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Alan, my comment was tongue in cheek. Your response wasn't yelling at me. Sort of an inside joke as the last time you disagreed with me, you were quite animated. I respect your comments tremendously and as you can see, I did list you as a reference. I was hoping to stimulate healthy reflection on th...

As I mentioned in the article, 5 - 10 cm out is ideal, which I think Bubka at his best was probably doing. 30 cm plus like Markov and Feofanova is too much. But Alan, you are right, I did not talk to Bubka. I have not asked this question of Petrov specifically. However, David Butler has talked to Pe...

I am finishing up this article to be published. So far, I've gotten approval from Bob Fraley, Brian Yokoyama, Greg Hull, Greg Duplantis, Rens Blom, and Bubba Sparks. So what the hey, I'm sure this will stir up some conversation. Unfortunately, the pictures make a big difference and I don't have a li...

Tim,

Can't wait to get your book. When it comes to mental preparation and focus, I always use you as an example of what can be done and how it can be done. Hope all is well.

Thank you for what you have brought to our sport!

Aloha,

Spence

I have to clarify that I am not a proponent of dropping the lead knee. It will however get you into the pit when the take-off and plant are less than optimal. It was discussed in that article to explain techniques of moving the pole to vertical, pendulum #1. Markov was unable to catch the ride as we...

From an orthopaedic standpoint, most people have a valgus carrying angle of the elbow, which is normal. This carrying angle is larger in women. The presumed bend is not actual flexion of the elbow, but how the arm lies in an anatomic position such that if the arm were supinated (palm forward while d...

Alan, How's your health ol mate? Since you got to spend some time with Brian Yokoyama in Formia in November, how would you regard him as a coach? I am biased, but I do believe Brian is often underrated, and is in my mind one of the best in the business. There have been quite a few American Coaches w...

It is a misconception that gravity force that makes the pole drop accelerates the last few steps of the run up. There is no such thing, despite of many people writing about it. The best you can hope for is a free drop that does not interfere with the run up. I should say that a proper drop allows t...

The free take-off and immediate left arm pull are co-depended. Without a free take-off the left arm pull cannot be achieved immediately. The free take-off itself is a consequence of the run up plant action. If the plant performed incorrectly it is nearly impossible to achieve a free take-off. Thank...

Agapit, What do you think of the negative bend (the pole bends toward the vaulter slightly at take-off) of the pole at take-off in jumps where either a free take-off or pre-jump occurs in vaulters like Markov, Feofanova, Lawrence Johnson, Bubka, and even Tim Mack at the 2004 Olympics. One thing you ...

I just had dinner with Brian Yokoyama. He says that both Giovani Lanaro and Daichi Sawano have been vaulting very well in practice at Mt. Sac. In fact, he said that he would be very disappointed if we don't see both a Japanese and Mexican National Record broken at Mt. Sac this weekend. It's going to...

Actually Wilson,

I don't mind Chiropractors, and I really like our USATF Pole Vault Staff Chiropractors a lot.

Pathologists ... now that's a different story.

Did you get married yet? I can't remember.