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i was wondering how fast do you generally have to be to get on a 14' , 15' poles. i know it helps to have a good plant, but i would think you would have to run 12s or below in the 100m rite?

100m speed is really irrelevant. 40yd dash speed would be more pertinent, but it's more of a combination of jumping ability, takeoff angle, body height, speed, efficiency of plant, and grip height. I've seen people as slow as racewalkers jump on 15' and 16' poles, but they had a great plant and takeoff and could roll them into the pit easily.

lonestar nailed it. I've lost soooo much controlable speed that I can guarantee that i can out slow anyone down the runway. but b/c I'm 6'2" and have an above average plant I still can jump on 14-15 foot poles.

speeds a factor but, by far not the only one to moving a pole.

I am pretty slow and i got on a 14 140 and i am 6ft 130.

not to mention if u hit a good position you can smash anby pole, i jumped on a 14 145 holdin about 6 inces down from 35 feet (like three steps). U can make up for a slow run with good position, but try to et faster it makes it easier.

I run a 12.0 and jump on a 16ft 190! Its the run effeciancy, and transfering that into the plant w/the least amount of energy leak as possible. The more pole runs the faster you will be on the runway! There is ALOT of mechanics in the run and plant. Alot!

100m speed is really irrelevant. 40yd dash speed would be more pertinent,

I would have to say its your mechanics with your pole and top end speed, usually your still accelerating or just done in the 40. A 40 is mostly start. I think if you can suck em up at the end(100) then you can have a greater velocity at the box.

I"m 5'9, 150 lb, and I'm rather slow and I got on a 14 ft, 150lb altius pole.

And it doesnt matter how long the pole, its your grip. Anybody can grip high on poles, but its really grip/weight ratio thats important. Since dropping my grip from 15-2 to 14-6 I went from 15-9 to 16-9, it made a huge differance, and alot of work to get there!

well, u dunt have to be anywhere near super-fast to get on a 14-15' pole. what really decides on wether you can gte on a bigger pole, is how good your plant is, and how much you jump up at takeoff. concentrate allot on jumping up at the takeoff, and work on your plant, and u dont have to have a ton of speed to get on poles in that range.

KYLE ELLIS wrote:100m speed is really irrelevant. 40yd dash speed would be more pertinent,

I would have to say its your mechanics with your pole and top end speed, usually your still accelerating or just done in the 40. A 40 is mostly start. I think if you can suck em up at the end(100) then you can have a greater velocity at the box.

I disagree on your 100 to 40 comparison. The successful sprinter in the 100 is the one who "decelerates" the least. No one sucks anyone up - it may look like they do, but really it's who slows down the least. A pole vault runup is all about acceleration all the way through the takeoff, and the 40 is all about that. There should be no deceleration or pacing in the vault, but constant building.

Thats a goood comment lonepv Ive never thought of it like that, and Mcminkz not everyone jumps "up" at the plant. Here are the keys to pole vault=
1-What is the single most important thing in the Pole Vault? The single most important thing in the pole vault is the ammount of energy generated by the approach speed and plant mechanics.

2-What makes a great approach?
A great approach is both fast and tall. The tempo must increase through takeoff with a slight shortening of the stride length to raise the center of gravity.

3-What makes a great plant?
A great plant is one that transfers energy directly to the pole. The top hand should reach its highest point, the pole should strike the back of the box and the heel of the take off foot should leave the ground at the same instant.

4-What makes a great swing up?
A great swing up must transfer energy to the pole and put the vaulter in an optimal position to go for the bar. This area leaves alot of room for individual differences. For everyone, however, the weight of the legs must be behind the hips at the completion of the swing up.

5-What makes a great top?
To achieve optimal push off (assuming everything else has happened correctly) the most important thing is to stay as close to the pole as possible. Coming across and pushing with the arms will not help if you separate from the pole when you do it. Learn to stay close to the pole and then work on applying pressure with the hands

6-What advice do have on a height of a Vaulters hand-hold?
In my experience push off is more consistent than grip height. How far you can push off is an accurate measure of your overall vaulting ability and it is very consistent. It does not change dramatically from one day to the next. Grip height is often only a function of the softness of a given pole and the fool hardiness of a given vaulter. Before you try to grip as high as Bubka first make sure you can push off as far as he does. My general advice is to grip at the height that gives you maximum push off.

compliments of Tim McMicheal pv einstein!