Finals in 2 weeks! Please help!

[andy94566]

This was a meet one week ago. I came in at 8 feet and managed to clear 10 feet with 1 close attempt at 10' 6". These three videos are all my attempts at 10' 6" and I really need to improve in 2 weeks before EBAL Finals. I am running 5 lefts and the standards are back at 45. Sorrry bout the bad angle of video

Age:16
Grade:10
How long you have been jumping: 3 months?
What pole you are on (length and weight rating):13 foot 140 UCS Spirit
How high you are gripping: 12 feet
What bar(s) you are attempting in the video: 3 10'6" attempts

first attempt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTTzwjkaKMQ
second attempt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bbMejZ1BA0
thurd attempt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR_AL1XOQGc

[KirkB]

You lack speed going into your takeoff. I'm sure you can run faster ... just do it!

The alternative to running faster is to grip lower. You don't have enough pole speed (forwards momentum) to carry yourself over the bar. I would lower your grip a bit ... even if you run faster. That will fix it. And if you start hitting the bar on the way up, I'd set the standards back even further ... even all the way to 80 ... before you raise your grip again.

But work on your run/plant. Remember that it doesn't matter so much how fast you're running in the first half of your run ... what's most important is to hit top speed UNDER CONTROL when you plant/takeoff ... with your top hand stretched as high as you can reach. Do THAT, and you'll have enough pole speed to carry you over the bar and into the pit ... even if the standards are at 80.

Get all that going smoother ... and THEN raise your grip back up ... SLOWLY. It will take several practices to improve all this, so be patient.

Kirk

[Tincup1215]

You definitely know what you are doing and you are pretty smooth in the air. From what I saw on the video though, the angle wasn't the best but it looks like your plant is way down. You're not getting a whole lot of bend out of the pole. Basically you stiff-poled 10ft which is pretty impressive. Do any plant drills your coach tells you to do. Slide boxes are always a great way to get your plant up. Another drill is to work on Hang-Driving. What this is is, start from your normal run with your normal grip. Your mindset should be to drive the pole straight to the back of the pit with a strong take-off and plant. Don't worry about your swing, bubka, turn, or any of that. Just concentrate on driving straight to the back of the pit and hold the pose as long as you can. Your hips are going to get sucked up the first couple of times you do it, but that's ok. Once you get your plant up and you start driving, you're going to go up poles real fast.

[andy94566]

Thanks guys. So I have a meet this Wednesday but before that, I will practice as advised by Kirk, with a lowered handgrip, run faster, and to plant higher. Thanks again