Forums > Technical Discussion > Staff which one

Posted: 12th Jun 2001
Get a Nesbitt fire staff!

Posted: 12th Jun 2001
Where from?How much?Why so good?cheers manpeace outgarbo ------------------

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"Be the change"Mahatma Ghandi

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be excellent to each other: safe:

Posted: 12th Jun 2001
You can never have too many fire toys, so get both!Personally, I think the smaller HoP staff is really too small for single staff. It is the *prefect* size for double-staff, though.The larger staff drew mixed opinions at the ECSF, even after we figured out how the locking mechanism works. However, the grip is wonderful, and the 4-5 ft. adjustability range is perfect. I spent over US$50 plus several hours construction time building my staff, so 42 bucks is a bargain!If you are really strapped for cash, I say just go down to the local hardware store and get some wooden dowels, foam, duct tape, and grip tape. The largest dowel size you are likely to find is 1 in. by 4 ft., so if you want something longer or heavier, look for tubing (mine is 5 ft. of 7/8 in. aluminum tubing) or get a closet rod or maybe even a wooden broomstick handle.Heck, scour your local dumpsters on trash day and you can probably find all you need right there!Once you've got a practice staff (or several) you'll know what you want when you go to buy a your fire staff.-p.

AnonymousPLATINUM Member

Posted: 12th Jun 2001
Hey Garbo,I'll start at the beginning cuz I'm assuming no prior knowledge. Short Staff tends to be faster, lighter and more manouverable. It also tends to be hotter as the flames are closer to you most of the time, and also not being partially extinguished by the linear velocity of the tips (not to be confused with the rotational velocity (if there is such a thing...I think you will get what I'm trying to say) short staves can be used more easily in unison (ie two at the same time) although double long staffs looks really cool too. I find that short staves are easier to synch to music because of their higher manouverability and lower weight / inertia.short staves I believe have more versatility in the moves you can do, and are definately easier for learning vertical plane between the legs tricks.However, I personally think that if you are using a single staff, it looks better if you use one long one. As a beginner you will probably appreciate the momentum of a longer staff (smoother transitions, better circles, easier throwing/catching). There are all sorts of staff-rolls and stuff which are easier / more possible with a longer staff. I'd strongly recommend you get a staff which is signficantly weighted to the extremeties...ie not a heavy piece of wood or tube as the body, something light.I'd recommend you build your own, as you will get a deeper understanding of what your tool is all about, and you will be able to build customised toys for yourself and your friends with a little bit of practice. As a general rule of thumb, for a beginner I'd recommend an aluminium staff, with a length which when one tip is on the ground next to your foot, the other fits about 2 inches below your armpit. that way when you twirl, you cant physically hit yourself in the head as long as your arm is extended.good luck, and remember to ask any questions you have about staff. There are a lot of staff ppl about, this isnt just a poi board Josh

Posted: 12th Jun 2001
Hey garbo!I recommend going for the long staff. There are many reasons for this, but namely because anything you can do with a long staff, you can do with a short staff but not vice versa. So, in order to follow natural progression, start with something that gives you the basic skills to take into another discipline.I started with a long single staff then progressed to 2 shorter staves. I think that had I not used a long staff initially, picking up the doubles would have been much harder as I would have had less an idea of where my body lies in relation to the staves. Also, having used a long staff previously if I so wished to use double long staves (as opposed to double short staves), the knowledge base would be there.Perhaps get 2 pieces of dowel, one of each length. have a play around and decide which feels more natural for you at this point in time.Good luck!flash------------------"she dances in a ring of fire and throws off the challenge with a shrug"

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Posted: 13th Jun 2001
Chears guys I think I will have a play and see what I think.peace out garbo ------------------

quote:

---

"Be the change"Mahatma Ghandi

---

be excellent to each other: safe:

Posted: 13th Jun 2001
Hey Garbo !Really glad u ask this, Garbo cuz I'd have done it today !All your explanations are really usefull, but I am still confused : I happen to be rather short (152 centimeters- in France we say "the smaller, the cuter "... or whatever the translation would be in english !!!) and I am wondering if I could manage the "Fire STick" or if I should better take the 3 pieces staff" ... thanks for your helpShine onCassandraCassandra

"I want brown bread... no, that is diesel oil..."
"So I was raised in Europe, where History comes from ..."
"NON !!! La Plume de mon oncle n est pas Bingibangibungi !!!"

