We’ve tested the most popular pole dancing grip aids to let you know what will help you beat those sweaty hands and what will leave you slipping and sliding down the pole.

DMM chalk ball

I came across this wonderful white powder (really, it’s chalk!) while shopping for a new jacket. DMM chalk balls are made specifically for rock climbers, who perhaps have an even greater need for good hand grip than we do.

And the climbers have obviously got it right – this chalk offers superb grip. Whether you’re about to perform on stage in a hot venue or are working hard to nail a new move, this chalk should guarantee you sweat-free holds and give you the grip and assurance you need.

I pole danced for a good 30 minutes without feeling the need to reapply it, so you should be able to get all the way through a performance or training session without worrying about sweaty hands.

And it’s not just suitable for hands – the chalk works well on the thighs and other parts of the body too. A ball should last you a long time as a little goes a long way, though be careful not to use too much or you’ll build up a nasty residue on your pole.

It’s not all good news: the chalk can become very sticky when mixed with water, so check your pole is clean and dry before you use it. Make sure you store the ball properly too, or it will do its best to turn your pole room into an unwanted winter wonderland. (I found this out the hard way.)

This is the best grip product I’ve used, and at just £1.99 for a ball it costs less than half that of the other products we’ve tested here. The next time you’re looking for a grip aid, try one of these.

Shopping options Snow & Rock (UK) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)

Gorilla Gold

I’ve heard some great things about Gorilla Gold grip enhancer, and at £5.99 it’s reasonably priced too. Gorilla Gold is a small cloth impregnated with a sticky beeswax and was originally designed for tennis players with grip problems. (Apparently it works “like pine tar, but without the mess,” though we didn’t check that ourselves.)

They advise you to touch the cloth gently until you reach the desired ‘tack’ and return it to the pack for next time. Gorilla Gold suggests the cloth should last for 20-30 applications, depending on how much you use.

I really didn’t get on with Gorilla Gold. It made my hands feel extremely sticky (in a syrupy, or perhaps pine tarry, way), but it gave me very little extra grip. The first time I spun round the pole after applying it, I slipped to the ground so quickly I screamed!

The problem seems to be that the beeswax doesn’t dry at all after applying it (and I only used a tiny bit, squeezing the cloth lightly two or three times). Rather than offering additional grip, Gorilla Gold acts almost like a lubricant, helping you slide even faster down the pole. It’s probably great with the more porous grips on tennis rackets or golf clubs, but it just doesn’t work with an impregnable metal pole.

I tried again after cleaning most of it off my hands so I just had a tiny amount left on, and this time it did improve my grip a little. It feels a bit like a pole that’s been used for a while, so if you like a dirty pole then this may be a way of getting that texture quickly. (Though make sure you only use a tiny amount!)

And it does leave the pole dirty. A lot of the beeswax transferred from my hands while I was testing it, leaving a large amount of difficult-to-shift gunk on my pole that took me about five minutes to clean off.

Gorilla Gold is sticky, but not grippy. Not recommended for pole dancing.

Shopping options Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)

Mighty Grip

Mighty Grip is probably the most popular grip product in the pole dance community, and is sufficiently popular amongst polers for the company to target it specifically at pole people. Mighty Grip has also done well to get some super names like Pantera to endorse their product.

Mighty Grip is a powdered thermoplastic that comes in a tiny 7g bottle, usually priced at £4.99. So you don’t get a lot for your money, but the manufacturer stresses that a little goes a long way – I think you should get 100 applications out of it, depending on how much you use of course. To use Mighty Grip, shake a few drops of the powder on your hands, create a fist while the powder melts and you’re good to go.

The extra grip I got was excellent, particularly after I started to work up a bit of a sweat. The powder is quick to apply and clean to use, and it’s easy to slip the compact bottle into your hand bag too!

I did find that I needed to reapply the product after about 15 minutes of vigorous poling – the grip, while it lasted, was as good as the DMM chalk, but it just didn’t stay as long.

