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Forums > Technical Discussion > weight in poi head
Login/Join to ParticipateSILVER Member
newbie
13 posts
Location: Columbia, MD, USA
newbie
13 posts
Location: Columbia, MD, USA
Posted:
I'm new to this whole shabang. And I'm a little impatiant so I've made my own poi. The question I have is how much does the poi head actually weight? usually? Thanx.
I'm new to this whole shabang. And I'm a little impatiant so I've made my own poi. The question I have is how much does the poi head actually weight? usually? Thanx.
I'm K To The Motha F*CKIN C Home Boy, K To The Motha F*CKIN C
BRONZE Member
HOP OM
225 posts
Location: HOP Central, New Zealand
HOP OM
225 posts
Location: HOP Central, New Zealand
Posted:
It will depend on many things such as construction, how much wick etc
To get an idea have a look in the HOP shop at the poi head section and you will notice that they all have the weights listed in the specifications.
For eg a set of Monkeyfist poi heads weigh 288grams...A little more with fuel added.....
Check it out to get an idea, as there are many different designs and weights.
Cheers
Chris.
It will depend on many things such as construction, how much wick etc
To get an idea have a look in the HOP shop at the poi head section and you will notice that they all have the weights listed in the specifications.
For eg a set of Monkeyfist poi heads weigh 288grams...A little more with fuel added.....
Check it out to get an idea, as there are many different designs and weights.
Cheers
Chris.
SILVER Member
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
Posted:
But also bear in mind that the weights of fire poi will different to weights in practice poi. If you are a beginner you definately don't want to be using fire poi. Practice poi are often quite light- a tennis ball will do, but for tails you'll need something a bit heavier to get momentum. Its a lot down to personnal prefernce, there is no ideal weight, but it is possible to have poi that are too light or heavy (ie they don't have any momentum or you can barely lift them!). the good thing about making your own means you can try lots of different weights out until you find what you're comfortable with.
If you are new to poi however, I strongly recomend lighter and softer poi, as they hurt less when you hit yourself and are slower making new moves easier to learn.
Hope that helps!
But also bear in mind that the weights of fire poi will different to weights in practice poi. If you are a beginner you definately don't want to be using fire poi. Practice poi are often quite light- a tennis ball will do, but for tails you'll need something a bit heavier to get momentum. Its a lot down to personnal prefernce, there is no ideal weight, but it is possible to have poi that are too light or heavy (ie they don't have any momentum or you can barely lift them!). the good thing about making your own means you can try lots of different weights out until you find what you're comfortable with.
If you are new to poi however, I strongly recomend lighter and softer poi, as they hurt less when you hit yourself and are slower making new moves easier to learn.
Hope that helps!
Live like there is no tomorrow,
dance like nobody is watching
and hula hoop like wiggling will save the world.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
Posted:
They're not necessarily fire poi (at least there's nothing in the question to suggest they are).
In the case of non-fire poi, people use a variety of weights- light heads go faster, heavy heads go slower.
For sock poi, tennis balls provide a good weight, as do ballons with a little water in them.
They're not necessarily fire poi (at least there's nothing in the question to suggest they are).
In the case of non-fire poi, people use a variety of weights- light heads go faster, heavy heads go slower.
For sock poi, tennis balls provide a good weight, as do ballons with a little water in them.
"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."
--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!
GOLD Member
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom
Posted:
It's all personal preference really, and it will depend on the length of your poi too. I'm quite tall and have quite long sock poi and I also prefer a substantial weight to make slow spinning more fluid so I use around 180grams in the poi heads which I think I'll be increasing by 10-20 grams or so in the week or two. I'm got some old tights off my girlfriend filled with lentils and tied off (makes very nice and very soft poi heads that don't really hurt either) and they're very easy to adjust so they are tuned right for me.
Also, it may seem obvious but maybe only after trial and error....if you're going to be adjusting the weights I'd recomend using scales to ensure you have identical weighted poi, there's nothing worse than getting them done and realising they're only similar and having to take them apart to re-adjust them. Yes I did that once, never again
Just got to say....what are "practice poi" ??
Surely non-burning poi are just poi and burning ones are just fire poi and everytime you spin no matter what it's practice?! 
