PoleVaultPower.com

is bending the pole hard? this is my first year vaulting

bending the pole is something that will come to you naturally just use correct form and a pole that is at your wight and plant powerfully and it will happen

If you will allow me to read into your question a little bit, I'm guessing that you might think that a recoiling pole will launch you over the bar. This for the most part is not the case. When a pole bends it just allows the vaulter to hold higher than he or she would be able to on a straight pole. If a vaulter could produce the speed neccessary to run with a stiff pole and hold on say at 17 or 18 feet, he would be able to jump between 20 to 22 feet. This is not possible. So, that being said, when the pole bends, it shortens the chord line between the grip height on the pole and the box therefore allowing the vaulter to in fact hold on higher on a bending pole than he or she would be able to on a straight pole. One of the guys on the forum made a comment once that a bending pole usually does not come into play till around 11' 6" to 12' and up. So at this early stage in your vaulting career, concentrate on correct technique and as txpolevaulter said the bend will come. Good luck and welcome to this crazy event. Later.....Mike

That information is great and all, but I am holding about 13'. I am already holding the correct height to bend the pole. I am just asking if there are any specific ways to help the process of bending the pole go. Pretty much, what is necessary to provide bend to a pole?!

Seriously, use the search function. This topic has been covered repeatedly.

There are many ways to bend a pole but only one correct way...by using good vaulting technique. As your technique gets better, the pole will start to bend. That's the only way.