Weight Question!

[Vaulthigh22]

Last year as a girl freshman I jumped 7'6 on a 130 pole. I never really held high enough to bend it. I weigh about 150. I treid a pole to my weight and it was so hard to plant and take off, it rejected me. I want to get serious about pole vault, i love it. What should I do?

[mcminkz05]

If you cant jump on a pole at least your own weight, then you probably have a ton of work to do on your run/ plant/ takeoff.

[vaultinggoat16]

She might also need a pole like a My.Stik or Ms.Stik whatever it is...I learned to plant and flex the pole on one yesterday they are nice to start on ....so flexy and prebend

[KYLE ELLIS]

y not start off with a lighter pole like the 130 and correct your technique until you can jump on the 150.

[rainbowgirl28]

y not start off with a lighter pole like the 130 and correct your technique until you can jump on the 150.

Because that is against high school rules.

I would work on getting your straight pole technique as good as possible until you can bend a pole at or above your weight. Also try and find the shortest 150 pole you can.

The faster you get on the runway, and the taller your plant gets, the higher you will be able to grip and the more you will be able to bend the pole. If you are getting rejected then you need to grip lower.

When I was in high school I had an 11'140 in case they ever weighed me and I was over 130. I cleared 9'9" on that pole, the best mark I had during the high school season.

[KYLE ELLIS]

y not start off with a lighter pole like the 130 and correct your technique until you can jump on the 150.

Because that is against high school rules.

I would work on getting your straight pole technique as good as possible until you can bend a pole at or above your weight. Also try and find the shortest 150 pole you can.

The faster you get on the runway, and the taller your plant gets, the higher you will be able to grip and the more you will be able to bend the pole. If you are getting rejected then you need to grip lower.

When I was in high school I had an 11'140 in case they ever weighed me and I was over 130. I cleared 9'9" on that pole, the best mark I had during the high school season.

Do they really ever check?

[Bruce Caldwell]

IF they check or not / here is the real problem.

The problem is if someone got hurt and they we instructed by someone
(i.e.: Coach, Vaulter, or an independent individual)
to use a lighter than their weight pole,
That person who recommended it could be held totally responsible for the action taken and the cause.

SO to be on the safe side it is best that someone not jumping at or above their handhold should try Swing pole or Stiff pole techniques to develop a good swing. As they get better the potential for the pole to bend becomes more of an asset rather than problem.

As we all know as vaulters with experience can control the amount of momentum that transfers to the pole via our shorter run, a little holding back, and/or adjustments of the grip. What cannot be controlled is someone else’s ability to do so. Experience gains us the ability to do this so it cannot be transferred to a beginning vaulter until they have gone through the ropes.

[vaultdad]

Regarding H.S. Officials

Yes, some of us do check, or ask questions.

I check tape and weight and handholds on all poles.

I check tape because it's really hard to do your homework with the palm of your hand all ripped up because you slipped down on the pole. It is a great way to miss meets because you can't grip the pole for a couple of weeks.

Try to keep the weight limits within the bounds of common sense and good judgement, not just use a severely underrated pole because you think you will bend it more and jump higher. That's not usually the case, and you could overstress the pole and hurt yourself, and maybe me(and I hate when that happens).

Remember, in most cases you simply add 20# to the weight on your drivers licenses to get your real weight. If you are too young to drive, then just use your real weight and practice more.

[RoySloppy]

i didnt think they put weight on drivers liscence, only hieght? well at least thats whats on mine

[rainbowgirl28]

i didnt think they put weight on drivers liscence, only hieght? well at least thats whats on mine

Varies by state.

[C-townvault]

Mystic Carbons are awesome poles to learn technique on. Atleast they worked for me. I used them my first year at camp. I was able to get in really easy due to the low bend, but then again i was probably atleast 5' back then.

[vaulterpunk]

CA puts the weight on them