Pole Bend is another interesting characteristic of Pole Vault. The key to Pole Vaulting is to get the pole to bend, and then straighten out, so it will send the vaulter vertical. This so the vaulter will be able to clear the height he/she is trying to vault. If the pole bends too much, that is considered “mushing” the pole. Mushing the pole is not good because it will either straighten out at the wrong time and send the vaulter off the back of the mat, or it will just recoil its self and hurdle the vaulter backwards onto the track. Both are not very good ending scenarios. The pole will straighten out at the right time, and bend at the right time if the vaulter does what he or she is supposed to do.