Grip Question

sydneylaura started this discussion · 1/28/2013

Hi everyone, I have a question for you about grip. At our Studio we all use dry hands or tite grip to combat sweat and hair spray or shaving cream on our legs to stick a bit more to the pole. We are all using 38mm brass spinning poles. Anyway a friend who has poled on and off at another studio came to practice at my home where I have a brass x pole. She was shocked that I used grip and said it was frowned upon at her studio. She was trying to get me to not use it but here in Sydney it is super humid and hot so I am sweating loads. I just dont feel secure with out grip. She said she was taught to just grip on with your legs/arms and if you need to just keep spraying the pole with meths/windex as this will help you stick more.... thoughts on this?.... Is anyone at a studio where grip is frowned upon?

10 replies

Saphyre · 1/28/2013
I have heard of people not being big on using grip aids, but I will tell you that I believe in doing whatever it takes to pole SAFELY. If that means using a grip aid, then so be it. In the summer it gets super humid here in Chicago and I absloutely could not pole without iTac on my thighs no matter how many times I wipe the pole. Older ladies can attest that our mature, dry skin will not stick without the right moisture being added. I also have to use Mighty Grip gloves sometimes. If my studio told me not to use a grip aid, I would tell them that I will take my money elsewhere. It could just be that they are trying to encourage students to work on their grip strength, but it's hard to do that if all you do is slide right off. Safety first!! I believe there are some competitions that don't allow the use of grip aids, but if competing isn't your goal then it's irrelevant. Just my own opinion.
Leanne Love · 1/28/2013
I agree with Saphyre. I originally thought using a grip aid was sort of "cheating," but I've had to deal with sweaty hands that literally slip right down the pole and that's just not safe. I understand the importance of having a strong grip, but at some point I feel no matter how strong the grip between your thighs/hands/any body part is, your skin type or the current weather conditions might just require grip aid to keep you poling safely!
azblanco · 1/28/2013
I totally agree with Saphyre! I have been encouraged from others in the past that I should try to work through it and not rely on grip aids. I can see the reasoning behind this, so you don't become reliant on it. I can see where it could help you gain more grip strength without using it. And I do know using grip aids does NOT give you strength. I wish it did. HaHa! But If you feel more secure with it, then use it! I live in New Orleans, Louisiana and winters are almost non-existant here. Its always hot and humid. 75% of the time I would not have a productive pole session if I do not use dry hands.
chemgoddess1 · 1/28/2013
My issue with grip aid is that people want to use gloves and itac and grrrip when they are new just because they slide down the pole, when in fact they are sliding because they do not have the strength to do the move. This is when grip aids become a crutch. I know a lot of girls who cannot climb without shoes or boots because they totally rely on the grip of their shoes instead of learning proper form. On the flip side, different times I rely on different aids. I have used liquid grip during performances just to keep my nerves at bay. I have also used for performances. And for the life of me when I was learning iguana mount every single time I put my hands on the pole they turned to faucets. When I taught I had all of the different aids on hand but most of my girls did not use them unless they were super sweaty that day. As always the case of safety, engineering controls (proper heating/cooling) should be the first line. Only in lieu of engineering controls do you turn to PPE (personal protective equipment).
sydneylaura · 1/28/2013
Great , thank you for all your advice! Really interesting to hear all the thoughts about grip out there. I generally just use it on my hands when it is really hot in the studio and a bit on my thighs when I just find I am sweating way too much. I am more than happy to kepp using my trusty old grip I think! I feel much safer with it when I am upside down with split grips doing extended butterfly etc.. We are not allowed to wear shoes at the studio due the fact that you could use them to climb. Bare feet only and no feet when climbing , straight legs up pretty much all the time!
Veena · 1/28/2013
Here are my thoughts.... Sweaty hands or body YES please use grip aids to help prevent slipping! However, I don't think its necessary for everyone. You could also try gloves too! In home and in studio you should make sure to warm up!! When my body is cold there is NO WAY I can stick. If you and the pole have been properly warmed (and you don't suffer from super sweaty hands) grip should be fine. I don't have oily skin so I make sure to use a oil free lotion like lubriderm the night before I dance this makes a big difference. I use them when I perform, because the poles may be cold and I may not be able to warm my body like I would normally. So I use a grip aid that helps me stick. As for use in class, grip aids can make a horrible mess on the poles, so I could see that some studios would ask students to not use them in class. I've been on pole that had been used by someone wearing grip aid and fell, it was too greasy for me!!!! If you use grip aid clean them off REALLY well for the next dancer please. Find the combo that works for you, start with the least like a good warm up, then lotion the night before and so on, until you find your perfect match! 🥂
azblanco · 1/28/2013
Which studio do you attend in Austraila ?
Smokegrey · 1/29/2013
Shaving gel + 38mm brass spinny + Sydney… sounds like Bobbi's? But the no-shoes-in-class bit doesn't sound like Bobbi's. (Also, unlurking. Hello SV!) Where I live, it's always hot and humid. The way I look at it, if grip aids help me hang on so I can build strength over time, then I'm using them. Without grip aids, I sweat too much to stay on, and if I'm not on, I'm not learning! It's also a safety issue; if I'm slipping, I'm so much more likely to land badly and hurt myself, or to strain something. I take a spray bottle of alcohol+water and a towel to class though, and clean the pole when I'm done, to leave it nice for the next person.
TrixieLovett · 1/29/2013
Chem: Can you please chime in on why we shouldn't be using Windex or other ammonia-based products? Both on our poles but especially on our skin... I know you are much better at explaining than I.
sydneylaura · 1/29/2013
Thanks Veena for your explanation. Azblanco and Smokegrey I attend Studio Verve in Surry Hills in Sydney. More of a pole fit studio, very different style of pole to Bobbis I think. Yep we have spray bottles of meths/water everywear with towels to clean poles.