Net pit

[Lyndell Farmer]

Has anyone ever seen a pit made out of netting. I have been playing with some designs and have come to the conclusion that a net pit could be very large offering more protection than foam pits at 1/10th the cost. Trapeze artist and people who are shot out of cannons fall from 2 to 5 times the heights pole vaulters fall from and it works. I would just like to hear some discussion on the subject.

[powerplant42]

Now THAT is an idea!!! Could you post some drawings?

It would be easier to store/transport too, would it not!?

You might have just started the next revolution in pole vaulting equipment! SERIOUSLY!

But let's hear more about what exactly you're thinking about... What kind of netting? Would it be suspended up off the ground, or would there be a large hole dug into the ground? How will you take care of the edges and areas around the box?

[hallvaulter]

only thing that comes to my mind, is that you could literally no longer land on your feet (not that its a good thing as is) but people would have to be trained on how to land and hit the pit

[Lyndell Farmer]

I have lots of ideas and have been thinking about this for some time. I have jumped on everything and nothing, literally 14' and no pit but we were men when I was a boy. I was thinking about a 30' x 30' landing area with the net buns extending about twice as far as the largest now and full width. Six poles sunk in the ground or located by a suspension system. Height would be 48' to 60" inches or a pit underneath. The middle poles would also support the standards and be 35' between them, a cantilever setup with nothing to hit in the landing area. I think large bungee cord will be used for the outside perimeter and possible woven within the net within the main landing area. That should get the juices flowing. I see lots of stuff on the internet about netting and I have ask for price quotes. I can buy 10,000 feet of parachute cord and spend 100 hours tying 15,000 knots thats 300 bucks for the cord and $1000 labor for a $1300.00 pit. I am planning to visit some shrimp net shops in Bayo LaBatre, they might need work or I am sure some one in China would do it. Oh yeah hole size could be 2-3" or just put a top pad like is used now. The area around the box would use an oversize box collar extending 1foot or more under the net and taught cables running on the ground would keep the net in place at ground level. Those forward poles would be a good place to put pole holders. Lots more but lets hear what you think.

[Lyndell Farmer]

Good ideas move fast I just got a quote back for 900 Sq' net thats 45% larger than the largest pits now for $2245.00. It has a perimeter rope and double layer with 4x4" net overlayed with a soft 2x2" net to make it easy to get out of says the manufacturer. Its also OSHA approved for fall protection is this green or what.

[powerplant42]

Lots more but lets hear what you think.

I think... that you're a genius.

[KirkB]

Lyndell, I haven't heard yet how you plan to protect vaulters from stall-outs around the box area. You've covered the issues of the size of the pit, and protection against hitting the standards, but the biggest remaining safety issue is how you protect someone from landing in (or near) the box.

With your trapeze-like contraption, there's new possibilities on how you MIGHT solve the box issue.

I've thought about this issue a LOT (re standard pits), since I landed in the box 3 times in my career, each one putting me in casts for 6 weeks or more.

Solve this one, and I think you've got a great idea!

Experimentally, it might start out at beach vaults, and then maybe grow from there?

Kirk

[rainbowgirl28]

Sounds like it would have to be too big to fit at most track facilities.

Has anyone ever landed on a trapeze net? I am wondering what it actually feels like? Obviously a lot better than landing on the ground, but those things were designed as a backup, not for frequent use.

I also think the risk of injury from people landing on their feet or just landing wrong would probably make it prohibitive.

[Barto]

Most circus nets I have seen have a tremendous amount of give in them with the person stretching the net down about 5 or 6 feet when they land. I'm afraid that either the net would have to be set 8' up in the air or else stretched so tight that it would not qualify as a "soft" landing. Not that these factors automatically make nets unusable, but they do certainly complicate the practical application of them as landing surfaces.

my 2 cents,

Barto

[powerplant42]

What if you put some sort of padding underneath? Maybe even just sand?

[rainbowgirl28]

What if you put some sort of padding underneath? Maybe even just sand?

How does it feel when you land flat on your back in sand?

[KirkB]

Sounds like it would have to be too big to fit at most track facilities.

For sure. That's why it might be more appropriate at a beach vault. At first I thought the rigging might be problematic even on a beach, but I've seen cirsuses set up almost anywhere, and the rigging for trapeze is probably less weight and less bulky to truck around than the equivalent amount of foam needed for a traditional pit.

Has anyone ever landed on a trapeze net? I am wondering what it actually feels like? Obviously a lot better than landing on the ground, but those things were designed as a backup, not for frequent use.

Not me, but I've watched lots of circuses. Perfectly safe, from what I've observed. I think you're misinformed if you think the net is only used in case of an emergency. Or maybe you haven't watched many circus acts? Every trapeze artist finishes his/her act by landing into the net. Their dismounts are often as spectacular as elite trampolinists! I've never seen a safety issue in those landings.

I would actually argue the opposite way. On a foam pit, your landing is absorbed in 1-2 feet of sinking down. On a trapeze net, you sink down a LOT more than 1-2 feet, so the landing is actually SOFTER! However, the amount that you sink down would be proportional to the height from which you drop. I don't know the heights, exactly, but it seems to me that trapeze artists drop from a peak COM of a LOT higher than 6.00.

And judging from the way they hang onto the side of the net and foward-flip to get down to ground level (for their final "bow"), I'd say the net's about 8-9 feet off the ground. Given that a vaulter's COM is lower than a trapeze artist's, this height can be reduced proportionately.

I think JJ has a trapeze and net at his facility. I've seen vids.

I also think the risk of injury from people landing on their feet or just landing wrong would probably make it prohibitive.

No, I don't think so. You could land wrong in a foam pit too. I don't see much difference.

I'd still like to hear the details of the net area directly surrounding the box. THAT's the key safety issue to solve, I think. And if the net's even just 4-5 feet up (according to Lyndell's proposed design), you need a lot more clearance around the box than with a foam pit. Maybe that part still needs to be foam?

Oh ... one more thing ...

What would you do if you want to abort a jump and "run thru the pit"?

Would you run UNDER the net?

I don't mean to be critical ... I'm just wondering.

Kirk