You need it to be the correct finish… brass is most commonly used in strip clubs because it has the best grip. Most in home poles are chrome which is harder to grip, but looks the best. If you learn on chrome, then try brass for laughs at a club, you look awesome. If you learn on brass and try chrome… you’ll fall on your s$$ because your grip is bad. Most home made ones are unfinished and it can be much harder on your skin.

You need the correct width… unless you are around 5′, you’ll need the 50mm because it allows you a better stability and grip. If you get the 45 mm it will be harder to do more advanced tricks. A bar I danced at once had a pole up that was raw metal so it had a horrible grip, but then was smaller than 45mm… it was terrible.

You may want to advance to spinning mode… it’s harder, yet easier than static mode. The pole does all the work for you, you simply hold your pose and you look beautiful. The hard part is that you can get seriously sick if you spin too fast, lose your balance, and fall on your a$$…lol Start out learning on static so you get the proper form and toughen up your hands and legs.

You may want to take it down when your stuffy great-grandma comes over… I personally dance and teach on a removable x-pole. I love that I can take it down and go to parties or when the apartment inspectors come over…haha. Yet I trust that it is going to hold me. I check it every few days to make sure it’s still tight, but it sets up and tears down very quickly. My girls trust it too, they’ve all gotten one and they love it.

Overall it’s more money, but the expense in the long run is offset because if you go cheaply and break something or someone… no good : )
References :
one year of pole dance instruction

xpoleus.com