How do I stop sitting over the bar?

[flyinazn]

hi im new to this forum, but i got a coupla quick questions. Im 16 going to be a senior in highschool next year. I jumped 13'4 junior year on a 175 14 foot pole. i weigh 160lbs. What lenght of a pole should i get on for senior year. I am going to attend Rick attigs nebraska pole vault camp here in july. I just wanted some answers before i went. and i still have trouble totally unlocking my left arm and inverting straight into the air. It kinda seems as though im kinda sitting. thanks alot.

[mcminkz05]

u could try staying on the pole ur on now until u r jumping OVER your handhold , not under it. yeah, a bigger pole wud move you up a bit height-wise, but it would be much more effective if you had the proper technique to go with the bigger pole. Also, what was ur handgrip on the 14' pole??

[flyinazn]

all the way at the top, well right under the tape mark..

[rainbowgirl28]

all the way at the top, well right under the tape mark..

More importantly, where are your standards at when you are gripping there?

[mcminkz05]

if your standards are all the wya back, or close, id reccomend moving to a stiffer pole. if standards are normal, or close, id try moin ur handgrip on that pole down until ur jumping OVER your handgrip, then gradually move it back up, and then see if you need a longer pole.

[flyinazn]

yeah that pole is really flimsy, real easy to bend, and yes the standards are all the way back on it. I have already tried moving down around 2 or 3 fists and coach is telling me that the pole is still bending more than 90...

[Oldcoach]

Here's some thoughts, Shorten your run up until you aren't bending the pole past 90. Then watch to make sure your not taking off too far under. Also your takeoff angle may be low or negative(diving into the box). So learn to jump up at takeoff. If this seems to help keeping doing the short run thing trying to work on the inversion problem. Low takeoff and under will really kill your ability to get inverted.

[flyinazn]

I have an oppurtunity to get a new pole. Should I get a 15 foot pole? from the previous flimsy 14

[wayupthere]

I have an oppurtunity to get a new pole. Should I get a 15 foot pole? from the previous flimsy 14

no get a stiffer 14 foot pole. probably dont move up to a longer pole till ur jumpin almost a foot over your handhold

[zack]

Keep moving up on stiffer 14's until you run out and then move to a 14'6 or 15' with the SAMe grip.

[flyinazn]

so how high should i be able to jump on the 14 foot pole, and when should i move up on newer poles ?

[mcminkz05]

On a 14' pole, grippin at the top, if u got good technique, that shud deffinatly put you into the 15'-16' range. U can move up once you have gotten on stiff 14' poles, ur jumpin over ur grip, and ur out of pole.