Forums > Help! > planes: any tips for perfecting other than practice makes perfect?
Login/Join to ParticipateSILVER Member
Lover of Movement
3 posts
Location: Rochester, NY, USA
Lover of Movement
3 posts
Location: Rochester, NY, USA
Posted:
Hey Everybody! So I started poi early this past summer and am totally in love. I have a great teacher here in upstate NY and I also like to check out the videos here on HoP. The one thing that is really holding me back(which I'm sure is true for every beginner) is my lack of control with planes on many moves. Is there any tips you can send my way to tighten up and perfect planes other than practice, practice, practice? I am willing to put in the time but sometimes I get a little impatient and wonder if there is anything else I could do to strengthen these muscles quicker or perhaps tweak the way I hold the poi? I have a pair of bean bag poi that are a bit heavier than tennis ball/sock poi or led poi and I am always using these to practice to help build and tone my muscles a bit more. I also weight train but its funny how Poi triggers muscles that you just can't seem to work otherwise. Anyway, any tips/anecdotes/sympathy/criticisms are much appreciated! Thanks!!! <3
Hey Everybody! So I started poi early this past summer and am totally in love. I have a great teacher here in upstate NY and I also like to check out the videos here on HoP. The one thing that is really holding me back(which I'm sure is true for every beginner) is my lack of control with planes on many moves. Is there any tips you can send my way to tighten up and perfect planes other than practice, practice, practice? I am willing to put in the time but sometimes I get a little impatient and wonder if there is anything else I could do to strengthen these muscles quicker or perhaps tweak the way I hold the poi? I have a pair of bean bag poi that are a bit heavier than tennis ball/sock poi or led poi and I am always using these to practice to help build and tone my muscles a bit more. I also weight train but its funny how Poi triggers muscles that you just can't seem to work otherwise. Anyway, any tips/anecdotes/sympathy/criticisms are much appreciated! Thanks!!! <3
BRONZE Member
Cooler than bubblegum!
2,501 posts
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA
Cooler than bubblegum!
2,501 posts
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA
Posted:
My planes tidied up with time as the motion became second nature and I became more aware of where and what my body was doing. I used a mirror and large window to see my reflection, it was very helpful.
My planes tidied up with time as the motion became second nature and I became more aware of where and what my body was doing. I used a mirror and large window to see my reflection, it was very helpful.
The popcorn extends life... The popcorn expands consciousness...
poi addict
196 posts
Location: cali
196 posts
Location: cali
Posted:
i agree mirror are really helpful. also using tape to visually make your front and back planes helps. also just practice doing same time and split time circles in any place you can thing of and try to make sure that they stay straight.
i agree mirror are really helpful. also using tape to visually make your front and back planes helps. also just practice doing same time and split time circles in any place you can thing of and try to make sure that they stay straight.
to spin or not to spin, that is the question.
GOLD Member
All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
2,280 posts
Location: Trenton, MI, USA
All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
2,280 posts
Location: Trenton, MI, USA
Posted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRzOpUpws3s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRzOpUpws3s
The only luck is bad luck.
Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass 
GOLD Member
Poi Master Smurf
343 posts
Location: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Poi Master Smurf
343 posts
Location: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Posted:
When I first really focusing on plane control was when I was learning wall plane flowers. I saw a tutorial that said to stand against a wall and spin, when you hit the wall your doing it wrong.
When I first really focusing on plane control was when I was learning wall plane flowers. I saw a tutorial that said to stand against a wall and spin, when you hit the wall your doing it wrong.
Fly High
Spin Hard
Don't Stop
GOLD Member
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
787 posts
Location: Dover, Delaware USA
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
787 posts
Location: Dover, Delaware USA
Posted:
Tailed poi helped my plane control, when you spin them it's like creating a physical circle around you and the auditory cues can help with your spacial awareness as well. I don't have much space or a mirror, linking the sight of the tails to the sound and the feel was incredible helpful and might work for you too.
Tailed poi helped my plane control, when you spin them it's like creating a physical circle around you and the auditory cues can help with your spacial awareness as well. I don't have much space or a mirror, linking the sight of the tails to the sound and the feel was incredible helpful and might work for you too.
~Rock on!~
"As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough"-Waking Life
(All you RLers this is epitome_of_lame *waves hello*)
SILVER Member
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Unofficial Chairperson of Squirrel Defense League
4,061 posts
Location: South Africa
Posted:
It should do.
It should do.
'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
BRONZE Member
stranger
15 posts
Location: MD, USA
stranger
15 posts
Location: MD, USA
Posted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4-8yrkHEbQ
What I teach newbies I meet is sorta that. I don't remember where I saw the video for the technique I adopted, but basically:
-spin both forwards
>cross one poi over
-spin both counter/clock wise
>cross the other over again
-spin both backwards
>cross the first poi again
-spin both the opposite direction of the last wall plane you did
>cross the 2nd poi
-forwards again
Now just rinse and repeat. As far as staying on the wall, spirals help and other moves that require the poi to be on a wall plane else these moves end up sketchy.
Doing these 90 degree body turns will help you get used to basic crossing, poi orientation forwards and backwards, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4-8yrkHEbQ
What I teach newbies I meet is sorta that. I don't remember where I saw the video for the technique I adopted, but basically:
-spin both forwards
>cross one poi over
-spin both counter/clock wise
>cross the other over again
-spin both backwards
>cross the first poi again
-spin both the opposite direction of the last wall plane you did
>cross the 2nd poi
-forwards again
Now just rinse and repeat. As far as staying on the wall, spirals help and other moves that require the poi to be on a wall plane else these moves end up sketchy.
