"if you think about giraffes.."
Well, actually, there might some element of truth to that statement. Not about giraffes specifically, but about letting your body do what you want it to. I've found that flips are easier when you just get into a rhythm and you're not focusing on every little element. Try not to over-analyze everything. I'm fairly certain you know what you're supposed to do by now, so it's not going to help you to fry your brains by thinking about every little nuance.
Also, here are a few things that have helped me (I still haven't got it down, but I've definitely seen improvement since implementing these tips):
-The first thing I'll suggest is to learn a jogging front tuck. I think they're easier because you'll get all the height you'd ever need if you block correctly.
-(This is only for the jogging front tuck) Remember to jump
UP; you've got all the forward momentum you'll need from your jog, you just need the height.
-Delay your tuck until you're at the apex of your jump. The tuck changes upward momentum to spinning momentum.
-Hold the tuck longer so that you over-rotate. If you do it correctly, you'll probably land on your knees. If you can land on your knees, you know that you've got enough spin to land on your feet; just figure out when you need to untuck to get the full rotation.
-Tuck tighter. When you flip, do you just pull your legs in or do you grab them with your hands? Perhaps your tucking technique isn't working for you. I've seen many different styles; try to find one that works best for you. Some people grab their shins, I grab my knees, others grab the backs of their thighs, and some people just slap their legs. Go to a gym or hop around on a trampoline to experiment with different tucks.
Hope this helped.
