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[01]High Jump Bar Clearance

Bar clearance, broken down

Arch happens at peak height, not before

Most amateur high jumpers arch too early. The arch should initiate when shoulders are level with the bar, not before. Early arch costs height; late arch costs the rep.

Lead foot lifts to clear hips

Once the upper body has cleared, the lead foot lifts to bring the hips through. Foot lift is what gets the hips over.

Landing is a controlled fall

Land on the upper back, head tucked, arms relaxed. Don't try to land softly; land safely. The pit handles the impact.

Over the bar

Re-test your clearance on video

AI checks the timing of the arch, the lead-foot lift, and the position at peak. You see whether you're clearing efficiently or wasting vertical.

Follow up in chat and ask questions. The AI remembers your analysis and speaks the language of high jump coaching.

  • Free first analysis, no account required
  • Offline history cached on your device
  • Priority-tagged coaching notes
  • AI chat follow-up on every analysis
High jumper clearing the bar in Fosbury flop position, captured by Track & Field AI (clearance-graded)
High Jump · Sample analysis “Your penultimate step is the same length as your last step, lower the penultimate by 4-6 inches to get more vertical takeoff angle.”
[10]Common questions

High Jump Bar Clearance FAQ

Common questions athletes and coaches ask about this topic.

Why am I knocking the bar with my back?
You're arching too late or your hips aren't getting up. AI tells you which.
Why am I knocking the bar with my legs?
Lead foot isn't lifting fast enough after the upper body clears. Drill lead-foot-lift practice from a low box.
Should my arms help in clearance?
Yes, sweep them along with the body to maintain rotation. Stiff arms slow the rotation.
[INDEX]More ways to dial in your high jump

The full high jump index

A directory of every high jump page on the site, from broad analysis tools to specific phase deep-dives. Each entry points to a focused write-up.

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Check your bar clearance.

Download the app. Film a rep. See what the AI sees. Free first analysis, no card, no account required.

60s
Time per analysis
Free first analysisNo card
Coaching languagePlain English
High Jump modelEvent-specific