This curved approach differs from any previous jumping style, and it enables the jumper to take advantage of centrifugal force. The jumper uses force to hold his body in the circular approach path. When this force is released at take-off, the jumper's body is thrown in a line tangent to his circular approach, like whirling a stone in a sling, then letting go. The momentum throws the jumper toward the bar whithout any waste of his jumping force. Other styles force the jumper to control his speed and gather before leaping. The Fosbury technique allows the jumper to approach the bar at nearly full speed. The body leans backward as the take-off foot is planted. Then, the force keeping the body in the circular approach path is released to throw the body across the bar. The jumper adds an upward force at take-off, by pushing against the ground as hard as possible with the take-off foot. This push-off is accompanied by a transfer of momentum, achieved by sharply raising the in-side arm and out-side leg. This combines upward force with momentum, throwing the body across the bar. A final, very slight force is added for rotation as the jumper turns his back to the bar by twisting the out-side knee to the in-side as it is lifted up.
