How to use cheer pom poms, in short: fluff them before the first use, grip them so your fist disappears into the strands, and stop every arm motion sharply so the strands keep flashing. New poms usually arrive compressed, so plan on about 5–10 minutes of hand fluffing per pom (our estimate), and keep them dry, loose and away from heat between games.
How to use cheer pom poms: grip and basic motions
Slide two fingers through the ring handle, curl the rest of your hand into a fist, and let the strands close over your knuckles so no hand shows.
Keep your wrists straight, hit each motion (a high V, a T, a touchdown) and hold it for a beat. Your arm stops, the strands keep traveling for a split second, and that burst is what the stands see. Between counts, small wrist shakes keep the poms shimmering.
- Ring handles, like the two-finger rings on our Regpre red and silver cheer pom poms, let you clap, wave or switch hands quickly. They suit kids, fans and sideline chants.
- Baton handles sit across the palm like a short rod, which gives a firmer hold through long practices and repeated wrist turns.
How to fluff cheer pom poms
Separate the strands by hand in small sections, starting at the handle and working outward, then shake the pom hard.
- Unpack both poms and remove any band or tie holding the bundle.
- Hold the ring and pinch a small bunch of strands next to the handle. Pull them apart along their length.
- Turn the pom a quarter turn and repeat until you have worked all the way around, then do the other side.
- Shake the pom hard, upside down and right side up, and pull apart any strands still stuck together.
- Fluff the second pom the same amount so the pair matches.
Plan on about 5–10 minutes per pom (our estimate, not a measured time). For a squad that adds up: 8 cheerleaders with one pair each means 16 poms, or roughly 80–160 minutes. Send each family home with their pair the night before, about 10–20 minutes per pair, instead of fluffing in the bleachers.
How to make cheer pom poms fluffy again
A pom that went flat in a bag is not ruined: repeat the section-by-section separation and shake again. Our pair looks fullest only after this setup, so a pom that looks thin out of the box needs more separating, not replacing. Give the pair a quick fluff before each use; after the first opening, that touch-up takes about a minute or two (again our estimate).
What are cheer pom poms made of?
Modern cheer poms are bundles of thin plastic strands fixed to a ring or baton handle, in plain colors or with a metallic or holographic finish.
Our red and silver pair uses PET metallic foil strands. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a polyester plastic, the same family the University of Southern Mississippi’s Polymer Science Learning Center describes in its page on polyester, which is why the care rules below treat the strands like thin plastic film.
The first poms were paper. SMU Magazine reports that Lawrence Herkimer, the SMU cheerleader behind the National Cheerleaders Association, started with paper streamers on a stick; his 1971 patent covered a later flameproof plastic version with a hidden handle.
| Pom type | Strands | Handle | Out of the box | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regpre red and silver pair (ours) | PET metallic foil; listed size about 12 in (30 cm) | Ring, two-finger grip | Compressed; fluff before first use | Kids, school spirit days, fans, costume photos, light routines |
| Baton-handle team poms | Plastic strands in solid, metallic or holographic finishes | Baton across the palm | Varies by maker | Squads that practice and perform through a season |
| Paper or tissue poms | Crepe paper or tissue | Stick or tied center | Varies | Short-lived decorations; they tear and cannot take rain |
How are cheer pom poms made, and how do they work?
A pom is a mass of strands bound around a small core, with a handle fixed to that core. Herkimer’s U.S. patent 3,560,313, granted in 1971, describes strands secured around a central body so they spread from every side, hide the core and form a “fluffy, ball-like” shape. When you snap your arm, the light strands fan out and catch the light, so a small motion reads as a big burst of color from the stands. Until the strands are separated, they move as one clump, which is why an unfluffed pom looks small.
Can you wash cheer pom poms?
Yes, by hand: rinse foil poms in lukewarm water with a drop of dish soap, then let them air-dry completely before you store them.
- Dust or grass: shake the pom hard outdoors. No water needed.
- A sticky patch (soda, sunscreen, face paint): dip only those strands in lukewarm water with a drop of dish soap, rinse, and blot with a towel.
- Dirty all over: swish the whole pom in a basin of lukewarm, mildly soapy water, rinse in clean water, shake it out and hang it by the ring to dry.
