How much room to allow between poles?

tequilalily started this discussion · 5/6/2011

My pole studio has just closed this week 🙁 but between me & a few other girls we are hoping to continue poling in my garage 😀. Just wondering how much room is best to leave between poles? Don't want to be cramped or kicking each other like some of us were in the studio! Any help or advice on this or anything else related to setting up your own pole garage is much appreciated!!!

9 replies

Cocoa0 · 5/7/2011
The studio I go to has about 5.5ft between poles... It's not enough. We are constantly kicking each other during freestyles. I would say 6.5 ft minimum (depending on the moves you are doing). Try setting up your poles the best way you can think of and get everyone to do extended butterflies and helicopter spins. If you don't have any collisions you are good to go. That being said pole dancers are very adaptable (we'll make it work) and something is better than nothing. Sorry your studio closed. I would be devastated if that happened to mine.
Mary Ellyn · 5/7/2011
One of the industry standards is that you can walk, while holding the pole in one hand, with both arms outstretched and not touch anything on all sides of the pole. SInce most people's double arm stretch is close to 6 feet....one pole next to another would (in the best of all worlds) be 12 feet away from another pole and 6 feet from walls or other objects. This is seldom the case - if ever. Our studio poles are about 6-7 feet apart. The girls learn to adapt but I certainly wish it was more. I taught a ceritification at a studio once that had 10 feet between poles. Two instructors were doing reverse attitude grab at the same time on poles next to each other. They just happened to come around the same side of the poles at the same time, kicked legs into one another and both flew off the poles! Just freak coincidence!
TwistedGripKristy · 5/7/2011
I teach at three locations. At two there are 7ft between each pole and no one seems to kick each other. At my other location there is 6ft and they are constantly having to take turns so that they don't kick each other. Seems to me that 7 feet is the magic number :)
horsecrazy12987 · 5/8/2011
Empy--ow! Yikes. Yes, the ideal is definitely to be able to stretch all the way out and be able to walk in a circle without hitting anything--that's what I initially did to make sure I had plenty of room when I first set up my pole, but when you have multiple poles that's usually not an option. Just set them as far apart as you can, and if you don't have much space, you guys may just have to take turns on certain moves that require more room.
stoneycook · 5/9/2011
Does anyone know if there is a fixed separation in dual comp pole set-ups?
PowerTwirl · 5/12/2011
I believe you should have enough room to stretch arms overhead to pointed toes between poles without hitting. That NEVER happens though in studios. It's a safety issue that is avoidable too, when girls hit each other it makes them scared to do anything and it's awkward. There's always someone who is a no-show so I believe having one less pole in the room would be a good idea. I HATE feeling cramped especially when we're supposed to be feeling free and sexy... claustrophobia does not go along with those feelings!
LiveOnceMuseFitness · 5/12/2011
I normally recommend 6 feet from walls and a min of 8 feet between poles.
tequilalily · 5/25/2011
Thanks everyone 🙂 I haven't had much time to be on here as we were busy painting & constructing...well....hubby constructed & I painted LOL!!! We've ended up with roughly 6ft between all poles, it was the best that could be done & as Cocoa rightly said we'll MAKE it work!! And we've all got far more room than we had in the actual studio so everyone is pleased. Plus we're all a bit on the short side helps...no leggy girls allowed LOL!! 😀 I had a nasty collision once with an outta control girl beside me once, both of us were doing reverse attitude grabs & she had on BIG boots & near took the shin off me...OUCH!! So now i'm looking at dvd's that i can take out to le garage & i was actually just checking out yours LiveOnce!! Do you ship to the UK? I'm looking for a good all round dvd, warm up,stretching, cool down. Transitions, floorwork & routines & moves well explained. I can do a lot of tricks just generally rubbish at linking them & "dancing" 🙁
LiveOnceMuseFitness · 5/25/2011
Hi Tequilalily, I do ship to the UK. There is a routine at the end of the first DVD with the choreo included inside the cover. My lap dance dvd gives some ideas for floor work which can be used to connect pole moves as well. I am planning on creating some new downloadable videos as well. You can see everything at my sister site www.musefitness.com/store Cheers, Elisabeth :)