Use stickum or not to use stickum ?

[grandevaulter]

On a less serious note. Do you advocate that your vaulters use some type of stickum on their grip? I was watching a video of Yelena and it appeared that she had stickum on both top and bottom grip. As she adjusted her grip before her approach, I could see the stickum stretching between her pole and her hand.

[VaultPurple]

No. If your hands are wet use chalk. But putting glue type substances on your hands will just mess up the pole tape for anyone else that does not like a sticky pole.

I have seen people pole vault with no chalk and dripping wet grip tape without their hands sliding. If you let go of the pole or slip with dry tape and a little chalk you are doing something wrong in the vault.

[charlie]

All my vaulters use stickum! It allows you to hang from the top hand with out clutching and causing tension! Bubka couldn't have held on to a 215--17'4 with a 17'grip and left the ground with out stickum! You can also look at some of his vaults and see the skin on his hand sticking to the tape!!! Relieves the top hand tension!!!!

[KirkB]

That's actually a very good point, Charlie, and you definitely don't want to clutch (you want your top arm muscles to be as stretched as they can be).

However, I think you can do this with chalk too, with a smooth plant and with gymnastics training. After all, if the plant is perfectly smooth, your hand shouldn't be getting jerked away from the pole. And by hanging on highbar and rings for hours upon hours a week (and lifting heavy weights), you tend to develop a pretty good grip.

My thought process (cue) was always "PUSH and SQUEEZE" re the top hand on the plant and takeoff.

I used stickum in my early days of vaulting, but in my last year or so - once my plant got smoother and more reliable - I found it wasn't even necessary (I kept using less and less), so I switched to chalk - just to keep my hands dry.

Both are good.

Whatever you do, don't use the spray-on stuff! That contains alcohol, and will dry out your hands and make them crack! And if your hands crack too much, then you won't be able to do gym work (or even vault). Besides, it's TOO sticky! I once cleared a bar (or would have) but I couldn't pull my hand off the pole, so I missed!

Ligher fluid? Yikes! Even worse! The way lighter fluid works is by a chemical reaction with the sticky substance on the tape (which is exposed by wrapping the tape inside out). I don't think it's very common any more, but it sounds like lighter fluid (or some variant of that) might be what Yelena might have been using?

And what's this business about using tape and stickum for her bottom hand? Yikes! If you don't push or pull with your bottom hand (using it only for balance and steering), then there's absolutely no need for this nonsense!

Kirk

[grandevaulter]

It appears to me that Isinbeyeva used something on the bottom hand. Her pole appears to be stained with a dark colored goo. It's possible that the youtube pictures are not clear.

[PV-ATL]

Gang,

Stick-um: too sticky! I use "Tough Skin". It gives a good tacky, dry grip. You don't need too much either. Stick-um is just too gooey.

Be careful, although. Wash your hands before you put them on your steering wheel. Both of my car's steering wheels are corroded off on the top because off Tough Skin!

Cheers,

PV-ATL

[souleman]

Yep, Tuff Skin. Doesn't sweat off like Firm Grip (never used stickum). I think it's a personal choice. I must admit that I see more vaulters using chalk than I do Tuff Skin or stickum. Yes, I too have had a pole stick to my hands when I'm about to clear a bar. Maybe because I've used it for 50 years I know how to shake it off. Haha. As I said it's a personal choice and one that if you have a vaulter that continually loses grip you might try. May work, may not. It's just another tool in the tool box. I don't always need a 1/2 inch impact wrench on a project but if I need one I know I have an awfully nice one in my box.

[rainbowgirl28]

I used to use stickum, but when I start vaulting again, I am excited to start using Tako Grip

[grandevaulter]

Watched the world championships on the link the Becca provided. Looks like Isi uses pine tar. Top and bottom hand.

[achtungpv]

Go old school commie style...friction tape and lighter fluid.