A study has been carried out on the speed and strength abilities of various muscle groups in high performance shot put competitors. Certain correlations have been found between the strength and the strength gradient of the upper limb, lower limb and body muscle flexors and extensors and sports performance. It has been proved that the speed-strength abilities of individual muscle groups do not determine sports performance when they function separately. Suggestions have been made for the selection of exercises for speed-strength conditioning in shot putting.