# How to Throw Off the Hump for Fast, Matching Cups

Cluster: Wheel Throwing
URL: https://claybook.studio/blog/throwing-off-the-hump/

# How to Throw Off the Hump for Fast, Matching Cups

Throwing off the hump is how production potters make a dozen cups in the time it takes most beginners to center one ball. You center one large mound of clay, throw a small pot from the top, cut it off, and repeat with the same mound.

It saves time, helps you practice centering once and makes matching sets easier. It also takes a bit of getting used to.

## Why it works

* **You center only once** for many pots.
* **Each pot comes from the same clay,** so the walls behave similarly.
* **The mound is a natural gauge,** so repeating heights is easier.
* **You build rhythm,** which improves your speed and consistency.

Read our lessons on [what throwing off the hump is](/learn/what-is-throwing-off-the-hump/) and [throwing and cutting off](/learn/throwing-and-cutting-off-the-hump/) for photos of each stage.

## What you need

* A wheel and a bat or board
* A bucket of water and a sponge
* A needle tool
* A wire or twisted cord for cutting
* A rib and calipers or a height stick
* Clay: for six small cups, around 2 to 2.5 kg (about 5 pounds) for the hump, depending on cup size
* A board to place finished pieces on

If you are unsure how much clay each cup needs, try the [clay weight estimator](/guides/clay-weight-estimator.html).

## Step by step

**1. Center a big mound.** Center the whole hump firmly. Our guide to [centering clay](/blog/how-to-center-clay/) helps if this part wobbles. Cone it up slightly so the top is a bit narrower than the base.

**2. Mark your first section.** With a needle tool, mark where each cup will begin. Leave a small collar of clay at the bottom of each section, which will become the foot.

**3. Open the top.** Open a small hole in the top section, as you would for a cup. Keep the base of the hump wide and strong.

**4. Throw the cup.** Pull up the walls just like a small cylinder. Keep an eye on the height with a stick or caliper so each cup matches. See [throwing a consistent cylinder](/blog/throw-consistent-cylinder/).

**5. Finish the rim and define the base.** Compress the rim, then use a rib or tool to make a small groove below the cup. This tells you where to cut and gives the cup a neat foot.

**6. Cut off.** Hold the wire taut, slide it under the cup at a slight angle and cut cleanly. Let the wheel spin slowly while you cut.

**7. Remove the cup.** Slide it off with your hands or a board, and place it to dry.

**8. Repeat.** Re-center the top of the hump quickly and throw the next one.

## Common problems

* **The hump wobbles.** Re-center before each cup.
* **Cups differ in height.** Use a height stick as a guide.
* **Wire drags and distorts the base.** Use a taut wire and a clean, even motion.
* **Clay dries out.** Keep the hump damp with a sponge, but don't let water pool.
* **Cups collapse.** Don't pull too thin near the base.

## Trimming and drying

Cups thrown off the hump often have a small foot that needs trimming. Dry them slowly on a board and trim at leather hard. See [how to trim a foot ring](/blog/how-to-trim-a-foot-ring/).

## Practice drills

Start with three cups, then six. Our practice exercises, such as [three cups off the hump](/practice/throw-three-cups-off-the-hump/), build the skills step by step.

Record the clay weight, the number of cups and the dimensions. Logging weights makes it much easier to repeat a set, and Claybook helps you keep those numbers.