Abstract
In vaulting the gymnast must generate sufficient linear and angular momentum during the approach and table contact in order to complete the rotational requirements in the post-flight phase. This study investigated the effects of touchdown conditions and contact technique on peak post-flight height of a straight handspring somersault vault. A planar seven-segment torque-driven computer simulation model of the contact phase in vaulting was evaluated by varying joint torque activation time histories to match three performances of a straight handspring somersault vault by an elite gymnast. The closest matching simulation was used as a starting point to optimise peak post-flight height of the mass centre for a straight handspring somersault. It was found that optimising either the touchdown conditions or the contact technique increased post-flight height by 0.1m whereas optimising both together increased post-flight height by 0.4m above that of a simulation matching the recorded performance. Thus touchdown technique and contact technique make similar contributions to post-flight height in the straight handspring somersault vault. Increasing touchdown velocity and angular momentum lead to additional post-flight height although there was a critical value of vertical touchdown velocity beyond which post-flight height decreased.
Highlights
The mechanics of the table contact phase of gymnastics vaulting is dependent on the initial contact conditions and the technique used during the contact phase
Some authors hold the view that vaulting performance is primarily determined prior to table contact (Still, 1990) while others have suggested that the gymnast has the ability to change the outcome of the vault via table contact technique (Smith, 1982; Boone, 1976)
In order to investigate the effects of initial conditions and table contact technique on vaulting performance a torque-driven computer simulation model was developed
Summary
The mechanics of the table contact phase of gymnastics vaulting is dependent on the initial contact conditions and the technique used during the contact phase. There are numerous coaching publications on vaulting, there is no general consensus about the importance of table contact phase technique. Takei (1988) used correlational analysis to show that a large pre-flight horizontal velocity is an important determinant of success in the tucked handspring somersault vault. Takei and Kim (1990) found that a large change in mass centre vertical velocity during contact was beneficial. While the horizontal pre-flight velocity is clearly an aspect of touchdown conditions, it is unclear whether the change in vertical velocity is a function of initial conditions or contact technique or both
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