Moving up to bigger pole
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- PV Newbie
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- Expertise: Current High School Vaulter
- Lifetime Best: 10'6"
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Moving up to bigger pole
I've vaulted for 2 years, just started in this season 3 weeks ago, and qualified for state meet/moc's. I've been using a pole that's slightly small for me (12' 170lb) but I weight a bit over 170. I had to do a really aggressive weight cut (10lbs) in order to use if for my state meet and I would rather not do that again. Our school has really poor resources (at least for the track team), so my only other option for a pole is a very old, stiff 180lb (13'6"). For this weeks past state meet I just tried to use it (again the timing due to bad athletic dept.) but I couldn't make it to the mats. I would get a bend going, then stop short and fall in the box or off the mats entirely. I have MOC's coming up this weekend so I was thinking I'd try it again, suggestions? I was holding about 6in from the top of the big pole when I was using it, because lower seemed too stiff.
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- PV Whiz
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Re: Moving up to bigger pole
Do not, I repeat, do not use that larger pole! That is way too much of an increase for you. Plus, you said you were holding 6 inches from the top of the bigger pole - that's at least a foot increase in grip from the pole that you can jump on. Way too much of an increase at one time!
My recommendations:
1 - Get your weight back down below 170
2 - try to borrow a slightly bigger pole - no more than a 10 lb increase at the same length. If you get a longer pole - no more than a 12'6" - 170. Look for a club in your area that may loan or rent poles.
It is very hard to find poles for your weight at your current grip height - and you can't suddenly up your grip safely. It needs to be done slowly and safely with the right size poles. Get into a club that have PV coaches and plenty of poles.
My recommendations:
1 - Get your weight back down below 170
2 - try to borrow a slightly bigger pole - no more than a 10 lb increase at the same length. If you get a longer pole - no more than a 12'6" - 170. Look for a club in your area that may loan or rent poles.
It is very hard to find poles for your weight at your current grip height - and you can't suddenly up your grip safely. It needs to be done slowly and safely with the right size poles. Get into a club that have PV coaches and plenty of poles.
- KirkB
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Re: Moving up to bigger pole
GasPasser wrote: ... do not use that larger pole!
My recommendations:
1 - Get your weight back down below 170
2 - try to borrow a slightly bigger pole - no more than a 10 lb increase at the same length. If you get a longer pole - no more than a 12'6" - 170. Look for a club in your area that may loan or rent poles.
Your PR is 10-6 and your grip is 12-0. By improving your technique a bit, you should be able to clear 11-0 or 12-0 with that 170.
So another option is to shorten your run by a couple steps on your 170 (which will give the pole a stiffer bend), and just accelerate faster down the runway.
You could also try lowering your grip on it by about 4" or so (which will also give the pole a stiffer bend).
But you'll still have to get your weight down.
Focus more on your technique, and less on the pole.
Kirk
Last edited by KirkB on Tue Jun 02, 2015 8:57 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Run. Plant. Jump. Stretch. Whip. Extend. Fly. Clear. There is no tuck! THERE IS NO DELAY!
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- PV Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:00 pm
- Expertise: Current High School Vaulter
- Lifetime Best: 10'6"
- World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
- Favorite Vaulter: Renaud Lavillenie
Re: Moving up to bigger pole
Thanks for the advice!
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