Open Stone brings movement and athletic technique to the traditional Scottish stone put. Like Braemar Stone, competitors put a natural stone from the shoulder with one hand and attempt to achieve the greatest legal distance. Unlike Braemar, however, athletes are permitted to move within the throwing area before releasing the stone.

Because the Open Stone is generally lighter than the Braemar Stone, competitors can generate additional momentum through techniques such as a glide or rotational spin. The result is an exciting combination of strength, speed, footwork, balance, and precise timing as the athlete accelerates through the throwing area and releases the stone at just the right moment.

Open Stone is closely related to modern shot putting, while retaining the distinctive character of Highland competition through the use of a natural stone. For spectators, it is a fast, powerful event that showcases how much technique goes into turning raw strength into distance.