Doing these 90 degree body turns will help you get used to basic crossing, poi orientation forwards and backwards, etc.
GOLD Member
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
787 posts
Location: Dover, Delaware USA
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
787 posts
Location: Dover, Delaware USA
Posted:
Yes and No. He is doing a high and low turn with more of a pivot (less body movement and footwork) to better illustrate the trick of turning within the poi as a primary function. I actually had to learn it the hard way and turn my body entirely within my poi early on because of lacking that level of display in the video mentioned. Spacial issues are a hangup when relying on video and I have had to take tutorial information and do experiments to really get the lesson, or create an exercise to transition into a reverse or variant move.
Anyone who is an audio or rhythmic learner will have this hangup to a degree, if you're also dyslexic/praxic/graphic like myself you will have to get creative without instruction in person. Other than tails another thing that helped is closing the blinds and using LEDs for practice while you have dim lighting, it provides more dramatic visual clues in your peripheral vision and blindspot awareness. Helps with planes and collisions too.
Yes and No. He is doing a high and low turn with more of a pivot (less body movement and footwork) to better illustrate the trick of turning within the poi as a primary function. I actually had to learn it the hard way and turn my body entirely within my poi early on because of lacking that level of display in the video mentioned. Spacial issues are a hangup when relying on video and I have had to take tutorial information and do experiments to really get the lesson, or create an exercise to transition into a reverse or variant move.
Anyone who is an audio or rhythmic learner will have this hangup to a degree, if you're also dyslexic/praxic/graphic like myself you will have to get creative without instruction in person. Other than tails another thing that helped is closing the blinds and using LEDs for practice while you have dim lighting, it provides more dramatic visual clues in your peripheral vision and blindspot awareness. Helps with planes and collisions too.
~Rock on!~
"As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough"-Waking Life
(All you RLers this is epitome_of_lame *waves hello*)
BRONZE Member
Juggler/Spinner
612 posts
Location: Hicksville, New York, USA
Juggler/Spinner
612 posts
Location: Hicksville, New York, USA
Posted:
I know this might sound silly, but I've recently had a breakthrough helping someone to straighten their planes.... Shake your hips. It probably won't work for everyone, but it worked for the person I was teaching.
Spinning forward for them honestly went from:
\ T / into | T | just having them shake their money maker.
Hell, if it doesn't work for you, at least anyone watching will be entertained, which in the end, is really the point, isn't it?
I know this might sound silly, but I've recently had a breakthrough helping someone to straighten their planes.... Shake your hips. It probably won't work for everyone, but it worked for the person I was teaching.
Spinning forward for them honestly went from:
\ T / into | T | just having them shake their money maker.
Hell, if it doesn't work for you, at least anyone watching will be entertained, which in the end, is really the point, isn't it?
GOLD Member
Fire Artist and Hooper
181 posts
Location: U.S.A
Fire Artist and Hooper
181 posts
Location: U.S.A
Posted:
Tape. Put tape lines on the floor and use them to practice over. Also pretend you are swinging your poi between two pains of glass. Dont break the glass
Tape. Put tape lines on the floor and use them to practice over. Also pretend you are swinging your poi between two pains of glass. Dont break the glass
If you can't stand the heat, get out of my way.
SILVER Member
journeyman
88 posts
Location: USA
journeyman
88 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
Also im not surre if this was said something that helped me get behind the back moves and flowers was to start with one arm spin a forward circle to your side then while turning your body away from the circle keep the circle in the same, definatly halps with plane controll, turn as far as your arm will allow you
Also im not surre if this was said something that helped me get behind the back moves and flowers was to start with one arm spin a forward circle to your side then while turning your body away from the circle keep the circle in the same, definatly halps with plane controll, turn as far as your arm will allow you
BRONZE Member
Not as fireproof as he thinks
22 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia
Not as fireproof as he thinks
22 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia
Posted:
Spend a couple of hours deliberately bending them about. If you can control them easily when you want them to move you will be more comfortable correcting them quickly when you want them straight.
Spend a couple of hours deliberately bending them about. If you can control them easily when you want them to move you will be more comfortable correcting them quickly when you want them straight.
SILVER Member
member - tee hee "member"
279 posts
Location: Bethnal Green, London, England (UK)
member - tee hee "member"
279 posts
Location: Bethnal Green, London, England (UK)
Posted:
Video yourself!
Not all people have access to decent size mirrors or windows to practise in front of but most people have a digital camera or phone that can take video footage. It can be shocking to watch yourself... I always think I'm doing OK untill I see it on video.
Video yourself!
Not all people have access to decent size mirrors or windows to practise in front of but most people have a digital camera or phone that can take video footage. It can be shocking to watch yourself... I always think I'm doing OK untill I see it on video.
"Whats wrong with the cat?" - Mrs Schrödinger
BRONZE Member
stranger
10 posts
Location: USA
stranger
10 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
Try spinning inbetween two flat surfaces. Like inbetween two building that are just far enough apart for your body and your poi, That's what I did, and it totally helped.
Try spinning inbetween two flat surfaces. Like inbetween two building that are just far enough apart for your body and your poi, That's what I did, and it totally helped.
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