Friction Fit Dance Pole InformationAs it's name suggests, a friction fit dance pole is held in place by friction, usually via a rubber pad of some sort on the top and bottom. The pads distribute the force of the pressure that's generated when your dance pole is installed, and prevent damage to your floor and ceiling. The other important piece of this type of pole system is inside the pole itself, which will typically contain either an internal heavy duty spring mechanism or an external lock nut system. However your pole is held in place, the fact that it's a friction system - as opposed to a bolted mount or fixed system - is what gives it its unique quality. Friction fit poles come in one piece and multi-piece models. A friction fit dance pole that breaks down into two or more pieces is truly portable, so I've put more information about this type of pole on the
portable dancing pole page.
Best UsesWith so many different types of removable and portable dancing poles now on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for your needs. In general however, friction fit dance poles are best suited to the following situations:
Pros and Cons of Friction Fit PolesLike anything else in life, the different types of dance poles all have their pros and cons. Whether or not a friction fit dance pole is the right type of pole for you will depend on your lifestyle, your intended use of the pole, how safety conscious you are, and several other factors. Here are some of the most important things to consider:Friction dance poles are great if you want to be able to put your dance pole up and down relatively easily with no marks or holes in your ceiling. However, unless you have a two piece portable dancing pole that tucks away neatly in a case, you'll need to get creative with where you store your pole when it's not in use...perhaps under the bed or in the basement?
You'll also need a certain amount of physical strength to install your friction fit dance pole, as most poles of this type will require a bit of elbow grease to make sure they're secure. You'll also want to be sure you check your pole's installation and ensure it's tight before every use. However, friction fit dance poles generally don't require any tools, so they are easier to install in some ways. You don't need a drill or other electric tools, but it's important that you get the installation right, as improper installation is the number one cause of injuries as far as friction fit dance poles go. Be sure to read the section below for more information on the safe installation and use of this type of dance pole. You do need to know how to find suitable locations for your friction dance pole; just because they can be installed almost anywhere doesn't make them fail-safe. You'll need to know what kind of clearance you need, what types of ceilings are and aren't safe, and what types of flooring will work with the specific brand of dance pole that you decide on. The installation instructions that come with your pole should provide you with this information, but if in doubt, be sure to check with the manufacturer. Some friction fit dance poles are also designed to be easily portable, making them a good choice if you'll be moving your dance pole around a lot, for example if you do home pole dancing parties. The X-Pole, shown above, is an example of a friction fit pole that breaks down quickly and easily into several pieces. It also comes with a carrying bag for ease of transportation and storage. The top reason people buy a friction dance pole is that when installed correctly, they don't cause any damage to floors or ceilings, and can be removed without a trace. You'll need to balance this advantage, however, with the other considerations listed here. The most important thing to know about this type of pole is that in general, they are the least secure and the most likely to come down. Which isn't to say they are inherently unsafe, but they do require certain safety precautions and a healthy respect for gravity. Following the manufacturer's installation instructions to the letter is therefore very important. Here is some more... Friction Dance Pole Safety InformationWhile friction dance pole safety is a very real issue, if you follow the manufacturer's instructions and use a good dose of common sense, you'll ensure your friction fit pole is as safe as possible.I have used friction fit dance poles for some pretty crazy moves with no problems, but I'm very strict about my dance pole safety because I've also had them come down on me twice. Mind you, these two incidents were early in my "career" and with more experience I've come to have more confidence in friction poles as I get to know them better. But I still believe that safety should be a priority no matter how much experience you have. The following information will not guarantee the safety of your dance pole. But it can help you understand why dance pole safety is so important and how to make your friction fit dance pole as safe as possible. Please use it in conjunction with the manufacturer's instructions, and defer to these when in doubt. Understanding Friction Dance Pole SafetyThe reason that safety with a friction fit dance pole is such a concern is that, unlike other types of poles, a friction fit dance pole is not screwed in place. Instead, it relies entirely on a tight fit between floor and ceiling. That's why it's so critical to get the installation right, and to gain confidence with the installation process before attempting any potentially dangerous moves on your dance pole.Contrary to popular belief, the "danger zone" on a friction fit dance pole is not up high. Climbs and spins are typically less dangerous than moves that put sideways pressure on the lower part of the pole. Here's a little experiment you can do to help you understand why:
Take a toothpick and hold it vertically between your finger and a tabletop. With your other hand, push sideways against the middle of the toothpick with one finger. Chances are the toothpick remains stable. Don't worry if it breaks in the middle...a dance pole is much stronger than a toothpick! Now take that same toothpick (unless you just broke it of course, in which case you should get a new one!) and hold it the same way. This time though, push against the toothpick near the bottom where it meets the table top. What will likely happen is that the bottom of the toothpick will slide sideways. Since you've just removed the lower brace (the "floor"), and there's nothing holding it in place at the top, gravity is going to work it's magic and the toothpick, just like your pole, is going to fall. Of course, a side load applied anywhere along the length of the pole, if it's excessive enough, will bring a friction fit dance pole down. For this reason it's important to know the weight limits of your friction fit pole, and also what it is and isn't designed to handle in terms of side loads, spins, lifts, inversions and other potentially dangerous moves. To really understand these safety issues, and how to ensure your friction fit pole is installed as safely as possible, let's now have a look at installation.
