Difference between ESSX poles and Spirit ones ?

[maxiverson]

Hi,
I've never seen or held any ESSX pole in my life, but as I'm reading some threads, I hear a lot of good things about them. I've tried a lot of different poles (pacer FX, pacer carbon, spirit, ...) and I prefer the UCS/Spirit. I was wondering what would be the major differences between the ESSX and the Spirit pole, because when my club will buy new poles, ESSX might be a good choice. Thanks in advance.

[VaultNinja]

Hi,
I've never seen or held any ESSX pole in my life, but as I'm reading some threads, I hear a lot of good things about them. I've tried a lot of different poles (pacer FX, pacer carbon, spirit, ...) and I prefer the UCS/Spirit. I was wondering what would be the major differences between the ESSX and the Spirit pole, because when my club will buy new poles, ESSX might be a good choice. Thanks in advance.

I just started jumping on ESSX poles and I used to jump on Spirits. Here are some of the reasons why I am making the change. Over the years I have had some huge hip hieght but have a hard time getting over bars (I land directly on them even though I have plenty of hieght) I have tried changing my technique, working on this, working on that, takeoff, run, swing, smaller poles, longer poles, lower grips, higher grips, so I have some horizantal travel over a cross-bar, but the same problem has persisted for the past 5 years or so. Finally I started reading about ESSX poles and heard that they carry you over the bar more horizantally than other poles. So I thought I would give it try. THEY DO. I have been playing around with them from short aproach and they have been great. I can get way back on the pole, and not worry about landing on the cross-bar all the time.
Also, the Essx pole is less forgiving at takeoff than a Spirit pole. You need to have a relatively precise takeoff. Which bothered me at first being so used to spirits, but then I realized that it is making me a better technicion because I am having better takeoffs over and over again in practice. And when you hit it right, man does it feel sweet.
One of the things that Essx has focused on is the fact that you aren't just loading energy into the pole when you take off, but also when you swing. I think they call it the double pendulum. This makes sense to the way the pole reacts to you. When I first tried the Essx pole, it felt like it was to stiff and I wasn't going to make the pits. Then finally I turned one up even though it felt stiff, and smoked the bar. Then I realized that I was so used to the way that my other poles felt it was preventing me from taking jumps up, when in reality the pole was a perfect fit. I think this goes back to the double pendulum theory.
The Essx pole also has a higher bend which I have heard of Elite athletes trying to acheive for years by cutting diffent lengths off the bottom of poles. The higher bend feels much better to me, plus the bottom of my poles are no longer getting beat to hell by scraping up against the front or sides of the box while bent.
I realize that every Pole Vaulter is different. But I feel that this pole is a match for me. I would suggest to anyone to try each pole brand (if possible) and find your match. And if you try Essx I bet you will be surprised out how great they feel. I was.

[cdmilton]

I have also heard that ESSX poles are sweet but I would be concerend with the shake up in the company and the availablilty of them in the case of breakage compared to UCS and Gill. Maybe things are different. I am sure Bruce will chime in and give us his take.

[OAKPV2004]

Hi,
I've never seen or held any ESSX pole in my life, but as I'm reading some threads, I hear a lot of good things about them. I've tried a lot of different poles (pacer FX, pacer carbon, spirit, ...) and I prefer the UCS/Spirit. I was wondering what would be the major differences between the ESSX and the Spirit pole, because when my club will buy new poles, ESSX might be a good choice. Thanks in advance.

I just started jumping on ESSX poles and I used to jump on Spirits. Here are some of the reasons why I am making the change. Over the years I have had some huge hip hieght but have a hard time getting over bars (I land directly on them even though I have plenty of hieght) I have tried changing my technique, working on this, working on that, takeoff, run, swing, smaller poles, longer poles, lower grips, higher grips, so I have some horizantal travel over a cross-bar, but the same problem has persisted for the past 5 years or so. Finally I started reading about ESSX poles and heard that they carry you over the bar more horizantally than other poles. So I thought I would give it try. THEY DO. I have been playing around with them from short aproach and they have been great. I can get way back on the pole, and not worry about landing on the cross-bar all the time.
Also, the Essx pole is less forgiving at takeoff than a Spirit pole. You need to have a relatively precise takeoff. Which bothered me at first being so used to spirits, but then I realized that it is making me a better technicion because I am having better takeoffs over and over again in practice. And when you hit it right, man does it feel sweet.
One of the things that Essx has focused on is the fact that you aren't just loading energy into the pole when you take off, but also when you swing. I think they call it the double pendulum. This makes sense to the way the pole reacts to you. When I first tried the Essx pole, it felt like it was to stiff and I wasn't going to make the pits. Then finally I turned one up even though it felt stiff, and smoked the bar. Then I realized that I was so used to the way that my other poles felt it was preventing me from taking jumps up, when in reality the pole was a perfect fit. I think this goes back to the double pendulum theory.
The Essx pole also has a higher bend which I have heard of Elite athletes trying to acheive for years by cutting diffent lengths off the bottom of poles. The higher bend feels much better to me, plus the bottom of my poles are no longer getting beat to hell by scraping up against the front or sides of the box while bent.
I realize that every Pole Vaulter is different. But I feel that this pole is a match for me. I would suggest to anyone to try each pole brand (if possible) and find your match. And if you try Essx I bet you will be surprised out how great they feel. I was.

