Tim Mack's Stats

[Bruce Caldwell]

Ah! Very nice information.
He used to be such a pole squasher, but he has improved that phase a lot in the last year or two.
Gripping 16'4 to vault 19'8.... lets see that's a 3' 4" plus 8" (box depth) so an even 4'.
Take the hint out there, some of you "over grippers" who can't even push a foot or two above your top hand. Your bleeding energy out of the system, all in the name of a high grip. You might vault higher gripping lower because the your take-off energy fits the equation better! Additionally, you will be safer, and less likely to break poles.

Consider this: Serge Bubka only gripped 16'8 or 9 to vault 20'2. That's a 4'2" push....and he was much faster than any other vault I know about.

Jan Johnson
Atascadero, Ca

WELL SAID JAN I AGREE

http://polevaultpower.com/forum/viewtop ... ight=#5236

BEFORE YOU GO TO A LONGER LENGTH POLE
answer these questions;
1. Am I jumping over my handhold?
a. If yes go to the next question
b. If no, you need to before moving to the next length pole
2. Am I on a pole rated at least 10-15 lbs over my weight?
a. If Yes then move to a longer pole rated at or 5lbs over your weight.
b. If No select a stiffer pole rather than moving to a longer pole
The reason:
With a stronger pole you will get more lift (SAID BETTER BY JJ FASTER LIFT less time on the pole) and will then have the ability to receive the energy stored into the pole more efficiently. Doing so will allows you to jump heights over your handgrip. This will be the most important phase to accomplish to insure progressive proper vaulting. Moving to longer poles does works more efficiently when you have established this style of jumping. (Over your handgrip). When you have learned this progressive way to jump, you will excel faster to much higher vaults.
If you do not follow these rules you will be moving to a longer pole that may be less than you body weight which complicates the style and further holds you back from getting your hips up. Additionally, all vaulters who jump at heights less than their handgrip are not pole-vaulting they are pole bending!
Always go for the power before the length

[SkyHigh21]

But you also must take into account the grip height and takeoff distance. Bubka, If holding at 5.00m like mack, would probably swing and complete a jump just as fast or faster jsut because of the physics of the jump. Taking off further from the box and holding higher will add time. The amazing thing is tho, Bubka completed jumps holding and taking off where he did in that short of time. Bubka took off further from the box and had more pole to "move into pit" as VItaly puts it. Hate to say it but i think Sergei has Tim beat. Not to say that Tim isnt the man. I klnow i couldn't jump 6.01 (yet).