Artistic gymnastics includes hundreds of moves, from simple rolls and handstands to release moves, twisting vaults and multiple saltos performed by elite gymnasts.
In competitive gymnastics, these moves are officially called elements. Under the current 2025–2028 FIG Code of Points, recognized elements on uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, parallel bars and horizontal bar are generally assigned Difficulty Values from:
- A = 0.10
- B = 0.20
- C = 0.30
- D = 0.40
- E = 0.50
- F = 0.60
- G = 0.70
- H = 0.80
- I = 0.90
- J = 1.00
Vault works differently. Each vault has its own numerical Difficulty Value (DV), such as 5.40 or 6.40.
Basic developmental moves that do not have a separate FIG value are marked N/A.
In this article, we’ll explore a comprehensive list of artistic gymnastics moves across both women’s and men’s apparatus, with their current FIG Difficulty Values under the 2025–2028 Code of Points.
Note: These are individual element values, not the total D-score of a routine. Difficulty values can also change between Code of Points cycles.
Women’s Apparatus
| Apparatus | Move | FIG Difficulty Value |
|---|---|---|
| Floor Exercise | Forward Roll | N/A |
| Cartwheel | N/A | |
| Handstand | N/A | |
| Roundoff | 0.10 (A) | |
| Back Handspring | 0.10 (A) | |
| Front Handspring | 0.10 (A) | |
| Aerial Cartwheel | 0.10 (A) | |
| Front Aerial | 0.10 (A) | |
| Front Tuck | 0.10 (A) | |
| Back Tuck | 0.10 (A) | |
| Front Layout | 0.20 (B) | |
| Back Full | 0.20 (B) | |
| Double Back Tuck | 0.40 (D) | |
| Double Back Pike | 0.40 (D) | |
| Double Layout | 0.60 (F) | |
| Silivas | 0.80 (H) | |
| Moors | 0.90 (I) | |
| Biles II | 1.00 (J) | |
| Split Leap | 0.10 (A) | |
| Memmel Turn | 0.40 (D) | |
| Vault | Handstand Flatback | N/A |
| Squat On | N/A | |
| Front Handspring | 1.6 | |
| Yurchenko Layout | 3.6 | |
| Yurchenko Full | 4.2 | |
| Yurchenko 1½ | 4.6 | |
| Double-Twisting Yurchenko | 5.0 | |
| Amanar | 5.4 | |
| Tsukahara Layout | 3.8 | |
| Zamolodchikova | 5.2 | |
| Cheng | 5.6 | |
| Yeo | 5.8 | |
| Biles | 6.0 | |
| Produnova | 6.0 | |
| Biles II | 6.4 | |
| Uneven Bars | Pullover | N/A |
| Kip | 0.10 (A) | |
| Cast to Handstand | 0.10+ | |
| Giant Circle Backward | 0.10 (A) | |
| Giant Full | 0.30 (C) | |
| Shaposhnikova | 0.40 (D) | |
| Tkatchev | 0.40 (D) | |
| Piked Tkatchev | 0.50 (E) | |
| Pak Salto | 0.40 (D) | |
| Bhardwaj | 0.50 (E) | |
| Gienger | 0.40 (D) | |
| Jaeger | 0.40+ | |
| Maloney | 0.40 (D) | |
| Van Leeuwen | 0.50 (E) | |
| Church | 0.50 (E) | |
| Downie | 0.60 (F) | |
| Nabieva | 0.70 (G) | |
| Nemour | 0.70 (G) | |
| Double Layout Dismount | 0.40 (D) | |
| Full-Twisting Double Layout Dismount | 0.60 (F) | |
| Balance Beam | Mount | N/A / varies |
| Arabesque | N/A | |
| Handstand | N/A / varies | |
| Cartwheel | 0.10 (A) | |
| Back Walkover | 0.10 (A) | |
| Split Leap | 0.10 (A) | |
| Back Handspring Step-Out | 0.20 (B) | |
| Roundoff | 0.20 (B) | |
| Switch Leap | 0.30 (C) | |
| Back Tuck | 0.30 (C) | |
| Layout Step-Out | 0.30 (C) | |
| Front Aerial | 0.40 (D) | |
| Side Aerial | 0.40 (D) | |
| Onodi | 0.40 (D) | |
| Front Tuck | 0.40 (D) | |
| Switch Leap ½ | 0.40 (D) | |
| Layout to Two Feet | 0.50 (E) | |
| Standing Arabian | 0.60 (F) | |
| Double Back Tuck Dismount | 0.40 (D) | |
| Double Pike Dismount | 0.50 (E) | |
| Full-Twisting Double Back Dismount | 0.70 (G) |
Floor Exercise
Forward Roll (N/A): One of the first gymnastics skills many beginners learn. The gymnast rolls forward over the shoulders and upper back before returning to the feet. It is an important developmental movement but is not normally used as a FIG difficulty element in elite floor routines.
