[Biomecca]

This is somewhat lengthy. I've been glowstringing for two days now and making some progress, however I've got some questions for the experts on the board:

1. Rope burns
Check out mine.
Am I spinning the strings wrong? Am I using the wrong size strings? (really thin) You guys know any good homemade (college-made more like) remedies for rope burns?

2. Arms
How much do you guys use arms when stringing? My wrists work fine for maintaining rotational planes but when I do both hands at the same time my left hand starts fucking up and the only way to get it back on track is basically throw the plane with my shoulder. Is this legitimate or incorrect technique?

I was under impression that ideally, the arm/hand/wrist motions need to be minimized as much as possible.

3. Strings/wrapping

Relating to the above, what kinds of strings do you guys use? Shoelaces? Is there some specialized type of string that works best? I was thinking of something elastic that would stretch out when spinning resulting in longer circles but I don't know.

Also, how do you guys wrap the strings? Do any of you tie the strings to your pinkie or something? If I don't, the strings just keep slipping off flinging the glowstick in someone poor bystanders' face.

4. How many of you like apple pie?

Someone wise once told me to never trust people who don't like apple pie.

[rednblck]

i haven't really been stringing for a long time but i just started this summer but i can answer your questions.

1] i used to get rope burns from doing orbits... but i realized that i needed the ring from keychains so i don't get hurt... remedy... i'd just lay off from stringing for a while... let it heal. it's one of the best ways... or you can put a band aid around it... but it would just irritate the skin and it needs to breathe...
i know that it would put you back from practicing but safety comes first right? you don't want to hurt yourself to a point where you can't string for an even longer amount of time.

2] when i practice i usually sway... meaning my whole upper body is leaning side to side following the strings... and my arms are moving along with my shoulders. if you see in the videos the person stringing is never stationary they are always moving around. even thought the strings are in the air spinning you're the one who has control on how fast and where in the plane they spin in. so moving your arms/wrists/shoulders is okay.

3] i had this question too when i first started out. I didn't know what type of string to use. so i did a search on google and found a video on tying strings. i forgot who it was by but i know that it was a GXG video and that's how i found this forum =] anyways... shoelaces are what most stringers [that i've known] to use. i use flate white ones that are 54 inches. and they don't hurt your hands. the length is the stringers preference.

4] i like warm apple pie with a scoop of ice cream [french vanilla] and loads of whipped cream =]


i hope my answers helped you

[LilRaverBoi]

*Thread moved to appropriate forum*

1. Rope burns-well, this is very typical when you start spinning cause your fingers will need to build up a tolerance for the pressure and rubbing that will occur when you spin. You'll likely get really bad blisters for a while, but after they form/heal a few times, your skin will get tougher. Honestly, I still deal with this with my heavy poi....I have remnants of blisters right now that put yours to SHAME....LOL. Nah, just practice through it as best you can. Take a day off if you need, but just keep working them over and your skin will toughen up in time!

2. Arms-well, honestly, I don't use much more than small wrist/arm motions to keep them in the correct planes and I use larger arm motions for certain moves. However, this comes with time....do what you need right now to get them to behave as you desire....once you get more control, you'll be able to simplify your motions to very minor adjustments. Just keep practicing and you'll be fine....do what you have to in the mean time and maybe try some new methods as well....just mess around and see what works best.

3. Strings/wrapping-most people use shoelaces for glowsticks. As for poi, anything from socks to fingerloops/chains, etc. I wouldn't recommend the elastic, though....maybe a tiny stretch, but anything really stretchy makes it much harder to control and even harder to learn new stuff.

As for how to wrap your strings, many people have different ways of doing so. I do a circle with the string and the glowstick on the circle....loop the knotted end around my index and middle finger, then wrap the two strings around the back of my hand, over the front and hold it with my index/thumb. However, there are many ways to do this, so try some new variations and see what works best for you! Usually you won't need to tie the strings on....having them looped on a finger or two and then wrapped around your hand at least once will keep them in place.

