*****Keeping the bottom arm straight at takeoff*****

[Pole Vault Pirate]

What are some drills that I can do to learn to keep bottom arm straight at takeoff?

[superpipe]

I'm guessing you are kidding, but just in case...

NEVER keep the bottom arm straight at take-off. I won't even go into the details of why not.

[Pole Vault Pirate]

I don't understand. Bubka is doing it right there.

[VaultPurple]

I don't understand. Bubka is doing it right there.

yes he is! but Bubka never straightens his left arm at take off.... you can see how his elbow is to the side in the first picture

[Pole Vault Pirate]

Oh ya I noticed that. Ok... what I meant to say was. How do I keep my arm extended. When I take off my arm is completely bent and it seems like im not underneath the pole. Do you know what I mean?

[superpipe]

yes he is!

What? Bubka's bottom arm is NEVER straight, nor should it ever be.

How do I keep my arm extended. When I take off my arm is completely bent and it seems like im not underneath the pole. Do you know what I mean?

Not sure what you are saying here, but again, the bottom arm is never straight. The bottom arm elbow must be bent out towards the left to create a "window" for the the head and chest to move through to complete the take-off. If you ever straighten out the bottom arm at your plant or take-off, you are "blocking" and will never get into a finished take-off position shown above to allow you to get the most powerful swing.

[Pole Vault Pirate]

Ya i know not to block. Bubka's arm is not straight but it's not very bent. What drills can I do to make it to where i am able to do what he is?

[VaultPurple]

His is not very bent because he is gripping 17' and it is a much less greater angle with the ground. The lower you grip, the more bent it will appear.

If your arm bends and hits the pole it is most likely because you are not keeping your core solid at take off and driving your chest up. Just think of jumping and leading with your chest and pushing up as hard as you can with your top arm. The bottom arm takes care of itself when everything else is done right. It is not a very important part of the vault, and should contribute as little as possible.

[Pole Vault Pirate]

Ok thank you very much

[KirkB]

... Just think of jumping and leading with your chest and pushing up as hard as you can with your top arm. The bottom arm takes care of itself when everything else is done right. It is not a very important part of the vault, and should contribute as little as possible.

Best advice I've read yet on this thread.

It's actually an optical illusion to think that Bubka is pressing hard with his bottom arm. When you see his bottom arm straighten, it's only becuz the pole is bending away from him.

But the pole is NOT bending away from him becuz of pressing, pushing, pulling, or blocking by the bottom arm (much). The pole is bending away from him PRIMARILY becuz when he jumped off the ground, all of his energy from his run and takeoff went into the pole thru his TOP hand. His bottom hand just goes along for the ride. Be careful ... pics (even vids) can be deceiving.

To fully understand what he's doing, you'd have to ask him what his intent was. I don't have any quotes off hand, but I'm sure they're along the lines of "I don't rely too much on my bottom arm at all to bend the pole ... it bends becuz of what I do with the TOP arm".

Kirk

[MattM]

Pole Vault Pirate, a lot of the time when your plant is like you've described is because you have a late plant. Do a lot of walking plant drills and focus on getting your hands up high and having good posture. Do these repeatedly, you can never do too many plant drills. Also make sure that when you take off, you're not under. Being under could also cause a poor, low plant.

[souleman]

A lot depends on how high you're currently jumping. If you're a sub ten footer it is going to be hard for you to fully extend like Bubkas picture. That is not to say you don't want to try. Always remember up----and forward----and up. Vault purple is dead on for this question. On the other hand if you're a 10 footer plus you may be "face planting" which is a result of being under. (I wish you could see a video of me jumping and you'd know exactly what I mean). Another way to describe it is "hugging" the pole directly after take off rather than keeping things out in front of you so you can rotate around the shoulders. To fix this you need to work on the plant. In order to work on the plant you need to work on correct running mechanics and consistency. "SOUNDS LIKE A JOB FOR THE DJ MID MARK CHART"! I see you're new to the forum so just go to the search on the forum and dial in "mid mark Chart". It's a long thread but definitely worth the read. Once you understand it (even remotely) it will help you with all of your jumping. Good luck and keep at it. Later....................Mike

P.S. Just read your profile and see you're a 14' 6" jumper. I'll leave the "sub 10 footer" info in my reply in the event someone else could benefit from it. My guess is your problems are a result (in part or as a whole) due to being under and not having the space to keep things out in front of you.