What Pole is Softest Relative to its Weight Rating?

[Rhino]

I'm not asking what pole is better. I would like to know which brand of pole in the short range (12 feet and below) bends easiest relative to the weight rating. Any tips from experienced users or manufacturers?

[rainbowgirl28]

12' poles, probably most NEW Gill poles. They have to be made since fall of 2003 though. They redid their flex chart and went about 10lbs softer on the 12'6 and shorter poles.

The newest Mystic poles (with black Gill stickers at the very top and bottom) are on bigger mandrels and have more S-glass, so they are a bit fatter, but have a noticably lighter carry weight. I think the same is true for new Skypoles, but I am not positive.

Spirits aren't bad, but they only go in 10lb increments on the 12' and shorter poles, so you end up with a huge range there. I jumped on 12' Spirits in high school and loved them.

I have a series of 12'4 ESSX and I love them. As far as the weight ratings go, they seem to match up more with the 12'6 Gill line as opposed to the 12'0" line, so I guess that depends on where your needs are.

I never liked the 12'4 Altius poles that much. I haven't jumped on them a ton, but they seemed pretty stiff to me relative to other 12' poles I have jumped on. Maybe I just let the heavier carry weight get to my head though. I've seen plenty of kids jump great on them and I think they are good poles.

[rainbowgirl28]

Below 12' it's all over the place.

Everyone makes an 11'6 or 11'5 pole. I know my school has an 11'6 110 Spirit and 11'6 130 Pacer, and while I have not flexed them myself, I have jumped on both, and the Spirit does not feel that much softer than the Pacer. It definitely does not feel like a 110 to me, but both brands only do 10lb increments in that length, so I probably have a soft 130 and a stiff 110.

I think Altius and ESSX do the 11'6 poles in less than 10lb increments.

I think Gill is the only one that makes a true 11' pole. I think everyone else does a 10'8 pole. Consider that Spirit puts their label 6" down, so you can only grip 10'2 on a 10'8 pole, while Gill it is either 3" or 1" down depending on which label you have, so you can grip in the 10'9 range.

I think 11' poles are a good length for your average height, average speed beginning girl to be able to bend at or above their body weight. Too many coaches start them out on 12' poles, and this takes awhile for most kids. A taller, faster girl can probably figure out the 12' poles pretty quickly, but your average high school girl who is like 5'3 130lbs and 14.5 second 100 meter dash will probably need to develop some decent technique before she can get on a 12'130.

[Bruce Caldwell]

ESSX Makes special poles 9' 10' 10'8" 11' & 11'6"

We have from 66lbs in the small poles up to 230 lbs in the longer lengths
We have most poles available in 2.2 lbs increments.
Fastest shipping dealer in the USA is M-F Athletic 1-800-556-7464
Most all brands are very similar in their weights. If you compare weights to other brands they will now line up not like in the past.
Most poles today will bend with proper technique. We do have a litttle secret that helps the bending of our small poles.

[Vault Chick]

For me, I just love the Spirits. (Haven't tried an Essx yet!) My pole progressions under 12' were 10'8 100, 11'6 100, 11'6 110, and 11'6 120. Now, over the last 3 days I've been trying to go to a 12' 120 Skypole. Again, I just love the Spirit Poles!

[Rhino]

Thanks, Becca, for the details. That is the kind of info I was looking for. Thanks to you, too, Vault Chick.

Bruce, I didn't know you sold 11' poles. My daughter holds at 11', so I didn't want to drop to a 10' 8".

Most of my inventory is older stuff, and like Bruce said, they are all over the place (I would say up to 20 lb. difference from newer poles). I had decided that ESSX was way softer than Mystic, then my daughter picked up a 11' 6" pink pole that was somewhat comparable in bend to her 11' 7" 118+ lb. ESSX. So apparently, you are right about modern poles matching pretty closely from one brand to another.

I may be driving through Illinois in about a week. I may talk to the folks out there about re-flexing my older Gill poles.

I would welcome any other ideas. Anyone use Rocket?

[rainbowgirl28]

Thanks, Becca, for the details. That is the kind of info I was looking for. Thanks to you, too, Vault Chick.

Bruce, I didn't know you sold 11' poles. My daughter holds at 11', so I didn't want to drop to a 10' 8".

Most of my inventory is older stuff, and like Bruce said, they are all over the place (I would say up to 20 lb. difference from newer poles). I had decided that ESSX was way softer than Mystic, then my daughter picked up a 11' 6" pink pole that was somewhat comparable in bend to her 11' 7" 118+ lb. ESSX. So apparently, you are right about modern poles matching pretty closely from one brand to another.

I may be driving through Illinois in about a week. I may talk to the folks out there about re-flexing my older Gill poles.

I would welcome any other ideas. Anyone use Rocket?

Yeah, it would definitely be worth your time to get any Gill pole that is 12'6 or shorter made before 2003 recertified.

Rockets are just a private label pole. New Rockets will be like a Skypole or Mystic. Older ones can vary greatly depending on how old they are.

If your daughter holds 11', then 11'6 poles are a good length for her right now. I wouldn't go any shorter. If she improves much this season, she'll probably be ready for 12' poles pretty soon.