Grip Width

[Scott Go Pre]

Many coaches would tell you that the proper grip would be roughly 1/3 your body height. There are a few ways to estimate 1/3 your body height:

- Stretch out your top arm out to your side and grab the pole with your lower hand just at your arm pit.

- Hold the pole at your waist and grab a little bit bigger than your shoulder width.

- Rest the pole on your shoulder and grab the pole with your top hand, and place it right on your chest, then reach up with your other hand and grab at the point where your arm is extended and can grab the pole with all of your bottom hand.

[Jennapv]

I began with shoulder-width, which was fine when I was a beginner but is now a problem and a HUGE handgrip. It's been a slow road to get it small enough so I can actually bend my left arm and get back. I think that you should start off with as short a grip as is comfortable and then work from there...a too-wide grip can become a bad habit, at least it was for me.

[USMC Vaulter]

Ummmm - how broad are your shoulders? Cause shoulder width is a pretty narrow grip for most people.

[Aviendha]

- Rest the pole on your shoulder and grab the pole with your top hand, and place it right on your chest, then reach up with your other hand and grab at the point where your arm is extended and can grab the pole with all of your bottom hand.

i go with this one, i rest the pole on my shoulder, and grab the pole with my arm extended...actually...i dont' even do that anymore, because now i'm pushing the pole!

most of the guys on my team do the elbow length grip

[rainbowgirl28]

When I first started pushing the pole, sometimes I was inconsistent with how wide I would grab it.

I fixed this by putting a small amount of tape where I wanted my bottom hand. If I grabbed too wide or too narrow, I knew immediately. I spent a practice doing pole runs and practicing this, haven't had a major problem since.

[PMWVaulter]

I'd have to say that the Forearm works best for me, i just tried it out yesterday, and i added 6 inches to my PR with my first jump.

[izzystikchik]

Ummmm - how broad are your shoulders? Cause shoulder width is a pretty narrow grip for most people.

i think people find that too, but i think it is the most comfortable

[VaultMarq26]

I think the width of your grip also depends on what you are looking to get out of the pole. When ever i am crushing a pole, but i don't feel like i can move to the next bigger pole i have, i simply shorten my grip. I don' t bend the pole as much, and i have alot more controll at the top of the vault.

[ladyvolspvcoach]

Becareful! An elbow width will effectively shorten the maximum possible height at the plant!! Be careful of the VooDoo!! There's a lot of voodoo in PV Coaching!!!