loose vs tight pole???
- Thread starter buxtonous
- Start date
- Location
- Vegas
buxtonous
wannabe
- Location
- Plymouth, U.K
a bit of time has passed an now id like to tighten it up a bit (just to try) can i do that with a std pole? and what would i need to do?
shawn_NJ
Chasing waves.
- Location
- Daytona Beach
I was running my RRP pole (w/spring) semi tight. It would float on its own, but you did have to lift it very slightly to get it to go up. It was wearing my back out too fast. I loosened the pole bolt about 1/4 turn, and now the pole will not stay in place on its own, but will drop down with just a slight negative weight/looseness. It seems to help my lower back fatigue alot.
D-Roc
I forgot!
- Location
- Dirty River Rider
a loose pole makes me get arm pump and a sore back. when i tighten my pole it stays in one spot more or less and you let your arms move more instead of a pole flopping up and down. to me, this give me more control over the ski. i ride mostly flatwater, but waves do happen and i keep it tight. i cannot stand loose poles. It takes a bit to get used to, just like a short hull but once you get it, you won't go back.
D-Roc
I forgot!
- Location
- Dirty River Rider
i like a few things done to a hull when i ride a ski. quick steer, short pole, stiff pole and a short hull. if your a freestylin wannabe these key things are no brainer mods to do. as for the stiff pole, i personally think you will ride better because the ski is going to do what it is going to do as it skips along the water. stuffing the pump and doing whatever you can do with your body will change that. having a stiff pole that gives resistance, allows the rider to feel what the hull is doing vs the pole going up and down uncontrollably from the ski bouncing. my pole ends up staying alot more stationary and i use my arms to absorb and keep control of the ski. it is hard to explain but i cannot ride a heavy stock length hull without quick steer and a loose pole anywhere near as good an opposite setup. a big motor makes it even worse. lol. just my thoughts on the floppy poles vs tight poles.
D-Roc
I forgot!
- Location
- Dirty River Rider
rider height and weight play into the total setup and each to his own. it sounds like i could ride your ski and like it. I had a cut 95sn for two seasons. I have -7 or something and with the proper foothold placement it works better than any stock hull i have been on. when the lake gets choppy it is alot of work but again having a tight pole helps me to control and feel the nose of the ski. doing the quick steer and tight handpole was a mod i did years ago from watching a fellow rider ride, and i mean ride. i didn't fully know why he setup his ski like that but i did it anyways and got use to it, and cannot go back now. when i was doing straight stab subs sometimes a loose pole would open up on me when i didn't dig deep enough to get the pump in. I hate bending my back the wrong way when locked into the footholds.
buxtonous
wannabe
- Location
- Plymouth, U.K
can anyone help with the q please is it just a case of tightening up the pole bolt?
D-Roc
I forgot!
- Location
- Dirty River Rider
To tighten my pole i use a single bolt. i grinded down the poly bushings and inserted metal washers so there is alot of metal to metal contact. this allows me to get a tight pole without alot of torque on the bracket and bolt and pole.
D-Roc
I forgot!
- Location
- Dirty River Rider
you may be able to keep the bushing but pop it out and install it from the inside. this would give you a bit of space between the bracket and the pole base. that is where i installed the metal washers. you need the bushing for the bolt to fit the pole. I also use a stainless x-metal style bracket fyi.
NVJAY775
My home away from home.
- Location
- Gardnerville, Nevada, United States
I run a semi stiff set up with spring. It stays where I put it, but basically feels dampened. I ran a stiff pole for one weekend and got wicked gnarly tennis elbows. But then again I'm 42. I will say though the stiff pole set-up did help with flatwater. My set-up is somewhere around -8 give, or take a half inch. Lovin it now though. Nice set-up and can ride a long time without too much elbow trouble.