Hang or Hitch Kick - in the Step Phase of the Triple Jump?

When you think of high jump, it’s always the Fosbury Flop (or the Brill Bend) as no one uses the straddle roll anymore, except for Masters meets.

The last time we saw the straddle technique was Vladimir Yashchenko (2.33m & 2.34m World records from 1977-78) or Valeriy Brumel (2.23-2.28m World records from 1961-63). That’s a long time ago. Makes me feel old.

In the long jump, most Elite men (if not all) use the hitch kick. The Hang technique is still most commonly used in women. When was the last time you saw a world class man use the Hang technique in the long jump? My answer for the best long jump “Hang man” would be USSR’s Robert Emmiyan from the late 1980’s. But let’s not forget the 8.71m from Germany’s Sebastian Bayer from the 2009 indoor season.

One of the biggest arguments in the long jump is whether the hang or hitch kick is better. As as you get top speed on the runway, you need to add height off the board, and prevent forward rotation, so either one will do. Time is not on your side. Elite male athletes will have faster speeds and higher take-offs, which is why you see women use the hang or modified hangs or sails.

Remember, the primary purpose of the hang or hitch kick is to prevent forward rotation.

Just like sprinting where all the force is applied to ground contact, there is nothing you can do in the air, but to prepare your body for the next footstrike. In the long and triple jump, the actions you do in the air is to prevent forward rotation.

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Here is a great look at Jessica Ennis (UK), Jennifer Oeser (GER) and Kamila Chudzik (POL) from the 2009 IAAF Biomechanical study. It’s a great clinic on a detailed look of the hang technique.

Can you spot a few areas of improvement?