MAXIMIZE YOUR TAKE-OFF EFFICIENCY AND POWER WITH THIS POLE VAULT TRAINING DEVICE!

  • Improves body awareness for optimal position/alignment at the point of take-off.
  • Emphasizes a high planting motion and the concept of “pushing the pole to vertical.”
  • Simulates the forces exerted on the body during take-off.
  • Increases sport specific core, shoulder girdle strength and stabilization ability.
  • Inventor is a USATF Level 1 certified coach with 10 years experience coaching men and women at the high school level. He has also been a physical therapist for 15 years specializing in orthopedics, sports medicine and biomechanics.
  • Scholastic version in men’s and women’s, each with the appropriate resistance level.
  • Home version available in 4 resistance levels, 2 each for men and women.

 

Drill 1

This drill is very effective for those athletes who consistently “block out” with the lower arm.  By using a static top resistance cord, an axis is created around the top hand.  This forces the lower arm to rotate around the top hand, taking the lower arm’s hand toward the ceiling even if the athlete attempts to push forward only.  The athlete can now appreciate and learn the correct position/alignment and transfer this to the actual vault.

 

 

 

Drill 2 or Phase 1 of combined movement

This drill is very effective for those athletes who attempt to swing to iversion prematurely.  The fault may be pulling with the arms, attempting to swing to inversion immediately upon leaving the ground, or simply failing to “push the pole to vertical” and finishing the take-off.  Regardless, since there are now bungie cords at both the top and bottom anchors of the device, the athlete must push the arms both forward and up as they prepare for take-off.  If they fail to do so, the bungies will quickly pull the athlete back out of a proper plant and take-off position.

 

.

Drill 3 or Phase 2 of combined movement

This drill simulates the completion of the take-off or “drive” phase.  At this point in an actual vault, the athlete would be airborne versus having contact with the ground.  Nonetheless, the muscular requirement of the arms, shoulders, core and hips are very accurate and therefore this activity provides pole vault specific strength training and motor program development.  Achieving a “reverse C” body position (top hand to trail leg foot) means that the body is in perfect alignment to produce a powerful swing to inversion.

 

 

Drill 4 or Phase 3 of combined movement

This drill simulates the “rowing” motion which the arms perform during the swing to inversion.  While it’s true that the trail leg and core are responsible for a great deal of the energy required for this inversion, the arms and shoulders provide the necessary stabilization.  They effectively create an axis of rotation around which the lower body’s sweeping motion occurs.  Again, although this phase occurs when the athlete is in flight, this drill provides a movement pattern very similar to vaulting in regard to the arms, shoulder girdle and core.  This maximizes carry-over to vaulting.

 

The Perfect Plant kit contains a combination of static and elastic resistance cords which create 4 different pole vault specific drills.  These drills can be performed individually with concentration on a particular technical or muscular weakness.  They can also be combined to create powerful, full-body strength, balance and motor program exercises.  These drills mimic the pole vault so accurately that they will be incorporated almost immediately into technical improvements in pole vaulting.
While Drill 1 can essentially be performed using a pole which is of medium size (relative to the individual vaulter’s skill level), it creates a closed-chain exercise and does not require the amount of body control or balance found with The Perfect Plant.  Also unlike using The Perfect Plant, using a pole for these types of drills does not provide instant biofeedback for improper technique.  Drills 2-4 simply cannot be simulated using a pole, conventional weight equipment or previously designed pole vault training tools..

 

The Perfect Plant kit includes:

      • powder coated, light weight steel pole simulating section
      • custom-made, adjustable nylon anchor strap
      • custom-made nylon braided bungee cords (scholastic version)
      • durable rubber tubing bungee cords (home version)
      • nylon drawstring bag with shoulder strap
      • owner's manual with detailed instructions and warranty information
      • all necessary hardware (some assembly required)
      • Scholastic version: $299.95. Home version: $224.95.

       

Patent Pending. Trademark #3,541,580.

Home | History | Setup | Instructions | Purchase | Contact