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Discouraged.
Hello!
I’m brand new to this site. I’ve been pole dancing for a little over a year, however mental blocks have kept me from excelling, until the past four months. So, two weeks ago I felt I was ready to purchase a pole. My stainless steel pole showed up and I was thrilled. Now I’m just frustrated. The pole REFUSES to get sticky and I find myself not truly trusting my x-pole. I also find myself not being as confident with the few moved I’ve been “signed” off to do myself. Is this new fear and frustration normal?
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8 Replies
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It is so normal and you got one of the slickest finishes there is. You may need a grip aid to help with grip.
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Ugh, SS is SLICK! I agree with Luvlee, buy some different grip aids and fins what works best for you.
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Ugh, SS is SLICK! I agree with Luvlee, buy some different grip aids and fins what works best for you.
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Hi Hefmod, Are you sure it's a stainless steel finish or is it a chrome finish? If it's an xpole and its shiny silver then I bet it's chrome.
I have some tips for you regardless of finish. If is a new pole clean try cleaning it with a clothes steamer or an iron on steam. Just steam, and wipe until the pole is nice and dry. New poles have lots of factory junk on them and it can take time for it to come off, I've found steaming is the fastest way.
Also, make sure you've warmed your body and pole well enough. Its common for home polers to forget to warm up and this can cause grip issues.
We all have our strengths and moves that are just not right for our bodies and that's totally fine and normal. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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Thanks guys!! It’s SS because that’s what I’ve been training on. My instructor says if we can master moves on SS then we can dance on any pole. I will try to steam the pole and hopefully that works. I use grip in class as well..what can I say, my skin is naturally smooooth! Lol I thought about purchasing a brass pole but she was against it because it too grippy.
I use Althea Austin’s DVD ‘s to warm up and boy do they warm me up! Thanks ladies! -
The poles at my studio are also SS. We'll be superwomen when we're through with these suckers!!!
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I have a SS at home, and being that home is the only place I dance, I know what it's like when it just won't co-operate! Stainless steel can be bitchy sometimes.
Some of my little tips would be:
-Make sure you're not dry. Yes, moisturizer is bad when polling because it can introduce oils, which immedaitely get onto your pole and make it SLICK AS HECK. But, if you are too dry, you won't stick! Make sure to drink lots of water, and try to moisturize on days or at times you won't be poling a while- such as at night, or just after poling.
-Warm up both you and your pole! The pole won't be sticky when it's cold. Seriously, you gotta dance on it to make it warm! This is partly why my warm up is dancing- it helps me get warm, and my pole gets warm, too! Just warming it with your hands, spinning (the friction) and such is enough.
-Clean your pole, and sometimes your hands. I use windex, it doesn't do anything bad for me, sometimes can make my pole slightly more grippy (since the sweat from my hands is coming off the pole, I imagine), and water cleaning off your hands will work wonders! But, these are both only for a short time- brief moments of grip to help you get to that wonderful warmed-up pole state.
Otherwise… yeah, grip aids work. I'd rather use them for moves that I seriously CANNOT grip otherwise, no matter how hard I try. Like using 4wheel drive when off-roading in a jeep- you don't want to use it all the time, get stuck, and then not have anything to fall back on! Use it when you actually get stuck in "normal" to get yourself out.
My skin is naturally smooth and dry, so I feel your pain, hon. Keep at it! I love my pole, and I wouldn't trade it in for the world. Even if it does come off all jerk-face now and then 😉
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I have chrome at home and stainless at the studio I go to. I really struggled when I started on the stainless. I agree it can be very frustrating. I've found the really helps my legs to be sticky. Like Rumey says you can be too dry and addresses this without becoming greasy. I ordered the sample set and found I like the ultra the best. (They had free shipping a couple of days ago. Not sure if it is still offered).
At home I also turn up the heat before I start dancing. If it's really cold (okay SoCal cold), I may wear leg warmers and sweats while I cook dinner etc. Then I'm physically warm even a little sweaty. This helps me a lot.
And of course grip aids for bad ass moves. My favorite is firm grip–though not so great for spins.
I'm sure you'll work it out.
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