Comparing Carbon vs Fiberglass Poles
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 6:47 am
I'm sure this has been asked before, but how do carbon poles generally compare in flex to their fiberglass "cousins" of the same length and weight rating?
First - they are flexed and have wgt ratings using the same spans and flex/wgt charts as all fiberglass poles.
How the pole "feels" or more precisely how the pole bends and what the end loads are at various amounts of bend or amount the chors is shortened depends on the design - just like it does in a all s-glass or e-glass pole.
A Skypole will "feel" at little different than a Pacer FX or Spirit
Carbon poles also have this difference - just with adding carbon fiber you can make a more pronounced change
For the majority of vaulters they might be able to say it feels lighter, or it feels a little stiffer --
It really comes down to what is available and what works for that vaulter if they have a wider selection -