Mighty Grip leaves a slight white ‘dust’ on your hands. It’s easy to clean off, but could look a little unsightly if you’re performing for photos or HD video. As with all grip products, it left a little residue on my pole, but less than most.

Mighty Grip is an excellent pole dancing grip aid, but it doesn’t last as long as (and costs quite a bit more than) the DMM chalk. So overall I’d choose the chalk, but I’m definitely going to keep one of these in my bag for when I go out.

Shopping options Pole Exercise (UK & world) | Mighty Grip (US & world)

Platinum Grip

Claimed to be the ultimate liquid pole dance gripping solution, Platinum Stage’s grip aid comes in a small bottle filled with clear liquid that you apply to your hands or legs and allow to dry. It’s relatively new to the market, having launched in the UK just a few weeks ago.

Platinum Grip comes in 35ml or 70ml bottles, and I estimate that a 35ml bottle will last for 50-80 applications, depending on how liberally you apply it of course. It retails at $9.99 (35ml) or $15.99 (70ml) in the US and at £9.99 (70ml) in the UK.

I was impressed the Platinum Grip. It gives a very reassuring extra dose of grip on the pole and, as it’s a clear liquid, there are no white marks on your hands after it’s dried.

However, as I started to sweat, I found that a greasy substance was deposited on the pole that was quite tough to clean off, even with acetone or alcohol. I also needed to reapply it after 15-20 minutes: roughly the same as Mighty Grip, but not as long-lasting as the DMM chalk.

Despite these minor downsides, this is by far the best liquid grip aid I’ve used. It’s a very close thing between this and Mighty Grip, the other product targeted specifically at pole dancers. Mighty Grip tends to leave less residue and would be my choice – just – but if having white hands bothers you more then this is a great alternative.

Shopping options Platinum Stages (US) | Adam Jay (UK)

Liquid Chalk

Liquid chalk has been used by pole dancers as a grip aid for years. It usually comes in fairly large (250ml) bottles for £5-7, which you just pour over your hands and leave to dry before using.

Your pole grip is improved significantly with liquid chalk at first, but when you start to sweat the product turns into a rather gooey mess on your hands. And while the grip offered is good, it’s not quite as sticky as other products we’ve covered here.

There is an art to using liquid chalk effectively. Liquid chalk is made from magnesium carbonate (chalk), rosin (solid resin) and alcohol (which dissolves the resin and evaporates when applied). When properly shaken, the gluey liquid makes your hands very dry but also very white. The white has a tendency to get onto everything, and white marks on your outfit, the pole and the floor are not usually a great look.

But if left to settle, the chalk and rosin will separate in the bottle, and you can then pour some of the clear (and largely chalk-free) liquid onto your hands. This liquid is nowhere near as dry as the mixed chalky version, but I found the grip was actually slightly better.

Separating the mixture doesn’t work with all liquid chalk, so it may be impossible to avoid the white marks. Some people swear by this product and still use it today, but other grip aids offer superior grip and much less mess.

Shopping options Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US) | Kickback Sports (UK)

Vodka

Perhaps an unorthodox way to clean your pole, but vodka actually works really well, leaving the pole clean and shiny and with all of that poling gunk stripped off. You can pour a little on your hands to clean them too.

Of course it won’t improve grip beyond your natural dry hands level, but it’s a great alternative to (cleaning!) alcohol or acetone if you find yourself caught short. The only downside I can see is the reaction of others when you pull out a large bottle of Smirnoff on stage to clean the pole. :)

Shopping options Hmm…

Mighty Grip gloves

As well as their powder, Mighty Grip sells specially-designed pole dancing gloves. Inspired by the gloves weight lifters use, these fingerless gloves have a padded front that offers useful protection to your hands during intensive pole sessions.

The Mighty Grip gloves come in two versions: tack, for spinning poles; and non-tack, for static poles.

The non-tack gloves are designed to give you a better grip while still allowing you to spin. I found them very enjoyable to use, though as I continued to train I found my hands starting to sweat and move about a little inside the gloves. It’s important to buy the right size to limit movement as much as possible. Mighty Grip also recommends using some of their powder before you put the gloves on, and doing so did make the grip a little better.

