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im 155 lbs and i have been using a 150/11'6" pole. my school bought a new pole and its a 170/13'6". now that seems like a huge jump to me but another new pole is out of the question. i would like to know from u guys what the best thing to do would be in the off season to benifit me next track season (8 months). i really need to get a good bend on the pole and was wonderin if anyone could give me some advice

Don't work on a good bend.....work on good mechanics...

Good mechanics will develop the bend naturally as you progress.

Second....you shouldn't be jumping on a pole rated under your weight.

Advice.... Use the 13'6" 170 to develop the proper mechanics while "straight poling". Next season look for a pole in the 155-160 range (depending on your weight next year).....the bend will begin to develop on its own.

Don't add unecessary risk for the benefit of immediate improvement. Focus on improvement over 3-4 years and you'll be surprised what happens.

Hope that helps...

yeah, def. listen to indestructo...work on the technique!
technique is so important and it's much easier to focus
on mechanics while 'straight poling' i had thaught that i
needed a good bend too but after listening to what other
more experienced vaulters had to say, i'm finding out
that it is much more beneficial to have great form and
swing and the bend does come with some time. good luck

i would listen to indestructo, good technique is vital to a good vault. but there is nothing wrong with practicing on a pole that is less than your weight. there is not a benefit to this when trying to clear heights (softer poles won't project you in the air as well), but you can jump more often and work on technique using softer poles in practice.

No offense, but yes there is a problem with using a pole rated less then your weight. It is written on all poles.... Do NOT use a pole rated less then your weight. While I agree that holding down a foot on a 155lb pole is really making it closer to a 175lb pole, do not use one that is rated less then you weigh. This will serve no purpose.

Work on a pole that is at your weight until your mechanics are good enough to develop the bend naturally. If you can not bend the pole yet, then your technique is not good enough to allow you to bend it. Getting on a softer pole to allow for a bend without the proper mechanics will: #1 Be Dangerous!!!, #2 not increase your jump at all and #3 can't be used in a meet anyway!!

There is only one instance where I will allow my vaulters to work on "their bend". That is when I believe there mechanics are ready to support a bend. I will pull out a trainer pole that we have that is rated at their weight and was designed to flex much more then a normal pole will. This is the only time we will "work on the bend". Even so, I will allow them on it for a maximum of 5-6 jumps before I switch them back to their usual pole. This is done solely to give them an idea of what the body motions are to develop the bend.

I welcome any comments on these view points....

Using a pole lower than your weight is fine. If technique is being worked on, I would rather see a young vaulter bend a pole instead of ending up back on the runway.