Big Pole mentality…….

[vaultmd]

Don Baird used to say, "Don't give up on a pole until it gives up on you."

[pvdad81]

After working with my vaulter for 4 years now, I know that at or near his PR, he will almost always need a bigger pole. Something inside him makes him run harder, try harder. Whatever pole he was on that works great at lower heights will look like a wet noodle when he is at a PR. We anticipate that and move up poles. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I don't know what else to do. I certainly won't tell him to calm down and stay on the smaller pole.

[KirkB]

... Whatever pole he was on that works great at lower heights will look like a wet noodle when he is at a PR. We anticipate that and move up poles. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I don't know what else to do. I certainly won't tell him to calm down and stay on the smaller pole.

That works ... as long as the decision to move up a pole is based on the softness of the pole at the previous height ... or the anticipated softness of the pole at the next height.

If it's based on the height of the bar compared to the athlete's PR, then not. Only move up a pole when you're crushing the pole; blowing thru and hitting the bar on the way up; or landing too far into the pit.

Kirk