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Here is a video of myself from several months ago, keep in my I jump occasionally for fun. I don't see any passive moments in my vault. What does everyone think my left arm is doing? Pulling or something else? Is my swing fast or slow??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNgtsrHe ... rofilepage

video?

I think your bottom arm pull starts right after the re-engagement of the shoulder girdle, which coincides with the whip of the trail leg. You do have some pressure held on your bottom arm after the takeoff, so it's doing a push/pull movement. You have a great fast long swing, and an awesome inversion. Nice vault.

I have read your posts on PVP for a few years. You obviously are a good vaulter and coach, so I'm sure you're already aware of the following:
Your hands come down too low during the plant, making you stretch a little on the last steps, be under, and have a flatter takeoff angle. Your right hand is only at your shoulder when your penultimate footstrike occurs. This may be why Roman's early pull didn't work out for you? I believe that you need a fast, free, upspringing takeoff to implement the 6.40 model.

Don't take my comments the wrong way...I have had a hard time implementing the early pull on big poles also, but I believe this is because I am still working on mastering a free takeoff from a long run. Also sometimes I fail to finish the takeoff properly when I do manage a free takeoff. Curious of your thoughts on these issues

Tom

Hey Kyle, I would not call it a pull. When I think of pulling I think of contracting your arm in towards yourself. This is more of a downward push movement and then once you collapse your left arm in it is a pull. That is what I feel in my vault and see in yours. You have an awesome swing.

tsorenson wrote:I think your bottom arm pull starts right after the re-engagement of the shoulder girdle, which coincides with the whip of the trail leg. You do have some pressure held on your bottom arm after the takeoff, so it's doing a push/pull movement. You have a great fast long swing, and an awesome inversion. Nice vault.

I have read your posts on PVP for a few years. You obviously are a good vaulter and coach, so I'm sure you're already aware of the following:
Your hands come down too low during the plant, making you stretch a little on the last steps, be under, and have a flatter takeoff angle. Your right hand is only at your shoulder when your penultimate footstrike occurs. This may be why Roman's early pull didn't work out for you? I believe that you need a fast, free, upspringing takeoff to implement the 6.40 model.

Don't take my comments the wrong way...I have had a hard time implementing the early pull on big poles also, but I believe this is because I am still working on mastering a free takeoff from a long run. Also sometimes I fail to finish the takeoff properly when I do manage a free takeoff. Curious of your thoughts on these issues

Tom

Didn't take it wrong at all. My run and carry issues have come along way but have been the most difficult thing to change. I have actually been working on my plant timing for the past few weeks on a straight pole (3lefts), my run has moved in a foot from keeping my hands higher and initiating the plant as my 3rd to last step decends.

As far as your last statement goes, maybe a free takeoff freaks you out a little and causes premature tension? I believe you have to maximize space and jump/ stretch your body before the tip hits. As long as your top hand moves back so will your trail leg, so if you jump and stretch (leaving your body unguarded) the pole will drive your hands back and you unconsiously have to tense so that your arms won't be ripped off. By the time you realize the pole is striking the box you are probably in the full backwards c position and it is time to start swinging. Working with my kids one of the biggest problems is kids don't push/ extend forward and up, if you hit a takeoff and are planting slightly behind yourself your natural reaction is going to be to clinch to the pole before the tip actually hits, which I believe is worlds apart from stretching (feeling connected), and trying to swing as soon as the pole strikes the box.
I believe in starting the swing as soon as the pole hits the box, but what you do those instances before the pole actually hits can make all the difference. (Coming from someone who doesn't do it correctly themselves

Thanks, Kyle! You are totally right, I don't extend through the takeoff, which robs me of the advantage of being free. Years of taking off under are hard to break! Also not quite as fearless as I used to be, although my wife made me get Aflac!

Here's a video from practice this winter...free takeoff but little extension with the bottom arm at the plant (especially on small poles/short runs). Decent swing/inversion. Dropping the lead knee is a bad habit of mine, especially when I take off out.
http://youtu.be/HszLAAglSOY

Here's a more recent practice from 7 lefts...still having confidence issues with the bigger poles and longer runs. I tend to want to take off at 11' instead of 12' (or beyond), where I should be. The plant is also late. It's coming along, though, although I don't have video of a completed vault at this point. This video may take a while to process before it can be viewed.
http://vimeo.com/24686778

Love to hear your input. I'm sure that fixing your plant action will help get your step out a bit and have a more upward takeoff.

Tom

Tom I see a couple of things. First it looks like your grip width is a tad close, I believe that when your top arm is fully stretched your left hand should be above the front of your fore head. As soon as all the pressure hits your top hand your swing starts right then, so too narrow of a grip can cost you a little bit of penetration. Secondly you aren't connected at takeoff because you don't finish your jump/extension. If you can extend that top hand more forward and up you will be connected and probably feel more confident taking off freely. A good drill is doing some straight pole drills on a non bending pole from 6 steps and try to grip as high as possible, a free takeoff and finishing your extension (getting connected) is crucial.

Thanks kyle! I usually widen my grip as I move back steps/up grip height, with the intention of having my bottom arm perpindicular to the pole at the plant. Yes, I certainly can extend a lot more through the takeoff, and also can drive the shoulders back better during the inversion.

We do a lot of stiff pole stay-behind drills from 6 strides, maxing out grip. I usually max out at about 5' over my standing grip height, which isn't great, but I'm not exactly an emerging elite vaulter. I've got some meets coming up during summer, so I'll try to get some video to see how things are progressing. Thanks for the feedback

Tom

From this week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhl9rleDow4

oh yea rockin the carbons I see....