The Drop-Tip Technique

[vaultfan]

There was a post on “The Push Plant Issue Resurrectedâ€Â

[vaultfan]

With a shorter pole, you can get away with running with it lower (closer to parallel with the runway), but you will sacrifice some speed and you will not be able to go to a bigger pole without totally re-learning how to run with the pole.

Pick up a pole of just about any length. Hold it parallel to the ground and try to run – you will be awkward at best.

Here is an excellent article which explains the “levering effectâ€Â

[vaultfan]

Accepting the pre-jump concept means that athletes must be prepared to use a narrow grip between 48 to 52cm because only with a narrower grip can the vaulter first punch the hands as high as possible to maximize pole height at the takeoff and then make a swift and powerful turn on the pole later on. In turn, a narrow grip on a long pole forces the vaulter to modify the pole carry. At the start, it is held vertically so it has virtually no “weight at all and is gradually lowered during the approach so that it appears to pull the vaulter forward into the plant. This phase appears to be the most difficult to master because it requires both skill and strength to run with a very long pole held almost horizontal in the last few strides before the plant. However, as Petrov states, “A pole vaulter is born in the last steps of the run-up; ability to perform the concluding part of the run-up determines the ability of a vaulter to perform vaults.â€Â

[vaultfan]

Gradually Lowering the Pole (During the Latter Part of the Approach)

Here are some comments favoring the gradual lowering of the pole only towards the latter part of the approach (beginning at approximately the 4th left out and ending with the pole horizontal to the runway at the 2nd left out):


Your pole should be at 75 degrees until you reach a point where your step is 4 lefts out from the plant. At this point, you should have a 2nd marker, or a coaches mark to make sure that your approach is consistent. Also, at this point, you should start lowering your pole. When lowering your pole, you should do so more by raising the right hand up along your toroso and less by lowering the left hand down. I.e. your right elbow should gradually bend as you are lowering the pole. It is also important not to let the right hand drift too far behind your torso. By the time you get to your 2nd to last left steps, the pole should be parallel to the ground.
“Vault 2000â€Â

[vaultfan]

The vaulter carries the pole high, like a flag bearer. No matter how long the vaulter’s runup is, wait until approximately the second-to-last step (right-handed vaulter) before beginning the pole drop.

Dropping the pole at the latter end of the runup allows for a fast downward motion of the pole where gravity actually propels the vaulter faster into the most vital part of the process – the takeoff.
“Modern Pole Vaultingâ€Â

[vaultfan]

While the “Fiberglass Pole Vaultingâ€Â

[vaultfan]

Here’s another “quoteâ€Â

[Kirk]

Vaultfan, you've done your homework. Good job!

The tip of the pole should not be allowed to simply fall freely directly into the box where it will bounce (possibly back out of the box).

In my experience, the pole has never bounced out of the box. This is probably becuz I aim for the back of the box rather than the middle. As soon as the pole hits, my weight is already on it, so there's no chance to bounce out. This does take perfect timing though.

Just a few more comments - mostly about what wasn't discussed re pole drop ...

I agree that the pole should be held at an angle where it always appears near-weightless. Rather than talk about angles (which mean nothing when you're halfway down the runway), you can 'feel' the right angle, which varies as you gain speed down the runway. If you find that you're holding the pole up (resisting with the lower arm) then the angle is too low. If you find that you have to press the lower arm (which is actually higher than the top hand during most of the run) forwards, then the angle is too high. Use your lower arm to balance the pole at the exact angle that makes it feel weightless. The angle will vary depending on the direction and speed of the wind, too.

You didn't mention anything about the rotation of the pole from the side of the runway. Some vaulters feel more comfortable carrying the pole slightly sideways. However, my preference is to always carry it perfectly aligned with the runway. This is to avoid the need to apply any sideways pressure during the last part of the run to align it into the box. Remember that any pressure in any direction causes an equal and opposite reaction to the rest of your body. This usually translates into slowing down in the critical part of the run. Even the slightest pressure and the slightest subsequent slowdown makes a very significant (negative) difference in take-off speed. And take-off speed is the only part of your runway speed that matters. The rest is just foreplay.

Next, I'd like to point out the problem with dropping the pole too early. Too late is rather obvious - a late plant has serious consequences that I need not elaborate on here - that's a whole other topic! Too early, and you'll be applying upwards pressure with your lower arm on the pole (and downwards pressure with your top hand), in an effort to keep the pole from dropping on the runway before the tip gets into the box. As per the previous point, this upwards pressure will cause you to lean back and slow down. Once again, you need to SPEED UP on take-off, not slow down - even if it's ever so slightly. If you time the pole drop properly, you'll be leaning forward in preparation for take-off with a good forwards angle at full speed.

One last point about whether or not you can actually accelerate your forward lean into the take-off by causing the pole to drop quickly - however you worded that. This sounds good in theory, but in practice, you must think about how you initiate an accelerated 'drop' (to be faster than gravity). Unfortunately, the only way you can initiate it is by pressing the pole forwards/downwards. Due to Newton's 3rd law, that's going to cause a slight leanback/slowdown during the part of your run when it's most important to be leaning forward and accelerating. So despite the theory, IMHO it's a bad practice.

In summary, I think the best you can do is make your pole feel weightless, as you and I both described.

[master]

[quote="vaultfan"]
A word of caution pertaining to the “drop-tip techniqueâ€Â

[swtvault]

Here is a good question that can help you with the drop tip technique.......

Do you intend to carry the pole, or run with the pole? Which is more benefial and why. There is a difference.

[vaultfan]

Actually, I feel that Alan Launder has recently provided a superior method of gradually lowering the tip of the pole during the approach and during the plant. And he provides a complete explanation of the technique in his book, “From Beginner to Bubkaâ€Â

[ryansanta]

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/th ... t/messages

That could be the best write up on the plant period!