PoleVaultPower.com

I'm 5'10 147lbs. and vaulting on a 13'6" 150 and 160lb UC Spirit pole. What does it take to get onto a 14 ft. pole...besides speed?

remember, higher grip does not equal a higher jump! As mentioned many times before, you shouldn't switch to longer poles unless you're jumping on poles 20-30 lbs over your body weight. However, most don't have that type of pole selection. What's the weight rating on the 14' pole? hopefully its a 150 or 155. When you do transition, make sure its only when you have maxed out your grip in the 13' 6" 160 and are penetrating deep into the mats. Use the same grip height starting out on the 14'. Don't hold any higher than you already are! Speed always helps, but the key to raising your grip is having a good take off angle.

As a general rule you should be clearing 6"-1' over your handhold at this particular stage in progression, before raising your grip. I know its harder to clear over your handhold without a longer pole, but its also necessary for further progression. Im sure someone could draw up a more exact figure, but i would say do not move your grip up while gripping at a certain hieght until you are clearing this high over your handhold:

Grip: 12' Push: 6"-12"
Grip: 12'6 Push: 12"-18"
Grip: 13'6 Push: 18"-24"
Grip: 14'6 Push: 24"-32"


Now of course, these are very rough estimates on my part. It will differ for each athlete and their abilities. Some can have a 24" push gripping 12, but others may feel like raising their grip after clearing a foot over their grip at 12'. The point is, in order to progress you need to be gripping higher and pushing farther. Not just one of the two. That happens through a proper coach deciding when to move down in flex (stiffer) or up in grip.

Thanks for the help. I'm maxing out on my grip on the 13'6" 160lb pole and I have access to a 14' 160lb pole. I know I should be easily clearing 13' on the pole I'm using now, but I just can't seem to shoot my legs veritically, instead of at the pole... I think I should work on shooting UP. By the way... I got a new PR today- 12'6".

I'd like to ask a question, (I hope the maker of this thread will not mind).

Does higher grip mean more penetration? I know this sounds silly, but I've found whenever I raise my grip, I begin to blow through it more. For example when I'm on a 13' 7" 150lb pole, holding around 12' 6", I usually land fairly close to the box(not enough for there to be any real danger but some what close). Yet when I raise it to 13', I have my standards buried and I still blow through that pole and hit the bar on the way up.

I've noticed the same thing on the 14' 145lb skypole I use.

So is it just me? Or does raising grip = more penetration?

higher grip will put you further out, making it harder to penetrate. the poles feel softer because your holding higher, making it easier to bend. think of breaking a pencil, its easier to break it holding the ends, compared to holding the middle with both hands.

newPVer wrote:higher grip will put you further out, making it harder to penetrate. the poles feel softer because your holding higher, making it easier to bend. think of breaking a pencil, its easier to break it holding the ends, compared to holding the middle with both hands.

Yet I blow through the pole more holding higher up?

Is this even disputable? Or is it just accepted fact that holding higher up means more penetration?

well if its a soft pole, then yes, you may blow through, but a pole that you are jumping perfect with, holding higher, will put you further out, and most likely will make you penetrate that much less. just from my knowledge..

im currently on a little 11'6" 140 pacer mistic and i hate it, the pole is too soft, im 5'5" and weight 110 and am terrified im going to break it each time i jumped on it i would shoot past the pit and land on the track, i can crush it from 3 steps now and the next biggest pole my school has is a spirit 13' 140 but i got so used to a softer pole that it is incredibly hard to get on it, i cleared 11'6" with it, but almost landed back in the box, not to mention my form is horrific on it becuase im not used to being on a stiff pole, any suggestions?

Yet I blow through the pole more holding higher up?

Is this even disputable? Or is it just accepted fact that holding higher up means more penetration?

Sooch.....how much do you weigh?

130 lbs, 5' 8", just out of curiousity, why do you ask?

wow, i finally got on the bigger pole, its 50 pounds over my weight, it sends me like crazy