Utterly, Utterly Fed Up

horsecrazy12987 · 2010-09-09T01:44:21+00:00

I am so discouraged. I have a Lil' Mynx stainless steel (which I did not realize has a reputation for being super slippery before I bought it,) and I have had nothing but problems with my grip since I purchased it last year. This month actually marks a year in having my pole, but I would say I'd only count about four, maybe five of those months as actual consecutive practice because I have had so much trouble that I just haven't been practicing on it the way I should. I have sweaty hands anyway, but this pole is just ridiculous. I have tried numerous grip aids, I wipe my pole down constantly with rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth, and I still cannot get through an entire song. I can barely get through a few moves. While I love pole dancing, it is getting to the point where I am starting to wonder what the hell the point is--I can't DO anything on it. No matter what the temperature or weather is like, the pole always seems as though it is sort of sweating, which coats my already-prone-to-wetness hands, and then it's just a train wreck. I read on a pole forum that some girl finally ended up very, very lightly sanding her Lil' Mynx with the finest grit sandpaper she could get because she was having so many problems with it being slippery. I've tried just telling myself 'Well, if I can dance on this then I can dance on anything,' but I can't even dance on this. Every single practice session consists of me struggling to chain just two inverts together because my hands just keep sliding down the pole, and I have come to the point where I am actually considering (very carefully) doing the same thing. I think my body chemistry and this pole just do not mix. I don't know what else to do. I cannot afford another pole right now, otherwise I would consider something grippier. Any thoughts? I am so tired of walking away from every practice session feeling extremely let down/frustrated. I want to pole DANCE, not do one trick, try to do another, slip, try again, slip again,…

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islandfevah · 12/23/2010
Yay! I'm not the only one! I *hate* this TG Xpole. Hate it terribly! I am having to re-learn everything I do. I can't even do the most basic spin on it. Even when I do manage to get a grip it leaves awful callouses on my hands. My thighs are covered in horrible pole burn and no matter how much I squeeze or shift my weight, nothing helps. I can't move with this pole either...my body just wont wrap around it and it feels so un-natural. I've been poling for a while and have never, ever felt this discouraged.
hookedonpole · 12/24/2010
Yay! I'm not the only one! I *hate* this TG Xpole. Hate it terribly! I am having to re-learn everything I do. I can't even do the most basic spin on it. Even when I do manage to get a grip it leaves awful callouses on my hands. My thighs are covered in horrible pole burn and no matter how much I squeeze or shift my weight, nothing helps. I can't move with this pole either...my body just wont wrap around it and it feels so un-natural. I've been poling for a while and have never, ever felt this discouraged. How long have you had the TG xpole? Is it x-pert (spinny)? I'm asking cuz I got my TG xpert around September this year. I'm not that experienced, probably beg/interm poler, but struggled with my lil mynx ss long enough. I was just as frustrated and thought I made a major mistake getting the TG. However, I stuck with it and really like it now. I'm able to accomplish more than on the ss and had to learn to adjust grip, etc. I believe spins are tougher with it, veena and other advanced polers can give advice in that area. I do basic spins on it now and again. I tend to be on the lazy side when it comes to spins. My body looked and felt like I got beat up within the first couple of weeks and thought how do I tell my husband this isn't going to work. He gave me $$ to get it for my bday. After much agonizing, I had no choice but to stick with it and I don't think about looking into chrome anymore. I hope it works out for you as time goes by.
Veena · 12/24/2010
This is why I don't recommend TG finish to newer dancers.....it will take a good amount of time to get your hands accustom to static spins with this finish. With the TG you can't slide into moves as well so you have to be pretty spot on in your positioning. Even I had some adjustment time with my TG but now I love it so much 🥂 🥂
horsecrazy12987 · 12/24/2010
I don't know exactly how the grips match up because I have never danced on anything else, but after sanding my ss Lil Mynx, it is waaay grippier--basically I am dancing on an entirely new finish. I am definitely having to get used to the extra grip, which has resulted in some pretty good pole burn and calluses, although these I don't mind so much because I figure they will help with my grip. It definitely took some getting used to, but eventually I'm sure you'll figure out how to adjust and wonder what you ever did without your TG. I did a spinning shoulder mount today on my stationary pole on the new finish, and while a bit painful because I've never done a spinning shoulder mount before, it was definitely doable--I practiced it several times and wasn't in agony or anything, just some discomfort because my shoulder isn't used to that kind of friction. I probably would not have attempted the move again if the pole was freshly sanded, because by now I have built up some tolerance to it; I think it's just a matter of time for everyone. I would not go back to the way my pole was before, even if I could.
islandfevah · 12/24/2010
Hmm..Its one that converts to a spinning pole. It's quite encouraging to see that it may get better if I just stick with it:)