Rowing

Replaced. In pole vault usage, traditionally, rowing describes a circular sweeping action initiated by the top arm — named after the canoe stroke, a single blade swept wide on one side.

The rotation of the body around the top grip has already begun by this point, carried by the energy of the run up and takeoff. Rowing does not accelerate that rotation. It initiates a different one, around the shoulders, shortening the body lever.

The faster and more energetic it is performed, the quicker the body lever shortens, folding the athlete into a tuck. This is why it cannot be corrected by rowing harder or by getting stronger — greater effort produces an earlier tuck.

The action itself is several times weaker than the alternative. Rowing is limited to shoulder extension against a long lever. The pulling action of the pull-through inversion engages the elbow flexors alongside the lats at favorable joint angles.

The difference is visible on a rope. Rowing gets the athlete through only by tucking and shooting the feet. Pulling, led by the bottom arm, takes a nearly straight body through with the hips rising above the grip.

What the model uses instead. The pull-through inversion, led by the bottom arm, accelerating the rotation that already exists around the top grip.