Editing 3183: Pole Vault Pole

{{comic
| number    = 3183
| date      = December 19, 2025
| title     = Pole Vault Pole
| image     = pole_vault_pole_2x.png
| imagesize = 550x464px
| noexpand  = true
| titletext = My goal in life is to be personally responsible for at least one sports rule change.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a A STICK THAT FAILED TO QUALIFY AS A POLE VAULT POLE. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

The comic shows three hypothetical ways to compete creatively at {{w|pole vault}}, taking advantage of the fact that the rules let athletes bring their own poles yet don't limit the physical size of the pole. {{w|World Athletics}}' competition [https://www.worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=1db01fe4-2229-4591-81ec-745bcc6042c7.pdf rules], rule 28.11, states, "The pole may be of any material or combination of materials and of any length or diameter, but the basic surface must be smooth."

The first way uses a pole that's short, but with a very large diameter, slightly smaller than the height of the bar to be cleared. It's then turned 90 degrees horizontally, so it can actually be used as a large wheel. The vaulter balances on top, then uses their feet to make it roll towards the bar. When it reaches the bar, they simply jump a short amount to clear it.

The second method uses a pole whose length is more than twice the height of the crossbar. It's stretched over the bar and somehow attached to the ground at each end. Then the vaulter simply climbs up and over the bar.

The third method ties the ends of a very long and wide pole together, forming a large hoop that can be rolled towards the crossbar. The vaulter grabs onto the hoop, and when they reach the top they let go, and their momentum tosses them over the bar.

There are several flaws with these designs:

* Chiefly, the reason that the IAAF has not yet specified a standard measurement for poles is because there have not been any attempts to use a bizarre or potentially-advantageous design like these in sanctioned competitions. Were someone to try to do so, the authorities would {{tvtropes|ObviousRulePatch|take notice}} (though as we will see in the title text, [[Randall]] would count this as a win).

* All three designs may violate rule 28.2.2, which states that no part of the pole may touch the ground beyond the box until after the athlete has cleared the bar (there is an exception for the pole touching the landing mats after being properly planted in the box, but none of these designs would be properly planted, and all three would likely touch the ground beyond the landing mats). The first and third design may avoid this with careful timing, but it would be a deal breaker for the second.

* The first and third designs would continue to roll forward after the vaulter makes their jump. If the "pole" was deflected from its straight-line path, it would risk a collision with the vaulting frame, potentially dislodging the bar and disqualifying the attempt.

* The first design is hampered by its size; any material sturdy enough to take a human's weight would cause a wheel that big to be considerably massive (difficult for a human to start in motion from a dead stop) and dangerous if the user falls off while rolling it down the track. Vaulting poles don't have to be solid (indeed, modern poles usually aren't), but it would probably be necessary to add spokes to provide the necessary strength.

* The first design would also necessitate the use of multiple poles of different widths to account for the bar being raised throughout the competition. Similarly, the third design would require the tie point to be adjusted to change the diameter of the circle created.

* The second design violates rule 28.2.3, which effectively prohibits climbing the pole by banning moving the upper hand or swapping which hand is the upper hand after leaving the ground which was introduced after [https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1au258q/controversial_pole_vault_olimpics_story_is_it_true/ someone actually did it]. In addition, the time it takes for the pole to be sturdily embedded in the take-off & landing pits, plus the time to traverse the arch, may exceed the time limit allowed for the vault.

* The third design combines the first design's risks of the vaulter falling off and dislodging the bar with an additional violation of rule 28.1.1 that states that the use of tape may not result in the creation of any "ring" on the pole. The vaulter would also need to judge very carefully at what point to 'mount' the pole in order to be at the top of the circle when they reach the bar.

The title text says that Randall wants to be responsible for a sports rule change. Based on the contents of the comic, the implication is that he would go about this by exploiting some loophole that the organizers would be forced to patch (though his second design couldn't possibly do that, as something similar already happened in 1890).

How you could jump higher at certain places on Earth than others, for instance using a pole, was the subject of [[852: Local g]]. Pole vaulting and unfair methods of gaining height are also discussed in the first chapter of [[How To]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[At top left: A large wheel whose diameter is more than 4 times Cueball's height. Cueball is at the top, running backwards so that the wheel will roll towards a pole-vaulting crossbar at the same height.]
:[At top right: A long pole is bent into an arch going over a very high pole-vaulting crossbar. Cueball is climbing up the left part, and is about 3/4 of the way to the top.]
:[Along the bottom: A long pole has been bent into a circular hoop, with the ends tied together. It's rolling left-to-right towards a very high pole-vaulting crossbar, and three positions are shown. On the left Cueball is running to catch up with it. In the middle he has jumped and caught the left part of the pole. On the right, he has let go and is thrown into the air towards the crossbar.]
:[Caption below the panel:]
:Fun fact: There are no limits on the length or diameter of the pole in pole vault.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Sport]]