A number of clients have had grip issues lately. I have reassured them that this is normal. Particularly as a beginner. There are however other things that affect grip and everyone will suffer at least one of them at one time or another.
When you’re going through it, it tends to make you blind to other people’s struggles, and you feel alone and left behind. I decided to write about my experience to show you that you’re not alone. This includes not only things I’ve experienced myself, but things I’ve witnessed on my journey as a student and studio owner over the last 17 and 10 years respectively. I’m still technically both those things, because there’s always something new to master in pole dance.
This was originally going to be a post, but it got a bit long, so now it’s a blog. You’re welcome 😂.
To summarise, it covers:
- Grip Types – as defined by me, which means it’s more of a long description.
- Grip Dependent Factors
- What We Can Do About It
- Grip Aids.
Also, amongst that are anecdotes and rants, and random side quests.
I do talk about grip aids further on, I talk from personal physical and observational experience of them. This is not a paid advertisement. So if I don’t mention your grip brand it means I haven’t experienced it, or it’s in the menopausal brain memory hole.
Why Grip Matters
For pole dancers, grip is very important.Very few people start with any sort of grip strength, and those that do don’t yet know how to control it on the pole. That’s why we start with transitions and spins first. It teaches you not only how to create and use momentum, but helps build and control grip strength in various moves.
When it all goes well, and people have the necessary grip for these activities, the hands naturally get stronger and you trust your grip more, but several things can affect this, and this affects all different people at some time or other.
Grip Types
Okay, so, this is maybe where I go off the rails a bit, because there are no actual categories. Grips are a spectrum; different people on the same day have varying degrees of grip issues. For example: I might not be able to grip the pole with hands or skin in any meaningful way (specific to whatever the intended move is, for example I can spin, but I cant hang upside down by my thighs). And you might be having the stickiest day of your life, in the same room, at the same time.
I’ve seen people grip so hard they have left skin behind (on a smooth surface that’s an impressive amount of grip), people being able to spin, but not climb or hold, and varying degrees of success in this vein, right down to no safe grip for spins, climbs or holds. In the same room, at the same time. Some looking bleak and others looking determined.
That’s why grip aids are important. I think of how often I fail because of grip, and how often grip aids have helped me (other times nothing has helped). I’ll go over the ones I use, and where I get them from later. They weren’t a thing when I first started. Consciously thinking about grip aids makes me wonder about the pole dancers I met along the way; the ones that didn’t stay. The ones for whom Pole Dance was a temporary part of their life.
I’m positively ancient these days, I’ve been pole dancing longer than my youngest daughter has been alive. I’ve experienced so many frustrations, joys, horrors, setbacks, injuries, moments of disbelief, moments of utter terror, achievement and pride. Also the horrors of the nemesis moves, and the worst of them all, the plateaux. In a great deal of these negative experiences, grip was an issue.
Why is Grip Sometimes an Issue?
Grip for me is dependent on a number of factors:
- Fear Response – The more familiar with a move I am, the better my grip is.
Nowadays, I can do some cool stuff fully dressed, because I know which moves depend on physics and which depend on skin grip alone. The skin grip is what helps us defy gravity after all. However, there are still moves that make my bum hole twitch, my palms get clammy, and my shins even sweat. Particularly, anything with a russian lay back type transition.
There are multiple factors that affect this. Familiarity with the move being the most important. If it’s unfamiliar, your body’s stress response to the way you have to coordinate yourself around a big piece of metal, usually exhibits in sweaty palms, but all grip points may be affected.
As you learn a new move or transition, you learn how to safely balance, always knowing where your centre of gravity is for a secure hold. This means that when your centre of gravity and therefore the perfect grip/balance point is not met, you know something is not right, and you know it’ll hurt if it goes wrong. So practicing the move, and learning the centre of gravity, fixing each thing, takes away the fear. But usually only for that move.
2. Hormone Levels
Hormones are just one more way for our bodies to mess with us. Fluctuating hormones affect your grip. The whereabouts in your cycle that hormones have a detrimental effect is different person to person. Where you are in your cycle also affects things like strength and energy levels. This in turn can trigger the fear response. If you do not feel quite right on the pole then your brain will stop trusting it.
3. The Bloody Weather
Very rarely is it meteorologically perfect to pole. It is the bane of all studio owners, because whatever it is like outside we have to compensate for it on the inside. We have to aim for a happy medium. We don’t want our students to be too hot and sweaty, adding to grip issues, and we don’t want them to be too cold, as this can lead to muscle injuries. This also has the knock on effect of leading to the next point.
4. The Temperature Of The Pole
The warmer the pole, the grippier it is. Sometimes it’s a battle to warm it up. The friction from spins mostly works, but sometimes it’s just not enough. Sometimes I go with the intention to train one particular aspect, and end up having to train something else, because I just don’t have the grip for what I intended, or the move requires body grip, and I can’t face the cold metal against my skin. (This is even though I know once I’ve done it a few times, that will also help to warm the pole).
