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Duct Taped Underbars

Sunday, 06 November 2005

So you are having trouble with underbars? This usually stems from one thing; a lack of committment due to fear. Getting over this fear takes practice, but what is a good way to practice? Well you know what they say about duct tape...If you can't duct it, fuuu, well, you know...

The Method: Grab some duct tape from your house. Go to your local park or elementary school and find one of those individual standing monkey bars. You know, the kind you used to hang upside down on when you were a kid...

Take a long piece of duct tape and stick it across the two posts, parallel to the top bar.

Duct Tape

Presto. Your own homemade underbar. Adjust the tape (highlighted in the photo below) to any size underbar you feel like practicing.

Tape across bars highlighted

No matter how small you make it, a failed attempt is sure to be painless. With some solid practice, you should no longer have any excuse for noncommital underbars. Now why didn't you think of this?

Note: This method has also proven to be successful with a rope substituting the duct tape.

Video Demonstration: Click on the thumbnail to watch the video.

Users' Comments

Display 36 of 36 comments

1. 01-04-2006 19:06

very helpful, thx a bunch! -zetti-

zetti

2. 02-13-2006 18:33

Thanks! I'm gonna try this next jam!

WhiteDragon231

3. 03-27-2006 19:53

This idea really helped me. i was always scared to do an underbar... scared i would break my back or hit my face on the bar... but this helped... THANKS :grin

pk_sel

4. 04-21-2006 12:24

that is a great idea, Ican't wait to try it
thank you :grin

Kewlguy213

5. 08-13-2006 01:13

This is perfect. Underbars were always something that freaked me out. I'll be sure to try this method out and get in lots of practice.

Thanks!

crevan

6. 08-23-2006 22:34

i tryed it to day for 2 hours thanks alot man!!!!!

thepunishermjm

7. 08-26-2006 09:49

thanks! i have been having trouble finding good underbars and this is a great idea i never thought about

barnes

8. 10-10-2006 23:45

But couldn't you do the same with string? That way you don't have to waste precious duct tape (if you use it for everything, like you should :grin

) and the string can be used many times.

Excieo

9. 11-02-2006 16:33

This is confusing. Im not horrible at underbars, and this clears it up a bit, but do you all know each other in Real Life? Like I live in the USA, and thought you guys would be in the US, so are you? If you are IM me on AIM (aol instant messaging) on 'not a satanist' Thanks!! :grin

mmuir

10. 11-26-2006 10:27

thanks my wories r ova but howd u get gud at hard vaults plz i need 2 no :sigh

jim06

11. 11-28-2006 13:25

I think the reason you wouldn't use string is that it isn't very visible. Duct tape is similar in width to a standard railing bar. I think that would help with the muscle memory / commitment issue. Just a thought.

jutah2

12. 02-01-2007 18:12

by doing this (cuz there arn't that many places for me to practes under bars where I am)I got my under bar space to a 2ft hight!

HnRock

13. 02-06-2007 16:44

your sorta near my house

Rock

14. 02-12-2007 15:15

This may be just what i need

Fly High

15. 03-12-2007 07:45

Thanks for the tip I'm going to use it the next time I'm out training. Duct tape holds the world together.

Rave

16. 04-09-2007 10:03

Thanks, I will try this today! >.

keyouse

17. 06-03-2007 15:37

just as you say...why the hell didn't I think of that?! I've killed by tailbone practicing on double rails with a 1.25' gap so many times ive been afraid to try them anymore. thanks

themantheycallJayne

18. 06-20-2007 14:27

:-) thanks , should come in handy. :grin

houseman

19. 07-02-2007 09:15

thanks so much ,alot like the othor guy i got a sore tailbone from trying learn this daunting task i am going outside 2 do it rite now .ty

shadow runner13

20. 07-13-2007 19:53

Very good. Never woulda thought of that, even though you showed it to us in class =P. I'll try it next time.

Thanks Ryan.

z3Ck

21. 07-20-2007 22:30

how do I conquer my fear of the railspring?

Crosseyes

22. 08-02-2007 18:57

Nice tip! i adjusted this to practice monkey vaults too. you just need to find a railing with a small break in it

cnewt35

23. 08-06-2007 17:14

Damn man.
Thank you for this.
It's great help.

PaddyOHayes

24. 09-07-2007 07:31

Very useful!~ :-) Thx for this man.

idkdown8

25. 10-29-2007 14:51

you my friend are a DYI/household genius
thanks

sss24

26. 12-03-2007 19:09

One safety concern about string or twine is contact area and forward momentum,Thin BAD,Wide SAFER.just an observation...

scuppermiester

27. 12-03-2007 19:13

scuppermiester

28. 12-07-2007 07:58

thx ill try that out when i get a chance.

siux

29. 01-03-2008 17:01

i just started learning underbars today using those exact same bars you described, but i never would have thought of tape. youre a genius

generic user name

30. 02-03-2008 06:22

Wow can't believe I didn't think of that, thanks for postin this, I just got into parkour and was scared to eat the rail with my back on an underbar...I'm gonna try this today.. :grin

Kamahl

31. 02-23-2008 19:44

I'm pretty hesitant about it cause I don't wanna nail my face (trying to get out of my braces faster), but I do have an idea. Take something like a thick blanket and wrap it around the upper bar (where your hands won't need to touch). Also, wear a mouthguard.

[Raito]

32. 02-28-2008 16:23

awesum thx

mexicanhobo5

33. 03-19-2008 09:14

this is 2 years old but still the best fundamental way to work with underbars sickness times 12

mwirishkid17

34. 03-19-2008 19:50

Sweet! Now I can practice these and get better without killing my back!

justliving

35. 05-26-2008 10:53

thnx this helps out alot

fangking

36. 07-10-2008 01:06

This sort of helped after a long time but I after i realized that it wasn't as much as fear as no talent. Thx though.

AlphaX

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