Cartwheel (N/A): The gymnast travels sideways through an inverted position with the hands touching the floor one after another. It develops coordination, balance and confidence upside down.
Handstand (N/A): The gymnast supports the body upside down on straight arms. Although a basic handstand itself is primarily a foundation skill, handstand mechanics appear throughout artistic gymnastics.
Roundoff – 0.10 (A): Similar to a cartwheel but finishing with the feet together, the roundoff allows the gymnast to rebound immediately into another tumbling skill.
Back Handspring – 0.10 (A): The gymnast jumps backward, places the hands on the floor and snaps the legs over the body to return to the feet. It is commonly used between a roundoff and a salto.
Front Handspring – 0.10 (A): The gymnast moves forward through hand support and blocks from the floor into flight. Front handsprings are commonly used to connect into forward tumbling.
Aerial Cartwheel – 0.10 (A): A sideways aerial movement resembling a cartwheel but performed without placing the hands on the floor.
Front Aerial – 0.10 (A): Similar to a front walkover but without hand support. The gymnast moves forward through an inverted split-leg position before landing.
Front Tuck – 0.10 (A): A forward somersault performed in a tucked position.
Back Tuck – 0.10 (A): A backward somersault performed in a tucked position.
Front Layout – 0.20 (B): A forward salto performed with the body stretched rather than tucked.
Back Full – 0.20 (B): A stretched backward salto with one complete twist.
Double Back Tuck – 0.40 (D): Two backward somersaults performed during one flight phase in the tucked position.
Double Back Pike – 0.40 (D): Two backward somersaults performed with straight legs and the body piked at the hips.
Double Layout – 0.60 (F): Two backward saltos performed with the body maintained in a stretched position.
Silivas – 0.80 (H): A double back salto in the tucked position with two full twists. It is one of the best-known high-difficulty tumbling elements in women’s floor exercise.
Moors – 0.90 (I): A double layout with two full twists, named after Canadian gymnast Victoria Moors.
Biles II – 1.00 (J): A triple-twisting double back tuck named after Simone Biles. At J value, it sits at the top end of the current women’s difficulty scale.
Split Leap – 0.10 (A): The gymnast leaps from one foot and opens the legs into a split position in flight before landing on the opposite foot.
Memmel Turn – 0.40 (D): A double turn on one leg while the free leg is held high in a split position. The skill is named after Chellsie Memmel.
Vault
Unlike the other women’s events, vault does not use the A-to-J element scale. Every vault has its own numerical starting D-value.
Handstand Flatback (N/A): A developmental drill in which the gymnast reaches a handstand and falls in a tight, straight position onto a raised mat. It teaches body alignment and blocking mechanics.
Squat On (N/A): A beginner vault drill in which the gymnast jumps from the springboard and brings the feet onto the vaulting surface or mat in a squat position.
Front Handspring – 1.6: The gymnast runs forward, jumps from the springboard, places the hands on the table and blocks into a simple forward post-flight.
Yurchenko Layout – 3.6: A roundoff onto the springboard followed by a back handspring onto the table and a stretched backward salto.
Yurchenko Full – 4.2: The same Yurchenko entry followed by a stretched backward salto with one full twist.
Yurchenko 1½ – 4.6: A Yurchenko layout containing 1½ twists during the second flight.
