I need your help with a very simple spin please

polefairy started this discussion · 4/8/2010

Hey guys, this may seem like a really silly question because the spin is supposed to be quite easy but I absolutely cannot do it, I've tried it so many times and each time I end up stopping abruptly because I am afraid that I'll hurt myself. I'm not even fully sure what the name of it is (when I did classes my teacher called it the fish tale) but I found it in two of these videos : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8PLPi0M8bM&feature=fvw around 4.21 and http://www.youtube.com/user/Trena543#p/a/u/2/Nxmadx_5aD8 around 2.28 (I hope trena doesn't mind that I used it) No matter what way I try I always get scared that I'll hurt my knee off of the pole (I'm aware that my knee probably shouldn't even be in contact with it, I just can't get it right) I can do lots of other spins easily, fireman, chairs, back hook, carousel etc with NO problems and yet this one keeps hurting me 🙁 Anyone got any suggestions? Thanks 🙂

14 replies

Monz · 4/9/2010
My only suggestion is to start off slow where you are not banging your leg into the pole. You are not actually going to spin but you will get comfortable with the position. The gradually add momentum. Keep studying RedKE's vid on hand and leg placement. You'll get it!
Journey · 4/9/2010
I believe that's called a Dizzy Lizzy, among other names. Which knee are you worried about hitting? The one on the extended leg?? 🤔 I've only done this one like, maybe twice ever... lol. I just hold on tight with that top hand, hook the knee, let yourself fall forward as you grab the pole with the other hand under your knee, and just keep the other leg straight as it comes out from under you and keep it lifted. If you keep it lifted up, you shouldn't hit your knee. Most people's problems with spins like this are committing to going sideways (I still have problems with the cradle spin because of that...), but if you're not worried about that part, I would say just try it. There's one of those Expert Village videos on YouTube of this move, too.
Runemist34 · 4/9/2010
I actually have had a strange experience with this move. As soon as I figured out where the bottom hand went, I said "Ooooh!" and got it right away...and then I stopped getting it at all! I could do it for the first couple of days, but ever since, I've never been able to get it right without slipping or doing something funny with something. I think it might be the sideways thing...I'm thinking about it too much, so I'm actually messing myself up. Also, things are only simple to some people, and not to others. 💪
polergirl · 4/9/2010
Is the Dizzy Lizzy the side spin? The problem I see with most people on this is that they try to lead with the head, which effectively kills any and all momentum, which I think is how you end up banging knees and such against the pole. If you lead with your hips, then swing your head down and dive into it, you will have crazy momentum and your position kinda takes care of itself, at least IME. This is one of my favorite spins but it wasn't until I learned to lead hips first, then dive, that it ever really spun and/or I stopped whacking things against the pole when I went sideways.
PoleDanceABCs · 4/9/2010
Yeah I call it the side spin too. For me it was all about the top hand... I just kept it too high in the beginning. I learned that lowering my top arm closer to where my bent/top leg was made it easier. And I agree about not trying to get your head/top body close to the pole... extend out and "flat".
tiggertail · 4/10/2010
my problem with this one is the hand between my legs. I'm so scare to crash that I hold too tight and this hand don't go down 😲 Yes it look strange 😂
x Sakura x · 4/10/2010
We didn't actually learn this spin with the hand between the legs.. I can't even think how I do it now. But I remember when we first did it we did in slow motion lol. The hardest part was lifting the straight leg. We hooked the right leg, then lean forwards until your left leg touches the pole (hence the slow motion so this doesn't become a bashing of the pole) and then lift the left leg to be horizontal. This method does mean NO momentum for the first few tries, but once you get the feel for where everything should be it's much easier to add the spin. Of course this is just one opinion and is just how I found it easiest to learn.
polefairy · 4/10/2010
That is exactly how my instructor showed me too. There was no low hand at all and she said for the first few tries to just hook your leg and fall until your straight leg comes in contact with the pole. I can do it very slowly but I honestly feel like if I used ANY momentum that I'd break my knee. I think I'm just not bringing my straight leg up which is exactly what you said. I'm glad someone else has found this move a bit difficult too, I think I'm just too afraid! 😳
amcut · 4/11/2010
Yeah, the bottom hand isn't required unless you're switching legs... I was thinking that I need to be doing this one BACKWARDS a lot more, but whenever I get to the pole I'm confused beyond words. Anyone have a backwards side spin into something tutorial? 🙂
polergirl · 4/11/2010
Yeah, the bottom hand isn't required unless you're switching legs... I was thinking that I need to be doing this one BACKWARDS a lot more, but whenever I get to the pole I'm confused beyond words. Anyone have a backwards side spin into something tutorial? 🙂 Check out the videos here from the USPDF comp--someone, I don't remember who--does an awesome back hook-ish thing to a backwards side spin into a leg hang. It's super fast and *awesome.* I haven't quite figured out where she puts her legs and how, but you can bet I'll be trying it! 🤸
miss fern · 4/11/2010
This is actually not a simple spin at all. I don't teach this spin to my student until they are intermediate. You need a lot of strength in the top hand and your hammies to be able to lift your bottom (straight) leg off the floor AND also it is indeed difficult to get the momentum working on this one. Here's an expert village tutorial on dizzy lizzy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbmG49oB7Kg (she bends the back leg, but it's just one small difference).
x Sakura x · 4/11/2010
Don't you worry at all huni! For weeks our entire class just had their back legs dragging along the floor until we finally managed to lift them up! It's just going to take time, don't do something you don't want to, just take your time and wait until you feel brave enough. The fact that you've got the first part means that you CAN do the move so don't worry 😀 x
tiggertail · 4/11/2010
no low hand??? it's gonna be more easy the next time 😀 thanks
polefairy · 4/11/2010
This is actually not a simple spin at all. I don't teach this spin to my student until they are intermediate. Oooh okay, well that makes me feel better then, it was in a beginner class that we were shown this one, I think it was the 4th class. Then the next class was climbing the pole and the last one was sitting on the pole and turning one move into another one. (dunno if there's a name for that 😳 ) Then after that class we could decide if we wanted to join the intermediate one or not. Thanks Georgiamarie, I'll keep on trying! 🙂 For weeks our entire class just had their back legs dragging along the floor until we finally managed to lift them up! Best mental image... EVER!! 😂 x