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So I bought a series of USC Spirits. I haven't jumped on them yet.

16' 180 (18.6), 16' 185 (18.0), 16' 5" 180 (18.1) and 16' 5" 185 (16.4). In my mind that's a huge jump in the 16' 5" poles 18.0 & 16.4. Am I wrong here? Should I get one maybe two poles in between, 17.6 and 17.0? Or should I return the 16.4 and get a higher flex number like a 17.6?

What's a normal jump in flex numbers in a series, about .4 to .6 between each pole?

If it's just USC being lazy and trying to get rid of old inventory then that concerns me greatly.

Thanks guys for all your help via PM!

just curious, what is the normal jump form a 4.90m to a 5m pole? couldnt be much off right?

The discrepancy exists between the 16' 5": 18.1 flex and the 16.4 flex. That's too much of a jump.

OUvaulterUSAF wrote:The discrepancy exists between the 16' 5": 18.0 flex and the 16.4 flex. That's too much of a jump.

Way too big! Most guys go for .4 between poles. I kinda like .5 Between your 18.0 and your 16.4 should be at least 2 poles.

Barto

THIS GUIDE MIGHT HELP

If you take the metric flex number and divide by 2.54 and bring it back to imperial. The comparison as a rule of thumb is .1= about 1lb in relative stiffness to the same length and brand pole.

Example in your selection is as follows:
16' 180 (18.6), converted to 7.3
16' 185 (18.0), converted to 7.0 + 3 lbs relative stiffness
16' 5" 180 (18.0) converted to 7.0 same pole as above just different sail center
16' 5" 185 (16.4).converted to 6.4 +6 lbs relative stiffness
132

Barto wrote:

OUvaulterUSAF wrote:The discrepancy exists between the 16' 5": 18.0 flex and the 16.4 flex. That's too much of a jump.

Way too big! Most guys go for .4 between poles. I kinda like .5 Between your 18.0 and your 16.4 should be at least 2 poles.

Barto

for a true series of 5m poles b/t these weights, you would need a 18.0, 17.6, 17.2, 16.8, and 16.4. if i am not mistaking, you have one of the highest flex-rated 185's to one of the lowest flex-rated 180's. thats just my take on making similar jumps from pole to pole, but brand plays a key role in it also. for us that have jumped on both spirit and pacer-it is obvious that even two poles of the same length and flex move differently at different stages of the vault. in high school, i had two 15' 175 carbons with identical flex numbers that moved differently. also in our third or fourth week of vaulting this year, duck steddum and i moved from a 15' 180 to a 15' 185 and both of us got about a foot and a half more pop off of the top with just a five pound increase from a very short run. in my opinion, it is impossible to tell how a pole is going to react from a machine or a hanging weight-to me, flex numbers are just another mental aspect of the vault; just something that tells the jumper that the next move up is not going to be much different from the last pole. im done-sorry for babbling.

So Spirit is graciously exchanging the pole and are picking it up tomorrow. Good on them, not that this discrepancy would force me to jump on any other brand. As many times as I tried I just can't jump on Pacers and although ESSX's look very tempting, I'm at the age where I can't change.

So they're exchanging the 16.4 with a 17.1. So my new pole progression is as follows:

4.90 175 (20.2)
4.90 180 (18.6)
4.90 185 (18.0)
5.00 180 (18.1)
5.00 185 (17.1)

In college, an 18.4 flex was my warm-up and I had an 18.0, 17.6, & 17.2 as my competition poles and it went as far as 16.8, 16.4, 16.0, & 15.8. I jumped on the 15.8 twice at Texas Relays (fast runway and smoking tailwind-whoot!) So I think this is a good series for me with my limited funds.

OUvaulterUSAF wrote:
In college, an 18.4 flex was my warm-up and I had an 18.0, 17.6, & 17.2 as my competition poles and it went as far as 16.8, 16.4, 16.0, & 15.8. I jumped on the 15.8 twice at Texas Relays (fast runway and smoking tailwind-whoot!) So I think this is a good series for me with my limited funds.

are these 4.90m or 5.00m poles you are talking about?

OUvaulterUSAF wrote:So Spirit is graciously exchanging the pole and are picking it up tomorrow.

I think.... that is really good of spirit to help you.

Bruce

skycock wrote:

OUvaulterUSAF wrote:
In college, an 18.4 flex was my warm-up and I had an 18.0, 17.6, & 17.2 as my competition poles and it went as far as 16.8, 16.4, 16.0, & 15.8. I jumped on the 15.8 twice at Texas Relays (fast runway and smoking tailwind-whoot!) So I think this is a good series for me with my limited funds.

are these 4.90m or 5.00m poles you are talking about?

These were 5m that were cut to 4.90m.

OUvaulterUSAF wrote:

skycock wrote:

OUvaulterUSAF wrote:
In college, an 18.4 flex was my warm-up and I had an 18.0, 17.6, & 17.2 as my competition poles and it went as far as 16.8, 16.4, 16.0, & 15.8. I jumped on the 15.8 twice at Texas Relays (fast runway and smoking tailwind-whoot!) So I think this is a good series for me with my limited funds.

are these 4.90m or 5.00m poles you are talking about?

These were 5m that were cut to 4.90m.

thats how i like mine too!