Please Critique

[ATranPV]

Age: 16
Grade: 11
How long you have been jumping: 1 year
What pole you are on (length and weight rating): 12' 130
How high you are gripping: About 11
What bar(s) you are attempting in the video: None

I know that I need more bottom arm during the take-off phase and I have fixed that with no problem.

The problem I am having is during my swingup / turn phase. I keep doing this helicopter thing that I cant get rid of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzvv4bqPOv8

I know the video quality isnt the greatest but please let me know what you guys think.

Any tips on how to fix this problem is greatly appreciated

Thanks a bunch!

Andrew

[CApv2007]

You have great speed on the runway you just need to move up poles and stay on your pole longer, don't give up your jump to early cause you lose dramatic amount of height that way, and I think that will critique that little spin you have going on. You look like you some potential to go high if you can work on that.

[VaultPurple]

It looks to me like your grip is just a litttle too close together (dont make too wide either), which can cause you to swing around the pole if you get jolted... which you are because your step looks under.

But probably the biggest problme you are helicoptering is because you are letting go of the pole too early and just flying through the air. when there is no bar up there you should practice holding onto the pole until you are just about back on the mat.... we have a guy that was doing the same thing and he went from 8'6 to 11'6 in one meet because he started holding onto the pole longer and finishing his jumpsl

[ATranPV]

Thanks for the reply guys. I will for sure work on finishing my jumps and holding on to the pole.

Can it also be that I am not rowing my arms down the middle but towards the left a little? Do I need to drop my shoulders more because it looks like my back is still parallel to the ground.

[Glory]

your still parallel to the ground because you are not swining hard enough..if you swing your trail leg harder and stay on the pole longer like the others are saying you will quickly get through your helicopter phase...so swing up and find your feet and watch them over the bar before initiating your turn

[ATranPV]

your still parallel to the ground because you are not swining hard enough..if you swing your trail leg harder and stay on the pole longer like the others are saying you will quickly get through your helicopter phase...so swing up and find your feet and watch them over the bar before initiating your turn

Yea that makes alot of sense. Is there anything else that might cause the helicopter thing? I thought it had to do alot with my timing of the turn plus not rowing my arms down the middle.

My coach at my school told me in order to fix this problem, I had to drop my shoulders by looking down and left. Do you guys agree with this?

[Glory]

never look down when vaulting..when you plant keep your head and chest up looking through your bottom hand...with your hands stright above your head swing up and find you feet...good luck fixing this..hope this all helps

[vault3rb0y]

Woooaahhh you are wayy under. Fix that before you worry about ANYTHING past the take off.

What does a long jumpers take off leg look like when he/she leaves the ground? They hit the ground with so much velocity that it ends up behind them. Thats what you need to strive for. You are getting ripped off the ground right now, and your trail leg is non-existent. Its impossible to "swing faster" when you are starting with your trail leg perpendicular to the ground. Get your hands up all the way at the plant and keep them there, you are hitting your face on the pole at takeoff right now. And leave the ground with some impulse. Once you learn how to hit a stronger take off position, your swing will feel 10 times faster and you wont get stuck half way through the vault, which is causing your helicopter.

One more thing, dont think about the turn. If you get as far back as you are supposed to and focusing on going up the pole by pulling your top hand past your head, you will turn automatically.

[ATranPV]

Thanks for the reply guys. This is really helping alot.

Ill work on getting my step and run down so that I'm not way under and swinging harder with my trail leg.

Next time at practice ill try to do these things with a camara and ill post another video up soon.

Thanks guys!