Hmmm... a drag parachute. I never thought about that, before. I'm not sure what to tell you, it might be pretty good. Try it out and let us know what you think.

what I do know works well is to make a wire hammer, and throw that. I've never done it but most of the best hammer throwers I know have. Basically, you're going to use your weight plates and plumbing fixtures to make a "ballistica"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjzrz0USqk4

Set it up on a chain or a wire of the appropriate length and work it like a collegiate or wire hammer. If your timing isn't good, you won't be able to maintain the structure of the handle/wire/weight link and you'll flail around.

Weights for distance is not really like discus. The difference in mass is huge.

In discus, your spin is basically functioning as a gigantic wind-up spring, which you unleash in a huge pull at the end of the throw to deliver the implement. Unless you are truly a mammoth human being with inconceivable brutal strength you can't do that with a 28 pound weight, and certainly not with a 56 or 42. In the weight events you more "guide" and "pull" and "push" the weights along, rather than winding up this massive amount of potential torque and then unleashing it.

I strongly....**STRONGLY** recommend starting the weight throws with a single spin. Look around YouTube and you'll find some links. Watch them about 1,000 times. Start light, like with a softball. I'm dead serious, I start most of my beginners with single spins with a softball or a 3 pound rock. When you can single spin, accurately with the rock/ball and no stutter-stepping, then try a ten pound weight on a handle.