Unread postby Tim McMichael » Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:30 pm
One of the things I tell my vaulters is that nobody jumps high on big poles. They jump high on the right poles. I jumped on the smallest poles by far in any big meet I went to, but they were the right poles for my smaller stature. Kory Tarpening’s poles, for instance, would be monsters to me, but they were just right for his ability. I have never in my life jumped successfully on what I considered a big pole. It may have been bigger than anything I had planted before, but at the moment I pulled it out of the bag, it was the right pole.
I believe that confidence follows technical proficiency, not the other way around. If you know how to really hammer a takeoff, there is no need to be afraid of the next pole up. With proper technique, the vault is completely safe. Good run and takeoff mechanics ensure that nothing bad can happen. A less than perfect plant will result in not being able to swing on the pole. Penetration remains largely unaffected. You always land behind the box.
When this becomes second nature, the size of the pole becomes largely irrelevant (provided you are choosing poles of a reasonable size for your ability). All concentration becomes focused on the requirements of the jump. There is no fear, only excitement and anticipation in preparation for the next attempt. This state of mind cannot be accomplished without rigorous training in the fundamentals of sound technique. Once the fundamentals are established, confidence comes naturally.
When the pole I need to make the next bar stands me up and does not allow me to complete the jump, I take it personally. My only thought is that I am going to time it up on my next attempt and hammer the crap out of it. This is different from what I interpret “nutting upâ€Â