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So what are your opinions on gripping over the max hand grip. We have all seen Isi do it.

In meets lately I have been able to grip about 13'4 on a 14' 155 and jump 13'9ish from 8 lefts. But today i thought id try some new stuff.

So I was going from 7 lefts with a 13'7 155 gripping about 13 and blowing through, then moved to 13'7 160 and gripped like 13'3 and cleared a tight 13'6 bungey by like 4 inches all the way around. So then i went to the 13'6 165 and was gripping 13'6 (max grip is 13'1). And when I was gripping 13'6 on the 165 i was able to pretty much cleanly jump a 14'2 bungey pulled tight (it like slightly wiggled and i dont know if from the head wind i was jumping into or my shirt or something).

I know that a 13'7 165 is technically the same as the 14' 155. But i seem to be able to more easily grip higher on the 13'7 than the 14'1. As I was gripping higher from one left closer, and into a head wind (and a pretty strong one at that), and jumping higher.

So I was kinda thinking my progression could go something like the 13'7 165 gripping 13'6, to the 14'1 160 gripping 13'9, and the 14'1 165 gripping 14'

Also remember that a lot of the way that poles work is based on how they are designed. Different brand name poles are designed differently. For example, girls' poles are designed so that they bend easier and higher than guys' poles. And other poles are the same way, big stick brand poles are designed to give you a longer swing than a different pole of the same length and height. This difference in manufacturing would explain how vaulting on six inches lower on a pole ten pounds stiffer would have a direct variation to your jump height.

I know that a 13'7 165 is technically the same as the 14' 155.

It's more of an exponential equation rather than a linear one, and as a general rule, they would be about the same.

So I was kinda thinking my progression could go something like the 13'7 165 gripping 13'6, to the 14'1 160 gripping 13'9, and the 14'1 165 gripping 14'

That looks like a pretty solid progression.

FYI ... The poles are all UCS Spirit, And I'm like 5'6 145 right now.

So I don't know if the lower sail peace of the shorter poles works better form me because Im shorter or not.

Yeah anytime you are holding higher relative to the sail piece it is going to feel better. As long as you are not in danger of overbending the pole, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Yes, holding over the weight band is dangerous only for high school vaulters.

Rhino wrote:Yes, holding over the weight band is dangerous only for high school vaulters.

LOL! you're right!

Actually, (going back to the OP) another factor for the difference between the two poles is that one is a bit softer or stiffer than the other relative to their respective weight ratings. Although the general rule of thumb is that 6 inches grip = 10 lbs, that 155 could actually be anything from a 155 (soft) to a 159 (stiff), and the 165 could be anything from a 165 to a 169. With a 5 inch difference (I'll round to = 8lbs difference) you could be comparing what is equivalent to a 163-167 to the 165-169. IOW, at the extremes you could be have a 163 vs 169 (+6 lbs), or a 167 to 165 (-2 lbs).