Pole Flex

[Maverick986]

Recently I have been thinking of purchasing a pole for myself because I have graduated HS and the college I am at doesn't have a track program and I wanted to continue to vault in hopes of transferring to a college that does have a track and field program.
In HS we had a few different poles I jumped on, all 14'+ and from my experience I have come to prefer UCS/Spirits. I've been helping to coach the HS team that I vaulted for last year and we just bought a new UCS/Spirit 12' 170 with a flex of I think 18.5. When we bought the pole from some local person I was told by the head coach that we had no choice in flex, and that what we get is what we get.

Now I was put in charge when we first got the pole to break it in since I only weigh 165, but I was manhandling the pole. I know that there's a rule of thumb that before going up in pole length you usually go up I believe 20lbs in poles, so I could get a 190 pole. But I also know that poles come in different flexes per weight and length and was wondering if they still sell the poles in different flexes or if I should just go up in size (weight)?

So to summarize if I was confusing. I plan on buying a UCS/Spirit pole but from every where I look I can only find pole lengths and ratings. Is there any place that sells by flex, or do they even make specific flexes or do you just get stuck with what you get? Or should I just go up in pole weight?

[Bruce Caldwell]

Try to under stand what a flex is. it is only a stiffness measurement for each manufacturer to match previous models made and to establish a lbs rating.

It is a method where a 50 lb weight is suspended on the pole in the middle and the pole is supported by s span for each length. The weight will bend the pole and produce a number based on deflection of the weight. This number usually in metric is relative to the manufactures previous sales in the field. Several manufactures have changed the flex chart as they have experienced feed back in the field as a result of change no one provides a flex chart to the public..

If you order by flex it is very difficult for a manufacturer to hit the flex without a range. ordering by flex is of no value unless you have a series of poles of one brand and of the same length.
To look for or compare flexes to different lengths or different brands does not work.
We use at ESSX a call it what it is system 156.2 is a 155 medium and 158.4 is a 155 stiff. no need for a soft flex.
some people think that by getting a model in a soft flex it help them get on a pole rated closer to their weight. in reality most who believe this are on too long of poles and moving to a 6" shorter pole will allow a stiffer model to fit them. They will also get better results with a stronger more powerful pole.

A flex number is only good the coach or vaulter within the same length or brand to keep the series spaced out. When ordering please give the manufacturer a range of desired flex or just the weight rating you need. Example 150 Medium or Stiff
A flex number is only a measurement in stiffness of about 1 lbs per .254 metric and .1 imperial. So it is easier to just ask for the lbs you need 140.8- 143.0- 145.2 147.4 149.6, 151.8 154.0 excetera. All in 2.2 lbs increments for more info go to www.therightpole.com or use the search on this site for previous post on flex numbers