bending

[Mecham]

When you went from straight poleing to bending what was the key thing that just clicked to get you bending? or was it a slow prosses alsow what height were you at?

The thing that i did to make me bend is look at my left hand. Just use your eyes. Remember, your eyes are right infront of your mind!

[Redneck]

the pole is a 180 im 176 and 6'2"i can get a little bend if i intentionaly stall and hang on it. but that dosent do me much good

[Redneck]

wouldnt a longer pole be harder to bend? im on the longest /heviest pole we have so im geting a new pole next year by then ill probably be 185+ - and 6'3" my best time in the 100m in 12.06 any recomendations on a new pole?

[master]

wouldnt a longer pole be harder to bend? im on the longest /heviest pole we have so im geting a new pole next year by then ill probably be 185+ - and 6'3" my best time in the 100m in 12.06 any recomendations on a new pole?

Yes, a longer pole of the same weight rating and you gripping the same height would be harder to bend. And, if you gripped higher on a longer pole, that would make it harder to get the pole speed sufficient to penetrate safely into the pit.

I'm going to guess that your plant and take off are somehow deficient. I emphasize the word guess. If you have any videos you can post or email, I would be happy to look at them. What still bothers me is the kinds of deficiencies that would make you not bend the pole are similar if not the same as the ones that would prevent you from getting into the pit with a stiff pole jump. And yet you can grip at 13'9" or so and land safely!

Video would provide a major help to anyone on this board being able to help you. And there are more capable people on this board than me. See what you can do to get some video.

[Redneck]

i dont have any video of me jumping and the seasons over but im going to a camp that will tape me and ill post in a few weeks im still wondering if i should stick with a 14' pole or move to a 15' or bigger im holding the top of pole the pole and landing plenty deep in the pit... if i moved up higher on a longer pole would bending come easier? also what brand of pole do you all prefer and why thank you all for your help so far

[LHSpolevault]

Redneck... you're using a 14ft pole... and your PR is 10ft? How's your takeoff and form in the air? If you have decent form on the 14 footer you should be up at 12-13-14ft no problem. And if your weight is just 5lbs er so under the pole rating, bend shouldnt be a problem. During the season I was at about 130-135lbs... I was using a 13ft 145lb PacerFX clearing 12ft like cake... my form was the cause of a negative pushoff. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.. please.

[BigStick Club]

...using good form acording to my coach

It is...different that he's holding around 13'9" and only going 10', apparently with good form. I, too, would be interested in seeing video, especially of your plant/ takeoff.

That's pretty cool that you can stiffpole into the pit on a 14'.

[RedstormVaulter16]

Redneck,
If u want to get a huge bend try locking out your bottom arm and jumping high into the air during your plant. That'll give you a huge bend!
I only weigh about 125 lbs, and I can crush a 13'6" 150 lbs pole. I dont understand how you're having so much trouble bending a 14' pole that just 4 lbs heavier than your weight?!

[rainbowgirl28]

Redneck,
If u want to get a huge bend try locking out your bottom arm and jumping high into the air during your plant. That'll give you a huge bend!
I only weigh about 125 lbs, and I can crush a 13'6" 150 lbs pole. I dont understand how you're having so much trouble bending a 14' pole that just 4 lbs heavier than your weight?!

Yeah and that locked bottom arm will make it pretty hard to do anything else.

[vault3rb0y]

haha i agree with rainbowgirl. Dont form that habit... the bottom arm locks with elite jumpers because the pole is long enough to lock out WHILE both hands are above their head. Thats the most important thing. If you really want to bend the pole this is what my coach had me do.

do work on your run, without planting. Just take the last 3 strides and make sure your form is good throughout. Then start running 5 lefts or rights without putting the pole in the box. Keep that good form. Then have your coach judge a pole you should be able to use to get into the pit very easily, and take your 5 step into the box, just stay tall and keep the drive knee, both hands over your head, and the pole will bend. Soon after you will hopefully realize that super-bending a pole is not important.... only if you are on a pole way over your weight. The only way that happens is keeping the right form.

[powerplant42]

The bottom arm doesn't lock with elite vaulters. That is very inefficient, as a lot of the energy created by your approach is transferred into the box and is wasted. Good vaulters don't TRY to bend the pole when they're vaulting. They keep their bottom arm out and then flex in while they swing up. They can easily see through a big gap in their arms. But Redstorm, are you trying to kill poor Redneck? That's insane!

[Tim McMichael]

Locking the bottom arm out is a BAD idea. Like Rainbowgirl said, it can make the pole bend, but will limit you forever afterward.