5. Physical Issues
This can be anything ranging from dry skin to complex medical issues. The range is not finite so I wont go into any more detail than that, other than to say this can detrimentally affect some dancers’ grips for months and months on end.
So, What Do We Do When We Have No Grip?
It depends entirely upon the level of the shittiness of your grip and what is most impacted by your grip issues. Consider whether you can spin, hold a move, develop a trick, practice transitions or focus on floorwork. We like our dancers to be rounded in their art, so we also teach a little bit of acro too.
This is part of the reason that I have stuck with pole. There is always something new to learn, something else to perfect, some new style or move to try. So even if a session doesn’t go as intended, I can still get value from it.
Or we use a grip aid, such as a liquid chalk or resin based product.
To Summarise:
- Grip isn’t guaranteed.
- Multiple things affect grip.
- There are things that you CAN do that won’t be affected by lack of grip.
- Even with all the grip aids in the world, there will be days where you have NO GRIP AT ALL.
- There will be days when a grip aid, or a combination of them will help.
With that said, here I am going to discuss the grip aids that I personally use, and have experience of. I will point out that everytime pole dancers find a new grip that works for them (usually as a cheaper alternative to the pole specific brands), they soon inflate in price. It’s the pole dancer tax. It happened with Dry Hands, which was originally intended for Golf, it happened with the gorilla grip cloths, it happened with Stickum’. Most recently it happened with Grip It. This is a resin based spray. It was originally designed to be a mechanic’s spray. It makes your fingers sticky so that you can pick up small screws. It used to be less than a fiver for sure, and has slowly risen in price over the last few months. Why be happy with the increased target demographic and increased sales as a company? Why not inflate the price because they can. Pole Dancer Tax.
Anyway, here are the grip aids that I currently use.
1. Dry Hands
This is the grip of grips for me. It doesn’t work all the time, but when I need to use grip, this is my go to brand. It’s not too thick or heavy, or too watery, it’s a smooth grip, and although it covers your hands well, it doesn’t leave them with a crust of chalk. It used to be less than £8, admittedly that was over a decade ago, but even so, last time I purchased it, it was £18 a bottle. And as a studio, in this economy, I can’t afford to bulk buy anymore. But I do often buy in multiples, I like to have a back up. I buy my dry hands from wherever I can. Sometimes getting hold of it is like finding hens teeth. I do like buying it from xanapolewear when they have it in stock as it always comes fast.
Dry Hands – 2oz – Xana Polewear here’s a link for you because it finally looks like it’s back in stock, and is currently the cheapest I’ve seen it for a long time.
2. Sticky Molly Chalk
This is a thicker and grainier chalk than dry hands. I prefer to use this on my thighs and shins when I’m working on something new. Though there are times when I will use it on my hands. It leaves a thicker, whiter, more visible film on my hands in comparison to dry hands.
Sticky Molly Liquid Chalk – 40ml – for pole dance, pole fitness and aerial – Xana Polewear
3. Sticky Molly Rosin Spray
This is for when you aren’t bothered about friction burns, skin being left behind on the pole, and clothes sticking to you on your way home.
On the occasions that this grip works for me, it works brilliantly. It works well, or not at all. And I still don’t know what’s different on the days it doesn’t work. I will say that soap and scrubbing alone will not remove it. It has to be broken down with an oil based moisturiser or soap because otherwise, you can get out of the bath/shower, feel completely clean, get dry, put your pjs on, and the pjs will stick to where you used the grip.
One of the things that annoyed me about this grip is that the spray bottle isn’t ideal. The spout gets blocked, the end that does the fine dispersal for spray pops out under pressure. I have to wash my lids in warm water to try and dissolve the build up at least once before I get to the point where I just unscrew the lid and pour a bit into my hand.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes I will use it in conjunction with another grip.
I know I keep saying it, but different grip aids work differently for each individual. So give them all a try once until you find one that works for you. I like to keep a few handy for the different versions of me that turn up on different days!
Sticky Molly Rosin – 30ml – for pole dance, pole fitness and aerial – Xana Polewear – oh my, they have changed the bottle design. Now it looks like a functional bottle that will avoid waste. Has anyone used sticky molly from these bottles yet?
Sticky Molly – Liquid Rosin 30ml – We Are Breathe
These two stockists are both small businesses that are growing within this industry. But so far they have done an excellent job, and I have never had any issues with either business.
4. Mill Chak
This is a liquid chalk. I bought it to try from We Are Breathe when they were a stall vendor at Kick Ass Curves comp last year. The medium strength and the strong version too.
This is a lovely grip and I find myself using it more and more frequently. The medium strength in particular as it has a silky feel when you first apply it, and it doesn’t leave much whiteness on your palms that can transfer to outfits. The strong version is much thicker and tends to feel grainy in comparison.
These are Korean grips and work super well in high humidity.
