grandevaulter wrote:So what is the science behind the 43' unchanging mid. It seems that if one's grip rises that one's approach would retreat by an equal length and so would the "mid". It seems that if it always works out then you are steering.
I would agree entirely with your conclusion: a coach and an athlete have to be open and receptive to the fact that mid marks can and will change just like the takeoff mark will change. In fact, there is a correlation between the grip, the mid AND the takeoff mark in addition to the velocity; each are interdependent on one another. Consistant changes over time specifically, consistent increases in the mid mark over time should be planned for and a desired outcome within programming and athlete development: the rationale is indicated below.
foreverforum8 wrote:dj wrote:I would use the chart every day to practice the appraoch on the track and every
vault session as a "tool" to correlate with the run, plant and swing...
when you have your best run and vault check the grip, mid.. see if it matches up...also check and see where you hit at the "MID" when your coach said you were stretching...
dj
i would do that except i train with Paul Babbits every once in a while and he has a different take on the mid mark....he thinks the mid never changes so thats how i have been doing it...my mid is always 43 and no matter where my grip is it always seems to work out
The science and the practical sports application of an unchanging mid is the ever prevailing practice of PoppyCockOlogy...
In the explanation below, DJ explains the variations very well with respect to technique and speed. Often there are intermediate vaulters that can run faster than their bar height would indicate due to the technical development (lack of) in the vault.
Also, as the intermediate vaulter develops their ability to vault, they are often further limited by their ability to maintain effective velocity into the pole plant and take off due to improper run mechanics i.e. over striding; especially with the ability to vault with longer and heavier poles which will magnify the stride flaws; especially when the pole carry/plant technique/timing is not efficient.
dj wrote:…the differences we currently see in the vaulters, mainly "mids" to far out, means they are over striding… it also can mean their technique has not caught up with their speed...
Ideally, an athletes functional stride length with proper mechanics will continue to increase with development: the more power that is applied to the ground will produce more speed i.e. distance covered over time, which is the holy grail so to speak. Every tenth (0.1) mps has the potential to yield another 3" in bar height; so basically, if an athlete or a coach is not knowledgeable or willing to monitor and track mid mark info and develop functional speed, they are missing an essential ingredient in the mix.
dj wrote:…
BUTT by continuing with teaching, training and coaching that (stride lengths to long for the "speed" needed to move that grip)way you are developing the wrong feel, poor run -pole carry technique and even poor plant technique because of the over striding.
dj
Even if an athlete has arrived at or near their ceiling of functional speed carried into the vault: the technique and mechanics of the vaulter can allow for increases, needed increase in grip height based on the ability to generate more power and velocity in the swing to inversion. In this event, the grip height will continue to raise over time and the adjustments to the run and the mid SHOULD follow based on the direct correlation between grip height changes and take off mark, which occur at a 1:1.33 ratio.
Not being burdened with the requirement of unlearning years of bad habits and inaccurate information in order to progress really is a beautiful phenomenon... Lacking knowledge is a state everyone encounters, choosing to remain there and take up residence is just plain ignorance in an overpopulated region...
