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After taking a pole inventory at my h.s. I noticed a pole is in good condition but has 3 scratches about 2 inches long from about 12'8" - 12'11" ish on the pole. It is 14' long and they are not too deep but can be felt when running your fingers over it slowly. Is this ok to use in the future for h.s. meets. When I applied a layer of tape, you can kind of see the outline of them a little. Any comments? I have used the pole, holding just under them and no problem, even bending it in the box alone does nothing. Would this be legal for h.s. meets? especially if held under the scratches?

There's no rule against vaulting on a scratched pole, you just have to use your best judgement as to whether or not is poses a safety threat.

Many scratches just go through the wrap and some of the resin on the fiberglass. You need to examine them as see if it looks like they are deep enough to actually have caused damage to the fibers.

rainbowgirl28 wrote:Many scratches just go through the wrap and some of the resin on the fiberglass. You need to examine them as see if it looks like they are deep enough to actually have caused damage to the fibers.

I can not even get any slivers or anything when i run my fingers over them. I believe they are just light surface scratches (not even as deep as etchings some poles have) that have gone through the wrap and some resin as you said. I feel the poles are safe. So even if you can sort of see the scratches the poles when there's one layer of tape, it doesn't matter and they could be used for h.s. meets (with sectionals coming up someone might get to the pole - but would be holding 4" below the scratches)? I'd just hate to run into the problem at a final meet.

Thanks.

There is nothing about what you have described that would allow an official to restrict use of that pole. There is no safety concern if the vaulter using the pole grips below the scratches, and there is most likely not a safety issue gripping above it based on your description.

the fiberglass resin is how thick??? ive never really thought about it, but how deep would a scratch have to be to compramise the integrity of the fiberglass and/or carbon fiber weave???

Thank you all for your input and advice...We had a meet today and my guy (soph) went up on it and pr'd at 12'1" for a new frosh/soph school record and a stadium frosh/soph record...It was great. And no problems...

CHC04Vault wrote:the fiberglass resin is how thick??? ive never really thought about it, but how deep would a scratch have to be to compramise the integrity of the fiberglass and/or carbon fiber weave???

I hesitate to answer your question, but since I have already put myself out on a limb...... A scratch in the middle of the pole is the most concern to me. Although the pole is thicker there, I believe it is also the place of most stress. That being said, I would be concerned if a scratch is about .020" deep, or about 1/2mm (or deeper of course).

A young vaulter on our team had a problem on a jump and kicked the pole (wearing spikes). The pole was scratched deeper than .020" as I learned after the fact, but he decided to continue jumping on it. I don't remember if it was the next jump or the second jump after the scratch, but this linkwill show you what happened. Fortunately he was OK and continued in the competition.

Ouch. I've seen videos of that before. When there are deep scratches, from vaulting or even hitting the ground or standards or spikes, it really can take its toll. I broke a pole once right below my handhold, 9" from the top, a clean break, just must have been dropped or hit against a standard too many times...Right when learning to bend. Good times.

I broke a couple of poles when I was a new vaulter in HS. But that was so long ago I don't remember the details. Most of the people on this board might not believe they had glass poles back then (1964).

This past week I jumped (unattached) at a college meet. It was great fun and I think the college vaulters got a hoot with me vaulting. One said "if you don't mind me asking, just how old are you?" I don't mind at all, in fact I'm proud to be jumping at my age. When I told him I was 59 he said "wow, I hope I can still jump when I'm that old." And one of the lady vaulters said "Maybe I shouldn't ask, but did they have fiberglass poles when you were in HS?" This made me think it might be fun to have a t-shirt made with the saying "It's OK. Go ahead and ask." But then again, very few people would get it.

No John, Just wait until I get the Vaultin' Geezers T-shirts done. First one at my high school was a thermo flex and I think in '64 or '65. I jumped on it once or twice as an 8th grader but both 8th and 9th grade I did most of my jumping on the red aluminum Gill. That was '66 and '67. Later...Mike

Well souleman, I first learned on a Swedish steel pole (more like a broomstick) and then a big heavy aluminum. However this ol brain couldn't tell you what color it was or who made it. In fact I can't even remember whether I first vaulted as a sophmore or junior in HS. Maybe if I look at some old newspaper clippings I might be able to jog the cells in the noggin.