Moving up to a bigger pole

[avhspolevaulter]

Last season I vaulted on a 13' 140 pound UCS pole. But I got faster and I weight above that (145 pounds), so I end up bending it too much and the bend gives me a very weak push at the top. So my coach moved me up to a 13' 7' 145 UCS pole. One thing I noticed firstly was its weight. It is ALOT heavier than my other pole. Maybe even twice the other pole's weight. Also, it's alot harder to bend than my other pole.. Currently, we are working on 5 left runs and with the 140 pound pole, I can do everything fine. But as soon as I get on the 145 pole, everything goes wrong. At the top, I flag out and just stop. When I plant, I find it hard to plant high and confidently so that is probably what's ruining my vault.. I think it's because I'm scared of the pole but I know in order to go higher, I need to learn to use this pole. It might be more of a mental thing than anything. Does anyone have words of advice, suggestions, tips, etc on improving this?

[rainbowgirl28]

You're not crazy, that pole is around 15lbs heavier than what you were using before. Check out this chart: http://www.skyjumpers.com/articles/pvpr ... table.html

[avhspolevaulter]

What should I do then? I we have any other poles between the 140 and the 145....

[KirkB]

... I vaulted on a 13' 140 pound ... pole. But I [now] ... I end up bending it too much and the bend gives me a very weak push at the top. ...

I'm going to assume that you're bending the 140 too much - way too much. I'm also going to assume that you have no access to any poles in between the 140 and the 145. It would be better if you gave more info about your PR, age, number of years vaulting, and even some vid. But with the limited info you've given thus far, here's my advice ...

Confidence is important, and there's no simple way to improve your confidence that you'll swing safely into the pit. Don't worry about bending the pole ... only worry about swinging into the pit. And it takes hard work and lots of reps to improve your confidence ... especially in your predicament, where you jump up to a much stiffer pole abruptly (rather than gradually).

Basically, your technique on the 140 probably isn't correct anyway, so you have to forget about how much you were bending it ... and what your technique was on it. Instead, you need to re-learn PROPER PV technique on the 145.

I suggest a two-step process ...

1. Reduce the number of lefts that you're using on the 140, so that it's much more difficult to bend. This is probably more than just to 4 lefts. Try 3 lefts as well. But do this a left at a time. You may need to lower your grip a fist or two (or 3) as well. Now, get used to that technique ... focussing on the run, plant, and takeoff. Don't worry about the swing yet. The 140 has now become your "short run pole". Do LOTS of short run vaults, until you're comfortable vaulting with a stiffer pole ... with a lot less bend.

2. Now take the grip you're using on your 140 (short run pole), and go down a fist or two on your 145. Then, focussing on just the run, plant, and takeoff, try to take off with the same technique as on your short runs (3 or 4 lefts). With the 145, you may need to LENGTHEN your 5-left run by one or two lefts ... discuss this with your coach. But no more than 6-7 lefts. Once you're swinging safely into the pit on the 145, then adjust your grip up ... slowly.

That's a very ROUGH guide as to how to progress from a 140 to a longer 145. Your mileage will definitely vary, and you'll have to try a lot more variations than what I've mentioned ... but I hope you get the idea. Other people will have other advice ... which you should also listen to. My advice is just one idea, and doesn't really stand on its own. There's lots of other drills you should work on.

Don't expect overnight results ... this will take some time and perseverance. Hopefully, your coach will be with you to encourage you thru this process.

Regarding the weight of the 145, I doubt that it's actually twice the weight of the 140, but I can see how you might think that it is. Perhaps you're trying to grip it higher than on your 140? If you are, you shouldn't be. The solution to the perceived heavy weight of a longer pole is to improve your pole drop ... so that the pole feels almost weightless as you're dropping it. If you're not already using a high pole carry, then start using one, and drop it weightlessly. There's lots of threads about this topic on PVP, so search for them.

Your perception that the 145 is twice the weight of the 140 is probably a big factor that's slowing you down at takeoff. You need to be running just as fast ... if not faster ... at takeoff with the heavier pole. Else how do you expect it to bend? Any drills that improve your acceleration into takeoff ... such as short run vaults and stiff pole vaults ... are good drills. If you're finding that 7 lefts is too long ... causing you to slow down just before takeoff ... then shorten it to 6 lefts.

Let us know if you have any followup questions ... not just now, but as your training progresses thru to next year. It's always nice to hear how you ended up solving a technical problem ... even if it was by a method totally different than the advice given. Good luck to you.

Kirk

[SmurfonaStick]

You're not crazy, that pole is around 15lbs heavier than what you were using before. Check out this chart: http://www.skyjumpers.com/articles/pvpr ... table.html

Thats a pretty cool chart......but, remember that all models and makes of poles are not the same.

Lane at UCS flexed some poles for me so i could get the exact next pole in my series when i went from a 15' 1" to a 15' 7". The weight label on the 15' 1" is 185 Lbs, the weight on the 15' 7" is also 185 Lbs, even though when they are flexed as if the where both 15's.

The flex on the 15-1 is 14.8 and the 15-7 is a 18.5. Weight labels were designed as a safety implement, flex numbers are a much more accurate method of choosing pole sizes.

If the chart was made with flex numbers instead of "weight" ratings it would be far more accurate.