# Would more pole vaulting records break if the pole was longer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 19, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535 "2009-02-19T12:19:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535/1 "2009-02-19T12:19:44Z")
It seems to me that the biggest setback for pole vault record-breaking is the length of the pole. At some point there’s a physical limitation that will need to be adjusted so that records can continue to be broken, and that means the pole will need to be lengthened. Presumably there’s an official body that decides these things. But if that is so (and maybe it’s not) are the current records really fair if past vaulters had a shorter pole to contend with and had no chance of reaching these current “heights”? ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535/2 "2009-02-19T12:41:21Z")
IIRC, they can use whatever length of pole they want. Presumably there’s a length and stiffness of pole that reaches the human limitation of how much stiffness people can bend vs the length of pole. If you have a really long pole, in order to get it to support your body weight on the way up, it’s going to need to be very stiff. But this stiffness is perhaps too much for a person to be able to flex when they put it in the ground. I think I remember that they can use differing lengths from when my friend ran track. I’m sure someone who actually ran track will come along and correct me soon. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535/3 "2009-02-19T12:54:52Z")
I believe poles can be of any length. [cite](http://www.npvca.com/matriarch/MultiPiecePage.asp_Q_PageID_E_17_A_PageName_E_CurriculumRules) > [@](#): > > ART. 2… The vaulting pole may be of any material and of any length and diameter. It may have a binding of not more than two layers of adhesive tape of uniform thickness. However, the bottom of the pole may be protected by several layers of tape, PVC, metal, sponge rubber or other suitable material to protect it when placed in the planting box. The pole is essentially a tool to convert kinetic energy (from the vaulter’s run) to potential energy (the vaulter’s height). Of course it’s a bit more complicated than that, but the point is a pole need only be long _enough_, and additional length doesn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535/4 "2009-02-19T12:55:48Z")
**BellRung,etc** has it right. You use a longer pole as your strength and technique improve. The poles are rated based on the vaulter’s weight. They also come in various levels of stiffness for the same weight rating. [Pole vault.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_vault) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535/5 "2009-02-19T13:03:31Z")
Oh. Well whaddaya know. That runs counter to sense in my head, but I guess there’s plenty of evidence that proves it. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535/6 "2009-02-19T13:31:56Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > **BellRung,etc** has it right. I think some day I’ll get around to changing my name to BellRung, Etc. It’s like when the Queer Alliance at my school broke into loose factions termed The Endless Acronym because queer didn’t encompass all of the members. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535/7 "2009-02-19T20:15:58Z")
When they first had fiberglass poles there was a lot of controversy. They were banned and then OKd and then banned again. Eventually they were allowed on a permanent basis. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-more-pole-vaulting-records-break-if-the-pole-was-longer/486535/8 "2009-02-19T20:50:02Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > When they first had fiberglass poles there was a lot of controversy. They were banned and then OKd and then banned again. Eventually they were allowed on a permanent basis. Indeed. I didn’t know about the on/off/on rulings, but my brother was a high school vaulter in '64-'65 (or so.) He used an aluminum tube pole, just before the flexy poles came in. Even with the old stiff pole, it seemed to me that, “those guys are crraaazy!” Watching the vaulters with the twang poles on _Wide World of Sports_ was scary.:eek: