Sliding hand

[Robert schmitt]

and all this time my very knowledgable vault coach hasnt remembered to have me move my grip closer. Now that i think about it, all the other guys up in the 14's and 15's get their grip by measuring from top grip the elbow, and i go all the way to my armpit. It will take a little getting used to but i bet this will help my getting inverted a ton!! thanks a lot guys, i think this is the first big thing ive learned on here, is there anything special to remember when i get my grip closer together, like anything to be cautious about before i start jumping? thanks

[agapit]

Likewise if you moved your hands closer together than shoulder width the distance would also be greater than at shoulders width. So even on a pole you cannot be as tall off the ground if your hands are wider or narrower than shoulder width.
Simple physics!

I would mention that if your grip is narrower than shoulder width your shoulders can extend up to your ears raising your hands higher. I knew a Chinese vaulter in the late 80s, Lian Su Yu Gin (or something), he jumped 5.60. His grip width was about 12â€Â

[ladyvolspvcoach]

Roman, Dude! I hope to see you at NCAA Regionals. The men jump Fri at 3 and the women on Sat at 3. I am looking forward to spending some time with you, Alan and Christie on the 30th..

[LPVG]

Lady Vol is right on. Your athlete is placing too much emphasis on the bottom hand and thus is driving the force more on a horizontal plane rather than an upward plane. Here's something to try that we have had a lot of success with. click on http://www.elitepolevaulttools.com/Page ... ingtip.htm.
Start with a very light slide box and a light pole (maybe a 13'110-120). Have your athlete do a three step plant drill into the slidebox. If the hands are not tall and the emphasis is on pushing the lower hand forward, the lower hand will just slide down the pole. Your ahlete will quickly learn to emphasize the top arm and push up on the pole with the bottom hand. Gradually take your athlete back to about three lefts and continue to do the same thing. If he/she gets it, you can even do this drill with a real vault. Just don't have your athlete turn up.
Anthony Curran has another drill that he does with a 10' piece of PVC. It gets at the same problem. I'll put up a clip on the same link in the next few weeks.
Let me know how it works.
LPVG

[vault3rb0y]

[quote="agapit"]
I would mention that if your grip is narrower than shoulder width your shoulders can extend up to your ears raising your hands higher. I knew a Chinese vaulter in the late 80s, Lian Su Yu Gin (or something), he jumped 5.60. His grip width was about 12â€Â

[Pit Rat 1]

double stick athletic tape

i think you can get it out of mf athletic for 12 bucks.

[AzNJJ]

I used to have a wide grip, but as soon as I shortened it, I had a better pole drop and I physically cannot lock out my bottom arm which allowed me to break it in and get closer to an invert position.