New Essx Poles with NEW Labels

[PVJunkie]

Way to go Bruce, you answered the question great...........It just goes to show its all about technique. We all know spirit poles bend low for most vaulters and hit the box (as seen in the infamous photo of Scott Slover at Reno). It has very little to do with the way the pole is put together and has a lot to do with technique. If Bubka was jumping Spirts (real spirits) and was not contacting the top of the box, and Scott does (and they are the same design) then it must be about tech. Then you can go back to the circle theory. I WANT TO SAY AGAIN THAT THIS CONTACTING THE TOP OF THE BOX IS NOT A SUBSTANTIAL DETERANT TO PENETRATION!! The fuller the bend, the more even the stess, the smoother the return. If you take a pole 16'9" long and add 4oz. to the end the amount of weight "felt" in the carriage of the pole is multiplied several times due to leverage. I dont know the exact amout but 4oz actual will be like a whole pound several feet away on the end of a pole. Try and pick up both plates of a barbell by lifting it from one end instead of the middle...............this means the more weight you put away from the vaulter the heavier the pole feels to carry. The heavier the pole the harder it is to run with proper tech. The less tech you run the slower you are etc etc etc.

Truth be told the carbon pole was developed by a group of people with varying expertise in actually building poles as well as vaulting high on them, most of whom still work for Gill. The design we are talking about here tested very poorly in tension (unbending speed) and carriage weight (how heavy the pole feels when you run with it). In fact it performed similar to the discontinued skypole carbon (its a slow heavy version of the pacer carbon or now the carbon fx). In fact the pattern (pieces that make up the pole) and the way it was put together (placement of the pieces on the mandrel) are more similar to the skypole design than any other pole made by Gill. Its poor performance in the testing put it out of consideration fairly quickly in the two year process that resulted in the FX design.

[eleazar]

It is hard to argue with the fact that if you increase the carry weight of a pole you will run a bit slower down the runway, which would mean less energy into the pole at the box. Energy into the pole is what you get out...hmmm...

So a lighter pole at the bottom would increase the speed at T.O., and probably make it easier to stand up tall and get off the ground...a "fastback" however doesn't hit the back of the box as easily and seems to roll into the pit better...Lots to think about here. Also, if you watch Tim Mack jump, his poles blow out at the bottom terrible, but he seems to use it to his advantage.

Why doesn't somebody actually do some testing playing with a spring connected to the pole as if is was a bottom arm...what would that do to the shape of the bend and the return energy of the pole???

Bubka's poles didn't hit the back of the box...they were spirits just like Tim Mack's...Seems here it has more to do with the pilot than the plane!!

[PVJunkie]

Ok, since this is the hot topic..............

Thanks to leverage we know that if you took a 16ft long pole and placed a 2ton wt 9in from one end and then any mere mortal grabbed it on the end you could lift that 2 tons off the ground. Now put that in perspective with the pole hitting the top of the box.............given the pole is bent the lever is shorter (more so on shorter poles with lower grip hts) and the weight wont move (the box is in cement) but the pole will piviot on that point and since almost all vaulters also allow the pole to swing to the side which allows even more forward movement to continue how much does this topic really pertain to pole speed. The mat hitting the pole in a much higher spot (thanks again to leverage) was a problem. Since no reputable pit manufac makes vertical back pits anymore that prob has been eliminated. Actual testing is being done on all of this so...........keep your eyes and ears open..........

[Decamouse]

