Leela started this discussion ·
Hi! I just joined Studio Veena. I've been taking lessons 1x/week for the past year but my progress is SLOW. I finally bought a PS Star Stand Alone so I could practice on a regular basis. My problem- the stainless steel is sooo slippery. Am I just going to slowly get used to it? Will Itac or mighty grip take care of it?
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Later ·
Heey Leela, its awesome that you are taking lessons. I understand that it can be frustrating at first and seem like you arent getting very far however your building strength with out even realizing it yet. I as well have a stainless steel pole and i understand that it can be slippery and although grip aids to seem like a great idea, its always a good idea to get used to poling with out any type of grip aid at first. After about a month or so you will start getting less nervous and your hands will get used to it and will produce less nervous sweat etc. I used to have to wipe my hands after EVERY move and it was frustrating but the girls here encouraged me to just keep doing it and that eventually it would get better. Although I still have a bit of slippery issues the initial had wipe after every time I touch the pole is gone now. I do however clean my pole with windex and it does help and doesnt seem to do any damage to my stainless steal pole. I spray a little on a soft cloth and wipe the pole with the cloth. Good luck and dont worry it will get better. btw be careful I have heard there are some issues with spinning in a certain direction with though ps start stand alones. Just want you to be safe!
Many of us struggle or have struggled with slippery pole, no matter what kind/finish. I started on a stainless steel lyl mynx and used it for two years. It was a struggle, however, since it was the only pole I had, it's what I learned a lot on. There was a lot of wiping, grip aides, etc. Like savy said, it is good to practice without grip aides, but I finally gave in and used some to feel like I was getting somewhere. Then the hunt was to find which grip aide worked for me, as again, everyone is different. I finally was able to get an xpole titanium gold and went the other way with grippy pole. It is very different and my body got "tore up" at first, but I'm used to it now. I do lose spins practice because of the good grip, but for now, it's okay. Maybe later, I might look into chrome. The decisons we polers have to make :) Even though it may not feel like it, you are building up strength and conditioning. I didn't think I was, but now I realize I did. Hang in there.
Cinara ·
Strangely enough, I grip stainless better than any other finish (though I've never used titanium). I agree that it's a good idea to practice without grip aids at first, and with skills your familiar with, but I think everyone has different skin, and different levels of sweat, so as you get more used to the pole, not requiring grip aids doesn't necessarily make you a better poler, perhaps just a luckier one. For instance, I have very slippery hands, knee pits, shoulders and sides, and while I can improve the grip strength in my hands to counter the sweat, its not like I can really improve the grip strength of my sides. But I have very grippy thighs and will never need grip aids there. So, once you get used to the pole, what I find useful on stainless is a little bit of tite grip applied directly to the pole in the bits where you really need it. It saves you having to reapply it to yourself for awhile too.
I, too, have a PS stainless steel. On rare occasion, when the pole and myself are perfectly warm, the humidity conditions are right, and the stars are aligned, the pole is grippy without the use of grip aids. However, most times I am shamelessly using Mighty Grip and it is a tremendous help. I don't need grip aids with other finishes (i.e. chrome, titanium gold, brass), but stainless steel is a different story. I say, if it makes things easier, go ahead and use Mighty Grip, Tite Grip, Itac2, etc. I just ordered some Itac2 and can't wait to try it!
Cocoa0 ·
New steel is the WORST! It's sooo frustrating when you can't do the tricks at home that you can do at the studio. I find that iTac with a little tite grip on top works best on my steel PS. Also remember that steel gets better with use. We have steel Mynx poles at the studio I go to and they are the grippiest poles I have ever come across.
Leela ·
Thank you for all the great advice! I guess I just have to keep practicing and try to break the pole in. An investment in some grip might be happening too.... I will try to resist!
I just wanted to give you an update, since my Itac2 came in the mail yesterday. I got the level 2, which seems to be the most popular, and it made a world of difference on my stainless steel pole! I wish I had tried it earlier. I was impressed with how much it improved my grip, let still allowed for some decent spins. Maybe I'll have to try Cocoa0's tip of also adding Tite Grip, but Itac2 by itself is awesome. It definately did the trick for me.