4. How many of you like apple pie?-I'm down! Got some?

It sounds like you're just having some typical beginner questions that we all go through. Not to worry, it sounds like you're headed in the right direction. Just practice a lot, mess around, try new things and most importantly....HAVE FUN!!

[SmileBeyotch]

hmmm

1. I've never actually gotten rope burns... and I've never heard of em either =/.

2. When you are LEARNING a new move, or trying to get your planes better with one you already know, It's good to really exaggerate your movements. Using your arms a lot more... Eventually you'll have the muscle memory to do the move with very little or no arm movement (unless ofcourse the move requires it).

3. I use either 36" or 40" flat white laces... and OCCASIONALLY really FAT neon colored 45" strings =P. and the way I tie the 36/40" and the 45s are different. with the 36/40 I lay my hand out palm up, and put the string around my middle and ring finger... then i just bring the string back up BETWEEN the fingers and then I pinch the strings with my thumb and index finger. With the 45" strings I do it pretty much the same.. but Instead of just around the 2 fingers I put it around all four of my fingers. you need to find a way of wrapping your strings that works for you... Your goal is to (after it's all set up) be able to wrap the strings around your hands in EITHER direction and the it end in the glowstick comfortably in your hand.

4. I absolutely adore pie, of all sorts.. French silk pie, Peanut butter silk pie, blueberry, pumpkin, lemon merangue, peacan.... It's all magically delicious =D

[UnhOlY]

wow hahaha....

I had blisters on top of blisters in the wierdest spots on my hands for the first couple months. I bring gloves with me and have to use them towards the end of a rave.... I also get some rope burns on my upper arms sometimes from wraps, when I'm rolling and the shirt ends up comming off LOL.

[SmileBeyotch]

weiiirrrrrddddD!!!!! I've never had a blister, or a burn, or anything of the sorttt!!!! and I've never heard of anyone else having them before today!

[UnhOlY]

I just get em now spinning to super fast paced music, rofl

[LilRaverBoi]

Originally Posted by SmileBeyotch

weiiirrrrrddddD!!!!! I've never had a blister, or a burn, or anything of the sorttt!!!! and I've never heard of anyone else having them before today!

SERIOUSLY??? WTF. Within a DAY of beginning stringing, I had blisters on both index fingers....sore enough I had to start holding the strings between my index/middle fingers just to spin. Then, once those got healed up and my fingers gained some toughness, I would only get blisters when I went to a rave and would spin for hours throughout the night. Now, i don't usually get them with glowsticks, however, certain types of strings will still do it to me. My sock poi will fairly regularly rub off a few layers of skin...doesn't hurt, but you can tell that some layers are gone. However, when I got my 3.5" monkey fist fire wicks, I got some HELLACIOUS blisters. Those fuckers will tear your fingers apart! On both your index and your middle fingers....it kinda shaved layers off this scar I had when I first got them.....and I seriously have constant scars of blisters from them. After I spin through all that and heal up, I'm okay....until I go for a while spinning other things and try to go back (which is where I am right now). Then I get all blistered again and have to regain my tough outer skin layers. Nick, I have no clue how you avoided that!!! Are your hands made of leather?? I mean, I grew up on a farm, so it wasn't even like I wasn't used to hard work and rough conditions, either.

If you're just glowsticking, after the intial few weeks of spinning and maybe some times of hardcore duration after that, you should be fine.

[SmileBeyotch]

lol I usually spin with 3 tennis balls in each of my sock poi too lol! I got my fire poi today, and they are LOADS lighter than I had been expecting. I was puttin all kinds of weight in the socks trying to be ready for em XD

edit

2 things... 1... I screwed around a little bit.. and I found that it DOES wear your hands downpretty bad if you hold the strings tight... I usually pinch them very loosely, if at all.

and 2 - I can REALLY see how eventually these nylon handles will dig in to you... I don't like the nylon handles =/ and the kevlar ones I got they gave me double loops instead of singles =(

[UnhOlY]

Originally Posted by LilRaverBoi

I had blisters on both index fingers....sore enough I had to start holding the strings between my index/middle fingers just to spin.

OMG I soo remember doing that...