Another instructor made this pole the went up and extended out with a padding on it. I kick the bottom of it so we measure from the ground to the bottom of that. I did it bare foot so I think I would get higher with shoes on. There are other ways just has to have the measurements on the object. I do a running jump kick off one leg. I pump with the left knee and extend up with the right. In our contest we are not allowed to fall down. In other contest they are.