A vaulting pole for beginners and juniorsGood to know
A vaulting pole is rated by two features: its length, which determines the height of the handhold, and its stiffness, i.e. its load-bearing capacity. A rating of 430/70 means that the pole is 4.30 m long and designed for pole vaulters weighing 70 kg. Only an exceptional pole vaulter would be able to overload a pole designed for their bodyweight, either by performing an incredibly powerful take-off or by holding the pole higher than the maximum grip (the lower the grip, the stiffer the pole).