bottom arm press

[coachknight]

Coaches,do you teach botton arm press or do you teach hang and swing from top with a passive bottom arm. It seems that the top vaulters are pressing through with bottom arm. Just want some feedback, Thanks

[Polevaulter2012]

I believe in having a straight left arm but still allowing your shoulders to be elastic, so you get a full pre stretch. You dont want to block though. Thats the hard part when it comes to trying to master the straight left arm technique(IMHO).

[VaultPurple]

Never teach to push with bottom arm. Teach to have top arm as high over head as possible with a relaxed left arm at plant and to drive with the chest. As you get on longer poles that bend more the left arm will become more straighter, but not because you are pressing that one, you are just pushing up and driving your chest in, but since you are hanging it is straight.

[rainbowgirl28]

Please keep in mind that elite vaulters are on WAY longer poles than 99% of high school kids. The angles are completely different. It's practically impossible for a beginning vaulter to learn good technique if they are focused on that bottom arm. They should be focused on a tall springy takeoff, with a lot of work on straight poles.