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When you run do you wrap your right hand (for right handed vaulters) around the pole or keep it open, and only hold it with thump and index fingers?

I keep my hand open until my last couple steps.

I keep mine open too. Some people do it the opposite way.

It seems to me like keeping a close grip in the back would be a lot more awkward to run with. Of course I have noticed that every now and then, as I bring my pole up, I regrip the top hand and it ends up lower than it was before.

It seems like people who keep the hand closed run with the pole pointing out to one side. And the people who keep their hand open have the pole in front of them through the run.

Interesting question! When Petrov spoke in Reno 2 years ago, I'm 95% positive he recommended closing the top hand, and leaving the bottom hand relaxed, with the left elbow tucked under the left wrist so you would more or less "uppercut" the pole with the bottom arm during your plant. Dave Butler would be the authority on that subject though.

I try to teach it that way, and some people can do it, but others say it hurts their right wrist too much to grip it tight. I've had others come out to me that have been taught by someone else to keep their bottom hand tight and the top hand loose. Sometimes they have problems getting the soft side in the right direction during the plant.

i normally keep a kung-fu grip the whole time. i dont feel stable enough during my vault if i dont. BRUCE LEE SUPER COOl

Petrov says keep the top hand closed. If you can't do it, you're not flexible enough.

when I'm running down the runway, my lower hand on the pole (left hand) is always closed, and my top hand is always open.

I still don't know which is which...if the pole is on the right side, you're a right-handed vaulter? or what?

righties grip right hand as top hand, so yes. if the pole is on the right side of your body you're a righty

the right hand is the top hand at the plant and during the run it is on the bottom. but its still the top hand.

whats the advantage of a closed grip? according to petrov?

no real advantage or disadvantange. i feel like its just a personal prefrence

I keep my right hand closed, but not tightly during the run. Actually I barely notice how I run. Had to think about it for a while. My grip on the pole isn't the most important thing on my mind when I'm running.