Editing Pole vault (section)

==Technology==
Competitive pole vaulting began using solid [[Fraxinus|ash]] poles. As the heights attained increased, bamboo poles gave way to tubular [[aluminum]],<ref>McCormick, Matthew (26 February 2014) [https://web.archive.org/web/20140226041417/http://illumin.usc.edu/printer/143/soaring-to-new-heights-the-evolution-of-pole-vaulting-and-pole-materials/ "Soaring to New Heights: The Evolution of Pole Vaulting and Pole Materials"]  Retrieved on 19 Feb 2024.</ref> which was tapered at each end. Today's pole vaulters benefit from poles produced by wrapping pre-cut sheets of [[fiberglass]] that contains resin around a metal pole mandrel, to produce a slightly curved pole that bends more easily under the compression caused by an athlete's take-off. The shape of the fiberglass sheets and the amount of fiberglass used is carefully planned to provide the desired length and stiffness of pole. Different fiber types, including carbon fiber, are used to give poles specific characteristics intended to promote higher jumps. In recent years, carbon fiber has been added to the commonly used E-glass (E for initial electrical use) and S-glass (S for solid) materials to create a lighter pole.

As in the [[high jump]], the landing area was originally a heap of sawdust or sand where athletes landed on their feet. As technology enabled higher vaults, mats evolved into bags of large chunks of foam. Today's mats are foam usually {{convert|1|-|1.5|m|sp=us}} thick. They are usually built up with two cross-laid square section logs with gaps between them, topped by a solid layer of foam of the same thickness. This lattice construction is wrapped in a close-fitting cover topped with nylon mesh, which allows some air to escape, thus combining both foam and a measure of air cushioning. The final layer is a large mat of mesh-covered foam which is clipped around the edges of the complete pit and prevents the athlete from falling between the individual bags. The size of mats used has been increasing in area to minimize the risk of injury. Proper landing technique is on the back or shoulders. Landing on the feet should be avoided, to eliminate the risk of injury to the lower extremities, particularly ankle sprains.

Rule changes over the years have resulted in larger landing areas and additional padding of all hard and unyielding surfaces.

The pole vault crossbar has evolved from a triangular aluminum bar to a round fiberglass bar with rubber ends. This is balanced on standards and can be knocked off when it is hit by a pole vaulter or the pole. Rule changes have led to shorter pegs and crossbar ends that are semi-circular.