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Here's my question. We're holding a 14'6 155 at 13'6 and are able to clear 13'6. Still can't get over our hand grip. What would the flex be at that hand grip? Next, if we went to a 15' 155, where should we hold to have the equivalent flex?

mcook wrote:Here's my question. We're holding a 14'6 155 at 13'6 and are able to clear 13'6. Still can't get over our hand grip. What would the flex be at that hand grip? Next, if we went to a 15' 155, where should we hold to have the equivalent flex?

A 15'155 is a bigger pole. I wouldn't go to that unless the vaulter is blowing through the 14'6 155 and the 15'155 is the only other pole available.

If you hold higher on the 15'155, you could probably get a similar stiffness, but that is irrelevant because the higher grip slows down the pole rotation significantly, so you end up with a kid that is bending the pole nicely and landing on the runway.

If you're holding 13'6" and clearing that same height, you are actually getting an 8" push-off.

What kind of speed are you bringing down the runway? How good is the take-off position? Are you under? Out? Are you setting up for a good swing? How fast is the swing? Are you swinging to the top?

Jumping over your grip can be done without a bending pole. Answer some of these questions and worry more about those than the flex#'s on those poles and you'll be Okay.