Lowering a Sail Piece

[VaultNinja]

I was just wondering how many of you cut the ends off of your poles to lower your sail piece. I have run into several elites that do this. I am considering trying it because of the way some of my older poles with lower sail pieces feel.

Please Answer the following questions......
How many centimeters do you cut off (and original pole length)?
And why do you think that it is benificial to your vault in particular?
-Thanks

[ashcraftpv]

here's an old thread on cutting poles

http://www.polevaultpower.com/forum/vie ... =cut+poles

[VaultNinja]

Thank you, but that isn't the information that I was looking for. I know what cutting poles does, and where to cut them. I want to know how much people are cutting off, and how it effects their vault (personally) whether it is physically or mentally.

[rainbowgirl28]

Ask people one on one at the Summit. Manufacturers don't like to hear about their poles being chopped, so some elites probably wouldn't want to say publicly if they were doing it.

[achtungpv]

Thank you, but that isn't the information that I was looking for. I know what cutting poles does, and where to cut them. I want to know how much people are cutting off, and how it effects their vault (personally) whether it is physically or mentally.

Joe Dial cut 10cm off of poles...if he wanted a 5m series he got some 5.10s and chopped them. Scott Hennig did the same thing to a series if I remember correctly.

[VaultNinja]

Thank you, but that isn't the information that I was looking for. I know what cutting poles does, and where to cut them. I want to know how much people are cutting off, and how it effects their vault (personally) whether it is physically or mentally.

Joe Dial cut 10cm off of poles...if he wanted a 5m series he got some 5.10s and chopped them. Scott Hennig did the same thing to a series if I remember correctly.

Thanks for the info.

[KYLE ELLIS]

Joe Dial and Tim McMicheal started have there poles custome made (a lower sail peice) and I dont know about Joe but Tim could tell you exactly how they made them, where the sail peice should be etc etc... They had them made for shorter vaulters. Bruce put the poles together (catapole & skypole) for them so he could probably help you too.

[VaultNinja]

Joe Dial and Tim McMicheal started have there poles custome made (a lower sail peice) and I dont know about Joe but Tim could tell you exactly how they made them, where the sail peice should be etc etc... They had them made for shorter vaulters. Bruce put the poles together (catapole & skypole) for them so he could probably help you too.

Cool, I'll ask him about it. Thanks

[Bruce Caldwell]

if you absolutly feel it necessary 3" max or the pole will be a training pole.
Better off just selecting a pole manufactuer that understand the vault!

I do not recommend you cut an ESSX or a Spirit as they are built with a sail that provides you with the action you are looking for.

Back when Dial was working with poles several manufacturers had the sails up an extra 8" now they have all moved them as time progressed and technigue progressed. Or as they learn more about the vault and its relationship with the pole.

[VaultNinja]

Thanks, I don't think that I am going to cut any. It was just a thought, and I wanted to hear peoples input on personal experience with it.

[lonestar]

I know at least a half dozen elites that do or have cut off their poles to get the desired response. I've chopped several myself for the same reasons with good results, but don't recommend high school or any other unknowledgable people do it. Your story is different, as you work with Dave who is very knowledgable.

First, Why: You've already figured out that by cutting a pole off it lowers the sailpiece. Why lower the sail? Well, the sail is the thickest part of the pole, so by moving the thicker part of the pole towards the ground, the pole will be stiffest near the ground. There is less glass in the handle, so the pole will bend more there. Poles that bend low tend to crush up against the back of the box and the pit, and are inhibited from rolling over smoothly. If the butt of the pole is stiffer, it won't crush out so badly, and the pole will roll over better. Some say it's also easier to swing if the handle of the pole is more horizontal to the ground, I can't say for sure on that though.

Second, How Much: The elites I know have cut anywhere from 3" to 18" off their poles to get the response they were looking for. I've also cut off in a wide range. I actually had one pole, a 14' 130 that was broken 2' from the bottom; we trimmed the jagged edge, put a tip on it, and jumped on it as a 12' 160 and it was everyone's favorite pole. I cut some 14' 140's down to 12'6s, and they work great. I cut a 15'er down to 14'9, and it works great. The poles I cut the least off of showed the least amount of change. I'm sure you're interested in longer poles. One of my guys was on a 4.90 Spirit series, but he's only 5'8 and his highest effective grip is 15'6. Poles are designed to be gripped near the top, so we cut his 4.90s down to 4.80s (15'9s) so he still has 3" to grip up and they work much better than when he was gripping way down. I would say, leave at least 3" to grip up from where you normally grip, but definitely try to be gripping within the top 6" of the pole. You can chop poles to get this effect, or just buy shorter poles if you're gripping more than 6" down on what you have. I won't argue for any particular brand over another here, I'll let other do that. As a wise Dub once said, "It's the Indian, not the arrow." Still, a straighter arrow flies better than a crooked one, and a pole that bends better and times better with the vaulter could be an advantage.

My 2 cents. Take with a grain of salt.

[VaultNinja]

Thank you. I appreciate the input. 3-18", wow, 18" is alot, I wasn't expecting to hear a number that big.