PoleVaultPower.com

2 questions about if it is time to change poles:

#1. A 140 pound vaulter of mine is vaulting on a 13'6" 140 pacer. He holds down almost 18-24 inches because if he holds higher he just over bends it and gets no penetration. Holding at 12'ish (making it roughly a 170), his bend is reduced and he gets some penetration (20 inches or 45-50cm). However, holding at 12'ish and being 'new', making 11'+ is hard. he does not have enough pole to work with. Would using a 14' 140 pacer(which is roughly a 13' 155/160 or a 13'6" 145/150) gripping at 13' or 13'6" be the next step in order to have more pole to use, a nice bend and more penetration? Or should he stay as is, holding at about 11'6"-12' and get better technique

#2. A 120 pound vaulter of mine is vaulting on a 13' 125 sky, and over bends and shoots forward too much (blowing through pretty much) holding down a tad. Then he moves to a 12'6" 130 pacer, which he still overbends and shoots forward deep into the pit. When the bar goes to 10', he goes right for it. Either he hits it on the way up or right before the turn with his but or hips or the back of the thighs. He even holds down 6"-9" to ease up the bend, but this really only gets him faster to the bar...heights before 10' are made because he shots forward over it, but has no time to shoot upwards. The standards are always at 80 too. The next poles are a 14'6" 120 sky (roughly a 13' 140-145ish or a 13'6" 135-140ish) and a 13'6" 140 pacer (roughly a 13' 145). Which would be best for him to go to next?

check your other post on this

patybobady wrote:2 questions about if it is time to change poles:

#1. A 140 pound vaulter of mine is vaulting on a 13'6" 140 pacer. He holds down almost 18-24 inches because if he holds higher he just over bends it and gets no penetration. Holding at 12'ish (making it roughly a 170), his bend is reduced and he gets some penetration (20 inches or 45-50cm). However, holding at 12'ish and being 'new', making 11'+ is hard. he does not have enough pole to work with. Would using a 14' 140 pacer(which is roughly a 13' 155/160 or a 13'6" 145/150) gripping at 13' or 13'6" be the next step in order to have more pole to use, a nice bend and more penetration? Or should he stay as is, holding at about 11'6"-12' and get better technique

#2. A 120 pound vaulter of mine is vaulting on a 13' 125 sky, and over bends and shoots forward too much (blowing through pretty much) holding down a tad. Then he moves to a 12'6" 130 pacer, which he still overbends and shoots forward deep into the pit. When the bar goes to 10', he goes right for it. Either he hits it on the way up or right before the turn with his but or hips or the back of the thighs. He even holds down 6"-9" to ease up the bend, but this really only gets him faster to the bar...heights before 10' are made because he shots forward over it, but has no time to shoot upwards. The standards are always at 80 too. The next poles are a 14'6" 120 sky (roughly a 13' 140-145ish or a 13'6" 135-140ish) and a 13'6" 140 pacer (roughly a 13' 145). Which would be best for him to go to next?

#1 - No, the other poles are just bigger and would reject him, even with a grip increase. You could try lengthening his run one or two strides by backing him up 12 of his shoes per stride (2 steps). The increase in speed may allow him to grip 2-3" higher and penetrate better. If not, he's got a lot more work to do on his run, plant, and takeoff to make his current run work and be able to grip higher and still penetrate. That, or you borrow a smaller pole.

#2 - The 12'6 130 is equivalent to a 13' 120, which would be smaller than the 13' 125 Skypole. Once again, you don't have a good next pole and would be better off borrowing something like a 13' 125-130.

By the way, here's a link to Jan Johnson's Relative Stiffness Chart : http://www.skyjumpers.com/articles/reli ... _chart.htm