Poles and how they are affecting pole vaulting

[dj]

Poles..

I think it is time we take a long hard look at poles and how they are affecting pole vaulting.

Last week at a meet in florida I watched two teams of men and women ( 4 groups of vaulters) coached by three coaches that coach very much alike and off course coach their own team members alike and very close to the petrov model and physics.

What happened was something I have watched for 30 years, tested with mike tully in 1983-1988 and was actually able to test again 3 years ago.

The only poles that the coaches could get the coaching results they were asking for technically, was from those athletes using the spirit pole. Those jumpers had fewer “issuesâ€Â

[dj]

good morning

well jillian and jenifer made their statments...

congratulations

dj

[katsmom]

I read dj's post on January 27, 2006 and that evening we ordered our first Spirit pole. Kat had some confidence issues when it came time to move up poles during a competition and did not like practicing on her larger pole. Based on dj's post, I thought we ought to give the Spirits a try. Kat immediately loved the pole and jumped really well on it. Problem was she didn't want to jump on any of her other poles anymore so we bought two more Spirits within the next month. She was more confident on the Spirits and more enthusiastic about training and improving her technique. Before long she needed another larger pole so we got a fourth Spirit which she jumped on for the first time this weekend at State. Broke her state record by 5 inches.

Just thought I'd offer a testimonial.

[fchipr]

With the new rules nowadays and starting a program (as I did three seasons ago) better hope you have a bunch of atheletes (girls and boys) weighing 100 -149 lbs. That way you can survive and appear to fill a boys and girls team, with a 1 or 2 11' poles (100-110) 3-4 12' poles 110, 120 130 140) and a couple or 13 foot poles (130, 140)

Keep the football players outta there until they cut the mustard. Can't tell ya how many "atheletes" got sent my way from football and soccer because they were just SO TALENTED they do every thing well. "they be great at vault" If you get a 165 lb guy and a 175 lb guy (say 11th graders, your sunk. You'll go buy 2 0r three bigger pole that no one else will use (all your 100-140lb newbies) for their hole first season likely more. So you watch 500-600 bucks in those two pole do nothing for your vaulters. BUT>>>> you can flush them out in the first three days as we do (they are way too impatient and use to be superior to school mate peers and catered too) .

and since by day three they were still screwing up 1 and 2 step drills on the runway (our definition was 8 out of ten perfect with 3 simple criteria,) before they get promoted to the next task)

I recommend 1200.00 /year as minimum. And after year 2 or so go to the Ad and tell him that to grow a program many can participate in . Pole budget once you got your basic weight ranges kinda covered, is 2 pole per year per "core vaulter" Max 2 core varsity boys can be considered core, 1 varsity girl (girls generally are not as committed and varsity girls can still e pretty low) and maybe one hotshot up and commer out of frosh soph.

Core is: A serious contender or repeat for finishing in League place 1st-3rd (and moves on to CIF (ca state prelims meet process-meet 1 of 4 or 5 to get to state- but "all league if you will) AND No year 1 vaulters can be core.

So that formula gets ya 3-6 poles per year. We buy Pacer. thats our choice. So thates 800-1500/year in poles. Plus don't forget 2 crossbars per season or dont let the rookies jump with your good bar if you only get one (as we have)

Good luck. Oh by the way the mosst important "other" athelete/coaching tool you need is a decent digital Video camera. Its worth 5 poles itself. spend 5-600 and you be happy you did!!Enjoy Good luck

cioach chip

[Powervaulter]

dj,

Thank you for your honest opinion of the pole brands. In fact, I have been looking for exactly this type of feedback before I buy any poles this year. I have struggled at times to change poles, and have often wondered what would happen on a different brand. I will be looking testing out, and probably buying some UCS/Spirit poles this year.

[rainbowgirl28]

Made this into its own thread.

[dj]

hey becca

I think you are correct.. maybe we can discuss this better here..

Also these threads have overlapping discussions that are intertwined with the pole and it's bend characteristics.

bottom arm and takeoff

pole impacts

jumping with or behind the pole

alternate swing methods

bottom arm and pole bend

big bend vs smaller bend..

i only have time for a shorter note..

if we are working with physics the athlete's run and plant efficiency (speed and takeoff position) should bend and unbend the pole "naturally" and allow for a continuous swing, uninterrupted swing from the top of the pole. If the pole pattern breaks that pattern the athlete will have to adjust.. breaking the continuous chain and losing force and efficiency in the process..


Early poles like the browning skypole did not bend symmetrically with the grips they were holding.. the pacer III was step closer ..

i took kjell isakson's picture at the takeoff, bottom arm bent, and overlaid bubka's symmetrical bending pole. on that pole kjell's bottom arm would have been much further away fro the pole and not nearly as bent...

later

dj

[VTechVaulter]

Im confused though, i dont think that anyone would argue that Maksim Tarasov was one of the best technical vaulters in history, and he was using pacer carbons. All of bubkas early world records were on pacer IIIs. and i believe Dean starkeys 5.91 pr at the world championships was on a pacer carbon.

would u be able to further elaborate on whether or not these vaulters line up in the trend that you have noticed? ps i only mentioned Dean because you did, while he is no doubt a great vaulter, i dont think hes really a technical model.

i mean theres no doubt that lots of people jump high and jump well on spirits, but i believe its a case of the right pole for the right jumper.

[rainbowgirl28]

I have to pick a thread, and I pick the other one.

http://polevaultpower.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12818