Emulating pole studio conditions at home

Zoiiys started this discussion · 10/17/2013

More of a rant than anything. Does anyone else have trouble emulating your pole studio condition at home? I use a chrome X-Pole at the studio and the conditions there are perfect. Grippy without being overly sticky, not hot even without air conditioning, and I'm hardly sweaty and never need grip aids. At home, using a TG pole (I'm actually allergic to chrome, so I limit my exposure to once a week), and all hell breaks loose. Air conditioning makes the pole too cold and slippery, fan makes it too sweaty, I sweat through all the grip aids. I can't even complete a simple extended butterfly. Arggghhhhhhhh!!! *rant over*. Any ideas or should I just have bought brass hehehe....too late for regrets.

19 replies

calipolepixie · 10/17/2013
I have the SAME issue. It can be VERY frustrating! I just deal with it day by day...I just got itac & it helps my body parts stick a lot better but it's no bueno on the hands, which is where my main issue with grip lies when working on SG, TG & other advanced inverted moves that rely on great hand grip. So I have been on the prowl for a grip aid that will work on my DRY hands. I have found though that if my body and pole are extremely warm, I have less of an issue at home. But both have to be warmed up just right or else=bad pole day. I also think that at the studio, we warm up well & the poles are nice & broken in, so they aren't as slippery, so they provide a better grip. I plan getting a 45 TG or brass soon (I have a 50 chrome now) though...hoping that will help too.
teachtrinity · 10/17/2013
oh I so relate to this!! Im doing ok in class but at home im crap LOL I put it down to several things; not warming up enough at home cos im in too much of a rush to get on the pole at home, so I now do the 7 minute workout as my warm up at home and that has helped loads; the supportive atmosphere in class, cant replicate this one at home LOL what has helped me a huge amount is cleaning my TG pole with white vinegar and also being a real geek and having a list of things I need to practise, its probably all stuff you are doing already :) good luck
ShonaLancs · 10/27/2013
I said the same thing here last night, went to pole and video some of the ace stuff I have been nailing in class, couldn't even hold an invert it was so slippy, argh....annoying! I am also the same though, I rush my warm up and draw a blank as soon as the video gets turned on... But hey you got to take the bad with the good and at least you do well in class :-)
Zoiiys · 10/27/2013
I suppose I do...everyone else needs grip aids and I never do. I only wish I had the same at home, it's frustrating and I always feel reluctant to practice due to that. Have ordered Gorilla Snot...Mighty Grip does not work for me.
ElleDorado · 10/27/2013
Hey Pole Sisters! Sadly, it's the same here... I have been poling in a studio since March of 2012 and I have a chrome X-pole Xpert at home and, but I rarely use it, all because I have no grip at all!!! I so do understand your frustration and it's kind of a relief that I'm not the only one having these problems, but still... I agree that I too, tend to (partly) skip my warm-up at home, but even if I do, my hand still slide down and I can'even hold a simple butterly! GGGrr! For grippy legs, I do have a great tip, especially for those with dry skin, such as myself: I always apply some shaving cream on my legs (just rubbing it in), about 15 minutes before I start poling and it works like a charm! The brand doesn't matter, but shaving GEL works better then foam. Plus it smells nice and is inexpensive. Doesn't work on the hands though... :( :( Now, back to the slippery pole: we used to have chrome X-poles in the studio and I never had slippery issues there (as long as I used my shaving foam). Now, some weeks ago, they changed them for stainless steel poles and these also work great for me, even when they were brand new and not 'broken in' yet!! So I totally don't get it. Already tried cleaning mine with the following: - Window cleaner/ Glassex - Alcohol (blue spirit) - Dasty (some brand of nasty super de-greaser, I even clean the wheels on my car with it, but as for the X-pole... #fail) - Spraying it with hair spray (seemed like it worked, until after 10 minutes the thin film came off and now it's all gunky) - Heating it up with a blow dryer before I started poling (very tedious and didn't work but I probably didn't so it well enough, but hey!) - Vinager (this was hopeful and worked a little, but I probably should repeat this treatment several times, because I believe in the power of vinager) So .... any other suggestions? I really hope to solve this problem, because I'm ready to trade this #@%& pole for another,... if I only knew that would work for sure. Thanks and happy poling! Leo, the Netherlands
Zoiiys · 10/27/2013
I think alcohol works best for me. I got a titanium cos of the grippiness and of course since I'm allergic to the studio's chrome poles, but it seems titanium isn't that grippy or it's just me. Probably me.
ShonaLancs · 10/27/2013
I'm not sure it is the pole as the pole at one of the studios is the same as I have at home and is in very good new condition like mine and I can grip fine there just not at home. I also have the issue that my pole is very short and my space is small so I think mentally I feel inhibited before I begin..I always pole better when I have a nice open space :(
grayeyes · 10/27/2013
Same here. My studio has brass Pole Danzer poles and I have a Lil Mynx stainless. I don't have much problem with hand grip at home but knee and thigh are very difficult. I have never used or needed any grip aid at the studio but I'm starting to try some at home. I clean my pole with Windex and also tried the vinegar with no help. It's definitely better once it's warmed up but not great. I'm considering dragging a space heater in there before I start to try to warm it up a little before I get started. I'm definitely going to try the shaving gel idea.
Veena · 10/27/2013
One thing home polers forget is they need a good warm up. If your grip is an issue and it's not due to sweating, then make sure your getting the pole and your body warm.
Veena · 10/27/2013
Oh and try steam cleaning your pole, gets all the gunk off and warms it too!
Meg Smith · 10/28/2013
Yes steam clean!! Thanks to Veena my pole is always clean and grippy. First time I did it I did not expect it to be sooo gripy,and left a bit of skin behind on my pole!! Not found anything's half as good x
ElleDorado · 10/28/2013
Perhaps a stupid question, but how do you steam clean a pole?? Perhaps with the same appliance used to strip wallpaper off the wall?? Or can a normal iron be used?
Veena · 10/28/2013
When I lived in the Midwest I steamed my pole every time I would dance in the colder months. I have heard an iron set to steam works.
Nats01 · 10/28/2013
@calipolepixie - Try Tite Grip for your hands. Apply it 15-30min before your poling session. That is the only grip that works for my sweaty hands. and then itac for body parts such as knee and elbow pits. You can also try Dry Hands
ElleDorado · 11/17/2013
Hello Everyone, Just wanted to let you guys know that the steam cleaning tip that Veena mentioned tuned out to be a succes!! That, pus her tip to warm up longer/better (something that we tend to 'forget' when poling at home.) ;-) So I did my warm-up, plus I used a steaming iron (just a regular iron on maximum heat) to clean my X-pole. I just used the steam coming out of the iron, condensing on the pole and a dry towel, wiping it up and down. Also washed my hands thoroughly before I touched my pole again and immediately, my spins were much better! I still use shaving gel to make my legs stick (I have a very dry skin - see my post above) but I now also have grippy hands without having to put 'gunk' on them, which I personally do not like. I'm so, so happy to finally be able to practice at home, getting stuff DONE for a change!!!!!! Really, you can't even imagine... :D Love and many thanks Veena! You're the best and I love your online lessons as well! (and now I can actually execute them as well at home) xx Leo P.S. I hope this helps others as well who have trouble sticking to their X-poles.
ElleDorado · 11/17/2013
Hmm.. that would be 'turned' and 'plus' instead of tuned and pus! LOL
Veena · 11/17/2013
I'm so happy to hear it worked for you Elle!!!!!!!
monica kay · 11/17/2013
gorilla snot? lol! ew
ElleDorado · 11/17/2013
Whatever works! Try it and you'll see! ;-)