dragging the pole.

[vballswimvault]

sorry if this is a stupid question, but i was wondering if there are any advantages to dragging the pole out in front of you instead of lifting it during your run.

the only reason im asking is because i hurt my wrist, and i cant hold the pole up without it killing--so i dragged the pole this meet and i pretty much got a 4' PR...

i was thinking, maybe dragging the pole insures a better plant, but i know it hinders your run so much it probably cancels out any benefit you gain from the plant. any other thoughts?

thank you.

[txpolevaulter_k25]

what do you mean by dragging? are you running down the runway pushing the tip pole on the ground?

[sooch90]

A 4' PR at one meet??? Wow, nice! From what to what?

[rainbowgirl28]

Sliding or pushing the pole would be a better way of phrasing it

It doesn't hinder your run. Most kids I have seen can run faster when they are pushing the pole because they can swing their bottom arm while they run and they don't have to think so hard about the pole drop and plant.

If your wrist is hurting, then that sounds like a great time to be a pole pusher. When your wrist gets better, go back to doing pole runs on the track carrying the pole, and don't try to do it on the pole vault runway until you get it down there.

I teach most of my beginners to push the pole. We've had success with it so far. Works better for some kids than others.

[SinCity]

I don't think pushing the pole is a bad technique as long as your not holding too high, controlling the pole, and the runway and box are flush.

This method is good for beginners and girls. Brittini Lawrence,Tx, used this techinique in HS to jump almost 13'

[SinCity]

Let me give some reasoning on this.

This technique allows someone who is not as strong to concentrate on their run form and top hand movement. As long as they can get their top arm up and strong enough to hold on i don't see it as a real disadvantage or safety issue to someone who isn't, like I said before, holding high (13'+).

I believe with beginners a lot more dangerous vaults come from kiddos who can not control the elements of the run, plant, takeoff and this techinique can allow those kids to develop some fundamentals of their run, plant, takeoff, strength, knowledge of concepts to catch up before they start carrying the pole.

IE: a lot of vaulters, even elites, do this during warmups

[achtungpv]

Brittini Lawrence,Tx, used this techinique in HS to jump almost 13'

Actually over 13'..13'1 1/2"

[ladyvolspvcoach]

Actually, the run when carrying the pole and when pushing the pole are very different. You are learning things while pushing the pole that simply do not translate into a pole carry, drop and plant. Posture is not the same issue while pushing the pole as it is while carrying the pole. I have a freshman who pushed the pole through out her high school career. She now runs (according toher mom and high school coach) completely differently and much faster carrying the pole......

[vballswimvault]

A 4' PR at one meet??? Wow, nice! From what to what?

SORRY!! i meant 4''... to 9'6''. lol, very sorry about that.

also, i was wondering if pushing the pole causes any dependencies or like, completely ruins some part of the vault--im thinkin not but its good just to check, right?

[rainbowgirl28]

also, i was wondering if pushing the pole causes any dependencies or like, completely ruins some part of the vault--im thinkin not but its good just to check, right?

I got too mental to carry it from my long run after I switched to pushing, but I had always been mental anyway, that's part of why I switched to pushing in the first place.

I would say the important thing is that you keep working on your run carrying the pole once your wrist gets better. If you get your pole carry and drop perfected, you should be able to jump as high or higher carrying the pole.

Most college coaches are not big fans of pole pushers.