Athletics (British Sports Library)

218 ATHLETICS a loose hold. The forearm is across the waist and approximately parallel to the .ground, the low~r hand holds the .pole firmly and supports its \yeight. The distance between the two hands will be approxi– mately 30 inches. With the right hand brought level with the hip, a position 9f considerable strain will be at first ex– perienced, but a loose hand-hold of the rear hand and acqujred sh9_ulder looseness will compensate for this. The position is worth cultivating, as it allows of ·the sh.oulder_s being ,kept square to· the .front during the approach run. As .the athlete 'approaches the take-off mark, he jabs the :point of the pole into the slide.-way :pre~ cisely and with _a goo~deal of snap_and. takes a firm grip ,with the upp~r han_d. . He will-. nqw see the vaJue of carrying the pole parallel to the .-track. At the same time he pushes the shaft of the.pole in front of his body, _holding the .. arms slightly bent. In this position it will be found comparatively ·easy to slide the lower hand up the pole until it reaches the · upper one. The thrust into. the slidecway .is made just ~s th~ ·left foot (presupposing .t;he spripg to. be made from that foQt) strikes.:the,_ take-off mark,. and a:t the' same instant _ the slJ.ift up .of the lower hand is made. ·' The vaulter now leaves the ground a,s .shown i~1 Sketch 4. ·· Note that the arms ate held slightly bent