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At the moment, I'm on a 14-60 UCS. I weigh 151 lbs and I am 5' 8.5". During a meet last saturday, I bent the crap outta my pole. I didn't lever or anything. When i was in my rockback position, my pole had bent so far that my body was under the cross bar with the standards at 60cm. i just bailed because i didnt want to go straight up into the bar.

here's where i need your help. i need a new pole, im not talking longer, just stiffer. i dont know if i should go with a 14-65....14-70.....i dont want to wast it if the flex numbers are so close. i guess it will give me the extra kick off the top of the pole i might need i would like to hear your opinions ASAP! becasue im going to carson city, to UCS's manufacturing plant so they can compare my poles and stuff. then i plan to buy from them?

I think you should have put your standards at 80

ding ding ding, we have a winner folks....80cm is a great place for standards...

Ya if you were that far in to it BURY them standards. And when you start blowing through 80 cm I would move up to a stiffer pole.

On that length pole, you need a pole 1.3-1.5 cm lower in flex than the one you have to make a reasonable transition without blowing your $$.

I would agree with all of this. Dont be scared to move the stands back. Then...........a 1.2, 1.5 bigger (lower flex #) would be the way to go.

theflyingkorean wrote:At the moment, I'm on a 14-60 UCS. I weigh 151 lbs and I am 5' 8.5". During a meet last saturday, I bent the crap outta my pole. I didn't lever or anything. When i was in my rockback position, my pole had bent so far that my body was under the cross bar with the standards at 60cm. i just bailed because i didnt want to go straight up into the bar.

here's where i need your help. i need a new pole, im not talking longer, just stiffer. i dont know if i should go with a 14-65....14-70.....i dont want to wast it if the flex numbers are so close. i guess it will give me the extra kick off the top of the pole i might need i would like to hear your opinions ASAP! becasue im going to carson city, to UCS's manufacturing plant so they can compare my poles and stuff. then i plan to buy from them?

YES this is a problem when you have a stiff size pole and you transition into the next size up being a soft next progression. One way to prevent this is to make sure that the flex number on them has a spread concurrent with what you expect.

We all have the tendency to move the grip up when going to a stiffer pole.

What is very important is timing must be maintained from one size to the next and to accomplish this you must only change one thing at a time.
Changing two things could result in as much as a 5-8 lbs move.

Here are some pointers for moving to stiffer poles:
(NOTE: Small flex number is stiffer pole)

1. Check the two flex numbers
a. If same brand; 2 1/2 ticks or .25 metric .01 imperial is as a rule of thumb est. at 1 lb.
b. If not same brand you really cannot compare accurately go back to the model numbers fro a better picture or the feel
c. Or if different brands set up a mock flex machine of your own use a 50lbs weight and check the difference between the poles.
d. Move the span till the deflection equals the softer pole then measure the stiffer pole on the same span.
e. If two different sizes you will need to move the span wider for the longer pole. EARL BELL USES in his personal flex set up 12â€Â

Thanks everyone and Mr. Caldwell