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I know that it is important to stay lean, but many people try to stay a specific weight (light) and jump on bigger poles. That is fine, but I've noticed that when people gain 5 to 10 lbs of muscle, they tend to always jump a little better. The question is do you put on muscle or just maintain what you have?

It didn't really seem to help Lawrence Johnson.

"Fat Don't Fly!"

i was talking about this same thing with some guys just this weekend. We came to the conclusion that a guy that weighs 190 on a 4.90 200 lb pole will jump higher than a guy that weighs 16 on a 4.90 170 lb pole. The bigger pole is gonna kick harder no matter what weight is on top of it. Plus it'd be a more realistic situation for the guy that weighs 190 to be on a 5m pole and the guy that weighs 160 to be on a 4.90 cause the more muscle and weight, the higher you're going to be able to grip.


This is all a generality.....sure there are exceptions, but from what i've seen this is what happens in general

I disagree I weigh 135 and all I jump on is 4.90 and 5m poles. I jump just as high as the guys that weigh 190. I think its more technique then strenght. If you do things right technically you can jump 18' but if you do things wrong but are strong it still real hard to jump high. Example I was at a meet this weekend A guy the was 6'6" and about 200 pounds jumping on 5.10 220. He ony jumped 14'6" I'm 5'10" 135 pounds I jumped 5.20. I do want to brag but I jump right and strong. Because everyone knows a guy that size is stronger then me.

you have a good point. Techinique has just as much, if not more to do with how high you're going to jump as does speed and strength. And one point I sort of found reading your post is that smaller guys are going to have an easier time getting to good technique. A 6'6" frame is not going to be easy to do a full swing and rock back with. But then again i would kill for that take off angle. This is a good topic, lets hear more opinions.

"Tommy Skipper"

I had to alter my lifting completely. The key is to get STRONG not BIG. Big is a bad side effect to getting strong. The BEST vaulters I have ever worked with got strong with very little increase in mass. In fact back in the day..........when creatin was being used like crazy..........lots of vaulters quit using it because the increased mass was hurting thier vault even though they were "stronger" than before. So the key here is the strength mass tradeoff...................just make it play out so it makes you jump higher NOT lower. DUGH

Right along with PVJunkie. I believe it is your strength to weight ratio that is key. How well can you move your body mass.

I have to agree with Vaultguru. Think, all of the best jumpers are on 5.20's because they bring it and hold high. Not too many 160lb people are jumping on these big of poles because they can't get on them. It just seems like the saying "The bigger pole is gonna kick harder no matter what weight is on top of it" holds true in most cases. As long as were talking about the same ratio of weight to pole size.

definitely wanna gain strength/speed without the mass. it doesnt make much sense that a person with more weight/muscle mass can automatically grip higher. if they become faster, than yes they will most likely be able to. but if they gain excessive weight without much gain in strength, the extra weight will lag you down, slower, therefore lower grip or else no penetration. and to me it does seem logical at all that a bigger pole is gonna have a stronger kick no matter the weight on top of it. with respect to weight and length than yes it most likely will (a 16' 5" will seem more responsive than some small girl on a ten footer) but it doesnt make sense to say regardless of weight itll kick back harder. test a 190 lb. pole with 215 lbs. compared to someone who weighs 145 but jumps with a 160. the one 160 will kick harder. obviously i havent done these exact tests, but im sure you get the point.

how many 200 pound vaulters jump on poles 30-40 pounds over there weight? alot of lighter weight vaulters do such as Scott Huffman, Pat Manson, Joe Dial, and so on Bigger isn't always better.