Also have to disagree with pricklyleaf and agree with Dave. Light poi are definately faster and heavy are slower and more controllable. ie glowstrings go fast cuz they're light fire goes slower cuz they're heavier
Also heavy doesn't have to hurt, it's HARD that hurts, if you have heavy soft poi heads (read above) they don't really hurt at all 
It's all personal preference really, and it will depend on the length of your poi too. I'm quite tall and have quite long sock poi and I also prefer a substantial weight to make slow spinning more fluid so I use around 180grams in the poi heads which I think I'll be increasing by 10-20 grams or so in the week or two. I'm got some old tights off my girlfriend filled with lentils and tied off (makes very nice and very soft poi heads that don't really hurt either) and they're very easy to adjust so they are tuned right for me.
Also, it may seem obvious but maybe only after trial and error....if you're going to be adjusting the weights I'd recomend using scales to ensure you have identical weighted poi, there's nothing worse than getting them done and realising they're only similar and having to take them apart to re-adjust them. Yes I did that once, never again
Just got to say....what are "practice poi" ??
Surely non-burning poi are just poi and burning ones are just fire poi and everytime you spin no matter what it's practice?! Also have to disagree with pricklyleaf and agree with Dave. Light poi are definately faster and heavy are slower and more controllable. ie glowstrings go fast cuz they're light fire goes slower cuz they're heavier
Also heavy doesn't have to hurt, it's HARD that hurts, if you have heavy soft poi heads (read above) they don't really hurt at all Let's relight this forum 
addict
645 posts
Location: wishing to be in Rio
645 posts
Location: wishing to be in Rio
Posted:
I agree with dunc - generally on everything
but especially about speed-weight relationships.
weighting is crucial to my style and I use a similar trick to dunc - bags of rice for the poi head... and plasticine for handle weighting :hmm: but that enters a whole other range of discussion,... do a search
As for "practice" poi - I love spinning fire, but non-fire poi offer many more possibilities, so making them look purty is advisable - there are plenty of other types of poi you can use to perform with.... yes, even socks
Non-Https Image Link
ok,ok those are clubs covered in socks... but sock poi were used too!
I agree with dunc - generally on everything
but especially about speed-weight relationships.weighting is crucial to my style and I use a similar trick to dunc - bags of rice for the poi head... and plasticine for handle weighting :hmm: but that enters a whole other range of discussion,... do a search
As for "practice" poi - I love spinning fire, but non-fire poi offer many more possibilities, so making them look purty is advisable - there are plenty of other types of poi you can use to perform with.... yes, even socks
Non-Https Image Link
ok,ok those are clubs covered in socks... but sock poi were used too!
there's nothing quite as fulfilling as a tasty airwrap
if you're full of sh!t, at least you're fertile
"we are all flowers growing in God's garden... and that is why he spreads the sh!t around" - David Byrne
SILVER Member
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
Posted:
Yeh, I'm not convinced by the weight speed relationships either, specifically when using tails, more weight definately makes them go faster.
OK experiment time:
one HOP sock filled with standard tennis ball (light)
one filled with (bean? or whatever they put in them)Juggling ball in the other sock, spun at the same time, trying with both weights in my weaker a nd stronger hand alternatly, allowing for the stretch and...
yes, the lighter one is faster, i am very suprsied. You learn something new everyday!
At the end of the day, weight is very much down to personnal preference, and theres not just weight to consider, theres also design. eg tails slower etc but thats going off topic!
Nice point about the pratice poi name, I guess thats because in poi spinning, the ultimate goal is quite often fire (not mine i have to add) so practice poi are practicing before you use fire poi if that makes sense. I still love my tails though!
Yeh, I'm not convinced by the weight speed relationships either, specifically when using tails, more weight definately makes them go faster.
OK experiment time:
one HOP sock filled with standard tennis ball (light)
one filled with (bean? or whatever they put in them)Juggling ball in the other sock, spun at the same time, trying with both weights in my weaker a nd stronger hand alternatly, allowing for the stretch and...
yes, the lighter one is faster, i am very suprsied. You learn something new everyday!
At the end of the day, weight is very much down to personnal preference, and theres not just weight to consider, theres also design. eg tails slower etc but thats going off topic!
Nice point about the pratice poi name, I guess thats because in poi spinning, the ultimate goal is quite often fire (not mine i have to add) so practice poi are practicing before you use fire poi if that makes sense. I still love my tails though!
Live like there is no tomorrow,
dance like nobody is watching
and hula hoop like wiggling will save the world.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
Posted:
I really dislike the term 'practice poi' as it-
1. reinforces the myth that the whole point of learning poi is to do fire
2. referring to them as 'practice poi' makes them sound as if they're not 'real poi'
The majority of spinning is done without fire, and most of it is done for spinnings sake ie, not as practice for fire.