The tack gloves are something else. Their shiny patent front gave me huge amounts of grip, no matter how difficult the move was. And boy do you notice – my hands remained on the pole long after my body had left, and moves that I was finding technically challenging became much more attainable. Spins are of course out of the question, but these gloves are great for static poses or a spinning pole.

I had the same problem with the gloves moving a little when my hands started to sweat, so this time I used the DMM chalk before putting the gloves back on. The combination worked really well and I had a great – and very productive – pole practice afterwards!

Both gloves come in a variety of colours and sizes from XS to L, so you should be able to find a pair that suits both your hands and your style. :) They’re priced at £10.99, which is significantly more than the other grip aids, but then it’s a different sort of product (and hopefully one that should last for years, not months).

The non-tack gloves offer a similar level of stick to the best grip aids we’ve reviewed here. The tack gloves offer vastly more grip than any other aid we’ve looked at, though of course their extreme stickiness does limit how widely you can use them.

These gloves aren’t a replacement for other grip aids: they (obviously) only cover the hands and work best in combination with another grip aid, but they do offer padding to protect the hands and, in the case of the tack gloves, huge grip. Recommended.

Non-tack shopping options Pole Exercise (UK & world) | Mighty Grip (US & world)
Tack shopping options Pole Exercise (UK & world) | Mighty Grip (US & world)

Pole health warning: don’t use these products

I know we’ve just spent a whole post talking about how great they are, and grip products can be a life saver if you’re really struggling with a move, have an important performance or just fancy an impromptu pole jam with friends.

But I strongly recommend only using them for those special occasions and not for general pole training. It’s important to build your confidence, strength and trick repertoire the natural way, or you may end up unable to perform without them.

Over to you

Do you use these grip products? What do you think? Do you prefer something else instead? I’d love to know – tell me about it in the comments!

So you’ve made a resolution to get fit and have fun learning to pole dance this year. Perhaps you even got a new pole for Christmas.

You’ve watched the videos on YouTube, drinking in the graceful spins and inverts. Now it’s your turn.

But something’s not quite right. Have you started a spin and ended up on the floor half way round? Do your hands slip down the pole when you’re actually trying to lift yourself up?

You’re not alone

A lot of people have problems slipping instead of gripping when they first start pole dancing. And though it’s less common, some people have the opposite problem – they just stick too much.

Unfortunately it’s not something that will ever go away completely, but it will lessen dramatically as your pole dancing improves.

Here are some of the most common things to look out for, along with links to articles that go into extra detail if you’d like to read a bit more.

Too little grip

Sweaty hands are one of the most common culprits, and almost everyone has problems with this at some point. I’ve talked about ways to combat sweaty hands before, but perhaps the most important thing you can do is just relax – pace yourself and don’t try to do it all at once.

Work those hands! Many pole dance moves need a lot of hand strength to pull off successfully – much more so than other sports – and you may need time to build up strength in your arms.

You’re in good company here too, but most people find it comes surprisingly quickly once they start practicing regularly – while you’re having fun on your pole, you’re also giving yourself a great workout and toning your body!

Too much grip

It’s less common, but you may just seem to stick to the pole too much. Gripping too hard can cause you to ‘bunny hop’ while spinning round the pole (imagine bad clutch control on a manual car). Not perhaps the most graceful of movements!

Make a conscious effort to loosen your grip a little in easier moves, and try launching into spins a bit more enthusiastically, so you get a better feel for the limits of adhesion on the pole.

Just like too little grip, it’s a problem that will naturally go away as you gain confidence in your pole work.

