I got a chopped pole yeaturday that I need some help with.
Moderator: Barto
- souleman
- PV Lover
- Posts: 1015
- Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:56 pm
- Lifetime Best: 12-7.5
- Favorite Vaulter: Bob Seagren, Bob Richards
- Location: Wyoming, Minnesota
- Contact:
I got a chopped pole yeaturday that I need some help with.
My wife and I drove over to my old high school (about an hour away)yesturday because one of my coaches had it set up for me to look at some poles that they would let me use, have, or exchange. We really didn't fully determine which it would be. What I ended up with was a Spirit 12 X 150 and another Spirit "something". I think it will rate out smaller because the over all diameter of the pole is smaller than the 12 X 150. My guess is that it was a busted pole that they just chopped and stuck a butt on and taped the daylights out of it. I took all of the athletic tape off of it and it looked ok except for just a couple of little spots.I'll have Kevin Hansen or the Flight Deck guys look it over before I use the thing. Maybe you guys and gals have an idea how to get a better identification on it. The USC-Spirit tag which is pink and white (no blue rings on the label like the 12 X 150) is 74" from the bottom of the pole. The diameter at the bottom is 1 1/4" O.D. There was about 2 1/2" at the top that was nasty so I cut it off. What I'm hoping I've got will equate to a 10'9" X 160 or so. Oh yeah, at the bottom of the pole there is a "16" hand written in it but the "16" looks like it's in the fibreglass and not just on top with a magic marker. I'm thinking if I don't have to worry about it that it would be a great pole for the lower heights "demons game" and get me mentally used to holding on at the top of a pole. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear what you think. Later...........Mike
- rainbowgirl28
- I'm in Charge
- Posts: 30435
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
- Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
- Lifetime Best: 11'6"
- Gender: Female
- World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
- Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
- Location: A Temperate Island
- Contact:
Re: I got a chopped pole yeaturday that I need some help wit
souleman wrote:My wife and I drove over to my old high school (about an hour away)yesturday because one of my coaches had it set up for me to look at some poles that they would let me use, have, or exchange. We really didn't fully determine which it would be. What I ended up with was a Spirit 12 X 150 and another Spirit "something". I think it will rate out smaller because the over all diameter of the pole is smaller than the 12 X 150. My guess is that it was a busted pole that they just chopped and stuck a butt on and taped the daylights out of it. I took all of the athletic tape off of it and it looked ok except for just a couple of little spots.I'll have Kevin Hansen or the Flight Deck guys look it over before I use the thing. Maybe you guys and gals have an idea how to get a better identification on it. The USC-Spirit tag which is pink and white (no blue rings on the label like the 12 X 150) is 74" from the bottom of the pole. The diameter at the bottom is 1 1/4" O.D. There was about 2 1/2" at the top that was nasty so I cut it off. What I'm hoping I've got will equate to a 10'9" X 160 or so. Oh yeah, at the bottom of the pole there is a "16" hand written in it but the "16" looks like it's in the fibreglass and not just on top with a magic marker. I'm thinking if I don't have to worry about it that it would be a great pole for the lower heights "demons game" and get me mentally used to holding on at the top of a pole. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear what you think. Later...........Mike
It sounds like it broke off at the top of the pole, which is where UCS puts all the information about the length, flex, etc of the pole.
The pink and white label just means it's an older Spirit. Doesn't help figure out what size it is.
The 16 refers to the mandrel size. Several manufacturers put that there to make it easy to figure out which size pole tip to use.
The fact that you cut stuff off the top tells me that's where it broke. You could try asking the high school coach if they have the piece that broke off, but they probably don't have it anymore. Really that is the only thing short of flexing it yourself that would be of any help.
You're probably going to be gripping way down into the sail piece, so I don't know if it'll be any smaller than the other one.
Just start on it from 2 steps and work your way back and your grip up. Maybe it'll start bending, maybe it won't

- rainbowgirl28
- I'm in Charge
- Posts: 30435
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
- Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
- Lifetime Best: 11'6"
- Gender: Female
- World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
- Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
- Location: A Temperate Island
- Contact:
- souleman
- PV Lover
- Posts: 1015
- Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:56 pm
- Lifetime Best: 12-7.5
- Favorite Vaulter: Bob Seagren, Bob Richards
- Location: Wyoming, Minnesota
- Contact:
Ok, Been all over the web and can't RE-FIND the one place that had the #16 pole tip for a spirit. Any ideas? I did find a chart though that had poles listed and their corresponding tip size. And if I'm right based on where the "spirit" label is. The little shorty was a 14 X 135. Should do ok for 4 and 6 step low height deals. ...........Mike
- rainbowgirl28
- I'm in Charge
- Posts: 30435
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
- Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
- Lifetime Best: 11'6"
- Gender: Female
- World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
- Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
- Location: A Temperate Island
- Contact:
souleman wrote:Ok, Been all over the web and can't RE-FIND the one place that had the #16 pole tip for a spirit. Any ideas? I did find a chart though that had poles listed and their corresponding tip size. And if I'm right based on where the "spirit" label is. The little shorty was a 14 X 135. Should do ok for 4 and 6 step low height deals. ...........Mike
You can order one straight from UCS. 1-800-537-7117
Return to “Pole Vault - Equipment”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 41 guests