ironic huh?

[leftist vaulter]

Well, after a horrible high school track season and recently few months of really working hard and reconditioning myself, I have now become to strong for my poles. I was using a 13'6" 150 bigstick, and I weight 150. Today at the meet, I went threw the 150, and a fellow vaulter let me use his 13'6" 155 pacerFx. That thing freaking felt like butter. So I moved up to a 13'6" 160 ucs. I still bent it way too easily. I think a real indicator is when I go upside down, and I bring my shoulders back, I begin to pull down with my bottom hand and then push off the pole gives me little if any recoil. My coach says my form is perfect on a small scale (pretty sure its a mental block). I began to notice these poles were too small for me when I took my step back to a 7 right from a 6 right (I'm a lefty) and I began to take my friends advice for a smoother pole carry and a free take-off. I also began to focus on really powering down the runway. My pr is sadly 11" . I don't really see getting a longer pole making any sense until I can vault higher. Should I get a pole with more height, more weight, or a little of both?

[VaultPurple]

longer pole is not really what u need unless you are like 6'3 or can jump reallly high. I think weight inrease would be more benificial. It is not entierly due to being stronger that these poles are feeling softer, but the fact your plant is probably better and straighter. 150 pole for a 150lb guy is too soft, you should be on atleast a 165-175 to give you enough time to get inverted and good pop off the top.

[decanuck]

Agreed. In the short term, before getting/using stiffer poles, I would advise decreasing the length of your run back to 12 then 10 or even fewer steps until you're jumping bars at least at or above your handgrip. Grip down on your pole as needed when doing this to keep enough pole speed to make it into the pit.

[frequent flyer]

definately get on a heavier pole?
it would also be helpful to know how high you are holding on the pole.
because if you are holding at 13 or 13 6 you should start holding REALLY low so you dont bend the pole and practice stiff pole vaulting. this will really help your form and itll help you develop your entire vault.

[bel142]

Keep in mind that different brand of poles do not have uniform flexes for weights. A 165 fx and Spirit of the same length will not feel the same. Their sail pieces are in different places, their timing is different because they simply are made differently...

You need more pole that much is true... try and look into a series within one brand. That might make life a tick easier.
hope that helps

[rainbowgirl28]

You say the poles feel soft... are you landing deep in the pit with your standards all the way back? If so, definitely time for stiffer poles, but if you do not have the standards all the way back yet, drop your grip on the poles you are on.