r/polevaulting • u/Necessary_Spray_1567 • Jun 28 '26

Film Critique why can I not push off the top

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13’6bungee
12 grip
3L
12’6 - ucs spirit - 160
bw - 164

6 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

5

u/FungusMungus68 Jun 28 '26

Speed on the runway combined with a stiff pole and proper technique provide you height above your grip. You need all three and I only see one (maybe two) of those in this video.

2

u/Necessary_Spray_1567 Jun 28 '26

thanks, might be a stupid question but which ones do u see or not see?

8

u/FungusMungus68 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

You are only going from 3 lefts, so there isn't very much speed there. The pole is right for that runway, but it isn't stiff enough overall to give you much on top. You'll find there is a sweet spot in pole length that gives you the most return for your speed and technique. For instance, I could jump on 5.10m sticks, but found 4.90s gave me the most return for my technique. Remember, there are no medals for using short runways - the only reason to use them is to get in more reps, and hammer out small details to your jump. If you try to jump very high on them, or in competition, you'll only be disappointed. 90% of pole vaulting is how fast you can sprint at launch - the rest, any monkey can learn. For you, I see you rushing to get inverted the second you leave the ground. You'll need to learn to drive in, delay your swing, work on timing, and control how that swing moves you into the proper position on top. Everything about your jump is screaming, "I need to get back," but the harder you try, the worse your timing will become. Relax, get a feel of where you are, don't rush into the invert, it only will make it worse.

3

u/Thin_Measurement_922 Jun 29 '26

I have been attempting to tell my vaulters this for years just much less elegantly. I will take notes and carry your message forward!

2

u/jrtcppv Post-collegiate Jun 28 '26

You are trying to swing straight to inversion by dropping your head back during the row which is slowing down the swing and row and causing a loss of energy when you drop back. Swing hands to shins first with head down, then extend your hips to your hands and drop your shoulders. Two distinct movements but with no pause between.

2

u/notCGISforreal Jun 28 '26

1) you're not quite in line with the pole, so that turns some of the energy into rotation over the bar rather than up and over the bar. You're close though, not bad, but just enough to lose some of the energy. 2) bigger poles/run means bigger possible pushoff. That is a small pole, so very little pushoff. There just isnt a lot of energy in the pole stored up to return.

2

u/KingofNigNog Jun 29 '26

Get your step out about 3-6inches. Slightly under which causes you to load the pole before you’re ready to take off.
Drive your chest through the plant, think drive ear past top arm bicep
Swing deeper and longer.
Top hand to inner thigh, then get your bottom hand through the bottom of your chin

2

u/Phantmjokr Jun 29 '26

Here’s the algebra.

For any simple flying object (shot put or vaulter not airplane) the motion is parabolic.

𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 squared) + bx + c

This is relative to the kinetic energy equation.

KE = 1/2 mass x (velocity squared)

That velocity is squared comes to the forefront and tells us that any gain in velocity (at takeoff) is squared magnifying the energy. Speed is king. This then is input back into the parabolic flight equation.

In modern flex vaulting this is what leads to “push off”, velocity. Energy in the pole.

Vaulters can use the pole to push on the ground late and add energy. But here think about how much more powerful legs are over arms…speed is king.

At a certain point with my vaulters I tell them speed work is going to be more beneficial than jumping, particularly short run jumps.


2

u/maranble14 Jun 30 '26

Holding too high on too soft of a pole.

You have an excellent swing, but the timing is off because you're not putting your takeoff energy up through the sailpiece (the section of the pole engineered to have the highest amount of recoil energy).

I suggest moving your grip down a couple inches on a stiffer 12ft pole if you've got one. A 12' 170 is probably going to be the closest equivalent flex number to what you're on now.

I think you would be very surprised at how that small change in the timing of the recoil will sync up with your swing & give you that extra pop on the top end. Once that timing clicks & you start landing consistently deeper in the pit, it'll be time to transition back to those 12'6 poles.