PoleVaultPower.com

Hi, I am thinking about getting ne of those gill vault trainers pictured in this link
http://gillathletics.com/GillItemView.aspx?FSID=TA190

I was going to get one but I have heard that it doesnt work you legs or stomach enough and I would be better off just using a hanging rope to practice drills. Does anyone have one of these? and if so did it help you much? Most of all is it worth the $250!

yeah i have used one of those before it is all right. they arent supposed to work your legs or stomach just your arm. it is supposed to resemble the top of the jump pulling the right (or left) hand to the right (or left) hip then pulling through. i dont know if it is really worth 250 bucks maybe you could build your own for a lot cheaper with your own set of pullies and rope?

They're OK, but your best investment of the $250 would be to go to some camps or clinics, or on poles if you don't have the poles you need.

I think its more fun than it is effective

if you have access to a swimming pool at your school, "pool vaulting" or underwater vaulting, or whatever you want to call the drill when you go through similar motions underwater, trying to clear the surface of the water will help as well as this system i think. you just need a big old pole and a partner to hold it and maybe someone to supervise just for safety in the water since many schools are concerned about that.

i made my own for free with a pice of 1.5 in metal pipe rope a pully and some 1in webbing not too hard

I got the Gill Vault Trainer today, the stubby is tiny (about 12”). Since a man's grip uses up 4" each hand, you can only have 4" in between your hands, which is less than the instructions that come with the tool specify (6") and much less than my vaulting grip width (20"). Does anyone have an idea if they trying to save money to keep the price down at $330, or maybe it’s better to do this drill with your hands very close together (not in your natural grip)?

I believe the close grip focuses more direct emphasis on the muscles in both arms that this device works on. Sort of like "push downs" on a machine. They focus more on the triceps in both arms if the hands are positioned close together.
Mike

Thanks Mike, that sounds like a valid explanation. I'd still prefer a longer stubby, as I'm more concerned with a more accurate replication of the positions in the pull turn, and you could always hold closer. Oh well... if I had the ability to cut and crimp cable, I could have made this myself too. But... it's well made and even with the short stubby very helpful.

There is (and has been) a lot of discussion about utilizing stiff pole vaulting. AKA Wahnerdam (sp). Petrov credits his style as major contributor to what has become the Petrov Model. If you see Cornelius video's you will notice a closed grip to aid him in his swing and his inversion. If you create a bigger stubby for the apparatus, make sure you have it interchangeable with the original stubby. Do your exercises equally with each stubby. There's a reason they designed that stubby as short as it is. That is unless the manufacturer made it that way to accommodate shipping issues which wouldn't surprise me either. Good luck with it. I hope you achieve some benefits from it.
Mike

Along the same line of disscussion has anyone used the Ploe Vault Trainers?
http://www.everythingtrackandfield.com/ ... ryID_E_221
or the Rick Attig Swing Up?
http://www.swingupinvert.com/

I have some money to spend for drilling equipment and I want to get what will work the best for my kids.
Thanks
Hick