PoleVaultPower.com

Got a new 12' 130 pole less than a month ago. It has been used about twice a week for 4 weeks. Today a girl was warming up on it doing plant drills from 4 lefts where she just planted and road it in gripping about 11'. She is 5'5 125 and uses this pole for warm ups every time she vaults.

Well today on like her second plant she makes it in, but kind of bobbles a bit in the air, and we look down and notice the pole broke about 2 feet from the but plug. What could cause a pole to break this low? I am almost convinced it would have to have been a factory defect or something for a pretty much brand new pole to break that low. Had she just over bent it, it would have broke in the middle or near the bottom hand. This was clearly not an over bend. Poles do not really even bend 2 feet from the plug.

look at inside of pole in area of break -- should be smooth/shiny -- dryness/voids or if you can see the spiral wrapping that would support your theory of defect -- remove tape and hold up to light also helps detect these -- a loose spiral wrap can cause this type failure after a short amount of usage.