Tips for consistent grip

• Clean your pole regularly. Before, during and after use. Just wiping it down with a damp cloth is pretty effective, though using a cleaning product can give even better results if your pole manufacturer allows it. I personally find acetone (nail polish remover) is really effective. More about cleaning your pole →
• Clean yourself regularly too! If you start to get a bit sweaty, dry your hands and legs off so you don’t end up smearing it all over the pole. And while it’s not good to make a habit of it, a quick dab of acetone on the hands and inner thighs will give an immediate dryness to the skin to help get you through those crucial moments. More products to help you grip the pole →
• Use a towel to clean the pole. It may seem obvious, but the thicker fabric and texture of a towel is much more effective at removing any grime or sticky residue on your pole.
• Think about what you’re wearing. Your clothes can make a huge difference to your pole dancing. Wearing a pair of pole shoes or boots can seriously effect on your pole prowess too.

Pole moves to help you stick

• Hang tough – Simple, but effective. The hang tough really develops your grip, building strength in your hands. I’ve often started classes by getting everyone to hold a hang tough for as long as they can!
• Fang – The fang focuses on building grip in your thighs, again allowing your strength (and perhaps pain threshold!) to develop.

Pole moves to help you slip

• Spins – Concentrate on a variety of spins. Kick off with as much momentum as you can and try to make your spins as consistent and smooth as possible.
• Floater transition – As it’s a one handed move, the floater transition should take advantage of your extra sticking power and help you start gliding round the pole. Hopefully it will give you a feel for the overall level of grip needed to spin effectively too.

I hope these suggestions are useful and help you overcome any grip problems you have. If you have any other questions, or you feel I haven’t explained something fully, feel free to comment below and I’ll do my best to help.

I wrote this post because some of you got in touch and asked me about grip problems. If there’s anything else you’d like us to talk about, please post a comment below or send a message.

I’m not aware of any products specifically for pole dancers (do let me know if there are!), but there’s a wide range of aids for other sports – anything from rock climbing to golf – that work just as well on a pole.

Update: We’ve written a new post about grip products with more details (and more products).

Why you shouldn’t use them

These products can really help, but it’s important you don’t use them all the time. A few students in my classes began to rely on these products, and in some cases found they couldn’t even perform simple moves without them. Your pole work will improve much more if you build up strength in your hands and body naturally.

My top 5 products

That said, they’re ideal if you’re trying to learn a tricky move or you need to be on top form for a performance in a hot room. Here are five products I’d recommend trying:

1. Acetone and alcohol

A quick wipe with alcohol or acetone (nail polish remover) will really dry your hands. Just make sure you don’t get too much on your skin – put a dash of liquid on a towel and then use that to rub your hands.

Acetone and alcohol are really good for cleaning your pole too when a dry towel just isn’t enough. Do check with the manufacturer that it won’t damage your pole first – I’ve been using acetone on my poles for years without any problems, but Vertical Leisure recommend that you don’t use it on their X-Poles.

2. Chalk

Chalk is used by climbers to help them stick to rock faces, but it’s also great for helping you stick to your pole. Climbing shops sell chalk in blocks, as balls and as a liquid.

Liquid chalk is the best for pole dancing as you won’t have any problems with dust. Just rub a little on your hands (or thighs) and allow it to dry before jumping back on your pole!

Be careful not to use too much liquid chalk, or you’ll end up with unsightly white patches on your skin.

There is a way round this: allow the liquid chalk to settle and you should be able to skim off the clear liquid that rises to the top – just as sticky, but with none of the colour!

3. Surgrip

Surgrip is a liquid designed to keep your hands dry even under stress and in heat. Just spread a few drops on your hands, let it dry for a few seconds and get back to your pole work! I haven’t used this personally, but a lot of other pole dancers rate it highly.

4. Gorilla Gold

Gorilla Gold is a sticky towel impregnated with bees wax. Squeeze the cloth to get your desired tackiness, or just rub it on your hands, thighs and arms. Use it lightly for a little extra grip, squeeze harder for more stickiness.

Gorilla Gold repels moisture and won’t leave any marks on your clothing. It’s designed to dissolve quickly from your hands so it shouldn’t leave any residue on your skin. On the other hand, you’ll probably need to use the towel several times during a long pole session.

Some people find that the residue it leaves on the pole can become quite abrasive on their skin, so do make sure you clean your pole regularly. The towel comes in a resealable bag and should last you 3-6 weeks.

