Advantage Athletics

05/22/2026

I made this YouTube video years ago after Renaud Lavillenie broke Bubka's record. What i didn't realize at the time...
I made this video pre Mondo and learning/understanding about how high that kick up has to be. If it's perpindicular to the cord it transfers energy up the cord. Bubka's trail leg was used to accelerate the spinning around the shoulders. They weren't concerned about loading the pole more or keeping it loaded. They were just trying to "catch the recoil".
***But notice the 2 different colored lines and how close Renaud stays to the cord of the pole. 🤔 That action doesn't work if you don't have the task specific strength to do it. If you try it, and it doen't work... you're not strong enough.
**See the Physics demonstration IN THE 1ST COMMENT to why it's important to keep the mass closer to the force application line.

Explanation of swinging up the cord of the pole in the pole vault. ...

05/21/2026

A very efficient single trail leg pole vault technique.
Sequential Motion can add energy to the system and/or keep the pole loaded with the invert.
Spinning in a circle creates wobble, a back and forth action. Back and forth inversion actions in the swing-up allows the pole to lose energy, lengthen and stop moving forward.
Athletes can utilize a a gyroscopic spinning action, like an ice skater, around the shoulders action and tucking to speed up the spinning process to invert, HOWEVER... Spinning in a circle created wobble, a back and forth action.
When a pole vaulter utilizes Sequential Motion it is NOT inherently "gyroscopic". Utilizing sequential motion creates controlled torques. Those controlled torques can create linear directional thrust. In the pole vault it is optimal to direct that thrust down the cord of the pole to add energy or keep energy in the system.
*Biomechanical Analysis by Advantage Athletics Inc Pole vault coach, Tim Werner.

05/16/2026

Injured pole vaulter needs our support and 🙏

As many of you know, EJ was seriously injured at a track meet. EJ is a North High School senior who is committed to Marietta to play football, run track, and major in Petroleum Engineering. After his accident, he was quickly transported to Hillcrest, where he underwent successful emergency brain sur...

05/16/2026

Nothing like Spring Time in the Morning... with coffee ☕️

05/07/2026

Manolo
Pole Vault
These slides all have the cord of the pole in a vertical line demonstrating how Manolo's Sequential Motion and Task Specific Muscle Strength loads the pole and keeps the pole loaded during the inversion. The sequence of moves are from the bottom up. Legs up then hips up.
It starts with the top hand, shoulders, hips, extended trail leg and trail foot all extended in line with the cord of the pole.
The trail leg kicks up to perpindicular to the cord while the shoulders and hips are still in line with the cord of the pole.
Then the hips drive up while the pike/angle at the hips continues to close.
As the shins approach the top hand the body extends up the cord of the pole while the shoulders always drive down the cord.
The pressure applied by the top arm/shoulders drives the hips up the cord. The forward pressure on the top hand is only to keep the top arm in the cord of the pole as the cord rotates over the pole tip.
Video Analysis Demonstration by Advantage Athletics Inc Pole Vault Coach Tim Werner.

05/02/2026

The Werner Drill. Its about using your bottom hand/arm to hold the hips back and keep your weight up high in your shoulders. It's like when you're paddling on a boogie board or surfboard when you shift your weight forward to takeoff on a wave.