well hey there guys, i feel like joining. sooo, I used to always use poles, although i used short ones in the park, big ones elsewhere.... but then I put a pole handle through my face landing wrong off a jump, scaring me into no poling the park. basically all ive noticed is that having poles puts your weight farther forward in your boot if you use them correctly. yes, they do help you balance as well. when i no pole, my weight is more centered or neutral. i feel that now ive gotten used to it, no poling is way better in the park for means of grabs, hand drags, and setting your spins, not to mention knuckle poundage. on the other hand, it looks cooler when you have poles. so yea. i don't know why we talk about this so much.