yoboe wrote:hello, so ive been pole vaulting for like a little under a month, pretty low key-ish. so last week i got really confident in bending the pole, and i guess i bend it a lot or so ive been told. however, i feel like after it bends it never really streightens out again, and on friday i was getting up but not going forward, so today i added a step to my run and it felt good for like 2 vaults, then i started getting flung to the left (i vault leftie) and i dont know why. it stinks cause i look really funny and come very close to hitting the standards...
sooo, any idea why this is happening?? i want to get a video soon if that would help.
one more thing, its a 130 pole and i wheigh around 121-123
Ok, in my opinion, until you've been jumping on a COMPLETELY stiff pole for a season (2-3 months), you shouldn't even TOUCH a bending pole. Beginners are always obsessed with bending the pole, but having good technique will get you higher than a big bend.
After A LOT of stiff pole vaulting and you've gotten a good takeoff, run, and swing, you can introduce a slight bend and progress from there.
The reason you go to the side is probably because you plant to the side. Doing a lot of three step drills will get you a solid take off and also fix your planting issue.