Women's pole

[embotvin]

Looking to buy a women's pole for a high school vaulter. Any suggestions? She is a beginner, vaulting 8' at her best this season.

[rainbowgirl28]

If you didn't have any poles for her, and I didn't know anything else about her, I would recommend an 11' pole rated above her weight.

But tell us more...
How tall?
About how much does she weigh?
What's her PR in the 100 and/or long jump?
What grade?
How high is she holding now and where are her standards?
And most importantly, what poles do you already have now?

[embotvin]

She is 5'2", around 140 lbs, she has jumped 10'6" with a bungee, but in meets she has done 8'. At school she is on a 12' 150 Spirit pole that she can't bend. At practice, she likes to use the 11' 6" 120 lb Spirit pole. Can't tell you about the standards. She is currently a sophomore. I saw these women's poles that are thinner, and easier to bend (the Pacer??). And what is the story with the hand grip?

[rainbowgirl28]

She is 5'2", around 140 lbs, she has jumped 10'6" with a bungee, but in meets she has done 8'. At school she is on a 12' 150 Spirit pole that she can't bend. At practice, she likes to use the 11' 6" 120 lb Spirit pole. Can't tell you about the standards. She is currently a sophomore. I saw these women's poles that are thinner, and easier to bend (the Pacer??). And what is the story with the hand grip?

The thinner and easier to bend are mostly just marketing. Mystics are actually wider diameter than they used to be in order to have a lighter carry weight.

If you think she'll make weight under 140, I'd recommend an 11'140 Mystic which would probably only be a bit bigger than the 11'6 120 Spirit. (11'140 is about like an 11'6 130) and an 11'6 140 Spirit or Mystic. If she's going to weigh over 140 then you can bump the weights up to 150 (I think if you ordered Altius you could get 145s).

The brands are not that important if you are buying new poles. One advantage of Mystics is the weight label is at the top of the pole. Spirit's is 6" down, so their 11'6 pole you can only hold an inch or two higher than a new Mystic 11' pole with a yellow weight label. I would definitely not recommend the 10'8 Spirits, their max grip is only 10'2!

[embotvin]

Thank you for all your help.