You might not think about it, but rods are important when counting. Most people think that it doesn't matter what they hold in their hand, as long as there is something in it. The rod has traditionally only been for snoozing. However, in counting, the stick has more uses than leaning. Ask yourself why good calculators use light sticks. Light rods with a center of gravity close to the handle? It is precisely because the stick would move imperceptibly from one turn to another, and there would be no need to waste energy to use it.
I remember a trip where Nygård and I got aluminum-framed poles. These rods didn't weigh significantly more than the carbon rods I was used to, but their center of gravity was closer to the shaft than the handle. So at every turn the stick was just in the way. At some point during the trip, the situation escalated to the point that new poles had to be obtained. The old rods went into circulation and lighter ones replaced them.
How long should you count with a stick? The rule of thumb has been that put the stick on the ground and the angle to the elbow should remain 90 degrees. As a result of counting the years, I think this is rubbish. When making a stick sign with a stick that is too long, the hand moves too far to the outside and back of the body, and this inevitably results in rotation of the upper body. The stick should pass under the hand, moving the wrist. With a rod that is too long, your landing position is easily too upright and thus your center of gravity is too far back. When you change your old habits, the result is that you are able to link good translations to each other in a completely different way than before. My recommendation is to shorten your rod by at least 5cm and see what it does to your landing position.
As an example, the recommendation for me, based on old advice, would be about a 115 centimeter rod, but it seems to be the case that I calculate closer to a 105 centimeter rod. I even had to shorten the carbon fiber shaft of the rod a bit to get closer to the ideal rod size. In the case of a telescopic pole, this is not so important, because if necessary, the pole can measure almost 140 centimeters. With this size, it's good to hike or cross-country ski.
Tip five more. Now when you use the rod, really let the rod swing naturally under your hand. Try not to reach for the next turn. Your upper body is doing extra work and this is called rowing. So be relaxed and just make a small movement with the stick. Counting starts from the legs and hips.
So invest in your rods and even exaggerate the shortness of the rod.
Like this time.