Hi GQC
The end of the pole is open, allowing the tubing to slide freely in and out of the pole, for example, an 18ft pole closed is about 6ft, so all the excess tubing (about another 18ft as you usually have 6ft spare when fully extended) is lying on the ground, when you fully extend the pole, the tubing slides inside the first section and so on, so by the time you have fully extended the pole the pole will be 18ft with 18ft of tubing in it and another 6ft of tubing on the ground.