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in the past 2-3 weeks i switched to a new pole (went from a 13' 180 skypole => 180 15' carbonfx).. im not having any problem with the pole but my run has obviously changed too.. i went from 65' 5 lefts on the skypole to 83' 7 lefts on the carbon and now my coach has pushed me back to 106' 9 lefts. i can take off fine from 7 lefts i just dont penetrate and need my standards shallow.. but when i move back to 9 lefts i get sucked under.. im not sure what im doing wrong but any advice on what to try and experiment with?

Well if you went from a 13' 180 to a 15' 180 that would be your problem. That would be a minimum 4 pole jump. (13' 180 is equal~ to 15'160). Second of all why would you go from 7lefts to 9lefts? Sounds like your coach is getting a little carried away. I doubt you are fast enough to use a 9left run, and if you hit top speed to soon then that will create problems... Plus from 9lefts the pole carry has to start out very high and the way you come out of the back is crucial..

Bottom line, I think you went up too many poles and back to many steps.

i know it was a big pole jump but thats not the problem.. i tried from 8 lefts today but still no such luck im getting sucked under.. and from 7 im fine pole carry and plant

ECvaulter30,

You need to post some video, but I 100% agree with Kyle. That's an unheard of move in poles and step, in that short period of time, by anyone. There's no way, as a high school vaulter, you can handle a 9-Left approach run. Where are you holding on both of these poles?

i was legally capping the skypole and the carbon im holding at about 14'3~.. my videos wont load onto my pc for some reason but im working on it

As others have said, you shouldn't move up that much and back that much. If your old steps were fine and you're getting up fine on them, then why are you moving back?

i can take off fine from 7 lefts i just dont penetrate and need my standards shallow..

That's because you moved up too much on poles.

Keep your steps on a 7 step where they're on and move up on poles progressively, rather than a huge jump.

unfortunately it was the only pole jump i could make other than bumping up to a 14' 195.. all my schools money goes to football and we have a small selection of poles.. most of them around 14' 160's~150's.. i was blowing thru my old pole and this was the only move to make and stay legal for competition.. i've increased my speed from 7 and i've been getting deeper.. still working on getting a video too

Pole issues aside, it sounds like you're just not ready to handle 9 lefts. That is a really long run.

let's break this down:

RUN: 5 lefts to 7 lefts to 9 lefts...(huge difference). I've never even been to a 9-left approach (i have most control vs speed in my 6-left run anyway) because I still have a lot to accomplish from my shorter runs.

POLE: 13' 180 to a 15' 180. now, to break this down, The 13' 180 is equal to a 14' 160 is equal to a 15' 140 [all assuming your grip is the same distance below the band (ex: 12'6 = 13'6 = 14'6)]. The 15' 180 is equal to a 14' 200 (they don't make a 13' equivalent)

GRIP: you sent from 13' to 14'3, that's a 15" change! that's huge!!

So far, at 5'7 1/2, 130lbs, I can get on a 14' 165 (easily) from 5 lefts (have been on a 15' 150 from this run), a 15' 155 (easily) from 6 lefts (i've been on a 15' 160 during a meet) and a 15' 160 (easily) from 7 lefts. If you use that as any type of rule of thumb for 15'-poles (and i anticipate these numbers to change a bit more this year), that's roughly 5 lbs per left. So since the 13' 180 is equal to a 15' 140 for you from 5 lefts, that'd be a 15' 145 from 6 lefts and a 15' 150 from 7 and so on. These values are not exact and vary per take-off efficiency and other factors, but use it as a guide [with a grain of salt...well, maybe more than just a grain, but what i'm trying to say is just because you can cap a 13' 180 from 5 lefts doesn't mean you can cap a 15' 150 from 7 lefts (because if you don't jump, it might sink and explode)].

I mean, I don't know your height and weight, but I mean, you'd be better off capping the 14' 195 than going anywhere near that 15' 180. You really need to invest in a new pole. I know what you're going through (my HS had no poles), so I made the decision to leave my team and work with a private coach that knew what he was doing. I don't recommend it, but it'd be safer than what you're attempting right now. -6P

When i moved to 6 steps, it really helped to count out my steps it made me much more confident

1-2-3(midmark)3-2-jump

oddly enough i was about to try counting out loud again ha..

ECvaulter30 wrote:in the past 2-3 weeks i switched to a new pole (went from a 13' 180 skypole => 180 15' carbonfx).. im not having any problem with the pole but my run has obviously changed too.. i went from 65' 5 lefts on the skypole to 83' 7 lefts on the carbon and now my coach has pushed me back to 106' 9 lefts. i can take off fine from 7 lefts i just dont penetrate and need my standards shallow.. but when i move back to 9 lefts i get sucked under.. im not sure what im doing wrong but any advice on what to try and experiment with?

Your steps just don't add up... 65' for 5 gripping around 14' would make you take off around 12ish I am guessing (but its not that important for what i mean). That makes each left ((65.12)/5)=10.6feet.

Then you went back to 7 lefts at 83'. So your two new steps are only ((83-65)/2)=9feet.

You should get faster as your steps move back, so your average stride length should increase with more strides, not decrease.

If you are running right and can run 5 lefts from 65' then your 7 lefts should be at least 88' if not more. So my bet is you are just slowing down or stutter stepping really bad....