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if somone could diagnose.

a week ago, I was doing pretty well on my 14's (15 foot vaults). Also, I was getting on my 15's with a horrible plant, but decent in air technique and clearing a decent height.

now, my plant is MUCH better on my 15s, straighter bottom arm into the plant to press up, better penetration, but now I suck. I can't do anything. I can't rock back/ swing up so my vault just dies. it looks like how i cleared freshman year, which was pretty bad for me. i havent been able to get a good practice in and sections with granite bay is this friday and I would be open to any advice.

I dont understand if it is my timing for my rockback/ swing through, getting back way too late when I do get back, or perhaps it is because I am not strong enough in my abs to swing my leg through, although i wouldn't think so.

thanks again!

-kelly

How far apart is your grip? It sounds to me that u may be blocking out. Going from a 14' to a 15' sounds like a pretty big leap

Korean,

You didn't raise your grip a bunch did you? Make sure the arms are high and extended, but no blocking. Could be one of those or a fluke. Hope its a fluke. Jump high.

GF

The same thing happened to me when I first switched from a 14 to a 15.
I think since your plant is now all good and everything, you are focusing too much on it. You might be holding the plant/press for too long then swinging too slow. I would suggest focusing on a powerful, quick swing instead of the plant from now on since you got it, itll get you in better position up top.

I went through (and am still goin through) somethin very familiar. now i have a pretty decent plant and takeoff, but i cant get well inverted. my problem lies in keeping pressure with my bottom arm instead of letting it break in. instead of rowing with my top arm and keeping pressure with it the whole time and letting my bottom arm relax, i try to row with two arms, blocking my swing and not allowing me to get tight with the pole upside down. lately ive been trying to fix this, perhaps it might be the source of your problem?

yeah. right after you row it time to break that arm. Also remember that your drive phase needs to be a bit longer before you swing. That way you keep good momentum moving.

so if i understand, I should not have any sensation of pressing up/forward with the bottom hand druing the swing/ rockback phase? I thought i had to row very hard to get everything around. (im a lefty)


-kelly

How long have you been using the 15' pole? If its a short time-period then you might need to take a few jumps each day to breakin the pole & get a better feel on how it repsonds to your jumps. I noticed that some new poles needed few extra jumps to help break it in like a baseball glove.

But I think VTechVaulter & jhesch as well as others here are right on that you will need to drive the knee a little longer since its an added foot to the pole (if your using near the end of it). If you do a few penetration run-throughs driving the knee, i'm pretty sure you will be able to work on plant/swing/rockback mechanics techniques. I notice that i had same problems moving up to higher poles.

just one other comment: while i think emphasis needs to be placed on driving the knee, i think more needs to be placed on jumping up, leading with your chest, looking up, and holding a big 'split' in which you drive your knee forward. for one reason or another lately ive also driven my knee significantly hard upwards which immediately pulls my hips under where i break at the hips and it somewhat ruins my plant. i would focus more on jumping up and holding a tall plant with a driving knee forward but not higher than hips with trail leg back. hope that helps/makes sense...

When you are trying to get on a longer pole, try to take off like Derek Miles.