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Lately I have been having trouble keeping my top hand from slipping down the pole when I vault. My run is fine *sure it could be better, but it'll get there* and my plant is fine also. But when i get in the air and start to try to get inverted, my right *top* hand slips down a few inches. what could be causing this? To me it seems as if when i feel my pole hit the back of the box, I have this invollentary responce to losen my grip just enough to loose my hand positions. I've managed to be able to get my grip back each time, but it's alway significantly lower than were it started. Any ideas on how to fix this? Could it just be dry hands? or do I need to start doing exercises to stregthen my grip?

You may be inside a bit, and also for me, I had the problem of loosiening my to parm's grip before I even planted, so it would slide a bit and then I'd catch myself...

Usually when I see people's hand slip, it's because they are gripping too high to start with.

If your hand stays on some of the time and you are landing deep in the pit, then that is probably not the problem.

I would lower your grip a few fists and work on improving your takeoff until you get to the point where it is not sliding. Once you get it consistently not slipping, and you are landing deep in the pit, you can raise it an inch at a time, but always make sure you are landing in the middle of the pit.

My friend used to always slip his top hand no matter what the grip was so one day joe dial tapes his hand to the pole. my friends was so scared he got half way down the runaway when joe told him to stop its was all a joke but it sure was funnny

I have lowered my grip quite considerably. It HAS gotten better, as in, I'm not slipping as much. I think I've only been sliping near the beginning of my workout for the day when I have to make my body remember what exactly to do again, and at the end where I'm starting to get tired, but there is always those odd moments where it just starts slipping again.
And yea, I THINK I'm getting good penetration into the pit, like I'm landing near the middle and definitly inside the white box *if you know what I mean, considering there are different types of mats* so I dont think it's my plant or my penetration. Any ideas that might help then?

i had this problem for a while, and it was because when i planted i didn't was trying to put the hole in the box, instead of just sliding it in, all the energy then got shot up the pole, so make sure your top hand is verticle on the plant, also my twin has that problem right now, but his is because he gets scared when he starts his swing up.

sorry forget that comment, i must have been asleep, i had problems with my upper hand slipping and it was because i was leaning in when i planted. all the force gets shoved into your upper hand. the way i fixed it was too concentrate on keeping my top hand right above my head apon take off.

reggiereeves wrote:sorry forget that comment, i must have been asleep, i had problems with my upper hand slipping and it was because i was leaning in when i planted. all the force gets shoved into your upper hand. the way i fixed it was too concentrate on keeping my top hand right above my head apon take off.

I'll try that, thanks.

have you tried it yet? tell me if it helped.

reggiereeves wrote:have you tried it yet? tell me if it helped.

I haven't tried it just yet, but I will later today. We didn't set up the pits yesturday, but I think we are today.... so I'll give it a shot and we'll see what happens.

The bottom line for your hand slipping is simple. You are applying pressure/energy into the pole in the wrong direction. Instead of placing energy upward into the pole you are putting it down the pole. Your hand will not slip if you are applying energy at a 90 degree angle into the pole. Simple physics.

kenny wrote:The bottom line for your hand slipping is simple. You are applying pressure/energy into the pole in the wrong direction. Instead of placing energy upward into the pole you are putting it down the pole. Your hand will not slip if you are applying energy at a 90 degree angle into the pole. Simple physics.

I'm not sure that is a correct assessment. The vaulter applying force in the direction you indicate will reduce the forces in the direction along the pole, but it will not eliminate them. Try it out with a simple test. Do your regular vault, jumping as you describe which you imply will eliminate the problem, but first wipe STP on the pole and your hands. Run down and plant the pole. If there are no forces along the direction of the length of the pole, you will take off without a problem. If there are still forces there, your hands will slide down the pole. I know what I think will happen, and physics predicts it.

I apologize if this sounds flip. I just thought it was worth bringing another point of view to the discussion. I agree with you regarding trying to apply your energy at 90 degrees to the pole. I disagree that will eliminate the other forces.

- master