Russian Style Pole Vaulting..

[USMC Vaulter]

Nice! More reading material!

Ummm - it still seems like your trying to stop the topic... but isnt the point of a forum to talk to people and get their views on something - and less to read what others have wrote? Its like the difference between a lecture and a hands on lesson - you can't learn to be a surgeon from hearing about it, you gotta get your hands dirty and get involved - ya know, flex your own mind and think things through. It really doesnt hurt anyone. And since it went to several pages, no one seems to mind continuing the discussions.
If I'm wrong or out of line, then I apologize - the real reason for my post was to thank you for the links - cause I actually plan on checking them out and seeing what everyone else wrote/talked about.

[Mecham]

lol, read them already.

[master]

If your thirst for knowledge about this subject is so extreme than you will read these threads. Enjoy

http://polevaultpower.com/forum/viewtop ... ght=#31610
http://polevaultpower.com/forum/viewtop ... sc&start=0

Thank you for those links. I have read these and also looked at some of the data you made available. Would you please clarify something for me. When you refer to pole vaulting take off angle as in this quote

Get over that penaltumate step crap, thats for long jump. We have watched hundreds of hours of vault footage through Dart Fish, and the result is always the same, elite vaulters (I don't care who they are) are taking off with about 12 to 18 degree takeoff angles.

are you refereing to "angle D" in the Dart-Fish study power point presentation from the link on your page? If so, I am confused because I thought you were talking about the angle of take off as displayed for long jump on this URL.
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/~spstnpl/BiomechanicsAthletics/LJOptimumAngle.htm
Because I was thinking of the angle shown in the drawing on this URL, I was having trouble understanding how that could be measured in an actual jump since there is no "free flight" time (time when the vaulter's travel is not influenced by the pole being in contact with the box) in a pole vault jump unless the vaulter has done a "pre jump" take off.

[mikepv1]

Every analysis has holes. The Dartfish analysis referred to in this thread fails to take timing and energy exertion points into consideration.

Free plant is really about energy and how it is applied. The point of the free plant is to minimize energy loss. If you are still on the ground when the pole tip hits the back of the box, you are applying your force at two points: the end of the pole where you are holding and the ground where your takeoff foot is. This directs much of the energy downward into the box where it is lost. On the other hand, if your foot is not still on the ground when the pole tip hits the back of the box, you are applying your force at one point: the end of the pole where you are holding. With the other end of the pole against the box, much more of the energy is directed forward and upward toward the crossbar, resulting in more vertical velocity.

This technique requires very precise timing and therefore alot of rehearsal. The idea is for the pole tip to hit the back of the box the instant your foot leaves the ground.

Another and even more important point to consider is that even if you are not completely off the ground, you should at least be moving upward off of your takeoff foot instead of downward onto it when the pole tip hits the back of the box.

[VaultNinja]

MASTER,

"•Angle of Departure - Like the angle of contact, angle of departure uses the perpendicular line to the runway as the zero point for reference measurement of the body angle just prior to the takeoff foot leaving the ground. A line is drawn from the furthest point of contact of the take off foot from the plant box just prior to leaving the ground and correspondingly up through acromion process of the leading shoulder. This is calculated as the number of degrees the athlete’s body is tipped toward the pit as measured by the line described above and a line parallel to the ground.This is a measure of the athlete’s effectiveness to “drive through the take offâ€Â

[master]

VaultNinja,

Thanks for all the detail. It may take me a little time to digest the data but I think it will be very interesting.

- master

[VaultNinja]

VaultNinja,

Thanks for all the detail. It may take me a little time to digest the data but I think it will be very interesting.

- master

No sweat. Sorry about being kind of grouchy before. I just get fired up sometimes, especially in the morning when I haven't eaten yet

[distancejumper]

I've done that before. I did alot better than before. It was really fun, but my coach wasn't too happy with it.

[vaultmom]

I am a little late to this thead but it is an excellent discussion . My son was taught to Free Plant right from the beginning( age 12 ) . IT came to him quite naturally but it was how he was taught. Consdering he was small for his size as a high school vaulter it definately gave him the advantage in achieivng the 16 foot mark in HS. I was pleased to see vaultbrad mention the book "Beginner to Bubka" I have a whole box of these books if anyone is interested in buying one. Alan was at the Summit this year and I know he sold out. We were in Australia just last week and brought a box of books back. Larry Berryhill , Vault Coach at BYU learned from Alan years ago the Russian Technique . We are good friends with Alan. He is absolutely the foremost expert on this subject. John Gromley is a bio mechanics genius. For many vaulters the Free Plant seems to come naturally. Some never get it.

[Mecham]

I want to vault at BYU really bad. My brother in-law works with Robbie Pratt at the MTC

[vaultmom]

i will email you

[OAKPV2004]

I think a free takeoff leads to squashing the pole..in most cases.