Pole Problem

[beers1213]

ok so im a highschool junior and my PR is 12'6", i had a invitational last saturday which was very windy but still jumped 12' which i was pretty happy at (on a 13'7" 170. 12' 6" grip) so then i went to practice last sunday and was clearing a 12' bungee from a 3 step, holding 9 inches lower on a pole (13' 165 ...11'9" grip). i just had a meet wednesday and i jumped 12'6" but i am very frusterated, i went from my 6-step and i am consistently under. i jumped 11'6" and 12'6" on the 13 7 170 holding 12' 11", but then went up to my 14' 170" for the 13' jump and couldnt move it at all, i was peaking above the box with very little bend in the pole, i was holding 12' 9", my question is, should i move my run in to a 5 step and try to keep jumping on the 13 7 170? get a 14 165 or 13 7 175, or just practice on the 14 170 more? any help is appreciated. thank you

[rainbowgirl28]

Where are your standards when you are on the 13'7 pole?

[beers1213]

i blew through my first attempt at 11'6" they were at 26, made at 28, blew through at 12'6" on 28, and 29, then made it at 30 and my chest grazed the bar.

[rainbowgirl28]

Keep your standards all the way back, 31.5" or whatever. If you are still blowing through, go to a shorter run and keep working on getting that takeoff step in the right position.

[master]

Keep your standards all the way back, 31.5" or whatever. If you are still blowing through, go to a shorter run and keep working on getting that takeoff step in the right position.

Great coaching.

- master

[beers1213]

i will definitely do that thanks a lot.

[beers1213]

ok so this helped a lot even though im still consistently under , like i said i have a 13'7 170 and a 14 170, and its in between the poles i need. the kid at the meet yesterday let me use his 14 165 and it helped so much but i had no idea on the standards. is there anything i can do with my 13'7 170 or 14' 170 to get the same feeling as the 14 165?

[KirkB]

It's interesting that you entitled this thread "Pole Problem", yet you mention more than once that you're "consistently under".

Since you KNOW that you're consistently under, and you KNOW that that's not good, and Becca has ADVISED you that "you need to get that takeoff step in the right position", and Master has TOLD Becca that her advice is "great coaching", then it seems obvious that you need to fix that first. Becca and Master are both very experienced coaches.

Re "I had no idea on the standards", here a bit of advice ...

Whenever you land in the pit, notice exactly where you landed. Did you land in the the "PLZ" (the Preferred Landing Zone, aka the Coaches Box)? How deep into the pit did you land? Did you land a bit to the left or the right? If so, why? Next, think about that in relation to where you set your standards. If you set your standards to 31.5" (as advised), and landed short, then you have one kind of a problem. If you blew thru (hitting the bar on the way up) and landed well into the back of the PLZ, then you have a different kind of a problem. Take note of what happens on every jump ... then fix it accordingly. (Fix your run, takeoff point, and grip, I mean ... or whatever else was technically wrong with your jump). Leave the standards at 31.5" ... that's not the issue.

Altho it might SEEM TO YOU that you "just need to get onto the right pole", it sounds to ME like your focus might be wrong. You can always adjust your grip or length of run so that your pole bends about right.

But my main advice to you is this ...

It doesn't matter WHAT size pole you have as you're running down the runway and trying to hit your takeoff foot. If you're UNDER, then you're not going to have a very good vault. You need to fix that FIRST!

Once you fix that, THEN you can figure out your optimal pole size. Why would you want to optimize your pole size based on a technically BAD VAULT?

1. Change the title of this thread to "Why am I consistently under?". That might help you focus on the main problem.
2. Stay on the softer pole until you fix your run/takeoff flaws.
3. Research all the beginner and intermediate threads about the run, mid-marks, takeoff point, etc.
4. Ask for advice on how to fix your takeoff. Someone might be able to link you to a particularly helpful thread. The info is here somewhere ... I'm just not sure where.

I do not mean to single you out as someone that has the wrong focus. If you look thru the new threads over the past month or so, there's numerous threads where a young athlete asks for advice on pole selection, or "how to bend the pole", and not many on "what's the proper technique to vault high"? While this is understandable to a certain extent ... since it's still "early outdoor season" and people are having to figure out what pole to use based on the selection of poles available from last year's stock, you all need to realize that the focus in early season training should be LEARNING HOW TO VAULT PROPERLY!

Do you remember the guy on the infomercial that sold the ab machines? I loved it how he always yelled "TECHNIQUE! TECHNIQUE!"

Kirk

[beers1213]

yes i totally understand, and i have been trying to fix this, but just because i'm consistently under does NOT mean im trying to be under. My run is horrendous and its my main focus. i have jumped 12' from a 3 step yet my PR is only 12'6". 95% of the time i am landing straight ( not left or right, im not positive where the PLZ is). And i am always blowing through when i use the 13'7" 170. there is little bend in the 14' 170 but i land really short, 1.) yes because i am under 2.) the pole is too resistant. And yes i have beginner to bubka, i belong to vertical assault, i know the run is the first problem, and i know what im doing wrong, but my question is about the poles, not about the run. i know "how" to fix the run, im just struggling doing it. i dont know "how" to fix the pole problem unless i get the 14' 165. I also realize that these problems affect each other i.e. if i jump from further out = more force = a lot better attempt on the 14' 170. but for future reference and now until i get the footwork down, what do i do with the pole situation?

thanks kirk


andy.

[rainbowgirl28]

Until you can get your step in the right spot, getting on a longer pole/raising your grip won't help. I would stick with a slightly shorter run and keep the grip low.

[beers1213]

yeah ive brought the run down from a 6, to a 5. now i know without video its hard but i should try to make my strides shorter as in quickening my feet as opposed to just backing up on the runway?

[rainbowgirl28]

yeah ive brought the run down from a 6, to a 5. now i know without video its hard but i should try to make my strides shorter as in quickening my feet as opposed to just backing up on the runway?

Yes. Do a search on here for mid marks, that will help fix your run.