Keep heat out of the routine. The Polymer Science Learning Center at the University of Southern Mississippi explains that PET softens at a fairly low temperature, which is why PET bottles cannot go through very hot sterilizing washes. So skip hot water, the clothes dryer, a hair dryer on high and the iron. Skip the washing machine too: tumbling knots the strands and can crease the foil. Plan on several hours of drying, longer in humid weather, and never pack a pom while the strands near the handle still feel damp.
How to store cheer pom poms
Hang each pom by its ring on a hook or hanger, or lay the pair flat in a loose tote with nothing heavy on top.
Thin foil strands crease under heavy gear, and a deep crease usually leaves a dull line that does not smooth out. That rules out the bottom of a cheer bag under shoes and water bottles. Store them dry, out of hot cars and direct sun, and shake them before the next game.
How to fix pom poms for cheerleading
Most tired poms are flat, tangled or creased rather than broken, and each problem has a fix that needs only your hands or scissors.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Flat or lopsided | Re-separate the strands in sections from the handle outward, shake, then fluff the partner pom to match. |
| Tangled clumps | Pick knots apart a few strands at a time, starting at the tips. Pulling from the handle end tightens them. |
| Creased foil | Smooth the strand gently between thumb and finger. A deep crease stays dull, so change how you store the poms. |
| Frayed or uneven ends | Trim a little at a time with sharp scissors, then even up the second pom. |
| Loose strands near the handle | Pull out strands that come free with a gentle tug so they do not shed mid-routine. If the handle separates from the bundle, replace the pom. |
If a pom keeps going flat between games, look at storage before technique. Poms squeezed into a packed bag flatten again, however well they were fluffed.
Ring handle or baton handle: which poms fit your use?
Choose a ring-handle pair for kids, game days, spirit days and costumes; choose heavier baton-handle poms if someone will practice with poms several times a week.
One pack of our Regpre poms holds 2 poms, one per hand, so a squad needs one pack per person. Adults can use the pair for fan sections and costume photos; repeated adult training or competition routines call for baton handles. For a game-day watch party, add a pennant banner in your team colors or browse our banners, garlands and decorations.
With little kids, stay close: a pom is many thin plastic strands, and loose ones should not end up in mouths. We do not list an age grade for this pair. SMU Magazine notes that Herkimer’s later design was flameproof, but we make no flame-resistance claim for ours, so keep them away from candles, sparklers and bonfires.
Step by step
- Unpack and loosen
Take both poms out, remove any band or tie around the bundle, and loosen the strands with your fingers.
- Separate from the handle out
Hold the ring and pull small bunches of strands apart, starting next to the handle and working toward the tips. Turn the pom a quarter turn after each section.
- Shake and match the pair
Shake each pom hard, upside down and right side up, then fluff the second pom until the pair looks even.
- Grip the ring
Slide two fingers through the ring handle, close your fist and let the strands cover your knuckles.
- Hit and hold each motion
Keep your wrists straight, stop each arm motion sharply and hold it for a beat so the strands flash.
- Dry and store
Shake out dust after use, air-dry the poms if they got wet, and hang them by their rings or lay them flat with nothing on top.
Frequently asked questions
What are cheer pom poms called?
Most cheerleaders just say "poms." You will also see pom-poms, pompoms, pom-pons and spirit poms. SMU Magazine notes that Lawrence Herkimer spelled it "pom pon" deliberately, after hearing that "pompom" had vulgar meanings in other languages.
How long does it take to fluff cheer pom poms?
The first time, plan on roughly 5–10 minutes for each compressed pom, since the strands have to be opened a small section at a time. After that, a hard shake and a quick finger-fluff before each event is usually enough.
Can you put cheer pom poms in the washing machine or dryer?
No. Tumbling knots the strands and can crease foil, and a dryer is the wrong place for PET plastic, which softens at a fairly low temperature. Hand rinse them in lukewarm water and hang them to air-dry.
Why do new pom poms look flat and small?
Foil poms like ours ship compressed to save space. They only reach their full shape after you separate the strands by hand and shake them, so judge the size after fluffing, not straight out of the package.
How many pom poms does one cheerleader need?
Two, one for each hand. Each Regpre pack is exactly one pair, so a squad of 12 needs 12 packs. Buying one extra pack gives you a spare if a pom gets lost or crushed on game day.
Can little kids use ring-handle pom poms?
Yes, for cheering, play and costume photos, with an adult nearby. The poms are made of many thin plastic strands, so keep loose strands away from mouths. We do not state an age grade for this pair.
