How to Swing With Bending Pole?

[polevault23]

Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 163
Length and weight rating of pole you are using now: 13' 3" 165 lbs.
How high you are gripping on that pole: About 12' 8"
Where you have your standards: 75 to 80
Age: 16
How long you have been vaulting: January 2009.

When I vault, as soon as the pole starts to bend I pick up my trail leg and start to curl up, which makes me go out rather than up. When I do drills on a stiff pole I swing fine, and I even use rings, which I do well. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to get the swing down with a bending pole.

[yankee814]

I've been told to keep a straight back trail leg and then to kick down the heel in order to gain momentum to swing up

[KirkB]

I've been told to keep a straight back trail leg and then to kick down the heel in order to gain momentum to swing up

It's more than kicking down the heel ... it's swinging the entire trail leg. Focus your mind on the muscles in your lower back and thigh that will do the work during your downswing ... not on your heel.

I doubt that your swings on the rings are done very well. Even if they are, there's always plenty of room for improvement.

Once you figure this out on rings and/or highbar, it shouldn't feel any different ... whether the pole bends or not.

Kirk