If you happen to come visit the crazed anal engineers once we move to the new facility you might see all kinds of interesting stuff - unless you happen to work for a similar product manufacturer - might not give the same tour - Always looking for better ways to improve performance, test accurately, durability - An outer wrap of Aramid fiber would sure cure a lot of dings etc. but it also has poor compressive strength - plus the old dredded weight addition. Since poles are composite structures you are always looking for the better or best mix for peformance, durablity etc. S glass is stronger and stiffer than E glass, fiberglass is more cost effective but heavier than aramid or carbon fiber. Aramid is stronger and lighter than carbon but has less stiffness. You get to choose between milled fiber, chopped short fiber and long continous fiber. You have to be careful with long fibers because of the anisotropic nature they induce in the pole. You also need to have a pole maintain its relative stiffness so it does not work soften. Poles are "similar" in the way making bread is similar - the little differences do impact the final product - although they all might taste good! The guys at EB and Bruce can atest that when the kid in us finds a job that matches a passion - you get to make new toys and play with them. PVjunkie uses them the way we hope and I provide the butt ugly jumping low and slow. Poles and cars - you need more than one style to suit everyones needs - How goofy does a Toyota MR2 look with poles and javelins strapped to it. The weekend is near - time to head to the land of cheese and beer soon.

[Flyboy7]

This has got to be the coolest label i have ever seen and what better pole to put it on then the best one i've vaulted on. I love quick poles and essx has defanutly hit the spot on that one. Thank's Bruce and the rest of essx.

[goose]

when will the carbon essx's be for sale?

[PVJunkie]

I would be interested in that one also. It took Gill 2 yrs to develop the tech to produce carbon poles. All of the people involved signed legal docs binding them not to share the info on how to do so. Of couse you can "unassemble" a pole and copy the tech so that could be how it got done so quick. Or................fill us in.............is there somthing new??

[vaulter580]

i tell u guys what..........i want to know when i can get a 5 meter misstick carbon.........can i get that in a fastback??...but then i think i will put a budwiser label on it........and a pole protector!!

just kidding, you might not want my opinion, but here it is.........
i have jumped on pacer carbons and pacer fx carbons.
the pacer carbon pole if cut the proper amount from the bottom, will bend much higher, and i have cut every one i have ever used.
the pacer fx carbon on the other hand in my experience bends off of the ground like a champ, but when i go to turn the corner the pole just stops, i dont know if this is from hitting the back of the box or what but i couldn't get any of the fx poles to move to vertical.(the fx is not for me)

i will say that Bruce and the crew down at essx have been doing a great job, i have PRed from every run that i have used a essx pole this year...............so i cant wait until i can get my hands on one for my long run

[Decamouse]

THe Bud label may be the tough one - Miller Product maybe - why the pole difference - could be you have jump on a pole that required you to develop your technique and timing to it - a "fastback type concept" will have a composite E and I that vary greatly throughout the length - stiffness of section vary and do not a closely match up to what an evenly distributed loading would dictate. Can also say that poles with radically different designs and sail piece locations may have the same flex number and thus wgt - but be drastically diffent behaving poles - That German fellow seems to be very consistent at the 19 foot level on FX so he must have a technique that works well with the design - on question - did you try going to a stiffer FX - (probably easier than changing technique) - no reality - not everyone is the same hgt, speed, tech. jumps of the ground the same - so there may be a pole better suited for one than another - or it may be the style you initially learned - thats what makes it interesting - PS: I am using Carbon Mystic - I will have to see about the label (Miller) - but forget the 15' length - never could run that fast

[hurstiger]

I just wanted to thank you for the poles that you brought to the guys at L.D. Bell. They strutted into the District meet yesterday and all three PR'ed, placing 1st, 3rd and 5th. I think the poles not only improved their jump but, also improved their confidence. I appreciate your help!! Dean

[Bruce Caldwell]

I just wanted to thank you for the poles that you brought to the guys at L.D. Bell. They strutted into the District meet yesterday and all three PR'ed, placing 1st, 3rd and 5th. I think the poles not only improved their jump but, also improved their confidence. I appreciate your help!! Dean

DEAN,
It was an honor to have you vaulter’s try our poles
Coach Smith at L.D Bell HS has a great program and the kids are dedicated they just needed to have the right size poles.

We selected those poles for your vaulter’s based on our Pole Calculator.
By the way this is not the an ESSX site even though a lot of great things have been said on here and it is one of the best sites to exchange info and technique on the web stay tuned!!!

[bellvaulter24]

I'm one of the vaulters from bell and i also wanted to say thanks.. i had been no-heighting all year cuz of the jump to the next pole... thanks a lot for the poles!
~Ethan~