"True Grip" in Straddle?

mynxpole started this discussion · 3/20/2012

Has anyone ever been taught to use the "true grip" in a straddle or inverted v? Myself and some other polers have struggled with the straddle for a very long time, but can do very advanced moves. I can pull it off without jumping and can get up but I find holding it challenging - my hips want to drop the longer I try to hold it. If I get my hips up doing a "half straddle"or basic invert into straddle, no problem, but not from the floor to a perfect v. Anyway, I saw someone use the true grip (I think is what it is called) in this video. I tried it and can do the straddle no problem using this grip! Wondering if it is because my lats are stronger than my back? Has anyone else tried this and anyone knopw of any negatives or injury related risks involved with doing this grip? She does a spinning straddle at 0:32. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yFBVFf7QFE Thanks for reading!

27 replies

Veena · 3/20/2012
Nothing wrong with doing it that way! I use that grip in the lessons as an exit... I call it a "V out" (a slow descending in V) You're not imagining it being easier to hold either, it's one of my favorite ways to descend from V. 🌸
mynxpole · 3/21/2012
Oh awesome!! Thanks Veena! ps - I love this place! 🙂
poledanceromance · 3/21/2012
I like that grip for doing inverts directly into a thigh hold. With the standard baseball grip the top hand is wrapped right where the thigh would grip, where the hand is forward and out of the way with the "true grip" invert.
sparrow · 3/21/2012
Ooh, this is cool new to me info! Ps, that vid is amazing!!
Lina Spiralyne · 3/21/2012
What a coincidence that this comes up now, since I as recently as last week was playing around with exactly this grip. I actually just randomly got the idea to try the corkscrew (body spiral) with the true grip instead of the ordinary baseball variant and found it working very well. I think I got a better grip and I found it also less painful than the this move normally is for me. After that I tried it for a spinning straddle too (just like Amy also did in the video you linked to) and really liked it. I felt much safer to use a lot of momentum like this compared to when I do it with a baseball grip 😀. It's quite logical actually since in the true grip your hand can easily and smoothly follow the pole when the body spins around it. I'll include these moves the next time I post a vid here. However, I personally don't find it easier to make a STATIC inverted V in this grip. For the descend it sounds like it could work well though, but while I'm holding the V I prefer the ordinary grip. But that's just me of course, if you find it good I think you should use the true grip!
mynxpole · 3/22/2012
Lina Lynette - that's exactly how I got onto it also! Ive always been horribly awkward at the corkscrew spin with the baseball grip and randomly tried the true grip one day as well - not really inteding to do so, it just kinda happened. I also found it less painful and a better grip! Then several days later I happened across this video on a friends facebook page and seen her try the spinning straddle. I figured why not, so did it with a static hold and loved it but I agree, I also find it great for the spinning straddle, I find I get a much better grip and can spin much more. But you are right, its not for everyone in the static. Out of 4 friends trying it in a static, 2 liked it, 2 didnt. But hey.... YAY for options! I just think its funny how these things "happen" 🙂
Lina Spiralyne · 3/23/2012
Yes that's cool that we happened to try exactly the same things at about the same time ❗ 🙂. Fully agree, thumb up for options!
blondebird · 3/24/2012
Fabulous dancer!
emotioncatcher · 3/24/2012
i once used that grip to flip directly into a superman. i think I saw Becca doing it. I really like that grip variation, too
DaniDuB · 3/27/2012
I was in a drops and slides workshop with Alethea Austin and Karol Helms last night! Alethea showed us this grip for the chopper drop and it seemed so much easier this way. :)
Lyme Lyte · 3/27/2012
I have a hard time staying in the invert V. The video that was posted was to fast to see what is really going on. Anyone have any other examples? Thanks!
polergirl · 3/28/2012
I like this grip variation a lot, it makes interesting lines, IMO. And, at least for me, it is so much easier to spin the V using it.
Lyme Lyte · 3/28/2012
Polegirl....what IMO mean? Thanks....us older ladies trying to learn all the lingo....... :)
HyperHorsegirl · 3/28/2012
Sorry to jump in here, but I get excited that I actually know these things. For a youngster, I'm fairly out of touch with text-speak. IMO means "In my opinion". You could also come across IMHO, which means "In my humble opinion".
Lyme Lyte · 3/28/2012
Glad u jumped in here ! I now know what imo means!!! Unfortunatly i asked someone on FB what their post fml meant. Ops, will never forget that!
polergirl · 3/28/2012
Yep. And IME means "in my experience" You may also see YMMV which means "your mileage may vary"
Lyme Lyte · 3/28/2012
What!??? That is crazy....ymmv???? Communication is getting way to hard. But thanks for the clarification!
Mary Ellyn · 3/28/2012
First ...I have to comment on how hot Amy looks here! She is always hot but wow! Thanks for bringing this up. I remember trying this grip years ago and long forgot about it. I'll have to try it again. I'm pretty strong and do a lot of moves but I have a terrible time with my inverted straddle due to an old back injury and limited range of motion in my spine. I wonder if this grip will make it any better now?
Mary Ellyn · 3/28/2012
By the way...I love this grip and use it often...sometimes just walking around the pole...but I use it for a number of spins too like the inside leg hook spin, body spiral and a kneeling spin.
DaniDuB · 3/28/2012
Empy, I bet it would help. :) There was a girl in the workshop with me who said after poling for 2 years, she still could not get the chopper. Then she inverted into a Gemini, changed her grip (like Althea suggested) and was able to go right into the chopper! Just by changing her grip on the top hand. She said she her legs would fall right down before, but this grip helped her stay up. :)
Lyme Lyte · 3/28/2012
Can someone post a picture of this grip please? I am all confused.....whats new. :)
Elektra Vallens · 3/28/2012
@Lyme Lyte - I don't have a photo, but it's essentially top hand thumbs down, with the thumb pressed against the index finger- the way both hands are when you shouldermount (in a cup grip).
Mary Ellyn · 3/28/2012
Lyme...maybe someone else can find a picture but if you look at the video again, maybe this explanation will help too: Inside hand in standard baseball grip...outside hand ABOVE inside hand...in cupped hold (all fingers and thumb on same side of pole) So inside hand on bottom in baseball...outside hand right above it in cupped grip.
Lyme Lyte · 3/28/2012
Sounds hard, but will give it a try, thanks for explaining.
Veena · 3/28/2012
Lyme, I do it usually when I say V out, in a lesson. You can see the hand placement in the Gemini lesson Watch my top/outside hand you'll see the v out at the end. https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/4cbdc217-f41c-407e-ba70-538d0ac37250

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