Help! Sweaty hands and routine planning

elsandwilliam started this discussion · 9/17/2012

Hi guys I'm fairly new to this site, and it's brill. Wondering if I can ask you all for some help?! I've been doing pole for about a year and I love it. I'd love to be able to start doing some routines but find it hard to string together moves. Indivually the moves are ok but I get a mental block when trying to do a routine, my hands also get really sweaty when I go further up my pole - even with grip - which affects my confidence. Has anyone got any tips or help for the confidence, sweaty hands and the routine planning? I'd love to post a video up eventually. Pole excites me sooo much, I just want to be as good as I can be. I worry that if I did a performance I'd just slip off the pole :( Ellie

13 replies

JhennD · 9/23/2012
Same boat I can't wait for some advice. Practice is ok on my hands, then when I think of doing a combo - I'm just happy I still have grip. At the studio I have 2 towels in my shorts or tank, (for me & pole). My nerves get the best of me and I just close my eyes most of the time. Which isn't smart. Polers what can we do or think good thoughts to be more progressive ?
Deesse Jesse · 9/24/2012
I also get really sweaty hands as I dance. And I just did a competition and didn't fall so I bet you can too!! For me it's all about planning and practice. I plan my routines to showcase moves that don't necessarily use only my hands, or put moves involving my hands in the beginning of a routine. That way if they get sweaty later it's not a big deal. You can also do the classic hand wipe choreography add in. If you know you might get too sweaty and need your hands, add a moment where you have your hands on your hips or you touch your thighs and use it to give your hands a quick wipe. And of course practice. Part of my hands sweating is nerves so if I know my routine front to back I'm less likely to get nervous performing.
Emikoisabella · 5/14/2013
Sorry for reviving this old thread, but I have been really struggling with stringing moves together/performing a routine. I already have super sweaty hands so I use plenty of dry hands/tite grip/DGP before and during my practices as well as wiping down the pole. However, it seems like no matter how much grip I put on I need to either wipe down the pole or put more on after executing one or two moves. This is fine for when I am executing moves on their own, but it becomes a major problem when I want to string moves together and freestyle/perform a routine. I have been poling for 7 months now, and learning all kinds of moves has kept me really excited/entertained, but now I’m yearning to put all these moves together and really dance to music. I’m just afraid that my sweaty hands are going to prevent me from ever being able to freestyle/perform a routine. On a side note, I don’t think this is a strength/grip issue. In perfect conditions I feel like I could hold an aerial split grip for more than 10 seconds…but even the thought of doing a reverse grab after doing one fireman spin makes my hands so sweaty that I would slip right off 🙁 Will this really get better with time/experience? If any other polers went through this experience early in their pole careers I would love to hear any advice/tips you have!!!
Ajrt2118 · 5/15/2013
hey, I'm sorry you get so nervous. :-/ the thing that keeps me focused is not wanting to injure myself. But as far a sweaty palms go, I've jus started using liquid chalk on my hands and body and my once slipper pole is like an old well used one. Lol. Try liquid chalk. They have some marketed for polers but it's jus the stuff rock climbers use. Good luck! :)
Kira · 5/15/2013
I still have this problem 5 years in lol for me it is nervousness performing in front of strangers. Preparing for a competition I run through the whole routine as many times as I can to build up stamina and to improve my muscle memory so I would automatically go into the next move without stopping, worrying and sweating. Make sure the pole is clean even if you are going to put your own grip on as layered grip will make the pole even worse to grip. Another thing I sneakily do is when I'm doing some dancing before a big move I stroke my leg/body/hair to wipe off excess sweat lol it's gross but it works and looks nicer than standing there wiping your hands on your butt :p .. .
azblanco · 5/15/2013
i am considering going to the dermatologist for hyperhidrosis... I really think I have it... I have had a sweating issue since I hit puberty.. I sweat through men's over the counter clinical strength deodrant.. I now wear two different brands so I don't sweat through it... My feet barely sweat, but my hands are crazy sweaty.. It has gotten a little better since I have gained more strength, but it won't go away... Thats why I'm thinking a doctor might be able to help... I just can't hold off much longer.
Pulse Fitness · 5/15/2013
They have stuff that will take your basically shut your glands down, but you must only use it as directed. Goodluck.
monica kay · 5/15/2013
tricb67: what stuff are you referring to? i have tried hydrosal and drysol and neither worked for me. and i sweat thru non-tack pole gloves and on the fingerless tacky gloves, sweat drips out of the finger holes. on the full fingered gloves, sweat drips down my wrists. @emnemz: This is how i deal with performance and my sweat. Practices differ from performance in that practices are an hour, hour and a half, and sometimes longer, whereas a performance is generally one song (or 2 or 3 if you work in a club). If you are like me, the former scenario will result in way more sweat than the latter. So- just keep battling the sweat during practice. You may find your sweatiness improves with strength and experience (note: i did not, but some do). Come performance day, I stay away from pole tricks a couple of hours before my showtime. I do several short warm ups only to prepare my body for mild stretching. As I get closer to show time, I keep applying all of my pole antiperspirants every half hour- and keep stretching. (I dont overstretch tho) When it's time for my 3-4 minute routine, my hands are dry and remain dry enough to perform with fewer sweat issues. (of course, by the time my routine is done, they are soppy wet) Also, I incorporate floorwork into my routines because that is an opportunity to put my hot and moist hands on the cold floor as i crawl around or whatever. That helps get them ready to grip the pole again. I also like to perform in gloves. dont give up!
Emikoisabella · 5/16/2013
Thanks for the advice everyone! I will keep trying and hopefully it will get better with time.
CaliPolePrincess · 5/31/2013
Try dirty girl poletice, I heard that helps a great deal with sweaty palms.
poledanceromance · 5/31/2013
Just checking in to say I am super sweaty in the hands and recccomend dirty girl poletice. I was feeling the effects of the stuff on my hands like two days later, it works great for me. Much like toothpaste method in the feel, but stronger.
Emikoisabella · 5/31/2013
Thanks, DGP is also my go-to and reduces my sweating alot, but not enough to be able to do a routine. I think I will probably go to a dermatologist to see if I can try out iontophoresis.
Emikoisabella · 5/31/2013
Thanks, DGP is also my go-to and reduces my sweating alot, but not enough to be able to do a routine. I think I will probably go to a dermatologist to see if I can try out iontophoresis.