Mill Chak Grip – Hand Grip – MEDIUM Strength (60ml) – We Are Breathe
Mill Chak Grip – Hand Grip – SUPER Strength (60ml) – We Are Breathe
5. Chalk Balls
These were a game changer for me back in the day. We went from using shaving foam and hairspray to using gymnastics chalk balls. These are a cheap and effective way to combat ‘newby fear-sweat’, if you don’t want to invest in one of the more expensive grip aids. I don’t have any in my personal supply currently as I don’t personally use it any more. But I do keep them at the studio so people can try them.
6. Dancing Dust
This is an Australian based company. Each of their products is made to
compensate for various types of grip, and make you shimmer at the same time. Their products are vegan. The sprays work best if you use them pre class. You’re supposed to use them 30-60 minutes before you train for best results. The one in my personal stash is the only one that has consistently worked for me, and this is a sample size bottle. The one I have is slightly thicker than the consistency of the spray, more like a mix between a heavy gel and a liquid chalk. There are many types available though and many of my students swear by it.
Dancing Dust Make Me Dewy – 30ml – Xana Polewear
Dancing Dust Make Me Dusty – 5ml – Xana Polewear – Sample pack
Dancing Dust – Make Me Dusty – Trio Pack – Gold/Pink/Peach (3 x 30ml) – We Are Breathe
7. Grip and Glow
Now that I think about it, this may be the spray that needs to be pre-applied. Or maybe it’s both? I don’t have any of these in my stash, but I have used them before. I loved it during lockdown and had 4 different ‘flavours’ of it. Once I went back to the studio, it seemed to stop working for me. I try it again, every so often, because it did work, and it was one of the nicest smelling body grips. Again, there are many people at the studio who love it and swear by it. Even though it currently does not work for me.
HOME – GRIP + GLOW – You can see all their products here.
Grip + Glow Body Grip – Xana Polewear
Grip and Glow – Body Grip – Peppermint Rhino 30ml – We Are Breathe
8. Girly Grip
When dry hands doesn’t work for me, girly grip does and vice versa. By the ingredients, they are pretty much the same product. So maybe it’s a placebo effect, but if it works, who am I to complain or try to understand.
Girlie Grip -2oz – Xana Polewear
9. No Sweat
This is a liquid chalk made by Michelle Shimmy and Maddie Sparkle. Made by pole dancers, for pole dancers. It was good stuff and I used it heavily in the studio the last couple of years. I haven’t been able to get any for a while, and it’s not on any of the places I usually go. Something to keep in mind if it pops up in a search for you though and definitely worth trying.
10. Monkey Grip
I hate this stuff because it is horrible to get off the poles, sorry. I personally find it too sticky. It leaves my skin behind, and grips too much. For instance, if I demo on a student’s pole and they have used this, my skin doesn’t slide against the metal to its now comfortable gripping point. This stops any movement in my skin at all, until finally the stretch of the skin has reached maximum capacity and it tears itself away from the grip, leaving more than an acceptable level of skin behind.
However, there are those again who need it so they feel safe doing various moves. I’m of the opinion that if it helps, then it helps. Though I do ask them to warn me so I don’t bare-skin demonstrate on it.
They are also responsible for cleaning it off after use! 😂
Monkey Hands – Sticky Grip (100ml) – We Are Breathe
Monkey Hands – Gluey Grip (100ml) – We Are Breathe
Let me know what your experiences are in the comments, with grip, grip issues and grip aids. What works for you? Can we help you overcome a grip challenge you have?
My Heartfelt Message to You
I want to close out by saying that everyone has shit grip days. Some people suffer chronically from shit grip. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t belong in a pole studio. That just means you’ll develop other areas of the craft that will enhance your skills for days when you do have grip. Perhaps you’ll develop your base work to the point where you are known for your signature moves.Even without grip, you’ll learn to do things that will make you feel iconic. Not all the time, because there will still be days when you feel like an uncoordinated marshmallow. But even that can be turned around by strapping on a pair of 8” heels, because for me, that makes me feel better every time. Even if I just prance about in them.
It can be isolating when you have long term grip issues. You can feel like everyone else is progressing faster, like you’re being left behind, that no-one has struggled with grip as much as you. And as happy as you are for other peoples’ progress, you can be sad for your own perceived lack. You are allowed to feel two things at once.
There are many times over the years that I’ve come close to quitting. That I’ve wondered at the point of it all. Sometimes for months at a time. And then I remembered. There are times when I feel like I just float and glide, there are other times where I feel strong and capable and can do all the things.
There are times when I am so lost in the movement of whatever I am doing, that I am fully in my body and completely out of my head. It brings me a sense of peace. This is what keeps me coming back. This is what makes me stay; the moments of peace that have a lasting effect, even more than the dopamine hit of nailing a new move. It is worth enduring for.
Thank you to all those enduring this journey with me. Long may we experience not only the peace, but the joy our art brings. And welcome those who face these struggles for the very first time. May you endure, and may you find the beauty in this art that surpasses the days we slide and slip around the pole.
Love xx Sarah xx
