PoleVaultPower.com

JUST TALKING #2 POLE TIPS
TOPIC: HOW YOU CAN SAVE YOUR POLE TIPS AND MAKE THEM LAST LONGER!!!

THE PROBLEM:

Your pole tip does not last, it blows out within a couple of jumps!

THE CAUSE:

1. Your take-off could be too flat and the pole tip is wedged in the box at an angle that presses the edge of the pole into the tips week sides.
2. The pole is made of glass and sometimes the trimming of the pole leaves a sharp edge that acts like a knife.
3. The box may have some debris in it or sharp edges that cut into the tip.


A SOLUTION:

1. Improve your take-off angle, do not drive to the back of the box go with the pole this can reduce tip wear.
2. Take the tip off look at the trim edge of the pole, take a metal nail file and take the edge off the trim, and smooth it out. Take a match and melt some of the edges with the heat of the match, (Be careful not to light your pole)
3. Choose a pole tip that has a washer in it or one that is made of a urethane that is at least hard 90 durometer or greater. (The new PACER clear tip is one of the best I have seen).
4. Check to make sure there are no sharp edges in the vault box.
5. Replace your pole tip often; the cost of a pole tip is about $10.00 to save a $400.00 pole!!!!
Have Fun
Vault Safe
Jump your best

Bruce Caldwell
ESSX

Bruce,

I think one of the major causes of pole tip (what's the matter with "butt plug"?) failure on an otherwise well-maintained pole is jumping without making sure the tip is completely seated on the end of the pole. They can slide off a little when someone drags his/her pole tip on the ground. It only takes a few millimeters of movement and a few jumps to mess up a tip.

I liked one of your old Fiber Sport plugs. I don't see them being sold any more.

yes that is another reason for pole tip failure
The old tooling was sold to PORTaPIt they sell them but the durometer has been reduced????

Bruce

i agree with bruce about not liking the phrase "butt plug" i just dont like the way it sounds.
it is a good idea to take an inventory of poles at the begining of the year and figure out what plugs you need or will soon need and buy them then and maybe even get some extras in case of wear.
once a pole eats through a tip and the end gets a little roughed up. it will keep eating through tips. taking a file to the edge is a good idea. one time we used a belt sander to even up the end of a pole

vaultmd wrote:(what's the matter with "butt plug"?)

OH in my opinion it just sounds inappropriate
Like the Broad jump rather than the long jump!!!!
Like a pole vault pit rather than a pole vault landing system.

WIth the most recent surge of the ladies in the vaulting community I find it best to remove Butt PLug from the glossary and call them pole tips.SMILE

Bruce

I've seen a few poles that could have become butt plugs if the top of the pole had swung in a little farther . . . does that count?