Connecting with the Pole - Pushing the Pole to Vertical

A common mistake that can limit your vaulting potential occurs at the moment of takeoff - a split second before to a split second after. It is obvious to most that the plant matters - and so we drill and drill the plant. And it is also obvious to most that the swing matters, so we swing on the rope, on the bar, & on the pole to get it right. But there is a critical element between the two that is often overlooked. You can do the plant motion well, and you can swing well, but if you don't get an active connection with the pole at the moment of take off, you are severely limiting how high you can jump.

At the moment of takeoff, you want your arms to be fully extended and you want to be pushing the pole to vertical. The vaulter needs to push the pole and get the pole moving, then you can swing on it. Instead of focusing on pushing the pole to vertical, many vaulters focus either on 1) bending the pole, 2) swinging, or 3) the timid and scared vaulter hugs the pole at takeoff... thinking the pole will save them.

Here is a great example, if a little exaggerated, of what I mean by pushing the pole to vertical. This is Diachi Sawano warming up at the Reno Pole Vault Summit last January. He is a Japanese vaulter with a PR of 5.83 meters (that's just over 19 feet!).
See how at the moment of take off his hands aren't freezing and waiting for impact? Much the opposite - his hands accelerate and continue push the pole to vertical. And his body is tight - he is pushing that pole all the way from his take off foot extending off the ground.

That's what I mean by Pushing the Pole  or an Active Connection with the pole.