steel base plates and can be raised and lowered with a winch.

The benefits of the NEXT GENERATION cages have been recognised by Gill Athletics, the world’s oldest and largest manufacturer of athletic equipment, by signing an agreement to manufacture and distribute the cages in North America.

The manufacturing agreement will not only provide the US athletics market with a greater choice in cage styles but also provide Gill Athletics with a distinct point of difference from their competitors.