Installation & Friction Fit Dance Pole SafetyEnsuring a safe experience with your friction pole has a lot to do with safe and correct installation. Here's how installation of a friction fit dance pole generally works:First, you measure your floor to ceiling height and then adjust the length of your pole to approximately the same height. Note that the exact process for lengthening, and the required length, varies according to the type of pole. Please refer to the manufacturer's instructions for more specific instruction. Some dance poles require that you place a friction fit pad on the top and/or bottom of the pole, while others come with the pad pre-attached. The pole is then placed vertically and adjusted so that it will stay in place while you check for alignment. Be sure you don't play on your dance pole just yet...you still need to secure it in place! Once the pole is up, it's very important to check to make sure it's plumb (that means it's straight and not leaning to one side or on an angle). This is an extremely important safety step, so don't skip it! Checking for plumb can most easily be done with a standard level. Hold the level vertically along one side of the dance pole, then move a quarter of the way around the pole and check again. Adjust the base of the dance pole by moving it on the floor as required until both sides of the pole show level. I strongly advise against using a vertical landmark in the room (such as a door frame, a floor lamp or the edge of a picture frame) as these are not guaranteed to be straight unless you also check them with the level. If all this measuring sounds confusing, just think of the pole as having four directions. Check either the north or the south, and the east or the west. It's not necessary to check all 4 directions because east will be the same as west, and north will be the same as south, since they're directly across from each other. Once you're sure your dance pole is plumb, you can tighten it into place. With an internal spring mechanism, most likely you will turn a smaller inside tube by hand which will lengthen the tube and wedge the pole in place. With an external lock nut system you will turn one nut to extend the pole, then screw down the other nut to lock the extension into place. Your dance pole should now be installed safely, but there's one more thing I always do before I start dancing on my pole...
Load Testing for SafetyTo maximize your safety while pole dancing, and to reduce the chances of your dance pole coming down, I always recommend a series of progressive load tests to be sure your pole has been installed good and tight. Remember, these tests don't guarantee that your dance pole won't come down, but they can alert you to any installation issues you need to correct before they become dangerous.First, push against your dance pole with both hands at about shoulder height. Give it a good shove to be sure you're being realistic. Then work your way down the pole, stepping farther back as you go lower. The most dangerous spot, as we saw with the toothpick demo, is at the very bottom. If the base of your dance pole shifts at all during this test, adjust the pole so it's plumb again, then tighten it some more and begin the load test again from the beginning. If you're strong enough to lift yourself up the pole, or climb it, then hop up on your dance pole and give it a good shake while you're up there. This will tell you that it's solidly in place against the ceiling. Just be sure NOT to grasp any part of the small extension pole (if your pole uses this type of mechanism) as this could release the tension on your dance pole and bring it down! Finally, I like to do a series of spins, starting with something simple that keeps the body weight close to the pole, like the Fireman Spin, and progressing through 3 or 4 spins to one that has the body weight farther away from the pole. Remember to stay aware and alert during the load tests and if you feel or notice anything that makes you uncomfortable, double check to make sure the pole hasn't shifted, then if necessary, tighten it a little more. One thing I absolutely insist on if I'm going to be dancing on a friction fit pole, is that I do the installation myself. It's kind of like jumping out of an airplane with a parachute on your back. Ok, so maybe not quite that dangerous. But still, would you just trust that whoever packed your parachute got it right, or would you want to do it yourself so you're sure it's done right? I rest my case. As you use your friction fit dance pole more, you'll become more comfortable with its safe installation and use, though it always pays to maintain a healthy respect for your dance pole. Thinking of buying a friction fit dance pole? We recommend the following brands for excellent quality and outstanding customer service: 
And be sure to check out this dance pole review page for detailed information on all the different brands of friction fit poles available. Return from Friction Fit Dance Pole to
|
