Get a Grip! Grip Aids for Pole, Aerial Hoop and Silks
Grip (or lack thereof) is often the first thing any pole or aerial student learns about in their first class. Grip is constantly on our minds, every time we train. Your grip can vary depending on strength, how tired you are, weather, the environment in your training space, apparatus material, shape, and finish, the part of your body doing the gripping, skin condition (e.g. dry, oily, sweaty), even cyclical hormones. One thing is constant, we battle for a good grip and just the right amount of stick, every time we train.
Though it is important to train your grip strength and not rely too heavily on grip aids, a good grip aid, used properly, can help you build strength and confidence in your practice. As we return to training, after a long break, it is important to remember to take things slowly, and regress back to the basics for the first 4-8 weeks of training, and grip aid can certainly play a part in that.
In the world of social distancing and increased hygiene practices, students will need to bring their own grip aids to class, and sanitize them (or the container they come in) on their way into the studio.
The type of grip aid you need will depend on multiple factors:
The apparatus you are using
The finish on your apparatus
The natural moisture level of your skin
The humidity and temperature of the studio or area where you are training
Let’s break it down by apparatus!
POLE
The poles at Brass Butterflies are Brass, but you might encounter Chrome, Stainless Steel, “Titanium Gold”, Powder Coated, or Silicone poles. Each finish has a slightly different grip.
Chrome - Baseline/Standard grip. Industry standard for competitions and showcases. Generally the least expensive. Students who are used to brass will generally find chrome "slippery" but will eventually get used to it. People with contact allergies to metals such as nickel may react to chrome depending on length of exposure and severity of allergy.
Titanium Gold - Electronically coated to enhance grip to somewhere between chrome and brass. Esthetically looks more like brass (yellow/gold colour). Mid-priced. Coating will eventually wear off with extensive use to reveal chrome beneath.
Stainless Steel - A bit grippier than chrome. Best for sensitive skin. Will not tarnish in humid climates.
Brass - Higher grip. Common in studios (in Canada). Generally more expensive.
Powder Coated - Painted surface similar to automotive paint or the paint on playground play structures. Also better for sensitive skin or those with metal allergies. Very high grip (could be too much for students learning spins on static poles).
Silicone covered - Maximum grip/cannot spin on static mode or slide down. Can grip while wearing clothing. Similar to Chinese Pole.
Size/Diameter also plays a part in grip. The poles at Brass Butterflies are all 45mm which is standard for competitions and showcases, thought you may encounter from 38 - 50mm. Thicker poles (48-50mm) will be more difficult for students when learning spins and tricks requiring hand grip, however they may make sitting and tricks that involve hanging from the legs easier/more comfortable. Skinnier poles (38-40mm) are the opposite. They are easier to grip with hands for the beginner but will make sitting and leg tricks harder to learn.
AERIAL HOOP
The hoops at Brass Butterflies used to be covered in athletic tape to provide more grip. Unfortunately, in the world of COVID-19, tape would prevent us from being able to properly sanitize hoops between students so it has been removed. Our hoops are all powder coated (painted) which provides a grip-able surface similar to a powder coated pole, though the diameter is generally smaller. Standard diameter for aerial hoops is 22mm.
For former Hoop students, getting used to a naked hoop will be an adjustment, but there are pros! A naked hoop provides less friction, so rolls are smoother and any moves that used to cause skin abrasions will probably be less likely to do so.
Grip Aid Options for Pole and (untaped) Aerial Hoop
The grip aid options for “naked” (untaped) hoops are, for the most part, the same as for Pole. Though, as outlined above, Powder Coating is generally a grippier finish than brass, chrome or stainless steel (other common finishes for bar apparatuses). We do not recommend using climbing chalk or rosin (often used on taped hoops) on the naked powder coated hoops.
*These options are available through the studio. This is not an exhaustive list of options.
Holy Grip* - liquid with a clay base - designed for sweaty hands.
Apply a few drops and kind of pat your hands together (don’t rub them). Give them at least 30-60 seconds to dry before approaching your apparatus.