Double-Twisting Yurchenko – 5.0: Commonly called a DTY, this vault finishes with two twists in a stretched backward salto.
Amanar – 5.4: A Yurchenko entry followed by a stretched backward salto with 2½ twists. The vault is named after Simona Amanar.
Tsukahara Layout – 3.8: The gymnast makes a quarter- to half-turn onto the table before performing a stretched backward salto.
Zamolodchikova – 5.2: A Tsukahara-style stretched salto with two twists, named after Elena Zamolodchikova.
Cheng – 5.6: A roundoff with a half turn onto the vault table followed by a forward stretched salto with 1½ twists. It is one of the most important high-difficulty vaults in modern women’s gymnastics.
Yeo – 5.8: A front-handspring vault followed by a stretched front salto with two twists, named after South Korean gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong.
Biles – 6.0: A roundoff half-on entry followed by a stretched forward salto with two twists.
Produnova – 6.0: A front handspring onto the table followed by a double front salto in the tucked position.
Biles II – 6.4: A Yurchenko entry followed by a double backward salto in the piked position. At 6.4, it remains one of the highest-valued vaults in the women’s Code.
Uneven Bars
Pullover (N/A): A basic developmental skill in which the gymnast rotates around the bar from a hang to front support.
Kip – 0.10 (A): The gymnast coordinates a swing, leg action and hip extension to move from a hang into front support.
Cast to Handstand – 0.10+: The gymnast casts from support toward or into handstand. The exact FIG value depends on the body position and variation performed.
Giant Circle Backward – 0.10 (A): A complete backward rotation around the bar with the body extended.
Giant Full – 0.30 (C): A backward giant circle incorporating a full turn through the handstand phase.
Shaposhnikova – 0.40 (D): A clear-hip circle on the low bar through handstand followed by flight to catch the high bar.
Tkatchev – 0.40 (D): The gymnast releases the high bar and travels backward over it in a straddled position before regrasping.
Piked Tkatchev – 0.50 (E): A more difficult Tkatchev variation performed in a piked rather than straddled position.
Pak Salto – 0.40 (D): The gymnast releases the high bar and performs a backward stretched salto between the bars to catch the low bar.
Bhardwaj – 0.50 (E): A Pak-style high-to-low transition incorporating one full twist.
Gienger – 0.40 (D): A backward piked salto with a half turn from the high bar before regrasp.
Jaeger – 0.40+: A forward salto release performed from a forward swing. Difficulty rises with the body position and twisting variation; for example, the current piked Jaeger is valued higher than the basic version.
Maloney – 0.40 (D): A toe-on circle through handstand from the low bar followed by flight to the high bar.
Van Leeuwen – 0.50 (E): A toe-on low-to-high transition with an additional half turn.
Church – 0.50 (E): A toe-on piked Tkatchev-style release over the high bar.
Downie – 0.60 (F): A difficult piked release from a Stalder entry, named after British gymnast Rebecca Downie.
Nabieva – 0.70 (G): A stretched Tkatchev-type release from a toe-on entry, named after Tatiana Nabieva.
Nemour – 0.70 (G): A high-difficulty uneven-bars element named after Kaylia Nemour and included in the current Code.
Double Layout Dismount – 0.40 (D): The gymnast releases the bar and performs two stretched backward saltos before landing.
Full-Twisting Double Layout Dismount – 0.60 (F): A double layout with one full twist. Its value was increased for the 2025–2028 cycle.
Balance Beam
Mount (N/A / varies): A mount is any element used to begin the routine. Simple developmental mounts may have no FIG value, while coded mounts can range from low to very high difficulty.
Arabesque (N/A): A basic balance position with one leg extended behind the body.
Handstand (N/A / varies): A basic handstand is primarily a developmental skill, although particular held, turning or mount variations can receive FIG difficulty.
Cartwheel – 0.10 (A): The gymnast moves sideways through hand support while precisely placing the hands and feet along the 10-centimeter-wide beam.
Back Walkover – 0.10 (A): The gymnast arches backward through handstand and returns to the beam one foot at a time.
Split Leap – 0.10 (A): A leap from one foot to the other showing a split position in the air.
