Practice Videos ... Turn Issue

[dj]

hye

You are jumping extremely well. You and your coach should be commended.. very awesome.

Yes the takeoff issue (under and not extended) must be addressed. To do this we must go through a process of elimination.

Before I do that I must emphasis that SO much of your vault is SO on. You are just a “smidge” off hear and there. I love your thinking on Run, Plant Swing.. I put that saying on the backs of our t-shirts at Florida in 1976.

My first thought was to “re-think” your takeoff. Same rhythm and timing, just a little different thought process. First when the pole has been “turned over” and at eye level during the support of the last right touch down, the tip should be ready to “touch the box” halfway to the front and slides to the back as the top arm is extended and the takeoff foot is “snapped” directly down UNDER the body and not under the left arm but “under” the right, top plant arm. Sand pit drills like the one Isi was doing in another post is for this exact purpose.

That said, I want to emphasis that each phase is “set up” by the phase before it. Your run, plant, and swing look “almost” on, but you seem to lean back, slight stretch and you do takeoff “under”. That has to be as a result of the run. Your pole carry looks great.. but seems to be thrown slightly “off” by your run… your run and posture may be thrown ‘slightly” off by your last six step stride length and frequency.

Your coach may have told you to “quit stretching the last step and stop leaning back!” You may have answered that with “I’m trying!” and believe me I know you are… but

Until you have the correct length and frequency on your run you will be a “little” off.

Being a little off on the run will continue to cause you to stretch if you are out at your six step and “chop” if you are in at your six step mark.

If you have been around the “show horse” industry you would have heard that “form follows function”. That should mean volumes to those of us that are in a physical activity governed by physics but we must use a “picture”, mental or physical to determine correctness.

So as scary as it may seem you may have to move your run closer at the six step mark so you can “get the feet down” that will actually move your takeoff “OUT” and allow you to extend the arms correctly at the plant/takeoff.

When I say “get the feet down” I mean that you will have a consistent length of stride from six steps in but with an increased frequency. I have called it a “piston” action and references have been made to a 20/20 drill that speaks to frequency and “posture”. I do frequency and length stride drills by doing varied lengths of ten to twelve stride/steps, with the pole carried correctly and mark the track with lanes for 1.40m, 150m, 160m for beginners up two 12 feet and lanes with 1.70m, 1.80m and 1.90m for vaulters up to 17 feet. I have them use a 6 step/3 left “run in” to the 10/12 equally marked distances. Plant at the end into a towel for the box/target. You can not only improve your technique but also find out your best length/frequency and speed level.

What I see that could help is slightly “tighter steps”, higher in frequency and better posture so you can ‘reach high and “jump” off the ground. You possibly could move your grip a few inches on those poles which will give you more bend and “Space” behind the pole cord, which could help you go more vertical.

In my opinion any “flatness’ off the top is created with the long last step…

Please PM me your 6 step “mids” and your weight to pole size.. on the next session you post..

Keep working hard and smart…

dj


ps.. there is no turn issue... keep to.. RUN.. PLANT..SWING

RUN.. push out of the back... get your feet down..

PLANT.. On time, agressive and extend high just before the pole hits the back of the box..

SWING.. swing fast.. wrap and go.. all in one agressive motion..