What's the Difference?

[wlanier]

Metric or Imperial, diet or regular, Celsius or Fahrenheit...

Physics says:

Efficiency is the ratio of energy output to energy input. It is expressed in percentage form:

Efficiency/E = useful output energy/input energy x 100%

Energy wasted = 1 – E %

So, manufacturing being standardized and controlled, material can only approach 100% energy return as a limit. Thus, all poles, regardless of fiber, have the same limit.

Subjective values of 'easier to get in on', 'less off the top,' and 'slow,' are meaningless in terms of material.

Differences can only be appreciated through: total material content, weight, and the (HUGE) variances of technique.

Material content per square centimeter is standardized across pole lines ('standard' not 'constant').

Weight is a factor of total material content and length, (again standard across pole line.)

Technique...go practice and look like Bubka.

What's left? Sail-piece placement. Poles the same weight and length are completely different to the same vaulter if the two sail-pieces are offset from each other. A simple hacksaw will make any Pacer feel like any Spirit (same length to start)...just need to know where to cut.

I endorse no single pole, though I only own one brand...not telling which...just be consistent with your selection.

[Decamouse]

Actually there is a little more than sale piece placement - you can get same total weight, or thickness, or flex but not have the same beast, sail piece placement is a big part of that equation as is mandrel size, body wraps, angle of the spiral wrap, glass type in both regualr glass and carbon, carbn content versus regular glass. How about throwing in pre-bend, location of prebend, - a Ford is not a Chevy - you can get the same results maybe - what works well fro one may not work well for someone else and that is not vene considering the placebo effect - you think it works better so therefore it probably will (more confident and agressive) - ask the same question in a year or five - todays poles are better than poles of ten years ago - ok - what is the definition of better - we are now back at the Ford Chevy question -

[xtremevaulter]

Dave it will feel a little different at first, but you will get used to it and appreciate the fact that Dick will have all the poles you need

True But I still like my Spirits and I will probably go buy a couple to get me started.

[rainbowgirl28]

True But I still like my Spirits and I will probably go buy a couple to get me started.

Phsaw if you have that kind of money go for it

[dubjones]

There is a reason that our guys choose what type of poles they jump on. As everyone knows they are free to them, and would be from most any manufacturer. Why do you think that is?

[PVJunkie]

Promotional standards?!?! Am I close..............

Or in some cases (wink wink) they know the right people.

[Robert schmitt]

I'm NOT TRIING to start debate here. I was thinking back when I last jumped on a spirit (1989) and I did notice a difference between the pacer. The spirit awlays seemed to role over easier than the pacer. Now I will say at that time I never looked at the flex #'s but the poles were the same wieght. Now Correct me if I'm wrong but before the Best Flex system on Pacers, were not the pacers rated 5lbs or so less than what that pole would rate under the best flex? So could this be what started the great debate? That for 10 years or so a pacer 165 for example was actually more comprable to a 170 spirit.

[Russ]

My PR came on a black Cata-Pole. So I'm partial to them. But that was 1975.

Since I've returned to vaulting, I've had really good experiences with Skypoles and Pacer FX. But I'm 45 years old and a lot slower than I was in high school. So, I don't know. I suspect, like most things it is a matter of what you get used to. Personal feel will probably be the key.