Back Handspring Step-Out – 0.20 (B): The gymnast jumps backward to the hands and lands one foot at a time. It is one of the most common building blocks for beam acrobatic series.
Roundoff – 0.20 (B): A cartwheel-type movement finishing with both feet together, often used to initiate a dismount or acrobatic combination.
Switch Leap – 0.30 (C): The gymnast switches the leading leg during flight before reaching the split position.
Back Tuck – 0.30 (C): A backward tucked salto performed on the beam.
Layout Step-Out – 0.30 (C): A stretched backward salto landing one foot and then the other, frequently connected from a back handspring.
Front Aerial – 0.40 (D): A front walkover-like acrobatic element performed without hand support.
Side Aerial – 0.40 (D): A sideways salto-like aerial performed without placing the hands on the beam.
Onodi – 0.40 (D): A backward entry with a half turn leading into a front walkover-type movement.
Front Tuck – 0.40 (D): A forward tucked salto performed from the beam.
Switch Leap ½ – 0.40 (D): A switch leap incorporating an additional half turn.
Layout to Two Feet – 0.50 (E): A stretched backward salto landing simultaneously on both feet rather than stepping out.
Standing Arabian – 0.60 (F): The gymnast takes off backward, turns 180 degrees and performs a forward tucked salto without a running approach.
Double Back Tuck Dismount – 0.40 (D): Two backward tucked saltos performed from the end of the beam.
Double Pike Dismount – 0.50 (E): Two backward saltos performed in a piked position.
Full-Twisting Double Back Dismount – 0.70 (G): A double backward salto incorporating a full twist before landing.
Men’s Apparatus
| Apparatus | Move | FIG Difficulty Value |
|---|---|---|
| Floor Exercise | Handstand | N/A / varies |
| Cartwheel | N/A | |
| Roundoff | N/A | |
| Back Handspring | 0.10 (A) | |
| Back Tuck | 0.10 (A) | |
| Back Layout | 0.20 (B) | |
| Arabian | 0.10 (A) | |
| Double Back Tuck | 0.30 (C) | |
| Double Back Pike | 0.40 (D) | |
| Arabian Double Tuck | 0.40 (D) | |
| Arabian Double Pike | 0.50 (E) | |
| Double Layout | 0.50 (E) | |
| Full-Twisting Double Layout | 0.60 (F) | |
| Double Layout with 2/1 Twist | 0.70 (G) | |
| Ri Jong Song | 0.60 (F) | |
| Shirai III | 0.90 (I) | |
| Liukin | 0.90 (I) | |
| Jarman | 1.00 (J) | |
| Nagornyy | 1.00 (J) | |
| Vault | Handstand Flatback | N/A |
| Front Handspring | 1.2 | |
| Yurchenko Tuck | 1.8 | |
| Yurchenko Layout | 2.8 | |
| Tsukahara Tuck | 1.8 | |
| Tsukahara Layout | 2.8 | |
| Dragulescu | 5.2 | |
| Blanik | 5.2 | |
| Yang Hak Seon | 5.6 | |
| Ri Se Gwang | 5.6 | |
| Ri Se Gwang II | 5.6 | |
| Yonekura | 5.6 | |
| Shirai II | 5.6 | |
| Parallel Bars | Support Swing | N/A |
| L-Sit | 0.10 (A) | |
| Swing to Handstand | 0.10 (A) | |
| Straddle Cut | 0.10+ | |
| Healy | 0.30 (C) | |
| Diamidov | 0.30 (C) | |
| Moy | 0.30 (C) | |
| Bejenaru | 0.40 (D) | |
| Gatson / Patron | 0.50 (E) | |
| Carballo 2 | 0.50 (E) | |
| Gatson 2 | 0.60 (F) | |
| High Bar | Kip | N/A |
| Giant Swing | 0.10 (A) | |
| Tkatchev | 0.30 (C) | |
| Layout Tkatchev | 0.40 (D) | |
| Gienger | 0.40 (D) | |
| Kovacs | 0.40 (D) | |
| Kolman | 0.50 (E) | |
| Gaylord I | 0.50 (E) | |
| Piked Gaylord I | 0.60 (F) | |
| Cassina | 0.70 (G) | |
| Liukin | 0.70 (G) | |
| Bretschneider | 0.80 (H) | |
| Suarez | 0.80 (H) | |
| Miyachi | 0.90 (I) | |
| Rings | Support Swing | N/A |
| L-Sit | 0.10 (A) | |
