I'm guessing you mean it bends the wrong direction.
IK wants to bend in 1 direction that is determined by the Preferred angle of the joints.
when you build your joints. if they are straight, you want to rotate in 1 axis only ( usually something like Y ) , and then set the preferred angle.
do this by keeping the joint selected and rt click in open space and choose "set preferred angle"
if you build the joints bent. the preferred angle will be inherited by the bend.. and so will use that.
if the creation of the pole vector moves your joints.. then you want to put it in the correct spot..
try selecting the IK handle and hitting t this will show the extra manips for affecting the movement of the ik handle at the top of the joint chain you will see a white triangle,, this is your polevector.
also notice on the IK handle there are values for poleVectorX , Y, & Z
this is an offset from the root of the joint chain.
try making a locator and snapping it to the top of the joint chain.
freeze the transforms on the locator, and then match it's translate X Y and Z to the ik handles poleVector X Y Z
and you should see that the locator, and the poleVector, ( when you press t ) are in the same position.
making that locator the poleVector constraining object. should not move the joint chain when you create it
hope that helps
-=s
