Super slippery pole

polisian started this discussion · 4/18/2012

So I finally just got back to poling from a broken wrist, but I've had terribly sweaty hands both before and now. I've tried literally everything (except sanding my pole a little bit) I still have to wipe my hands after almost every move. I have tons of hand strength, I climb as well, and i'm wondering if my solution is gloves. I do more static moves on spinning pole so I'm not overly concerned about too much stick. But I'm curious what you guys think about this. It's really holding me back from being able to move on from basic/intermediate moves.

31 replies

Dancing Paws · 4/18/2012
Have you tried drysol?
Cherished · 4/18/2012
I've read lots of good things on this site about using drysol for hands. Also I was having slippery times even after getting into intermediate and now have a much better grip in advanced lessons, so it still could be a matter of gaining more strength. If it's not a matter of strength and just sweaty hands than you might need to look through the threads about grip and play with different suggestions to see which one or which combo will work for you. It's pretty frustrating but if you keep trying you'll get it :)
Cherished · 4/18/2012
lol I Scim I had read your post about drysol the other day and that's why it was on my mind!
Dancing Paws · 4/18/2012
I plan on grabbing some this weekend. I can't remember who tried it out, but she said it works!
polisian · 4/18/2012
Alright I probably missed that I'll Try it! It's a bit much in case it doesn't work but it's worth it, maybe it might help more if I sand the pole a tiny bit too
Dancing Paws · 4/18/2012
Try the drysol first. If you have an x pole, then I definately WOULD NOT recommend sanding it. The plating is so this as it is. For the drysol, start out applying it everynight for a few weeks. If it starts to work, you can back off to every other day, then every two days, etc.
polisian · 4/18/2012
Yea sanding (barely obviously) is definately my last resort. Thank you! I'll definately try that
nymphdancer · 4/19/2012
I wouldn't reccomend sanding unless you have a stainless steel pole most everything else is a coating and you could do more harm then good.
steve4041 · 4/20/2012
And I'm sure you already know this, but I have found a HUGE difference on how slippery I am when I use lotion the day I'm spinning...or at least within a few hours. For a while I was wiping down after EVERY spin..kind of hard to get a routine going doing that :/ but now I notice I only have problems on days I'm using lotion and stuff...so I'm trying to get my hands adjusted to not using lotion.
mystical · 4/20/2012
I know that lymelite sanded her pole and she said its more grippy but she has a chrome pole. Have you tried any grip aides?
reenie aka Mysfit · 4/20/2012
As mentioned....Sanding the chrome poles is really tricky and not really recommended. I sanded one of my xpoles--BUT---I had a professional body repair do it for me. He used a super fine grit and slightly wet sanded it....BUT---I would never recommend someone doing it on their own....It certainly isn't pretty....but it did help. My Xpoles are ancient----the first generation of the top loading...I have used them so much---we had polished the chrome finish to a super slick surface. I knew I was taking a huge risk of damaging the the pole.....I lack the finess to be gentle enough to do it myself and not completely screw up my pole......As they are as old as they are---if it went wrong, I was okay with buying a new one to replace it. The layer of chrome plating on xpoles is very small and delicate. My body guy had me take down the pole and take it apart as he wanted to see what we were dealing with.....Even he told me---it was risking having to replace the pole and I still wanted to give it a try because in my mind--as well loved and old as they were---I needed to replace them anyway. We got lucky.....but I wouldn't recommend sanding chrome. Have you tried using vinegar? There is a thread on here about vinegar helping TONS....other than smelling like pickles.............works like a hotdamn....
Jojodanza · 4/20/2012
I was messing with wax one day (like hair removal wax) and while I was putting the wax away I made a mess and got some on my hands. While i was trying to rub it off i was like "hmmm sticky" lol so i spun around a couple of times...superrrr gripy. like if you were on static forget about any sliding at all. So I then tried to clean right after (cause i didnt know the effect the wax will have on the pole) i used acetone and it got even stickier!! had to use more acetone and windex to clean it completely off. Dont know if its safe for the poles but it happened so i thought i would share
DeniseL · 4/20/2012
