Full and Half Twist Jumps

Understanding and Improving Twisting Technique on the Trampoline

Jul 16, 2009

Twists are involved in all aspects of trampolining, they are useful as linking movements or to bump up the number of points available for a routine during a competition.

Half twists are used as a linking move between different skills in a beginner level routine while top trampolinists spend hours perfecting their twisting somersaults to increase their scores when they perform in front of judges.

Twists are often used to link skills together to form new skills such as a swivel hips which is essentially two seat drops linked together by a half twist or a roller which again consists of two seat drops but this time linked by a full twist performed at an angle of approximately 45° from the bed.

Scoring System for Twists in Trampolining

Trampolinists add twists to somersaults to increase the number of points they can receive in competitions. For every half twist a trampolinist performs they will receive 0.1 point.

For example, if a trampolinist performs a full somersault they will receive a score of 0.5. This score consists of 0.1 which is awarded for every quarter of the somersault plus a bonus 0.1 which is awarded for the completion of a full somersault. If the trampolinist adds a half twist they receive an extra 0.1 bringing their total for the skill to 0.6.

Learning Half and Full Twist Jumps

The movement for a half or full twist jump will begin in the arms and shoulders so to recreate this feeling children are often asked to stand on the floor to practice the twisting action.

With their feet placed shoulder width apart for balance they will start to swing their arms around their bodies as far as they can go in one direction and back in the other. As the movement gets bigger they are allowed to let their shoulders and their upper bodies join the movement.

Once on the trampoline a twist is performed at the highest point of the bounce. The half twist should come fairly easily with a gentle twisting action. The full twist may take a few attempts to ensure a full circle is completed.

Some trampolinists will feel the need to slow their twist in preparation for landing. To do this the arms may be moved wider than the body just before the feet make contact with the bed.

Common Twisting Problems

If a beginner is experiencing problems when attempting a full twist jump they can break the skill down and complete two half twist jumps with one bounce in between them. Once the trampolinist can perform this confidently they can then attempt to remove the bounce. Alternatively they could perform a three quarter jump and work on increasing this to a full twist.

Balance is a key factor whilst twisting and a trampolinist may feel a little unsteady on their feet, particularly during the landing. The trampolinist should aim to keep their body as straight as possible while completing a twist. The body should also remain upright throughout, especially during the take off and landing.

Arm Positions During Twisting Jumps

During either a full or half twist jump the arms can either be stretched upwards above the head in a ‘spear’ position or they can be crossed and placed on the chest. Both of these positions allow the body to spin quickly without the arms creating a dragging effect. This also creates a polished and clean look when performing the skill.

The copyright of the article Full and Half Twist Jumps in Gymnastics is owned by Kim Ford. Permission to republish Full and Half Twist Jumps in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.