ESSX POLE DESIGN CONCEPTS AND OKLAHOMA MANIFESTO

[Bruce Caldwell]

Hi DJ
We have had this discussion many times, Mike Tully had some special designed poles at that time 1976 they were one of a kind. I worked for Skypole MFG Costa Mesa CA. And had the poles made for Earl To my Specs. Only 6 poles existed with this concept 3 Pacer III and 3 Skypoles Banana. This design Sky-pole was used by Earl Bell to break his first World record. He took those poles to AMF VOIT Pacer III as Sky pole engineers at the time were not understanding a vaulters needs for stronger poles and would not continue to make the design I introduced in 1976. One EB's World record Skypole had broken on the way to Reno, which gave them Herb Jenks and George the oppertunity to see the design.
Pacer III at the time George Moore (who by the way was my mentor and a great man to the industry.) Duplicated those poles for EB the flexes as you remember where 5.4 5.5 & 5.6 in inches, these set of poles where used by EB to jump 18'8" in practice the day before the 1976 trials, I was there I caught his poles, and I was able to observe the sail design placed in them. They were loaned to Dave Roberts when he broke his pole in the trials and he went 18'8" World Record on them. After that he asked them to make him a set just like them. The poles were given to Mike and Earl Bell switched to Fibersport in 1977 as we launched the concept. Those poles were used by two other vaulters to jump very high (American records).
DJ you had one to inspect and test for years with lightss dropped down it and you know the patterns well.
These set of poles were the first Generation of Bruce Caldwell designs with a specific sail design that appeared lower but was not.
Fibersport went on to produce the same design with Paul Richards as the maker for Billy Olson 18 +, Wally Kozakiewicz Gold Medal 1980 Olympics and many other vaulters..
All these designs allowed for a stiffer butt and a fish-hock bend. All were built with the design Earl Bell rapidity claims is the best Design and the best concept for proper vaulting. He uses that same design for making all his vaulters poles no matter the brand.
And we at ESSX (Xlogic Sports, Inc.) have taken the concept to the extreme. We use the concept in our whole line all the way down to our 12'4" poles. The concept will allow one to time with the pole and learn what it does for you so you can move up in stiffness. If you have ever had to take a week to get timed on a new pole you know what we are talking about when the poles are inconsistant in design. This way of making poles each being custom cut is not the short cut others may use, it is the most expensive way also. Some have claimed that the fish-hook design is a high bend however it is really a stiffer butt and a device to allow the pole to roll. One can get on stiffer poles with this shorter radius. Some say and you have said this is a detriment to the jump as it makes you blow through the pole? I take that as a fact and say move to stiffer poles and jump higher! The real reason a vaulter jumps well and then blows through the pole is they get better and instead of taking a week to time with the next pole in the series, they immediately move to an ESSX pole that times the first day and can concentrate on the vault and not adjusting their form for the pole design. We know the secret. When one move to a stiffer pole you want all things the same but in a stiffer pole. That is an ESSX POLE
Vaulters who drive the box and use a 2 stage jump will not like the ESSX until they learn the vault is one stage and a double pendulum concept. Taking out or right on is an attribute of the vaulter and what ever it takes for the vaulter to transfer the energy to the swing efficiently is the key. Executing the exact angle of energy transfer to the vault is another attribute to the vaulter. Shorter vaulters angle can be higher but is usually a lower attribute. So why does this design and ability to bend the pole from the swing work for taller vaulters too? A shorter vaulter will not use a great of a stiffness ratio than that of a taller vaulter can. Yes I agree with you the fish-hook design will allow you to move through poles faster to a much stiffer pole. You have said in the past that this is a detriment and that a perfect curve is optimal for vaulting pole bend.
Yet I have seen the jumps of Mike Tully and he does the things you taught him and he does them with the most efficiency of any vaulter I have seen. His best jumps are on this design and his poles do and vaults do bend the pole high.
I do see this rolling of the pole in other brands but only on a select custom, promotional pole level. Never on a standard stock pole with exception the Spirit poles 15’ on up which kind of roll like they should in my opinion and they are good vaulting poles. I do say that other brands seem to be more forgiving, and this is not what we want in our poles. A forgiving pole allows one to vault poorly and continue to have limited success, until a vaulter has reached their potential on that brand. ESSX Poles will force one to jump correctly in order to get the most consistency out of the poles. This consistency will give you the opportunity to excel in your PR. I have gone out on a limb here and stated my opinions of the pole concept I have been designing now for over 25 years. That matches the way one should jump.
I believe to reach your full vaulting potential one needs consistency - one needs a pole that is smooth to move from one size to another, One needs a pole that rolls when you jump properly, one needs a pole that will allow full bar clearance and get you over the bar with penetration over the bar rather than a 2 foot clearance and you cannot get over the bar unless you place your hand on the bar. (Which is a miss).
One needs a pole with a concept that will provide the most pole speed.
I say in my opinion this is the pole one needs! ESSX
ESSX made by Bruce Caldwell at Xlogic Sports Inc. concept design from Earl Bell refined for quality and consistency by John Bartholomew and Beto Sanchez engineers
Written by Bruce Caldwell owner of ESSX Poles

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[vaulter870]

thanks for that info bruce. i must agree that since logan, adam, and i have started jumping on essx poles something has changed. we are no longer afraid of getting on a bigger stiffer pole. we know that when we go to the nex pole in the series of poles that we have it will be exactly what we think it is going to be! logan often switched to bigger poles on crutial 3rd attempts and he knows that he can trust that the pole is the same. consistancy is key and i really belive that you figured it out

[mcminkz05]

thanks for that info bruce. i must agree that since logan, adam, and i have started jumping on essx poles something has changed. we are no longer afraid of getting on a bigger stiffer pole. we know that when we go to the nex pole in the series of poles that we have it will be exactly what we think it is going to be! logan often switched to bigger poles on crutial 3rd attempts and he knows that he can trust that the pole is the same. consistancy is key and i really belive that you figured it out

Gotta agree, SO much more comfortable jumping on essx poles