Big Bottom Arm

[Lord of the Poles]

This is one of my main problems right here...I can't hold out my bottom arm long at all...must start lifting!

[mcminkz05]

well, i dont thinlk you want to hold it out TOO long, otherwise youd have my probleM?

[Bruce Caldwell]

KYLE ELLIS A firm arm but not a locked one is prefered. although I agree with some on here they can use bigger poles but are they jumping over their handgrips by 3'+ with a crushing plant and a locked arm?

I have wondered if they did not lock the arm could they jump higher.

I know there are a few but we need to look an see if this is really the most efficient way?



I think we need to form a glossary??

The other day I heard a vaulter say I blew through my poles, my understanding of this was mushing the a pole to soft. But they were actually jumping over the pole..

BEcca lets set up a glossary

and let the posters give the definitions and then you can select the most common agreed on definition.

It seems that across the nation certain fixed terms remain defined differently.
If we all talk the same language we might it might be more beneficial.

[Robert schmitt]

well, my school coach taught me to completely lock out my bottom arm to get nice bend in the pole, problem is, since iv done that, i have had No rockback at all, and have been going over the bar in a sitting positioin i fixed that oevr the summer a little, but i still have a problem with it, because i lock out my arm at takeoff, but i guess i keep it locked too long, killing my swing? forexample, when i jus jump stiff-pole with no bend,beacsu i dunt put my arm out much so i dunt bend it, i have jumped 2+ feet OVER my handgrip. But when i translate thta into a full run, with a bend and lockign tmy bottom arm out completely, i was jumping more like 2 feet UNDER my handgrip so locking out at the plant soudns ok, but how do you knwo when to let your arm bedn a little, so as not to kill your swing? tahst my problem, is keeping it locked out for too long, but im not sure how long to leave my arm locked?

The problem you are having is what I was reffering to in my initial coaching exp.

[rainbowgirl28]

I think we need to form a glossary??

As long as you and your coach are on the same page, that is the important thing.

[mcminkz05]

quote]

The problem you are having is what I was reffering to in my initial coaching exp.[/quote]

yeah, but how to i fix it? is there a certain point where you let your arm collapse a little bit so u can swing and rockback? like do you extend your bottom arm at takeoff, and then immediatley let it give a little, or do you hold it locked like that for a while, and how long?

[vaultguru6]

quote]

The problem you are having is what I was reffering to in my initial coaching exp.

yeah, but how to i fix it? is there a certain point where you let your arm collapse a little bit so u can swing and rockback? like do you extend your bottom arm at takeoff, and then immediatley let it give a little, or do you hold it locked like that for a while, and how long?

If anything its going to be better to let your arm collapse a little at take off to get some initial penetration with your chest, then row your left arm out as you swing. You do not want to initially punch your arm out then break it in in your swing, this will kill your swing and your momentum. If you watch bubka's big jumps, he never has his arm completely locked out at take off, but when he makes his move to swing thorough that arm presses out which puts him in a better position to swing. Stacy has an even more exagerated row out with her bottom arm. Her arm is at 90 degrees at plant, but when she goes to swing that arm rows out to a locked postion and really helps her swing and whole top of her jump.[/quote]

[Bruce Caldwell]

Yes moving the bottom hand up just one inch....does require more effort!!!

If you narrow your grip the pole will become stiffer and you will have less balance (so you better have a good plant)

Kyle you are correct you have to have a good plant. IF you have a poor plant there is the tendency to force the bottom arm to be the pivot point. It is better to allow the top grip to be the pivot point of the vaulter pendulum. You can bend a pole with kenitic energy by transfering energy to the plant, then to the pole and not have to force the bottom arm forward to kill the swing. You can press upward .


The pole vault is not a simple event, and if you fall into a comfortable technique you may need to push the envelope and find something that will allow you to excel. You know go out on a limb????

Any way it is a good topic we need more comments. As I have seen Bob Seagren jump lousy and break records. I have seen Kjell Issakson perform a well-executed jump and not clear the bar.

[jhesch]

my experience is almost identical to that of mcminkz05 with jumping much lower than top hand, and while i think it had to do with my timing, i think a large part was how wide my grip was along with a locked bottom arm, usually tended to kill my swing. before i knew better, i used to try to throw my hed backwards to get inverted, but it didnt feel right. soon enough ill be able to get back to vaulting (two weeks, three weeks maybe?) i'll see what i can do about my plant and timing w/ pole......especially considerin im gettin two sweet poles comin in.......who can guess what kind? I have a feeling I have a much better understanding of vault than last year and hope to make big gains. now all i have to do is convince my coach to avoid a locked bottom arm. (I do realize it works for some, but it never seems to have for me, seems very difficult to execute correctly.)
we'll see!
oh yeah, and about a common glossary, it'd be helpful to get one in this message board. many people (like myself) get more info here than often times from their coach, i see importance in comin up w/ similar terms....where to start.... i know a good packet w/ much info from jan's camp had a great glossary of terms of different parts, sequences, biffs, screw-ups, etc. of the vault. how many people use those?

[swtvault]

Next time you watch Bubka watch very closely. His left arm is not locked out. If you ever see a back view, you will notice that the left arm bends quite a bit, and comes right over his head. The reason for this is that he leads his chest all the way through the vault and gets his weight on his top hand. Putting excessive pressure on the bottom hand usually causes the hips to drag forward significantly. What then happens is the hips go so far out in front of the hands that the pole bends really low and the vaulter completely misses the boat! Heres the alternative........When you come through the takeoff and allow your chest to lead, your center of mass stays right between your hands allowing you to be balanced. A more natural and fluent swing results due to the fact that you are able to keep the pole bent in front of you for a hair longer than the other style. Also, the pole will bend higher! When the pole bends higher, it puts your hands and body in a much better position to swing and time with the pole! That is why a lower sail piece is more advantageous--once again, lower sailpiece=more glass on the bottom, and a naturally higher bending pole because the bottom of the pole is stiffer! In my view, taking advantage of a pole that bends higher with the proper techniques applied will lead to easier and more succesful pole vaulting. My thoughts, take it with a grain of salt

GF

[mcminkz05]

alright, so what you guys are saying is to let my arm bend at takeoff, and then push it out through the swing and rockback? and actually another problem my last few meets was when i planted, my bottom hand slipped down a lot, so i ended up with a hand grip more than 2x what it should be. would that be because i was tring to push forward with my left arm too much?

[das_1971]

funny you mention that. I shortened my handgrip about a full grip( 3" ) and have had nothing but benefits. Im still a hand grip or more wider then shoulder width though