Straight arm

[distancejumper]

I have a problem with making my bottom arm straight at the plant. I was just checking for some drills or something I could do to work on that besides pop ups.

[altius]

Narrow your grip because this will get both hands moving more up than forward. Then ease the left elbow out slightly - assuming you are right handed- so that you can see the pole when you 'look through the gap 'when you plant. Easing the left elbow out slightly will rotate your hand on the pole at plant and make it much more unlikely you will lock out the left arm. Gradually these should lead to a controlled flexing of the left arm.

By the way 'distance jumper' has anyone told you that the object in the vault is to jump as high as possible - not as far as possible.

[Ming3r]

Wait, outta curiosity - keeping the arms closer will keep the left arm straighter?

0.o

Because like, my handhold is the distance from like my top hand holding the pole and the other hand at my armpit...

[swtvault]

The point is that you DON'T want to lock your left arm.

[Ming3r]

Yea I knew that, but I couldnt lock it if I ever tried (mine collapses maybe as soon as I hit if not sooner)...

[altius]

[quote="distancejumper"]I have a problem with making my bottom arm straight at the plant.

Just a communication problem. I assumed the problem was that their left arm WAS straight and i was suggesting how to deal with THAT problem -because it is a problem and one very common in the US where many vaulters are taught to drive a straight arm into the pole to make it bend.

Because this problem is often caused by a grip which is too wide I suggested narrowing the grip which then allows the left arm to flex back more easily.