5. Mighty Grip

Mighty Grip looks like chalk dust but is actually a thermoplastic. Rub a little on your hands to block sweat. You don’t need to use much, and one application should last a lot longer than chalk (though of course the bottle’s quite small too).

Bonus: Leather gloves

Not actually my tip, but one from Jenyne, who recommended using lambskin leather gloves with their fingers cut off to give you added grip. Do make sure the gloves fit you properly to avoid them slipping, particularly if you’re planning aggressive moves like the Shoulder Mount.

Spin when you’re winning

Apart from acetone and alcohol, all of these products add a thin, sticky layer to your hands. This is great for static moves, but spinning will be difficult or impossible until the product wears off.

Also make sure you clean your pole regularly to remove any residue that builds up.

Buy them here

Depending on what you’re after, your local sports store or supermarket will probably be able to help you. If you’d rather shop online, here are a few stockists we came across on the web to get you started.

• Alcohol: Maplin [UK] · Altex [US] · First-Aid Product [US]
• Acetone: Boots [UK] · Drugstore.com [US] · Rite Aid [US]
• Chalk: Yoga-Mad [UK] · Nevisport [UK] · Rock + Run [UK] · Amazon.com [US] · Metolius [US]
• Eco Ball (an alternative to chalk): Peglers [UK] · Amazon.com [US] · Metolius [US]
• Gorilla Gold: ISP Lingerie [UK] · Sports Unlimited [US] · The Golf Warehouse [US]
• Surgrip: ISP Lingerie [UK] · FirstAid4Sport [UK]
• Mighty Grip: Mega Grip [UK] · MyPole Shop [UK] · Mighty Grip [US] · Aussie Grip [AU] · Mighty Grip [CA]

Experiences with products like these are often quite personal – what’s great for one person just doesn’t help someone else. Please let me know how you got on, or if there’s anything else I’ve missed!

You’re not alone – about 80% of my students have suffered from the same problem at some point. Luckily there are some simple steps you can take to minimize the problem. Here are my top 5 tips for dealing with sweaty hands and keep you hanging on that pole!

1. Just relax!

Take a deep breath try to relax. Simple, but it works. The more relaxed your muscles are, the less stress you will feel and the drier your hands will become.

Concentrate on your breathing – slow the rate right down. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth a couple of times in a row. Focus on filling your body with oxygen and energy and then go for it!

2. Take a break

Sweaty hands are much more of a problem when people are learning new moves – this is the most common problem mentioned in my beginners’ classes. Even my advanced students (even I!) start to get sweaty hands when learning new moves.

Alternate between exercises – focus on leg moves, then arm moves – or just take a quick break.

It’s all too easy (far too easy!) to get carried away with pole work, but – as with any form of exercise – it’s important to pace yourself, particularly if you’re just starting out.

3. Practice makes perfect

When you learn a new move, you’ll start to develop a muscle memory of the most effective way to perform it. You’ll end up placing a lot less strain on your hands – and gripping better – simply because you’re moving more efficiently.

As you practice and build up your repertoire, you’ll find you learn how to grip the pole better to stop yourself sliding. Of course your hands will also get much stronger, which helps a lot too!

4. Don’t moisturise

OK, this may seem obvious, but you’d probably be amazed how often people forget because it just forms part of their daily routine. Sunscreen is also a common problem during the summer months.

So if you have used any moisturiser or creams, make sure you give your hands a good scrub with soap before jumping on a pole.

5. Keep your pole clean

A lot of people tend to over grip the pole when they first begin pole dancing. If you are just starting out, you may end up losing quite a bit of skin from your hands and legs and leaving an icky residue on the pole.

This is quite normal and, as you progress, you’ll learn to relax your grip naturally as you become more confident with your pole work.

But just make sure you keep the pole nice and clean in the meantime! A firm wipe down with a clean towel should do the trick nicely.

If you’re still having problems gripping the pole there are a number of products you can use to help. We’ll be covering those shortly, so check back soon or subscribe now to get updates delivered as soon as we post them.