I sanded my Xpole, I agree it doesn't look super pretty but you can't tell unless your in person and it helped big time...also what I found out later that works AWESOME...get a kettle of boiling hot water, wear protecting gloves or as i do use a big towel poor the boiling hot water onto a part of it, bundle up the dry part of the towel underneath the hot/wet part and clean the pole top to bottom not rubbing over the same spot twice, keep wetting a new part of the towel till your poles all the way clean and presto! removes all that stuff on there with no chemicals....key is boiling hot thou...last resort you can try a wax remover (like for your floors) clean with that first than do the boiling hot water trick....I clean with the water like once a month just to strip it clean and it is night and day difference...I didn't even want to use my pole before as it was to slippery...now, if I can ever find the time I love it! i can do everything same as if i were in class! Good Luck!
Dancing Paws · 4/20/2012
Instead of sanding, you can do like others on here and take it to get powder coated.
pegasusaerialfitness · 4/22/2012
I've also heard tite grip is great. I use acetone once in awhile to remove any buildup and, You can also try dry hands applied to the Pole to help with a little more grip..dont use a lot or it will just get gritty.
Lyme Lyte · 4/22/2012
Cramers sport spray is the bomb. Find it on Amazon.....
polisian · 4/23/2012
Yea I don't use lotion anyway. For cleaning I use either 50 or 70% acetone and it works wonders. I've tried grip aids but they don't do a thing for me it'll work for a move then especially Mighty Grip gets really slippery again and it's worse. I do have a chrome pole.
polisian · 4/23/2012
Yea I don't use lotion anyway. For cleaning I use either 50 or 70% acetone and it works wonders. I've tried grip aids but they don't do a thing for me it'll work for a move then especially Mighty Grip gets really slippery again and it's worse. I do have a chrome pole.
Dancing Paws · 4/23/2012
No, do not stop using lotion. You just need to switch to a lotion that is glycerine based, not oil or petrolatum based. The oil will make you slide, but if you use a good glycerin based lotion, it should not interfere with your poling. It's best to use it after you shower before bed, so it is less likely to interfere with your poling. I use vaseline total moisture conditioning, and it has not caused me any problems. It actually adds grip right after I put it on. You must know, dry skin will not grip the pole. It makes grip worse. Hydrated skin grips the pole (so use a good lotion if you get dry skin.)
mystical · 4/23/2012
I actually have the same problem with my pole and i dont use lotion either and i use tite grip but that only lasts for so long so i was thinking of sanding my pole. Can i get that acetone from walmart?
Dancing Paws · 4/23/2012
Would acetone strip off the plating on the x poles??? I know x pole told me not to use windex on mine, and acetone is stronger than that, I believe.
Webmaster · 4/23/2012
@SensualScimitar - Acetone would not strip plating off the poles, nor would windex for that matter. Windex is a poor choice as a pole cleaner because it is not a pure product. Depending on the kind of Windex you purchase it can include detergents or other impurities that could affect your grip on the pole or cause different reactions when combined with the oils on your skin. Its the same reason Windex is not recomended as a cleaner for your computer screen.
Veena · 4/23/2012
Silverlady there is no need to be rude.... Everyone, lotion can be helpful, BUT do not apply lotion right before dancing, you need to wait hours before dancing or you'll have a greasy mess. How you and your pole react to each other will depend on weather, pole room condition, your skin, if you sweat or not and how comforable with the moves you are. But regardless of finish you can learn to work with what you have. Sometimes it's as simple as warming up, or turning off the AC, To clean my pole Alcohol, or hot steam, from a clothing steamer or iron works wonders. Grip aids will gunk up your pole, so use them ONLY if you have to.
Dancing Paws · 4/23/2012
Okay, thanks webmaster.
luvlee · 4/23/2012
I have been poling for over 3 years now and this topic is funny to me because we all have different skin types so we all need to do different things for grip. I am so dry I vacuum up skin from under the pole and dead skin is all over my towel and shorts when i pole. I began using lotion and it helped me find my grip. I can put it in and go because I am so dry. Some may need to wait. I use pole physics lotion, I use bath and body sometimes too. I use in medium. I use itac at times also. I am DRY. This has helped me so much. I never understood why I would slide down even being warm when I started. I thought no one should wear lotion because that is what I saw everywhere. Well, we are not all clones and I need to grease up. So try both. Play with different grip aids and see what works for YOU.

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