| Back Lever | 0.10 (A) | |
| Front Lever | 0.10 (A) | |
| Yamawaki | 0.20 (B) | |
| Iron Cross | 0.30 (C) | |
| Planche | 0.30 (C) | |
| Inverted Cross | 0.40 (D) | |
| Maltese | 0.40 (D) | |
| Azarian | 0.40 (D) | |
| Honma to Cross | 0.40 (D) | |
| Balandin 1 to Maltese | 0.60 (F) | |
| Balandin 2 to Inverted Cross | 0.70 (G) | |
| Pommel Horse | Leg Swing | N/A |
| Scissor | 0.10+ | |
| Circle | 0.10 (A) | |
| Flair | 0.10+ | |
| Travel Forward 1/2–2/3 | 0.20 (B) | |
| Travel Forward 3/3 | 0.30 (C) | |
| Russian 360°–540° | 0.10 (A) | |
| Russian 720°–900° | 0.20 (B) | |
| Russian 1080° | 0.30 (C) | |
| Magyar | 0.40 (D) | |
| Sivado | 0.40 (D) | |
| Sohn | 0.40 (D) | |
| Driggs | 0.50 (E) | |
| Manukyan | 0.60 (F) |
Floor Exercise
Handstand (N/A / varies): A foundational inverted position used throughout men’s gymnastics. Particular press, strength and turning variations can receive difficulty value.
Cartwheel (N/A): A basic sideways inversion useful for learning hand support, coordination and spatial awareness.
Roundoff (N/A): An important tumbling-entry skill used to generate backward speed, although it is primarily a connecting or preparatory movement in men’s elite floor exercise.
Back Handspring – 0.10 (A): The gymnast jumps backward onto the hands and snaps the legs over to continue the tumbling pass.
Back Tuck – 0.10 (A): A single backward tucked salto.
Back Layout – 0.20 (B): A backward salto performed with the body stretched.
Arabian – 0.10 (A): A backward takeoff with a half turn into a forward salto.
Double Back Tuck – 0.30 (C): Two backward tucked saltos performed in one flight.
Double Back Pike – 0.40 (D): Two backward saltos performed in the piked position. This element was upgraded for the 2025–2028 Code.
Arabian Double Tuck – 0.40 (D): A backward takeoff and half turn followed by two forward tucked saltos.
Arabian Double Pike – 0.50 (E): The same general Arabian double-salto action performed in a piked body position.
Double Layout – 0.50 (E): Two backward stretched saltos. Its difficulty was increased for the current Code cycle.
Full-Twisting Double Layout – 0.60 (F): Two stretched backward saltos incorporating one full twist.
Double Layout with 2/1 Twist – 0.70 (G): A double stretched backward salto containing two complete twists.
Ri Jong Song – 0.60 (F): A double backward tucked salto with three twists, named after Ri Jong Song.
Shirai III – 0.90 (I): A double layout with three twists, named after Japanese gymnast Kenzo Shirai.
Liukin – 0.90 (I): A triple backward salto in the tucked position.
Jarman – 1.00 (J): A double layout with 3½ twists. It is one of the J-valued elements at the top of the current MAG floor difficulty scale.
Nagornyy – 1.00 (J): A triple backward salto in the piked position, another J-valued men’s floor element.
Vault
MAG vault also uses individual numerical D-values rather than the A-to-J element scale. The 2025–2028 Code reduced men’s vault values compared with the previous cycle.
Handstand Flatback (N/A): A developmental drill used to teach the handstand and blocking positions required for more difficult vaults.
Front Handspring – 1.2: A basic forward-entry vault using hand support on the table followed by simple post-flight.
Yurchenko Tuck – 1.8: A roundoff and back-handspring entry followed by a tucked backward salto.
Yurchenko Layout – 2.8: The same entry followed by a stretched backward salto.
