PR at 11'0" - comments and criticism welcome!

[g00eY]

Age: 16
Grade: Sophomore
How long you have been jumping: 2nd season
What pole you are on (length and weight rating): 13' 150 lb Pacer FX, 19.5 flex number
How high you are gripping: 12'5"
What bar(s) you are attempting in the video: 8'0" - 9'0" - 11'0" - 11'6"

This is a video of me PRing at 11'0" at a meet I was at earlier today. This was my first meet on this pole - before I was jumping on a 13' 140 lb Pacer FX with a 21 flex number, but I was starting to blow through it. A few things I noticed after watching the video were that 1) my arm is still collapsing right at takeoff 2) my trail leg is non-existent past the takeoff and 3) I'm still not getting inverted. I think the reason I'm not getting inverted is because I always look at the crossbar. Next week I'm going to try out a couple methods to fix this including closing my eyes or picturing a higher bar and trying to kick it off.

Anyways, and comments and criticism are welcome. You can also see my previous PR at 10'6" that I posted earlier this week for reference.

Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onZxamS7Ncs

[vault3rb0y]

First off, congrats on the PR!! Thats awesome for only your 2nd season, and the season isnt even over yet!

You seem to know a lot of what you can fix in your jump already, which is good. What i would add is that your run could be a little more upright. You are leaning forward all the way through your run and take off. That makes your take off not as powerful as it could be, and makes you shorter at the plant. As for getting inverted, i think the best thing for you to do are some 3 or 4 studder-step pop ups. Grip low (8'6" or so to start) and stay tall down the runway, just with a straight pole and invert, back to where you are connected with the pole. You can find more descriptions in either technique or training forums on here. But that will help you stay upright with good posture on the runway, and allow you to practice getting inverted with the pole. Good luck!

[sooch90]

Congrats on the PR!
How much do you weigh?

It seems that on your 11' jump, your arms are not right above your head at the plant. So really try getting your hands up earlier, and plus it looked like you were under, so check your steps and adjust them accordingly.

I would really try working on extending your trail leg at takeoff. When you jump, just think about keeping it straight, think about extending the trail leg off the run way. That'll help you have a longer and more powerful swing. This will then help you invert.

I'm not a coach, but those are my thoughts.

Good luck with the rest of your season!

[g00eY]

Thanks for the replies!

Yea, my jump at 11'0" was, I think, the worst vault of the day. I think when i vaulted a nasty crosswind picked up. I remember I took two or so really awkward steps and I was thinking about bailing out before I hit the box, but I just went ahead and went for it. I was under by more than a foot and I just sorta muscled myself over the top of the bar.

I weigh 132 lbs. The meet before I was jumping on a 13' 140 lb Pacer FX with a 21 flex number. During practice the next day I moved up to a 13' 150 lb Pacer FX with a 19.5 flex number, so this was only my third day vaulting on this pole.

[vault3rb0y]

Thanks for the replies!

Yea, my jump at 11'0" was, I think, the worst vault of the day. I think when i vaulted a nasty crosswind picked up. I remember I took two or so really awkward steps and I was thinking about bailing out before I hit the box, but I just went ahead and went for it. I was under by more than a foot and I just sorta muscled myself over the top of the bar.

Thats a testament to how high you should be jumping!! If you jump a PR while thinking about bailing before the plant, imagine what could happen if you were completely focused throughout the jump! You can go 12' tomorrow if you hit that inversion better. You can do it!

[plvltngdude]

Its a VERY bad habit to land on your feet. Its just not safe i have seen a vaulter pulled off on a stretcher from only like an 8 foot jump.

[g00eY]

I've been doing a much better job of landing on my butt now. I started closing my eyes right after take off (to help me get inverted instead of looking at the bar), so for me to land on my feet is out of the question.

I took a couple rips at 11'6" during practice today. I was very close to clearing it on my first vault, but I was also a foot under at takeoff. I've also been working on holding that reverse C so I can get a more powerful swing. I might get some more video on Friday at my County Invite.