Athletics (British Sports Library)

THE POLE VAULT 217 The run-up should commence at moderate speed and work up to maximum pace in the transition period, when the point of the pole is just about to touch the rear wall of the slide-way and the lower hand glides smoothly up the pole until it touches the upper one. The approach run should be brought to such a pitch of mechanical perfection by practice that, during the run, the athlete can devote his whole attention to vaulting form. We must now consider the method of holding the pole. At low heights the upper hand should take its hold slightly higher upon the pole than the height it is desired to clear; at extreme heights, and when perfection of form has been attained, the upper hand-hold may be from 6 to 18 inches below the height of the bar. At the start of the run the athlete stands square to the pit, with the point. of the pole resting on the track; the upper hand has a palm-upwards grip, the lower hand a knuckles-upwards grip- in other words, the upper hand is under the pole, the lower hand over the pole. The point of the pole is raised until the whole shaft lies parallel to the track, the rear or upper hand is then brought forward until it is level with the right hip, if the right is the upper hand. This can only be done if the upper hand has