Grip Aids:
Page 3 of 3
There
is some discussion over the use of products to aid your grip. Just as
various finishes affect your ability to grip and hold onto the pole, there
are
products that may enhance your grip as well. Some instructors feel you
should
not use these products when you are learning a new move so that you learn
to do it correctly without the aid.
Our belief is that when you are learning new and difficult moves or
holds, there are two challenges...that of the strength and ability to grip
correctly as well as being familiar with the mechanics of the move itself. I
find it's easier to
learn the basic mechanics of the move without struggling with your grip at
the
same time. Once you learn HOW to do the move, then you can work on improving
your grip.
Some
products you can use:
| Hair
Spray |
|
| Aloe |
Also aides with dry
skin so lotions with aloe are good to use |
| Baby
Wipes |
Cheap
brands without added oils, lanolin or lotion |
Wet Ones
(or other hand cleaning disinfectants) |
Original
version with red cap: does not have softeners in it. Contains
aloe which helps with grip |
| Gel Shave
Cream |
Just a
tiny dab of gel |
| Corn
Huskers Lotion |
Leaves a
mildly sticky residue on your skin. |
| Mighty
Grip |
Powder
that is activated by the heat of your body. Can leave a build up
on pole. Adds grip and helps somewhat with sweat. |
| Cramers
Firm Grip Spray |
Very
sticky product - difficult to wash off skin but really grabs the
pole |
| Cramers
Firm Grip Paste |
Extremely
strong product - is easier to wash off the skin than the spray
but not quite as tacky as the spray. Removes better with
alcohol. |
| "Fluid
Chalk" brand product |
This is a
"liquid" climbers chalk which adds tacky grip |
| Weight
Lifters Chalk |
Does not
add tackiness but absorbs perspiration on your hands however it
can leave a build up of chalk that you need to clean off your
skin & pole |
| Gorilla
Grip Towels |
Adds
tackiness. Usually sold for golfers |
| PVC
Products |
Shoes,
boots or tape (bondage tape) will help your feet and legs grab
and hold onto the pole |
| "Dry
Hands" brand product |
Make
certain that you shake this product really well or it will make
your hands extremely sticky so that you cannot even spin on the
pole. This is sold for those with problems with sweaty palms and
it does keep them dry but it also improves the grip with a
slightly sticky residue so you can use it on other parts of the
body that you need to grip with. |
| "Grrrip"
brand product |
Antiperspirant which may add a bit of grip
without being sticky and is water soluble.
The PLUS is for
extremely sweaty palms and works quite well to stop sweating w/o
adding as much tackinessl. Be certain to shake either product well. |
| "Tite
Grip" brand product |
Antiperspirant which may add tack for grip and
is water soluble so it can be washed off |
| "ITAC" brand product |
There are 4 "levels" of strength with level 2
being recommended for pole dancing but level 4 for a more secure grip and
advanced work. |
| "No
Sweat" brand product |
Antiperspirant which may add tack for grip and
is water soluble so it can be washed off |
|
Electrical Tape |
Often applied as a wrap around the foot/instep
to protect the skin AND add grip without slipping off the skin as PVC tape
can do. |
Keep in mind that everyone's
chemistry is different so try various products to find the one that works
best for you. Some may simply eliminate sweat for one person but another
finds it also adds a tackiness to their hands. Hands should be washed and
dried well before applying any product in order to maximize effectiveness.
When
you feel the need to apply a lotion to dry skin, you may try using baby
lotion. Experiment with different brands but you will generally have best
results with cheap brands that have no lanolin, vitamin E oil, or other products
that may result in the lotion being greasy and leaving a slick build up on
your skin. Nighttime brands of baby lotion generally fit this description.
Aloe can also be a good moisturizer to use without leaving a greasy build up
on your skin.
Apply your lotion several hours
before pole dancing and make certain to rub it in really well. Many times we
rush through moisturizing just slapping it on and not really rubbing it so
that the skin absorbs it then you have a layer of lotion coating your skin
making it slick. Rub your lotion in so that it's all absorbed.
Also, extra dry skin will not grip or stick to the pole so using non-greasy
lotions but rubbing them in well in advance of pole dancing will keep you
from losing your grip, especially in dry climates and during the winter.
A
final consideration is that the grip of a pole changes with it's
temperature.
A pole that is cold will be more
difficult to grip, but a pole that is warm will be easier to hold on to and
may even become too sticky. Pole practice over a fairly brief period of time
will cause the pole to heat up - making it easier to grip or even too
sticky. |
