Each pole has a 12-inch grip range
The grip range is 6 to 18 inches from the top of the pole. Gripping inside it is legal and effective; gripping above it is illegal; below it wastes pole length.
Pole vault pole length tracks your grip height, not your weight. Each pole has a 12-inch grip range, 6-18 inches from the top. Grip too high and the pole is illegal; too low and you waste pole. Below: how to match length to grip, when to step up to a longer pole, and what to watch.
The grip range is 6 to 18 inches from the top of the pole. Gripping inside it is legal and effective; gripping above it is illegal; below it wastes pole length.
Standard pole lengths run from 9 feet (youth) to 17 feet (elite). Each step up is 12 inches, so a 14-foot pole's grip range meets the 13-foot pole's at the 12'6" handhold.
Time to step up to a longer pole when you are consistently gripping at the top inch or two of the current pole. The new pole's grip range starts there.
The right pole length shows up on the runway and in the pit. Grip too high means you can't keep the pole rising on the run; too low and the pit landing is shallow. Film a vault, AI grades grip height, plant angle, and pit-landing zone.
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Grip range is 6 to 18 inches from the top of each pole.
| Pole Length | Grip Range (bottom to top) |
|---|---|
| 11'0" | 9'6" - 10'6" |
| 12'0" | 10'6" - 11'6" |
| 13'0" | 11'6" - 12'6" |
| 14'0" | 12'6" - 13'6" |
| 15'0" | 13'6" - 14'6" |
| 16'0" | 14'6" - 15'6" |
| 17'0" | 15'6" - 16'6" |
Common questions athletes and coaches ask about this topic.
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