IMO, good terms to use instead are 'poi' (for non-fire), and 'fire-poi'.
I really dislike the term 'practice poi' as it-
1. reinforces the myth that the whole point of learning poi is to do fire
2. referring to them as 'practice poi' makes them sound as if they're not 'real poi'
The majority of spinning is done without fire, and most of it is done for spinnings sake ie, not as practice for fire.
IMO, good terms to use instead are 'poi' (for non-fire), and 'fire-poi'.
"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."
--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!
GOLD Member
king of the hedgehogs
125 posts
Location: Madtown, USA
king of the hedgehogs
125 posts
Location: Madtown, USA
Posted:
I agree with the dislike of the term "practice poi" - tho I find myself using it more often than I would like. I have two nearly-identical sets of monkeyfists (of similar construction), one with kevlar wicking, the other with cotton sash cord. They both have the same weight (about 120g) and feel (with the exception of drag caused by flame) when spun. I've been referring to them as "hot poi" and "cold poi".
I agree with the dislike of the term "practice poi" - tho I find myself using it more often than I would like. I have two nearly-identical sets of monkeyfists (of similar construction), one with kevlar wicking, the other with cotton sash cord. They both have the same weight (about 120g) and feel (with the exception of drag caused by flame) when spun. I've been referring to them as "hot poi" and "cold poi".
Yellow and blue make green.
SILVER Member
newbie
13 posts
Location: Columbia, MD, USA
newbie
13 posts
Location: Columbia, MD, USA
Posted:
I actually have mine at 75 grams, I had it once at around 150 grams but I decided to slim it down. I guess I should probably bulk them up some more. I also used black beans, they seem to weight about .2 g a bean so it's pretty easy to count it off. I have a scale and use it, but figured that would be a nice tid bit of info. I also made mine from some painting pants. I just need to make a damn tail for it. I must say that it is a rush and addiction. I've been doin it day in and day out. when ever i have free time. What is the standard weight range of fire poi. I should probably put that much weight in my heads as for practice with that kinda weight. Thats my next step.
I actually have mine at 75 grams, I had it once at around 150 grams but I decided to slim it down. I guess I should probably bulk them up some more. I also used black beans, they seem to weight about .2 g a bean so it's pretty easy to count it off. I have a scale and use it, but figured that would be a nice tid bit of info. I also made mine from some painting pants. I just need to make a damn tail for it. I must say that it is a rush and addiction. I've been doin it day in and day out. when ever i have free time. What is the standard weight range of fire poi. I should probably put that much weight in my heads as for practice with that kinda weight. Thats my next step.
I'm K To The Motha F*CKIN C Home Boy, K To The Motha F*CKIN C
SILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
I think Practice Poi is a decent term enough....
I use sock poi for the majority of my spinning, but I only rarely use sock poi for showing off, and even then, usually only to show other spinners a thing or two. Using sock poi in most conditions feels very unprofessional -.- unless you've got like a black light or something similar going on...
I use LED or tails or flags for the bulk of my audienced spins. Those are what I consider my performance poi.
I don't use my LED or Tails or Flags as often because I'm afraid that with the amount of spinning I'd do, I'm bound to make a mistake or break them (or something else). So socks are not only fairly soft (depending on what you put in them) but easy to replace.
I think Practice Poi is a decent term enough....
I use sock poi for the majority of my spinning, but I only rarely use sock poi for showing off, and even then, usually only to show other spinners a thing or two. Using sock poi in most conditions feels very unprofessional -.- unless you've got like a black light or something similar going on...
I use LED or tails or flags for the bulk of my audienced spins. Those are what I consider my performance poi.
I don't use my LED or Tails or Flags as often because I'm afraid that with the amount of spinning I'd do, I'm bound to make a mistake or break them (or something else). So socks are not only fairly soft (depending on what you put in them) but easy to replace.
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
PLATINUM Member
stranger
4 posts
Location: USA
stranger
4 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
The weight of the monkey fist chain link poi says that the weight is 440g. Is this weight for the ball only, the ball and chain, or both balls ect. ect....????
PLease help
The weight of the monkey fist chain link poi says that the weight is 440g. Is this weight for the ball only, the ball and chain, or both balls ect. ect....????
PLease help
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