Looking at the Bar

[Pablot585]

I have trouble when I'm jumping looking at the bar, and because of this, my coach says I'm having trouble getting my hips up and all the way back. I am constantly looking at the bar (and even my feet during swing-up drills) and due to not being able to get all the way back am having trouble at my P.R. (10'6").

Is there any trick to keeping my head neutral or is it just through practice and not getting nervous at higher heights?
Thanks!

[powerplant42]

Do you ever use a bar in practice?

[Pablot585]

We did about once every week or two, but I would still look at the bungee every time we used it too. Since my last post though my PR went up to 10'9" at our sectionals meet where I didn't have as big of a problem with it as flagging out.

[Vault101 Boy]

This was a problem for me until about a week ago. It would happen once i was in the air and i would find myself having a late turn, and a lazy inversion. Develop a good plant, and tall take-off and you should have a strong enough swing to get you inverted where you drop your shoulders and barlocking stops happening. You'll have to make it a conscious effort as dropping the shoulders took me a good week of preparation to get it right and it wont happen naturally until you do it a couple of times.

If you're having trouble looking at it on the approach, start doing 3 step drills without looking at the box, staring straight ahead and work your way back to the long approach (this is actually a good habit to have as it prevents lowering your head and plowing in).

hope this helped

[vault3rb0y]

look 2 feet above the bar. Aim your feet/hips at that point when you swing.