I suppose choice of arm technique has more to do with lower body strength than gender. Might using double arms tie into being able to squat the desired 2 1/2 times ones body weight? But then again, Willie Banks used double arms successfully, and I don't think he was that strong in that sense. It could have to do more with the tendency of double arms technique to cause more lift off of each phase. The choice would then depend on one's eccentric strength and ability to cope with the extra height. Kenny Harrison coped quite well with this. He and Banks appeared to bound more like a rubber ball through the phases versus speed jumpers who stay lower. The double arms/single arms question is one that has interested me lately and it would be helpful to know for sure what is more advantageous to which jumpers, esp. with the question of females using it. All I'm going by now is based upon what a successful coach has told me and the better results evidenced when females have used the single arm technique. BTW, mn_highjumper, are you thinking about using double arms through the takeoff from the board into the first phase, or just for the second and third phases? Many double arm jumpers just use it in phases 2 & 3.
