[Elbie84]

I think iTac is brill and really helps when you need that grip, however, I have found for some moves it is best to have just skin. When I was learning cross knee release I once didn't have enough grip and used iTac on my inner thigh – which did make me stick really well, but as I leant back, my thigh suddenly moved. Think its because normally my skin would have to move slightly on the pole to get that part of sticking but with the iTac it just stuck where it was.

iTac is really good for the moves where you position yourself and that's it – no skin needs to move!

[Elbie84]

I fell off trying to handstand out of a fallen angel (cross leg/knee release). I had a mat down but it's quite squisshy. Think it was a combination of my arms being too far from the pole and the squisshy mat my arms just buckled when I released a leg to push off and handstand.

 

Slithered to the floor but got really bent up as my head was by the pole and still had the pole between my legs! Could've been worse, just bashed my shoulder.

 

I would recommend using a mat for when you're learning to invert, just until you have the confidence in your legs.