Posted: 13th Jun 2001
Cassandra - I'm about the same height as you. I think you will be fine with the 3 piece staff. If nothing else, the length will force you to move your body more, which is where your style will be formed."good things come in small packages"------------------"she dances in a ring of fire and throws off the challenge with a shrug"

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Posted: 14th Jun 2001
Thanks a lot Flash Fire, I'll get that then. What would you say about this famous stick on the HOP site ? is it a lot bigger than the 3 piece staff ? heavier ? more for advanced spinners ?(thanks for the translation of my miserable "the smaller the cuter" ...) Shine onCassandra

"I want brown bread... no, that is diesel oil..."
"So I was raised in Europe, where History comes from ..."
"NON !!! La Plume de mon oncle n est pas Bingibangibungi !!!"

Posted: 14th Jun 2001
yeah isnt the 3 peice staff adjustable... so buy that so if you like it short then... if you like it long... enjoyangus------------------moo? ... is that it?

There are 10 types of people, those who understand binary and those who dont.
Enjoy - A

Posted: 28th Aug 2003
Hi All,

I am getting the hang of POI and am now thinking of starting staff as well.

HOP seems to have stopped doing the long staves. Does anyone know if this is a temporary thing or whether I ought to look somewhere else??

And the inevitable question of where do people recommend if not here?? All advice gratefully received

Peace.

When life gives you lemons, check its not orange season.

Posted: 28th Aug 2003
mate, are you referring to the pureflame three piece staves? they are flamey.

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Posted: 28th Aug 2003
Hi bender!

Any of the longer staves really - I'm wanting to try out the single staff moves before trying double staffs ( as recommended earlier down this thread ). Unfortunately I have no idea as to best length or type for a beginner and was hoping for a bit of advice. The longest one HOP do is now 32". Is size important?

If so, what should I go for instead?

When life gives you lemons, check its not orange season.

Posted: 28th Aug 2003
hey dude, Josh's post is 100% kickass advice. The armpit rule is exactly how i choose my firetoys, but your tastes should be as individual as yourself! that made no sense - just choose the toy that give you the most options - ie. not too long so as to prevent legtucking, buzzsaws, but not too short as to burn ya hands.

trust thy armpit, for it's wrath be smelly.

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always

Posted: 28th Aug 2003
Its a matter of prefference. I started out with the three piece staff from here, and it was by far my favorite starting staff. Worked great. I did NOT like the adjustable three piece staff, the locking mechanism got in the way and it was far too light IMHO. I have one the "short stalves" with the leather grip, and it is basically a batton.

For starters, Id say go for the three piece innercore. Eventually you may want something heavier for some of the contact moves, etc. if you want to get into that, but by then you will KNOW what you want and how it should feel and building your own will be much easier.

For length, I like the magic number of 5 feet. I also have a bo staff I play with which is 6 feet, which limits some moves, but opens up more sweeping moves... looking into building a long staff like that soon. Even if you might go into doubles, I agree that learning on a large one first is very helpful. For doubles, I think the ones I build are too heavy, so I'm actually probably going to buy two innercore stalves and cut them down to 3.5' or something around that.

Hope this is helpful!

Posted: 28th Aug 2003
I much prefer long staves to short ones, my golden rule is to make sure it is at least TWICE the length from your arm to your armpit.

In my opinion, it doesn't limit you at all, it opens a whole pile of extra contact moves, stalls and momentum based spinning that the shorter staves tend to limit you in.

But really, my advice is to get two practice staffs first.

Get a long one and a short one and one in th emiddle and play with both for a while...see which you prefer.

And if you want to do a truly inpsiring thing, you could continue to play with both instead of putting one asise

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