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I am 22 years old, i've been pole vaulting for almost 10 years now and i've been on a 14'6" 170 for the last 4 years of my career. i've managed to accomplish a personal best of 16' 2" from my long approach of 7 strides on my 14' 6" big green sky pole. I am so ready to get on the 15 foot poles, i know i can vault 17 feet once i make it to those 15's but i do not understand my trouble. I think part of the problem is that i am SO COMFORTABLE with the 14' 6" pole that when i do attempt the 15's, it feels like i am a mile from the box! and being brutally honest with myself, it's all in my head... i am
AFRAID!! and i don't want to be!! I know that i have the physical ability, i have no physical limitations. I am in great shape and the last 100 meter timed sprint of mine was last year which was a 12.3..
Aside from the fear being an obvious block in the road for many years, i have always planted ATLEAST 6 - 8 inches under at take off which unfortunatly i have become accustumed too and have learned to work around it. Because the top of my vault is the best part of my vault, and since it is only a 14'6 170lbs sky pole..this allows me to be 8 inches under at take off and not punish me for it. Now, over the years my coach and I have addressed the major issue of my being under 95% of the time at takeoff...with drills...videos..different types of sprints and jumping plyometrics...i have attained an "average" of probably 50/50 when it comes to being between 3 inches and 6 inches under at take off on my 14'6" 170, and now the issue is that i am blowing through the 14' 6"....now where does this put me? well since i am only 150 pounds, it means that the 15 footers are next in line right? but every attempt at them as resently as 3 months ago...has been failure...meaning not penetrating enough and landing on the front buns...or running through. And i just remembered, another MAJOR issue of mine when attempting the 15 foot poles, is i always drop my pole to late and i end up on my back ( not literally ) but the second after take off my hips rush in ( which is also due to my take off foot being under ).

So with all of that info, what are some things i should be looking at to improve my plant, should i take a new approach to looking at my so called errors? things i might not being seeing? as far as i can tell.. it is my late pole drop, average 6 inch under take off foot and my ridiculous comfort level with the 14's that make my jump to the 15's so hard. Any advise is welcomed with open arms. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

What 15' pole are you trying to get on? I am guessing part of the problem is when you go up poles you are raising your grip too much on too stiff of a pole, but we won't know without the details.

Becca is right... As always! If you are on a 14'6'' 170, then Transition to a relative 15-160 but jump a few bars at the same exact grip as the 14'6'' pole! From there move up 1 inch on the 15 ft pole, then maybe 1 or 2 inches...

Work run, plant and take off drills with the 15 pole and continue to work up the pole as it is more comfortable! Before long you will need a bigger 15 ft pole!

Lastly continue to work on speed, speed, speed... bc it is a fact take off angle and speed are the two primary factors on getting on longer poles! Good luck! Keep us posted!

Thanks for the replies guys, well i am attempting to move up to a 15' 165...and this pole is ancient!! it weighs a ton and is bright yellow! i believe it is a catapole? part of the problem is that even tho i have attempted to match my grip across at 14' 6", the pole weighs so damn much that i am leaning back at tack off because i am trying to compensate for the extra weight!!!

Do you use a 'free' pole drop?

(By the way, I love your username, it shows very good taste. )

I am sure your technique could be better, but you are just trying to make things worse by forcing yourself on too big of a pole. It is entirely possible that your 14'6 170 is a soft 170, and that the 15'165 is on the stiff side... plus they were flexed and rated under different systems. It's conceivable they could be as much as 20lbs apart.

Beg borrow or buy a 15'160 and a newer 15'165, and keep your grip the same as the 14'6 170 and then you might be able to get on them.

Becca is right on. I think you are having an equipment problem more than a technique problem. That banana pole you are using is from the early 70s If I were you I'd break the piggy bank and buy a 15 55 and 15 60 spirit. The 55 will feel small enough where it should be easy to get on. The sail piece difference from a 14'6 and 15 is not a whole lot . Whenever I move vaulters up stick length I try and put them on one they will most definitely blow through just to get used to the different variables. Good luck!