Tsukahara Tuck – 1.8: A turning entry onto the table followed by a tucked backward salto.
Tsukahara Layout – 2.8: A Tsukahara-style entry followed by a stretched backward salto.
Dragulescu – 5.2: A front-handspring entry followed by a double front tuck with a half twist, named after Marian Dragulescu.
Blanik – 5.2: A front handspring followed by a double front salto in the piked position.
Yang Hak Seon – 5.6: A front-handspring entry followed by a stretched forward salto with three twists.
Ri Se Gwang – 5.6: A Tsukahara-entry double backward tuck with a full twist.
Ri Se Gwang II – 5.6: A very difficult handspring double-front family vault with additional twisting.
Yonekura – 5.6: A high-difficulty Tsukahara-family vault with extensive twisting, named after Hidenobu Yonekura.
Shirai II – 5.6: A Yurchenko-style vault with 3½ twists, named after Kenzo Shirai.
Parallel Bars
Support Swing (N/A): A basic developmental swing performed while supporting the body above the parallel bars.
L-Sit – 0.10 (A): The gymnast supports the body with straight arms while holding the straight legs horizontally in front.
Swing to Handstand – 0.10 (A): The gymnast uses a support swing to rise into handstand above the bars.
Straddle Cut – 0.10+: A family of skills in which the legs pass through a wide straddled position. Difficulty depends on the exact entry, exit and finishing position.
Healy – 0.30 (C): From handstand, the gymnast turns on one arm and lowers into support. The current Code values the standard Healy to support at C.
Diamidov – 0.30 (C): A forward swing followed by a full turn on one arm into handstand.
Moy – 0.30 (C): A long-hang swing beneath the bars returning to support with straight legs.
Bejenaru – 0.40 (D): A more difficult Healy-type element performed following a swing to handstand on one rail.
Gatson / Patron – 0.50 (E): A full turning hop from handstand on the bars. The Code groups this family at E value.
Carballo 2 – 0.50 (E): A 5/4 forward salto in a straddled position directly to hang.
Gatson 2 – 0.60 (F): A more difficult Gatson variation involving additional turning and handstand work on one rail.
High Bar
Kip (N/A): A foundational transition from hang to support used during early high-bar training.
Giant Swing – 0.10 (A): A complete extended-body circle around the high bar. Giants generate the speed needed for advanced release skills.
Tkatchev – 0.30 (C): The gymnast releases the bar and travels backward over it in a straddled position before regrasping.
Layout Tkatchev – 0.40 (D): A Tkatchev performed with the body stretched.
Gienger – 0.40 (D): A backward piked salto with a half turn before regrasping. The piked Gienger was upgraded for the current cycle.
Kovacs – 0.40 (D): A double backward tucked salto over the bar followed by a regrasp.
Kolman – 0.50 (E): A Kovacs with one full twist performed in a tucked position.
Gaylord I – 0.50 (E): A forward tucked salto over the bar followed by a regrasp. The element was upgraded in the 2025–2028 Code.
Piked Gaylord I – 0.60 (F): A piked version of the Gaylord I.
Cassina – 0.70 (G): A stretched Kovacs with a full twist before regrasping, named after Igor Cassina.
Liukin – 0.70 (G): A stretched Tkatchev with a full twist. It was upgraded from F to G for the 2025–2028 cycle.
Bretschneider – 0.80 (H): A Kovacs-family release combining two backward saltos with two twists.
Suarez – 0.80 (H): A high-difficulty stretched Piatti-type release with a full twist.
Miyachi – 0.90 (I): A stretched Kovacs with two full twists. It is among the highest-valued release moves on high bar.
Rings
Support Swing (N/A): Basic ring swinging develops body tension, shoulder control and the ability to control the independently moving rings.
L-Sit – 0.10 (A): A two-second strength hold with the body supported on straight arms and the legs held horizontally in front.
Back Lever – 0.10 (A): A two-second horizontal strength hold with the body facing toward the floor.
Front Lever – 0.10 (A): A horizontal hanging strength position with the body facing upward.
Yamawaki – 0.20 (B): A swinging ring element that was downgraded under the 2025–2028 Code.
