Free take off issues

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VTechVaulter
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Free take off issues

Unread postby VTechVaulter » Mon May 24, 2004 12:16 am

Okay. So heres a question for all the coaches out there, or anyone with some good info. I have been working a lot at developing a good free take off. And the last couple of practices i do get it. But, on the jumps where my take off is "free" my hips get sucked under. I am not a locked arm vaulter, so i dont think its a block issue, and my posture is forward. Any ideas?
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Unread postby Barto » Mon May 24, 2004 12:37 am

Could be a million different things, but my money is probably on .....

Gripping too high for the # of joules you are generating at takeoff!

A "free" takeoff has become the holy grail of young pole vaulters. Everyone is searching for it, but nobody know what to do with it when they find it! My 2 cents.....

Only a handful of men in the world have been able to convert a consistently "free" takeoff into consistent high bars. The difficulty is this. The more out your step is, the smaller pole/lower grip you are going to be able to move to vertical. You have to be a monster at the takeoff to make a "free" takeoff work on a big pole. Most mere mortals will be much more successful with their step between on and under by 3"-4" because they will be able to move a much larger pole and grip higher as well. I have found that a much bigger factor in how well a vaulter swings is their takeoff angle rather than their takeoff point. Up and through the bottom arm from 4" under is much better than a flat angle from 2" out.

Take it or leave it,

Barto's 2 cents.

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Unread postby lonestar » Mon May 24, 2004 1:15 am

Barto wrote:Could be a million different things, but my money is probably on .....

Gripping too high for the # of joules you are generating at takeoff!

A "free" takeoff has become the holy grail of young pole vaulters. Everyone is searching for it, but nobody know what to do with it when they find it! My 2 cents.....

Only a handful of men in the world have been able to convert a consistently "free" takeoff into consistent high bars. The difficulty is this. The more out your step is, the smaller pole/lower grip you are going to be able to move to vertical. You have to be a monster at the takeoff to make a "free" takeoff work on a big pole. Most mere mortals will be much more successful with their step between on and under by 3"-4" because they will be able to move a much larger pole and grip higher as well. I have found that a much bigger factor in how well a vaulter swings is their takeoff angle rather than their takeoff point. Up and through the bottom arm from 4" under is much better than a flat angle from 2" out.

Take it or leave it,

Barto's 2 cents.


I agree :yes:
Any scientist who can't explain to an eight-year-old what he is doing is a charlatan. K Vonnegut


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