How deep of a scratch is too deep

[scpolevaulter]

One of my kids just spiked the crap out of a pole I can stick my finger nail almost a millimeter into the deepest part of the scratch. I guess Im really just looking for confirmation that its compromised. So how deep of a scratch is too deep?

[coachjvinson]

One of my kids just spiked the crap out of a pole I can stick my finger nail almost a millimeter into the deepest part of the scratch. I guess Im really just looking for confirmation that its compromised. So how deep of a scratch is too deep?

confirmed...

[botakatobi]

As you suspect the pole may not be safe for bending, don't allow it to be used for anything other than plant drills on the track into a slide box.

You cannot live with the worst case scenario of an injury. You could be additionally liable for attorney fees and damages since you knew of the damage yet let vaulters continue to jump on it.

[coachjvinson]

As you suspect the pole may not be safe for bending, don't allow it to be used for anything other than plant drills on the track into a slide box.

You cannot live with the worst case scenario of an injury. You could be additionally liable for attorney fees and damages since you knew of the damage yet let vaulters continue to jump on it.

agreed - make sure to label and tape the pole in a manner in which it will not be mistakenly vaulted on - I am in the process of doing the same with 2 poles which will now have 2nd lives as training aids... red tape and bold sharpie

[botakatobi]

As you know, cut down poles have many uses:

Plant drills
stiff pole drills
pull turn push drills
putter upper
hold up FAT wires over track
batons

[scpolevaulter]

Thats what I was planning to do. Im gonna cut it down to a 10 or 11 foot training pole.

[Rhino]

If you want to destroy the pole, by all means, go ahead. But if you don't, consider this:
1. If the scratch is on the compression side of the pole (like most are), it probably will not cause a break.
2. Breaking a pole does not automatically cause a catastrophic injury (I've broken five without injury).

[scpolevaulter]

If it was for personal use I would think about keeping it but its one of my rentals and I cant have that liability. I pretty much knew the pole was compromised but I really just wanted to get a gauge for future refrence on scratches and what is potentially compromising and what is not.