Benefits of an "under" step

[Barto]

"Loading" the pole = bad

Barto

[souleman]

So basically what I saw was, he was pretty much off of the ground before the pole hit the stop board. Right? (or very close anyway). Later....Mike
P.S. did you notice his pole bends down about 3 to 6 inches before it comes back the other way?

[vaulter894]

I think when u first start vaulting being under is better than free due too experience problems and that a free take off is advanced but it is better to be out or at least directly on underneath ur top hand as u progress, i used to love that foot and a half under mark but now i hate it and on or a few inches out is where it is at

[rainbowgirl28]

I think when u first start vaulting being under is better than free due too experience problems and that a free take off is advanced but it is better to be out or at least directly on underneath ur top hand as u progress, i used to love that foot and a half under mark but now i hate it and on or a few inches out is where it is at

I believe in teaching people to do it right from the beginning. Kris started really working on free takeoffs this fall. He has an 8th grade girl who has the best takeoff in the club.

A free takeoff is not the same thing as being OUT. I'll let Kris get on here and explain it better. Alan Launders explains it pretty well in his book, but my teammate stole it so I can't quote it right now

[MightyMouse]

Alan Launders explains it pretty well in his book

Im reading that now, its well worth the read, Its got some great tecnical critiques as well as simple but effective drills
He makes a point of saying in the book to utilize the free plant, exactly what Petrov was talking about during his lecture,(paraphrased)"be off the ground or almost off the ground before your pole hits the back of the box"
He says that taking off under feels safe and gets alot of bend, but you loose a large portion of your energy, He also says that being under puts your hips infront of your hands making them swing up the pole prematurely, which gets rid of the energy benefit from a stong trail leg
And I tend not to argue with a guy who coached Bubka...
Hope this helps

[fong520]

wat book is this?

[indestructo]

"Loading" the pole = bad

Barto

my terminology isn't always up to par with the experts. How would you term "loading" the pole? I see it as using the trail leg to add additional energy to the pole. Less swing = less energy. (I come from an electrical background, so when your adding energy to a system, you are essentially adding load.)


Becca I'd be very interest in the book you mentioned. Could you drop the title out here for us!

Thanks

[MightyMouse]

(Im not expert) but I refer to Loading the pole as the part of the jump where you attack the pole at take off with the left arm getting it as high as possiable(not to be mistaken with force bending the pole), and then drag the arms behind your head at the same time you load the left leg back in a general same motion as the hand drag, this stores the energy in the pole (loading pole) for a powerfull swing later in the vault. So basicly we are thinking along the same lines

The book is called "From Beginner to Bubka" by Alan Launders and one other guy whos name i cant remember, he has a website as well Ill try to post that when I can find the book

[Barto]

"Loading" the pole = bad

Barto

my terminology isn't always up to par with the experts. How would you term "loading" the pole? I see it as using the trail leg to add additional energy to the pole. Less swing = less energy. (I come from an electrical background, so when your adding energy to a system, you are essentially adding load.)

Sorry to have been so brief in my earlier comment. Generally speaking, when people talk about "loading the pole" they are refering to storing energy in the pole (bending it) with the mistaken idea that they are going to then recieve an equal amount of energy back when the pole "throws" them up over the bar. This is a very innefficient technique. The more load you put into the pole itself, the more energy is lost.

Instead of storing energy in the pole, the vaulter should be using his energy to accelerate the rotation of the pole (with relation to the ground), and to accelerate the rotation of himself (with relation to the pole). The bending of the pole only facilitates vaulting high in that by shortening the radius of rotation a given amount of energy will cause the rotation of the pole to occur faster. However, this benefit must be balanced against the loss of energy from the bending and unbending of the pole.

In short vaulting on a steel pole was not much different than on fiberglass, the only benefit to fiberglass is that you can grip higher. However, too much of a good thing (bending) leads to slower pole and vaulter rotations and ultimately lower vaults.

I'll shut up now,

Barto.

[MightyMouse]

In short vaulting on a steel pole was not much different than on fiberglass.

I dont know if i agree with you there fiberglass vaulters have jumped 4+ feet higher than steel pole vaulters. I think theres more to the fiberglass than a big bend

[ladyvolspvcoach]

The run was about the same on a steel pole, the way we coach holding the pole is totally different, the plant was totally different ( both hands came together on the plant), the swing was a real swing swinging from the hands and not the sholders, fibre glass has a hugh (when done correctly) vertical component that steel didn't have. That accounts for most of the height difference. Any other geezers remember the day?? Oh yeah! the sides of the box were vertical not slopped!

[ladyvolspvcoach]

Oh, Yeah! the subject of this thread....the Benefits of being under...None! Unless you're an orthopedic MD.