Let's Talk Pole Grip Aids

When I first started pole I never wanted to use grip aids. I believed that I would gain the strength to not need them and I wanted to never have to depend on them.
That was hocus pocus.
The first grip aid I tried was Mighty Grip. I got it for free and I was willing to test it out. I loved it - for about a few minutes.

The powder was helpful with the slipping for about the first grab, and until I used too much and my hands kept getting sweaty. After you apply it, it turns into this almost slick slikiness on your hands that I think is supposed to make a slight tackiness. It didn't seem to help much and I pretty much gave up on it.

Next I tried Dry Hands.

Dry Hands is one of my favorite because it works quickly on sweaty hands/sweaty grip, it's not too strong, and it's not too weak, and it's easy to buy/find in studios.
However, I came to realize Dry Hands wasn't my thing either. Or it least wasn't all I needed. I had to constantly reapply, and I even tried using it with Mighty Grip and it didn't do much.

I later got iTac2 for free.

 

I had high hopes for this. I heard it can make you climb up walls. I put some on my hands at first, and I slipped straight down the pole. My friend told me to put it on the pole. It helped, but it wasn't great, and it could still be super slick. I know I can't put grip aids on poles in competitions so I stopped using it. Someday maybe I will love it, we'll see.

While on FaceBook I saw a discount for Poletice, the powder. It was offered at a discounted price so I decided to try it. This was better than Mighty Grip to me because it didn't leave you with that tackiness after it comes in contact with your hands. It's essentially just a simple powder. I might start using this for class when my hands are sweaty and I don't want to use something stronger.

I have a showcase coming up, and with all of this I was frustrated and afraid of my sweaty grip. I was sure I would slip off the X-poles at my performer showcase for my studio. I was thinking, "There has GOT to be something that I can use since so many performers can make it through whole performances and no way all of them are using the same thing." I looked up more grip aids and remembered hearing about Tite Grip.

I was THRILLED as hell when I first used it. I didn't slip once, I felt strong and secure and was no longer afraid of sliding down the pole (well, maybe only like 5% compared to the 80% I felt before). Tite grip is an antiperspirant lotion that you rub over your hands. You are supposed to put it on 30-60 minutes before your performance. It draws out the moisture and keeps it out. I won't use this for class, unless I'm getting no grip with Dry Hands in Spin Pole class, but for performance - I am SO excited about this product. They have a new formula that supposedly makes your hands not as "white" with residue (which is minimal and not very noticeable) called Tite Grip II, and it supposedly smells more like lavender. I decided to stick with the classic version. Needless to say, I'm super happy I discovered this in the nick of time.

Finally the one I want to talk about is Dew Point.

I have been practicing my choreography on X-Stage chrome poles and one of the two poles in particular - I slide down it like I'm fighting a waterfall. I fought it over and over but after getting through an initial spin pass I am just too exhausted to give that extra energy just to climb up the pole. I put on some of the extra strength (red) dew point on my inner thighs, inner knees, and the tops of my feet. My problem was solved. I didn't feel any stickiness or see any coating on my legs, but when did a superman on a stainless steel mounted pole, I was so stuck. That stuff is intense! I will only use the red for a chrome X pole, but it worked awesome.

The general idea that I have learned is:
Try many grip aids. What works for your teacher or your friend may not be good enough for you. Everyone's body acts and behaves different. No matter how much do you do to avoid sweaty palms - not use lotion, wash your hands after you lotion your face, cut out caffeine, drink a lot of water, etc - sometimes you need to have a little extra. Some people are in love with iTac and Mighty Grip, and some people only need a drop of Dry Hands. I urge you to try all of them when you have the chance - it will save you a lot of fear around performance time. I have apparently sweaty hands regardless of my efforts and Dry Hands wasn't enough. I now use Tite Grip and put it on 30 minutes before I do my performance, and I put dry hands on right before for that extra help. For the ridiculously slippery legs I use Dew Point. I feel more confident now and am not as afraid to try intense moves halfway through a performance when I know I'm sweaty. Tell me your experiences!!

<3 Lindsay Lithe