PoleVaultPower.com

Name of clip: 4/17/2010 12-6/13-6 out at 14
http://www.treemo.com/users/Hickman/cha ... m/1032872/

This is a group of jumps from last Saturday, all on the same 14’ 160 pole and I am asking when should I move up this is the 3rd meet were I hit 13’6 and I feel like I need to make the jump to a bigger pole I have at 15’ 160 and also a 14’ 170. I am leaning to the 170 but I would like your thoughts!!??
I feel at this point the only major inconsistent is “closing out” and “covering the pole” on my invert, when I do that I feel have one of the best forms at the meet.
Any suggestions on any part of my vault, I really want 14’ this weekend my season goal is 15’3’ and I am running out of time.

Pole: 14’0”-160lbs
Me: 158lbs Sr., from 6 lefts
12’6”—Make
13’0”—Miss
13’0”—Miss
13’0”—Make and it’s in slow motion
13’6”—Make
14’0”--Miss

Nice vaulting, you are doing a lot of things very well.

Your run/pole carry/drop look mostly great, but the pole comes down a little too early, and you end up taking a few strides with the pole held horizontal. This puts pressure on your body, adding muscle tension and affecting your posture, and pulls your hands down too far before the plant. If you can delay the pole drop enough to carry its natural drop all the way through your plant, that should help you get a quicker plant and even better take off.

Your swing is great, but you can swing faster and more aggresively, which will help you swing "past vertical" at the top, and put you in position to really pop your hips upward. Fixing your pole drop will help this, believe it or not!

Hard to make pole recommendations online, but I would work on the 170 with your current run, unless you are comfortable going back a step for the 15 footer. 15 foot poles feel really different than 14's, but I would encourage you to give it a try as long as you can run and plant with confidence...don't try to swing until you stand the pole up a few times, get your step "on", and see what kind of penetration you are getting.

Good luck,
Tom