I can vouch pretty much everything he said...ESSX are smooth

[Bruce Caldwell]

I have also heard that ESSX poles are sweet but I would be concerend with the shake up in the company and the availablilty of them in the case of breakage compared to UCS and Gill. Maybe things are different. I am sure Bruce will chime in and give us his take.

THanks for the oppertunity to respond to the SHAKE UP
Yes the shake up was a good thing.

We sold off the public end of the business and used all the proceeds to pay off all the debt.
Thus allowing me to purchase the equipment out right and taking the business under the XLOGIC NAME as a fully paid for business.

This freed me up to stop making the ESSX landing system and enter into an agreement with PORTaPIT to consult and be the GM again for their complete track line.
This also resulted in me most recently brokering the Exclusive NELCO discus/ shot deal for PORTaPIT as the USA Marketing Manager for NELCO one of the most famous Discus and shot manufactures who produces product in India.

So I have to say the so called SHAKE up landed ESSX Poles on thier feet with a stronger base with all equipment and inventory paid for.

See track and Field News Feb issue for a great shot of Tye Harvey vaulting 18+

We do have a few positive items built into our ESSX poles that the other pole makers are not even aware of.

As far as breakage ???? All Brand Poles break if they are not taken care of.
To make them light one must understand you cannot drop them or kick them???? I assure you we have not had the numbers of breakage that the other brands have had and we are more meticulous about testing each pole than the other pole makers.

ESSX is truly a differrent ride try it it will force you to jump correctly.
PS XLOGIC Just Sponsored the TX PV Round-up and PV Corral with over 15 Elite vaulters and a friday night BAR B Q for over 125 who came to the factory for a tour!!!!!!
Bruce

[cdmilton]

Thanks for clearing things up with the turn around of ESSX. I have no doubt that ESSX is on the right track with their poles. You sponsor Monica Stearns who is a vaulter for our club and she seems to really like her line.

What I intended to ask about breakage and replacement was that in the case of someone needing to purchase a pole after it breaks or is damaged. With the kind of inventory Gill and UCS have it is in most cases easy to get a replacement in a short amount of time. Since ESSX is much smaller than either of these two companies I would be worried about getting a replacement in a timely manner. I know that I could call up Gill and get a replacement by flex and have it shortly. Has that changed for ESSX?

[Bruce Caldwell]

YES Hitting a flex number is difficult for all companies.

The glass we all buy varies so much we all do our best to hit the flex on the head, but are at the mercy of flow, resin content, weather humidity, etc.
While I cannot speak for the other companies, I can say that we maintain a copy on file of all the patterns. AND just like this week we had to build a pole for Kellie to fill in a gap she had. We built two poles to get the pole she needs. I would say we are more of a custom pole maker rather than one that has old poles laying around. And yes we do not have a bunch of dealers with old poles in stock
IT took us three days??? to build a custom pole??? I do not feel that is too long and if the others did not have it in inventory it would take them about the same time unless like us once in a great while we hit it right on the head and send it out the next day??.

[maxiverson]

Thanks, I hope to try these poles soon.

[cdmilton]

Thanks for explaining things Bruce. I didn't mean to put you on the spot here or put down ESSX at all. It sounds like you have turned things around for the better.

[Bruce Caldwell]

Thanks for explaining things Bruce. I didn't mean to put you on the spot here or put down ESSX at all. It sounds like you have turned things around for the better.

NOT a problem did not take offence you had valid questions. Hope I answered it confidently and without bashing other brands as they make a good product too. We just address some important aspects that we think the others seem to overlook or do not feel as important.

I have always said I could make more money selling the competition's brand pole as they have had the exposure and if I felt they had covered it all.
I would not spend so much to express my own designs and concepts unless I truly felt we had something totally different to offer and as you can see, those who try ESSX know we do!!

PS http://www.flightdeckathletics.com/ looks like a promising website any room for ESSX poles on the page? LOL

Bruce

[cdmilton]

PS http://www.flightdeckathletics.com/ looks like a promising website any room for ESSX poles on the page? LOL

Bruce

Thanks for the comments on the web site. We are currently a distributor for Gill.

[moehill]

Bruce where is Xlogic sports located I dont get to buy many poles for my vaulters and usually have to do alot of trading around but i was just curious because I saw Tommie Powers jumping on alot of essx poles last year at the regional track meet, I am located in west texas and have a sophomore girl jumping 10'6 with alot of room for improvement.