Hey love, if youâve ever tried to hold a pole move and found yourself slowly sliding down like a sad spaghetti noodle,welcome to the club.
When I first started pole dancing, I honestly thought grip just meant âsqueeze harder.â Spoiler alert: itâs so much more than that. Grip is the magical mix of strength, skin, sweat management, and yes,even your pole dance wear. And until you figure out how it actually works it can be quite annoying.
Lets discuss the grip today and understand its importance and affect ,how you can improve it and what helped me having a firm grip on the pole instead of just hanging.
Why Grip Is Kind of Everything in Pole
Letâs be real,without grip, thereâs no climb, no spin, no sexy slow slide down the pole. Just flailing limbs and bruised thighs (ask me how I know).
Grip isnât just about your hands either. Itâs your skin contact, your strength, your clothing, and your overall prep. When your grip is on point, everything feels easier and safer. When itâs notâŠwell, thatâs when I face-planted in class trying a jasmine spin and ended up with pole burn and a bruised ego.
So⊠What Messes With Our Grip?
1. Our Skin (and Sweat!)
One of my biggest grip battles? Sweat. My hands and thighs turn into slip-n-slides the minute I start warming up. If your skinâs too sweaty or too dry, youâll struggle with sticking to the pole.
I started exfoliating gently 2â3 times a week and using a pole-safe moisturizer like Pole Physics at night only. That way, my skin stays hydrated but not slippery during practice.
Also avoid lotions the day of your class. I once forgot and applied coconut body butter⊠letâs just say the pole and I had a serious breakup that day.
2. The Temperature (Cold Poles Are Evil)
If you live somewhere cold, you already know: a freezing pole is a slippery pole. Cold metal + cold skin = zero grip.
What helps? I warm up my body first with floorwork or light cardio, and if I can, I wrap my arms around the pole or do a few fireman spins just to generate heat. Donât jump into tricks right away give your skin time to âwake up.â
3. Your Strength (and How You Build It)
Okay, I hate to admit this, but for the longest time I avoided conditioning exercises. I just wanted to dance, and not get involved with push ups and exercises.
But when time came for some specific sequences like hanging from the pole or the use of a resistance band,I learnt it required the use of wrist and forearm ,it made me realize I needed to build some strength.
It takes time to build strength so you need to be kind and patient ,you need to stay consistent and take small steps while building strength your body will catch up,Pomise.
How Your Pole Dance Wear Affects Your Grip
Now letâs talk fashion,because yes, what you wear can totally make or break your grip game.
Tight, Sticky, and Fabulous: Finding the Right Polewear
When I first bought polewear, I thought it was all about looking cute. And donât get me wrong, that matters too. But turns out, certain fabrics actually help you stick better.
My velvet shorts? Grip gods. My slippery lycra ones? Not so much when Iâm trying a leg hang.
The key is finding pole dance wear clothing thatâs tight-fitting (not too loose or youâll slide inside your clothes) and designed for skin-to-pole contact. Sticky mesh, velvet, and latex-style fabrics are great for thigh and hip holds.
Coverage vs. Skin Contact: Balance Is Key
There was a time when I used to wear high-waisted shorts and cover half of my thigh ,of course it caused difficulty in getting a solid grip while performing sits..
Now,I try to match my outfit with what I am working on.I sometimes mix and match outfits accordingly.Tricks that need more thigh grip? I go for cheeky bottoms. Floorwork day? Iâll pull out the full-coverage stuff.
Your pole dance wear should work with your movement, not against it.
Footwear: Yes, Stripper Footwear Helps Too
I used to be intimidated by platform heels. I thought they were just for aesthetics. But turns out, stripper footwear does more than just make your legs look amazing.
The sturdy soles actually give you better anchoring on the floor, especially during transitions or floor-to-pole moves. Plus, the weight of the shoes forces you to engage your legs more, which helps with control,and guess what? More control = better grip.
Just make sure your shoes have good sole traction and arenât worn down to a slip hazard. Trust me, Iâve slipped mid-slide in a dusty pair of 8-inchers. Not my finest moment.
What About Grip Aids? Should You Use Them?
Short answer: Yes,but smartly.
Grip aids can be a huge help, especially when you're new, sweaty, or trying something scary and advanced. I personally love a bit of liquid chalk when my hands just wonât cooperate.
But donât rely on them too much.But overusing grip wear can cause dryness and can even lead to allergic reaction so,be careful while using them. They should support your grip not replace your training or skin care.
Useful Tips for Long-Term Grip that actually work
- Hydrate You need to drink plenty of water and keep your skin hydrated with moisturizer too..
- Exfoliate: A gentle body scrub will exfoliate dead skin and keep you ready for the grip.
- Warm up: Cold body = no stick. Move first.
- Keep your polewear clean: Dirty gear = less traction.
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Train your grip: Dead hangs, towel holds, even yoga helps.
When It All Clicks: That Grip Glow-Up
I can never forget my first perfect shoulder mount without loosing grip,it wasnât up to the mark and the feeling of finally being in control was ecstatic.and that moment was the result of weeks of tiny improvements,skincare, strength, wearing the right pole dance wear, and ditching the heavy lotions.
Your grip journey will have ups and downs. Youâll slide sometimes. Youâll get mystery bruises. But youâll also grow stronger, stickier, and way more confident.
Final Thoughts
If you are struggling with your grip in pole dance,don't take pressure,just make some changes in your routine and your pole dance wear, that will help you get a good grip.Choose the appropriate polewear,take care of your skin,drink water, build your strength and even grab the right footwear.
Keep changing your routine and your polewear,keep adding the things you need to add to get that perfect grip and donât be shy to ask other dancers their routine ,what works for them may work for you too.Pole dancing is a magical journey and grip is just a part of it..
So go on,moisturize your legs after class, wear that velvet bottom, and enjoy sticking that trick youâve been chasing.
You got this. đȘâš