Topic: Problems with Front flips

[Ethan Nicholson]

I've been learning to do front flips recently, and I've paid close attention to the techniques used in all the tutorial videos, but for some reason I can never land them properly. I tuck my legs up to my chest and grab onto them, but for some reason I always overspin and land on my back or hit the back of my head. If I try to flip later on in the jump, then I don't get enough spin in time and land on my face without even completing one rotation.

I really want to get this down, so could anyone please provide some tips or something to help me on my way? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Jacob Carter]

Ummmmm let go of the tuck sooner??? That's all you do. Start the tuck the same time as you normally do and then let go of it sooner when your upright. Film yourself doing it and then post it on here. Good luck.

[Ethan Nicholson]

I tried doing it onto my bed, and was recording myself doing so. I landed on my back on the bed, bounced off, and then landed neck first on the floor. Since I'm also just lucky like that, I kicked a cup full of spare change on top of me while I was on the ground.

f#ckING FAIL.

[Greeeg the squiiirrel]

wait wait wait... you overspin and hit the back of your head??...

...so you're turning 540 degrees and can't figure out how to not spin as much?

[Christian Greene]

I tuck my legs up to my chest and grab onto them

You should be bringing your chest down to your legs, not the other way around.

[MThomasfreerun]

Front flips are a bit different than back flips in several key ways.

First, just jumping straight and tucking will not cause you to front flip - it will make you cannonball. Jumping straight is still important but you have to bring your hips up over your head or you will not rotate (different for front lays, but let's hold off on that).

Second, you will want to use your arms to assist your rotation. They should already be up when you are about to take off for the front flip. Throw your arms like you would throw in a soccer ball (i.e. evenly and extended, but not straight to the ground).

As you are rising and beginning to bring your hips over your head, bring your arms to your knees and tuck in tight.

Now, front flips are a bit different than backflips in landing -  In a backflip you see the ground halfway through - this is not the case on the front flip. You will not see your landing until after you land (this is often referred to as a "blind" landing).  Do not look at the ground or try to rotate until you see the ground - you will either (a)over-rotate or (b) not elevate enough and land low.

Try it in order: 

(1)run
(2) hurdle/skip while bringing your arms up
(3)while looking forward or slightly above horizontal, jump high
(4)bring your hips up over your head while throwing your arms like you'd throw a soccer ball
(5) tuck and grab your knees
(6)open as you begin to get right side up again and see in front of you.
(7)brace your legs for landing.

Best of luck - train safe.

[Adam McC]

Pay close attention to the last posts.

It is important that you do not bring your knees to your chest. That is how you tuck for a backflip. it creates acceleration in the wrong way. You bring your shoulders to your knees, and you feel your hips overtop of your head. This will give you the rotation. From there on out, its simply timing your tuck, which takes practice and the development of proprioception.

[Christian Greene]

Front flips are a bit different than back flips in several key ways.

First, just jumping straight and tucking will not cause you to front flip - it will make you cannonball. Jumping straight is still important but you have to bring your hips up over your head or you will not rotate (different for front lays, but let's hold off on that).

Second, you will want to use your arms to assist your rotation. They should already be up when you are about to take off for the front flip. Throw your arms like you would throw in a soccer ball (i.e. evenly and extended, but not straight to the ground).

As you are rising and beginning to bring your hips over your head, bring your arms to your knees and tuck in tight.

Now, front flips are a bit different than backflips in landing -  In a backflip you see the ground halfway through - this is not the case on the front flip. You will not see your landing until after you land (this is often referred to as a "blind" landing).  Do not look at the ground or try to rotate until you see the ground - you will either (a)over-rotate or (b) not elevate enough and land low.

Try it in order: 

(1)run
(2) hurdle/skip while bringing your arms up
(3)while looking forward or slightly above horizontal, jump high
(4)bring your hips up over your head while throwing your arms like you'd throw a soccer ball
(5) tuck and grab your knees
(6)open as you begin to get right side up again and see in front of you.
(7)brace your legs for landing.

Best of luck - train safe.

^This

Thanks for illustrating that point in more detail.

[Ethan Nicholson]

Thanks for the great advice everyone! I'll be sure to follow this advice next time I go out to train frontflips. This is really, really appreciated!

[Funkyfresh4123]

i'm struggling too.......i under rotate. always land sitting or on my back. tips?

[Adam McC]

i'm struggling too.......i under rotate. always land sitting or on my back. tips?

Yes. Read this topic.

[Jacob Carter]

Yes. Read this topic.

That^^ and post a video of you doing one. Its easier to tell what your doing wrong if you have a video.