Active pole drop tips? *video*

[Brandenman10]

In the first video I'm on a 14'6 145 but is way to soft for me! (14 bungee) 6L and weight 150
http://youtu.be/RQ6ezO6sDus

The second video I'm on a 160 14'6 and can't penatrate it enough at all!
http://youtu.be/QyY5ml7uYsM

I feel as I'm carrying the pole like a dead weight when I initiate my plant, and people tell me the pole should drop smoothly and make you accelerate into take off (active pole drop) and the pole should almost feel weightless! any tips on successfully having an active pole drop?!

[KirkB]

In the first video I'm on a 14'6 145 but is way to soft for me! (14 bungee) 6L and weight 150
http://youtu.be/RQ6ezO6sDus

I don't know why you think this pole is too soft. It's not over-bending.

The second video I'm on a 160 14'6 and can't penetrate it enough at all!
http://youtu.be/QyY5ml7uYsM

This shouldn't be too surprising. Even a 150 14'6 would be too stiff for you. Go back to your 145, and focus on your technique.

You should not move to a bigger pole until you're landing too far into the pit (more than 4 feet back). At the moment, with your 145, you're just barely landing in the coach's box (just a couple feet into the pit, at most).

... people tell me the pole should drop smoothly and make you accelerate into take off (active pole drop) and the pole should almost feel weightless! any tips on successfully having an active pole drop?!

This is true. Search PVP for "active pole drop". There's 13 pages of hits.

But I don't think this is your biggest problem to solve. It may be just one of many. Focus on running faster, planting smoother, and JUMPING on takeoff. You need a brick-and-mortar coach to step you through all this.

I feel as I'm carrying the pole like a dead weight when I initiate my plant ...

If the pole feels like dead weight, then you may be dropping it too early (and then holding it up to keep it from dropping too early). Timing is everything!

Kirk