Dry Hands* (2oz. bottle $20+HST) - liquid with an alcohol and silica base
can be used on hands and body, though designed mostly for hands. Apply a few drops and pat your hands together (don’t rub them). Give them at least 30-60 seconds to dry before approaching your apparatus.
can be applied directly to pole or hoop
“reactivate” by spraying hands with alcohol
people with particularly sweaty hands find they “sweat through” dry hands after just a few minutes
Mighty Grip* (0.25 oz. bottle good for 150 hand applications, $20 + HST) - heat activated thermoplastic wax powder
Sprinkle powder on hands and rub together vigorously to activate
Can be reactivated by rubbing hands together to create heat
Dew Point* (4.5oz spray bottle, $37.50 + HST)- glycerin based body grip (not recommended for hands)
spritz onto body and allow to absorb for a few minutes. wash hands after touching or rubbing in wet product
generally recommended for people with dry body skin
when skin, especially on legs, is very dry, it slides almost as much as sweaty skin; glycerin moistens and makes the skin slightly “dewy” and tacky/sticky
Shaving Cream - unscented shave cream without added oils or moisturizers for leg grip
This is an old pole dancer’s trick for leg grip. It generally only works if you have dry skin.
Buy the cheapest shaving cream or gel that you can find. It’s the glycerin content that makes it work. Avoid any that mention “moisturizing” or oils on the packaging.
spray a small amount in hands then rub into legs like a cream - do not rinse
you will usually need to wash your hands after applying shaving cream to your legs
Drysol - a clinical strength antiperspirant for people with excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) of the arm, hands and feet.
This and products like it are generally applied daily or once or twice per week at bedtime, NOT applied right before or during class.
Botox - This is an extreme solution for people with severe hyperhidrosis. It should only be used on the advice of a medical professional.
Gloves - Another option is to purchase fingerless gloves designed specifically for sports that have tacky grip built into palm and fingers. This is not an option we would recommend for long term, as it is not going to help you adjust and strengthen your grip to interact with the apparatus. However, some people do have very sweaty palms and no amount of regular grip aid really helps. If you fall into this category, Mighty Grip manufactures gloves designed for Pole. Avoid the full-tack version, as they can make it almost impossible to do any sliding on the apparatus with your hands. They’re too sticky!
AERIAL SILKS
Grip on the silks is generally the opposite of grip on a bare metal bar apparatus - moisture is GOOD!
Three Grip Aid Options for Fabric Apparatus
Water - Applying water to the hands, feet, or knee pits can help students stick to the fabric and achieve better grip. Students can bring a small spray bottle with water for this purpose. You can purchase these at most Dollar Stores, gardening centres, or hair and beauty supply stores. Mist your hands, feet and knee pits, but don’t saturate.
Rosin - Rosin (a solid, sticky, resin derived mostly from conifers and some other plants) can also be used to help increase friction/stick between your body and the fabric. Rosin can be applied in the same places as water (hands, feet, or knee pits.)
Rosin comes in a few forms:
Rock Rosin (which can be purchased on Amazon in large bags or can be purchased locally at Inspirations Dancewear - ballet dancers use it)
A bar of rosin (which can be purchased on Amazon or locally at a music store - violinists and other string instrumentalists use it on their bows). Usually rosin bought in a bar at a music store is a bit more expensive per volume, but you will not need very much and it often comes in a nice convenient carrying case.
Powdered rosin - comes in a shaker, already crushed. This form can be messy if you don’t have a container to apply it over, so we would prefer you don’t go with this option for in the studio.
How to use rosin:
If you buy rock rosin in bulk, take an old (CLEAN) sock and pour about a handful of rosin in there. Tie up your sock to seal the rocks inside the sock. Take the sock outside and bang it on your driveway a few times to crush the rocks up. Find an old Tupperware container to store your rosin sock in to transport it to and from the studio. Make sure you sanitize your container in reception at the studio. When you use your sock, just pat it a few times between your hands and you will get a fine powder on your hands, then just pat your hands together a few times to rub it in. Always use your rosin sock above your container to avoid making a mess.
If you buy a bar of rosin, bring your container to the studio (be sure to sanitize it on your way through reception). Once in the studio, scratch it a few times with your nails and then rub the bar in between your hands. You should get some powder on your hands. Put the bar back in your container and then rub your hands together. You should be ready to fly!
Grip Spray - Aerosol grip sprays with various different ingredients can be purchased online. Mueller Magic Grip Spray is appropriate for silks and can be purchased online from Juggle Gear.