Rule Change Desperately Needed!!!!

[SlickVT]

Jump over your grip. Problem solved...

[Skyin' Brian]

Jump over your grip. Problem solved...

.....unless you are gripping 9 or more inches down the pole

[bjvando]

then jump higher

[oldguy]

I've been vaulting since the sixties and other than allowing the pole to travel under the bar the rule has always been release the pole back away from the pit. Now if you can teach some such a difficult sport as the pole vault you can certainly teach them to flick their wrist left, right or away from them. There is no need to change any rule.

[Beam]

I think that it is the most sexist rules in all of sports. .

First off. . . it's not a sexist rule. Second of all, the person that said "jump over your grip" is correct. It won't matter at all where the pole ends up if you can jump over your grip (assuming you are gripping 6" below the top of the pole). I personally believe that pole vaulting is one of the best sports to give female and male athletes an equal playing field. There isn't a "girl" pole out there specifically made for girls. Boys and girls both have the opportunity to be challenged individually to see how high they can jump with a pole.
Learn how to jump correctly (as a female or male) and you won't have the problem of your pole knocking the crossbar off. Beam

[jhesch]

well in regards to poles "not being made specifically for girls", there's lady catapoles, lady rockets, Ms. Stics / Mystics, Carbon Mystics......

[opalkak]

those are just small 'male' poles with female stickers. Clever marketing scheme.

I should slap some stickers on a pole and call them left handed poles. These also don't exist.

[jhesch]

can you back up with proof? if so id like to see it. im just under the impression that different poles are made differently for different purposes. For example if you got a Skypole EZ Plant, a Mystic Carbon, and a Carbon FX, all made by Gill, in the same size and weight, I highly doubt you would find they were all made with the same configuration of fiberglass and amounts of different types of glass, etc. Granted, poles can only act so different, they all serve basically the same function and are made in one way or another with fiberglass with similar designs, but Im pretty sure that there are slight differences in poles made for women> i.e. grip diameter, relative stiffness, etc., but im open for debate and would like to hear from those with more information.

[rainbowgirl28]

If there was such a big difference between girls poles and guys poles, don't you think all of the manufacturers would make them that way?

[saraf]

Jump over your grip. Problem solved...

.....unless you are gripping 9 or more inches down the pole

i hold a foot down .. not a problem with the pole hitting the crossbar


jump yer grip

[opalkak]

can you back up with proof? if so id like to see it. im just under the impression that different poles are made differently for different purposes. For example if you got a Skypole EZ Plant, a Mystic Carbon, and a Carbon FX, all made by Gill, in the same size and weight, I highly doubt you would find they were all made with the same configuration of fiberglass and amounts of different types of glass, etc. Granted, poles can only act so different, they all serve basically the same function and are made in one way or another with fiberglass with similar designs, but Im pretty sure that there are slight differences in poles made for women> i.e. grip diameter, relative stiffness, etc., but im open for debate and would like to hear from those with more information.

yes it is true that different poles are made with different materials, e-glass, s-glass, carbon fiber, dare i say bamboo, and steel. Also different companies make poles on different size mandrels, with different number of wraps, and different sail piece shapes(hemicircles, trapezoids, and a wierd rollercoaster design). However just because a pole has a smaller mandrel and a different color wraping with a sticker that says mystic doesn't mean it is any different than the same what skypole a 120 'girl' and 120 'guy' pole are the same. Look at Spirit they are all the same, ask Essex if they make 'girl' poles and how they differ from 'guys'. I think you will find they are the same.

[jhesch]

hey im kind of interested, where did you find out that info on different shape sails? seems most these days are trapezoidal, but sounds like some interesting info. well back to different poles, my understanding is that 'girl's' poles are made to bend a bit easier with smaller grip diameter, and i know that one size and weight pole can be made on different mandrels. in terms of poles that cater to differences in anatomy from boys and girls, i think that there isn't a need for different poles, but when asking Bruce from ESSX about girl's poles i remember him mentioning slight changes in poles in order to facilitate a lower center of gravity (due to anatomical differences in hips, shoulders, etc.) Whether this is true with ESSX and/or other brands (i.e. Gill's line of 'girls' poles, Spirit, etc.) I can't say for sure. I think that with proper technique almost any brand can work efficiently, but different brands may help different people who vary slightly technique, preferences. same can be said about running shoes. in conclusion, if i understand correctly, 'girls' poles are made with gender differences in mind, but I also feel that different 'brands' also make a good marketing plan and are not necessary for good vaulting....