Does pole size make that drastic of a difference?

Rin Rin started this discussion · 1/8/2011

Sooo... when I pole at home, I have trouble with all kinds of intermediate moves. I can't do a proper open V, my invert doesn't hold for long, and I can't do anything else with any level of success. The other day, I went to my teacher for a private lesson in her home, and she had me doing all kinds of things! I went to show her how lame my open V was and did it perfectly 4 times in a row.... I was holding my inverts forever, adjusting my arms and my side, and doing a climb above and a gemini. She even had me doing a successful Teddy. But today, I got back on my own pole and I look exactly like I did before I went to her... My open V sucks, my knee can't grip worth a damn, and I fall right out of the Teddy. The only difference I can think of between her pole and mine is that hers is a 50mm while mine is a 45mm. I know that it's slightly easier to grip a thicker pole, but can it really make *that* drastic of a difference in my ability? I just don't know what's going on here! 🙁

5 replies

Sassafrassle · 1/8/2011
I normally find the opposite - that moves are easier on the smaller poles! Are your poles made of different things? Like, is it grip you're struggling with? Or did you warm up more when you were with your teacher? Did you feel more confident when you had her there for spotting all the time? Maybe you were just having a really awesome day - now you know you can totally own those moves even if it doesn't happen every time:)
EvaRut · 1/8/2011
I think that different things are easy on each size. I have never tried 50mm but I use 38mm and have no problems with it. Although I once tried 45 mm and I found that its easier to do things on it like gripping with legs and armpit. But I have no problem doing those moves on a 38mm they are just easier to hold on a thicker pole.
Rin Rin · 1/8/2011
I'm not sure what it is 🙁 I actually warm up more on my own than when I'm with her. The only other difference, now that you mention it, is that she has a Platinum Stages pole while mine is an X-pole. I've never looked at Platinum Stages, so I have no idea what they're made of. I know mine is chrome...
Rin Rin · 1/8/2011
And, in the case of the Teddy, it is grip that I have problems with. However, in my open V, my grip is fine... I just can't keep myself in position long enough to tilt back all the way. But when I was with her, I could go all the way back and hold it long enough to slide to the floor. I was shocked! I thought maybe that the few weeks I was home without my pole, and just strength training, that I had suddenly gotten so much stronger and wouldn't have a problem anymore! But just a few days later, back on my pole, I'm right back where I was... .argh!
chimponaut · 1/9/2011
I sort of had the same problem. I started on a 45 and the studio I went to had 50's. I found it much easier to hold inverts and thigh holds on the 50 but when I'd try it at home on my 45 I could barely hold it. I've since bought a 50 so I tend to play more on my 50 and then once I get it solid I work on doing it on the 45.....but still prefer the 50 for almost everything!!! I also find that I tend to do things a lot better when I have an audience. For example I struggled with the teddy for almost a month I just couldn't take my outside hand off the pole or I would just drop down. I switched to a new studio and asked my teacher for help so she told me to do a teddy and I did one perfectly...and she was kind of confusedas I did it correctly but I assured her that really was the first time I was able to do one! I have had a few other moves work for me that way in that I worked on them at home with little to no success but then I get it at the studio....either I feel better knowing someone is spotting me or I just try harder because I have an audience....or maybe both!!