45mm/50mm Leg Questions

Riddleboxxy started this discussion · 11/20/2010

Ok, I know there's a lot of posts about this but I couldn't find one pertaining to my exact question so.... 😕 I have smaller hands, but I have thiiiick (I call it that for my own self-esteem XD), flabby thighs that I can just see being pulled and stretched where my stretch marks are 😲 ..that.. doesnt sound delightful at all.... I know I'll be in for some pain but should I get a 50mm to go easier on my legs? I figure it'll be a bit hard on my hands but I think I'd get used to it faster than my legs getting used to the 45mm. With how I am, I'm afraid I'll be cursing myself for not buying the 50 because my legs are being stretched too much for me :/ Any suggestions, guys? Thanks<33

3 replies

Audball · 11/20/2010
I can't speak for everyone on this, but I own a 50mm and I've always been fine with it. Recently I started a class and there we use 45mm. Initially I found the 45mm waaay easier on my hands (I have small hands!) and didn't notice too much difference in the leg department. If I could go back, I think I may have gotten a 45mm. But now that I'm switching between them regularly, I dont notice much of a difference at all. So, Id probably go for 45mm if I were you, but either way, don't worry about it as you'd get used to either 🙂
Charley · 11/20/2010
If you are taking lessons on 50's I do think it's better to stay on 50's. The studio I teach at has BOTH and I still teach laybacks and inverts on the 50mm. I don't think one is safer than the other because your body will adapt to what youa re working with however because leg grip is much easier on a 50 I'd rather have students work on what's easiest and what will cause less pain. I didn't move to working on 45's until I had been dancing for 3.5 years so the change wasn't as big a deal and I knew what to look for as far as having secure locks. Knowing how each move should feel when it's secure comes with time and if you are newer I suggest the 50. I have small hands and I can handle a 50 just fine. There are a lot of things that are easier on the 45 but not enough so that I would recommend getting a 45 if you're new to pole. I have some students who have 45's at home but still train on 50's at the studio and they don't seem to have much problem adapting but we are just now getting into inverts and laybacks - it will be interesting to see how they do with those things.
Riddleboxxy · 11/21/2010
Thanks for your replies! They really helped me a lot while deciding through this. After hours of sitting around, pondering... I thought about going to the local hardware store and asking them if they had some regular poles in the sizes of 45mm and 50mm LOL I might try it anyway, just to make sure. The 45mm sounds great for my hands... but I really can't see my legs gripping onto a 45mm :/ I think my hands will do just fine on a 50mm and it may be better for me in the long run to use the standard size. I should be able to order it for myself sometime around Christmas (for sure this time................ I hope........... 😢 ) Thanks so much :] I'm really excited!