PoleVaultPower.com

So I'm having a little trouble getting the whole concept of bending the pole. I know i have to stick my left arm (I'm a rightey) straight out to get the bend and this will bring me back and give me time to swing up. But what I'm not understanding is how this will give me depth to get to the bar. Is that all just knee drive? Also, do i need to start turning in the air to get over? Can someone explain this to me?

OK..........brace yourself. This is going be harsh...........but it's tough love. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO MAKING THE POLE BEND! You don't make any physical effort to make the pole bend and you certainly don't force the pole out with a stiff left arm. With proper technique the pole bend happens naturally. The only reason for a flexible pole in the first place is to allow a shortening of the cord which allows for a higher grip. That's pretty much it. You must learn how to technically jump on a stiff pole first. Hit the search button for "pole bend" or any other similar reference to the bend. Frankly this subject has come up a million times. On the other hand if you have a question about it and can research it through here, the book Beginner to Bubka II, and DJ's mid mark chart you'll get your answers and that's what we're here for. Do your research, figure it out technically and believe me you'll be bending that pole without even trying ..................and that's how it's suppose to work. Later......................Mike

If you'd like to bend the pole, pushing your bottom arm into it is a great idea...

If you want to vault high, it is a very, very bad idea to do so...

You say you "know" that you have to do something like 'blocking'... This tells me that you have a lot of 'unlearning' to do: http://www.ashidakim.com/zenkoans/1acupoftea.html

Where do you live 118??

why...?

Because if you want to learn how to vault higher - using the bottom arm correctly for example - you should come to one of the clinics I am running in the US this summer - if you live close enough to where they are being held!

Hey altius, I'm in need of some bottom hand technique, take a look at my post in the Beginner's Forum.

When and where are your clinics?

In short Portland OR with R Baggett esq, Phoenix AR with Dean Starkey, Oklahoma city with Tim McMichael, San Antonio -near enough with Kris Allison, The Woodlands nr Houston with Bubba Sparks, Columbia SC x 2 with LOJO et al, Somewhere in New Joisy with Daniel Bertolami, Maryland nr Baltimore with Alan Dodds and PP42, Boone, NC with Daniel Isaacs -or should it be Isaacs with Daniel Boone???, Duke University NC with Shawn Willoughby. Did not manage to talk Charlie P into cooperating!!!

Let me know that exact dates schedule once you know it. I am living in baltimore this summer.

www.chspv.webs.com

Hope to see you there!!!

You definitely will see me, and probably at least one other PSU vaulter there. I'm just not sure if ill be there as a coach or an athlete!! I might get more out of it just by listening and filming and observing. We'll see when the time comes, this should be cool though! Do you have the dates for the oklahoma session as well?

vault3rb0y wrote:You definitely will see me, and probably at least one other PSU vaulter there. I'm just not sure if ill be there as a coach or an athlete!! I might get more out of it just by listening and filming and observing. We'll see when the time comes, this should be cool though! Do you have the dates for the oklahoma session as well?

I am a big fan of learn by doing. Get someone else to film for you.