Let's face it, the vast majority of pool poles on the market (and, especially, those sold at most pool stores) are useless. They bend, they break, they get dented and won't extend or collapse.
Most of them use a plastic "twist-lock" cam mechanism to maintain pole extension, and you know just how frustrating that can be. Half the time the cheapo locking cam doesn't REALLY work from the day you buy it. Even if it DOES work initially, with repeated use and chemical exposure, the cam soon "dies", making it nearly impossible to lock your pole in any position. Applying any pressure at all, to brush or vacuum your pool, you find the pole constantly collapses.
Or, if you get the cam to actually lock tight, good luck getting it to unlock. So, now you've got a flag pole instead of a pool pole. A stuck cam is just as frustrating and inconvenient as one that won't hold.
In the end, if a product is evaluated according to its ability to do the job it is advertised to do, most pool poles should get a D grade, at best. Add to that the cost and hassle of constantly replacing your pole in hopes that it will actually do the job, and you've got a perfect recipe for aggravation. Does that describe your experience? If you own a pool, I'm betting it does. Honestly, it's a bit like someone selling you a screwdriver to pound nails. Eventually, it might get the job done, but it would be nice to have a hammer.