Iron Cross – 0.30 (C): The gymnast holds the body upright while extending the straight arms horizontally to the sides.
Planche – 0.30 (C): The gymnast supports the body horizontally on straight arms without leg support.
Inverted Cross – 0.40 (D): An upside-down cross position with the arms extended to the sides.
Maltese – 0.40 (D): The body is held horizontally near ring height while supported by straight arms extended widely to the sides.
Azarian – 0.40 (D): A slow backward roll with straight arms and body into an iron-cross position.
Honma to Cross – 0.40 (D): A dynamic swinging transition that finishes directly in an iron cross.
Balandin 1 to Maltese – 0.60 (F): A highly demanding strength transition finishing in the Maltese position.
Balandin 2 to Inverted Cross – 0.70 (G): An even more difficult strength sequence finishing in an inverted cross.
Pommel Horse
Leg Swing (N/A): Basic leg swings teach weight transfer, rhythm and support before the gymnast begins full circles and scissors.
Scissor – 0.10+: Scissor elements form one of the main pommel-horse skill families. The exact value depends on the variation and amount of turning.
Circle – 0.10 (A): The gymnast swings both legs continuously around the body while transferring support between the hands.
Flair – 0.10+: Similar to a circle, but with the legs widely straddled. More difficult flair variations receive higher values.
Travel Forward 1/2–2/3 – 0.20 (B): The gymnast continues circling while traveling forward across part of the horse.
Travel Forward 3/3 – 0.30 (C): A longer travel across all three sections of the pommel horse under the prescribed support conditions.
Russian 360°–540° – 0.10 (A): A Russian wendeswing with one to one-and-a-half rotations.
Russian 720°–900° – 0.20 (B): A longer Russian sequence containing two to two-and-a-half rotations.
Russian 1080° – 0.30 (C): Three complete rotations performed continuously.
Magyar – 0.40 (D): A full forward travel along the length of the pommel horse while maintaining continuous circles.
Sivado – 0.40 (D): A corresponding backward travel across the horse.
Sohn – 0.40 (D): A difficult turning pommel-horse element using a 270-degree turn around one pommel. It was reduced from E to D in the current Code.
Driggs – 0.50 (E): An advanced traveling element performed across the pommels.
Manukyan – 0.60 (F): A high-difficulty pommel-horse element officially named during the current Code cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do A, B, C, D and E Mean in Gymnastics?
In artistic gymnastics, recognized elements are assigned a Difficulty Value (DV) in the FIG Code of Points. The familiar letters A, B, C, D and E are shorthand for different levels of element difficulty.
Under the current 2025–2028 Code:
A = 0.10, B = 0.20, C = 0.30, D = 0.40, E = 0.50, F = 0.60, G = 0.70, H = 0.80, I = 0.90 and J = 1.00.
For example:
- A B-rated element has a Difficulty Value of 0.20
- A D-rated element has a Difficulty Value of 0.40
- An H-rated element has a Difficulty Value of 0.80
An A element is generally easier than a B element, a B is easier than a C, and so on. The current 2025–2028 FIG Code extends to J (1.00) for some of the most difficult recognized elements.
These FIG Difficulty Values provide a simple way to compare the relative difficulty of gymnastics skills and see how elements progress from basic to elite-level difficulty.
How Are Gymnastics Difficulty Values Used?
Difficulty Values (DV) determine how much each recognized element contributes to a gymnast’s Difficulty Score (D-score).
In women’s artistic gymnastics, the D-score on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise includes:
- The 8 highest Difficulty Values, including the dismount
- Composition Requirements (CR)
- Connection Value (CV) for eligible combinations
- Any applicable bonus
In general, performing harder elements can increase the D-score, provided the skills are performed well enough to receive credit. So, if one of the eight counting elements is an E skill, its DV contributes 0.50 to the element-difficulty portion of the D-score.
Vault is different. Instead of adding together several element values, each vault has a predetermined numerical Difficulty Value. That value becomes the vault’s D-score. For example, a vault valued at 5.6 begins with a D-score of 5.6 before execution deductions are considered.
