kcvault wrote:
Yeah I quickly realized after I posted really only the last 4 to 6 step length really matters. I still think everyone is putting to much emphasis on the chart being perfect. Everyone is different and need to determine this stuff on there own not just blindly follow a chart.
__Kasey
I think this is the punchline of the chart.
Kyle, i know what you are getting at with a shorter vaulter needing to run faster to roll over a higher grip, and thus his mid-to-take off length needs to be longer (covering more distance per time= speed). However, this assumes, like others said, that all vaulters have the same stride frequency. Although at an elite level it has been found that most sprinters have equal stride frequencies, and those that win are those with larger stride lengths, not everyone is an elite sprinter. I have seen 15'6" vaulters hit a 43' mid and he was 5'6", leaving the ground around 11'6" holding about 13'6". But his stride frequency was like barney rubble coming down the runway. The chart works well for the majority of vaulters, but its important to state some of these underlying assumptions and for coaches to understand the physics principles behind it, so they know when an athlete might be an acception to the rule. And also its important not to push a vaulter to change their natural run to achieve a certain stride length, but instead for a COACH to determine how high a vaulter can safely make pit given their speed AND stride length.
... Lol, it can't make anyone vault worse. I would be willing to bet that if it is off maybe you should look at your technique of running with pole and planting the pole.