PoleVaultPower.com

hello everyone this is my first post here on pole vault power, but i have been reading posts for a while now. I have a couple questions regarding myself and my own pole vaulting, and this may help others too. This year my best was 11'6 (the season is over now), and i was on a 13' 165 usc spirit. Although it was a 165, I only weigh 150, but i was bending the pole a bit and feeling well on it.

My goal for next year, which is my senior year, is to break our high school record of 13'4, i would like to get 13'6 or better. Because of the lack of good poles in our school, i am going to be buying my own pole for next season. I was wondering if i switched to a 150-160 14' spirit, based on my personal best with the 165, would i easily be able to clear 13'6 or would switching to that pole be much harder? i am guessing switching to a bigger pole closer to my weight would get me over that height and much more, but is there anything i need to know before buying that pole and vaulting next season? any help would be great, thanks
-John

There are several factors that go into choosing poles. It is really hard to tell you any one pole to get. Generally, vaulters need a series. If you are going the 14' pole route, I would try borrowing a 14' 155 and a 14' 160 from someone or some school, if possible, and see what I need based on that. Also, if you go to a vault camp this summer, such as one of Jan Johnson's Sky Jumpers camps, they have poles there and would help you figure out what you need. Jan knows a good deal about pole selection.

You could probably PM Jan (username = ~jj~) or email him (email = janjohnson18@charter.net), tell him about your problem, and ask him what he thinks.

Hope this helps.