Looking for critiques, update from last season

[southernvaulter328]

I am a 17 year old vaulter in the 12th grade in Louisiana. I am 5'9 and 150 lbs. I am a left handed vaulter.
This is my 3rd year vaulting (doesn't show in my technique ). I've been trying to train myself along with a few other vaulters from my school since my coach doesn't particularly know much about vaulting or have an interest in it. Any advice would be much appreciated considering I don't really have anyone to analyze my form.

The first video is me jumping at a meet on a 13' 160 pole (don't have flex numbers right now but can get them if necessary).
I believe the bar is set to 11 for this attempt. I am gripping at roughly 12'10. Please excuse the my moms cheering!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9tVZFS ... e=youtu.be

The second video is the exact same pole at the exact same grip and run (5 steps). Bar should be set to 11'6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-i0vTQ ... e=youtu.be

I went on to clear 12'4 that day beating my previous PR of 11'6. Since this meet, I have taken some videos during practice that may better help you criticize my technique. The 13' 160 pole i was jumping on at the meet was borrowed from another school and after that meet I had to return it although it was beginning to feel a bit soft anyways.

March 11, 2015- Jumping on a 13' 175 holding 12'10 still running from 5 steps. The bungie was set at 13' in this video.

http://www.ubersense.com/video/view/3MSsLQRI?e=1916099

I competed at a meet on March 13, 2015 jumping only 11'. I was pretty disappointed but somehow I still managed to win the meet. I think I vaulted so poorly because my run was misplaced by a foot causing me to stretch my last step. I was also vaulting on a 13'6 160 gripping 13'1 which felt very soft and may have been the issue. I didn't feel comfortable jumping on the 13' 175 so I avoided it that day.

March 16, 2015- Only vaulted on the 13' 175 holding 12'10 fearing the 13'6 160 was too small. Still running from 5 steps but bungie was set at 14'.

http://www.ubersense.com/video/view/w1YmR5qF?e=1916702#

http://www.ubersense.com/video/view/PJp6u1sm?e=1916729

Ultimately, I think I have trouble raising my hips completely after swinging up causing my inversion to be late. I would appreciate some feedback on any aspect of my vault and will welcome any criticism. I hope this mini-novel isn't overkill but I wanted to provide as much detail as possible.

Thanks in advance,
southernvaulter328

[grandevaulter]

Great approach, plant and pre jump take off. It appears to me that your grip is wide and your left arm is holding you off the pole and reducing your swing velocity. When you pull your sweep leg in, optimal energy ceases to go into the pole. You are then rotating your body as fast as you can to cover the pole as the pole begins to straighten a tad bit early.

It seems that a few vaulters in your talent level are having this "lower arm" situation and are using the block to hold your hips back but are suffering from a decelerated swing as a result.

[southernvaulter328]

Thanks for the feedback! Just to clarify, you are saying that my most significant hindrance is my bottom arm? Because I push it outward and attempt to lock it out after I plant, preventing me from completing my swing, therefore not allowing me to invert properly. I know that, when pole vaulting, every action is built from the previous action so does that mean that locking my bottom arm is the root of my problems? If I am correct in saying this, what remedies to my technique would you recommend? Thanks again for all the help, it is much appreciated!