JTred wrote:I was bending the heck out of the pole but I haven't cleared 9' at 12'6 grip yet, but i've cleared 9'6 at around 12' grip Could this be because at 12'6" I was getting more bend?
I don't see anything wrong with any of your stats. Therefore I would conclude you do need more pole (weight) if you want to continue to grip at 12'6". Yes, it is very likely you are bending the pole more with the 12'6" grip compared to the 12' grip. If your immediate goal is to clear 9', I would suggest you lower your grip to between 11'6" and 12' until you can get a new pole. Jumping from this grip might also give you a chance to work on your form. Although I haven't seen any pictures of you jumping, I am concluding there is room for improvement based on jumping around the 9' level with a 12' grip.