In gymnastics, a twist refers to rotation around the gymnast’s vertical (longitudinal) axis—the invisible line running from head to toe. Unlike a flip (called a salto), which rotates the body forward or backward, a twist is like spinning a pencil in mid-air. This movement adds difficulty, flair, and scoring potential to skills across every apparatus.
Twist Naming System
Twists are named based on how many degrees of spin are performed while airborne. The naming system uses fractions, with each full twist equal to 360°. These twist labels are often paired with salto terms to describe more complex elements.
Twist Naming Table
| Symbol | Degrees | Common Name | Example Call-Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ | 90° | Quarter | Round-off entry on vault |
| ½ | 180° | Half | Back layout half on floor |
| 1/1 | 360° | Full | Yurchenko full vault |
| 2/1 | 720° | Double | Double-twisting Tsukahara |
| 3/1 | 1080° | Triple | Triple twist layout on floor |
How Twist Names Combine with Saltos
In gymnastics, twisting terms are stacked onto flipping (salto) terms. For example:
- “Layout full” = a layout backflip with one full twist
- “Double-twisting double back” = two flips and two full twists
- “Full-in, double-out” = a double backflip with one twist in the first flip
Some twisting flips have special names:
- A quarter twist before takeoff creates an Arabian (e.g., Arabian front tuck)
- A half twist after takeoff creates a Barani (e.g., front layout half)
According to FIG naming rules, twists are listed first if they happen inside the salto—so “full-in” means the twist occurs during the first flip, not after.
Source: nbcolympics.com, gymnastics.sport, wikipedia.org
When Do Gymnasts Start Twisting?
Twisting doesn’t happen all at once—it’s built gradually through the levels as gymnasts gain strength, body control, and air awareness. The first twists start small (like a ¼ turn) and evolve into full twisting saltos and multi-twist dismounts by Level 10 or Elite.
Skill Progression by Level
| Development Stage | Typical First Twist | Why It’s Introduced Here |
|---|---|---|
| USAG Level 4–5 | ¼- or ½-turn vaults; cartwheel ¼ on beam | Builds basic directional air awareness while keeping feet under hips |
| Level 6–7 | Layout half on trampoline or rod floor; back handspring step-out ¼ on beam | Introduces longitudinal twisting inside single salto or acro elements |
| Level 8–9 | Layout full on floor; Yurchenko full on vault | Gymnast now has enough power and control to handle a full 360° twist |
| Level 10 / Elite | Double-twisting floor passes and dismounts; Amanar (2½); Biles II (triple-double) | Athlete can safely combine multiple twists with multiple flips |
How Twist Progression Typically Works
Most gymnasts follow a drill-based ladder to develop full twists safely:
- Standing layout ½ to back
- Round-off + BHS + layout ½ to feet
- Add the second half-turn for a layout full
- Progress to full-in, full-out, and double fulls
This progression ensures that twisting mechanics are built gradually, with proper takeoff technique, body alignment, and landing control before advancing to more complex combinations.
Twists Across the Apparatuses (Artistic & Trampoline, 2025–2028 FIG Codes)
Twisting—rotation around the gymnast’s vertical axis—shows up in nearly every gymnastics discipline. But how it’s performed, valued, and judged varies greatly depending on the apparatus.
Vault
Twisting on vault happens in the post-flight phase—after the gymnast blocks off the table—or during the entry phase in the case of “½-on” vaults like the Cheng. The more the gymnast twists, the higher the start value.
- A Yurchenko layout half is valued at 4.6, while a Yurchenko full twist bumps up to 5.0.
- The Amanar (2½ twists in a layout) earns a hefty 5.8.
- The Cheng vault, which adds a ½-on and 1½-off twist, reaches a 6.0.
These vaults are among the highest-valued but also harshly judged. E-panel judges deduct for leg separation, crossed feet, and landings that finish more than 30° off line.
Floor Exercise
Floor routines showcase some of the most dynamic twisting combinations. Twists are built into stretched saltos and contribute directly to a gymnast’s difficulty score.
- A layout with ½ twist earns a C.
- A full twist layout is worth a D.
- The double twist is rated E, and the triple twist is valued at F.
Both men’s and women’s programs use the same difficulty letters. However, judges are quick to deduct for sloppy technique—like starting the twist too late, crossed feet mid-spin, or stumbling on the landing.
Balance Beam
Twists on beam are risky due to the apparatus’s narrow width. They appear in acrobatic flight elements and dismounts.
- The back handspring with full twist earns a D.
- The full-twisting back tuck dismount gets an E.
- Elite gymnasts sometimes perform 2½-twisting dismounts, worth an F.
Since beam dismounts often finish blind, gymnasts must land perfectly straight or risk a 0.3 deduction for incomplete rotation at the moment the feet hit the ground.
Uneven Bars
In women’s bar routines, twists occur in dismounts and pirouetting transitions.
- The full-twisting double layout dismount is rated E.
- A double-twisting double layout climbs to F or even G.
To earn full credit, twists within pirouettes (like L-grip to handstand turns) must finish exactly on top of the bar. If the gymnast finishes even a quarter turn short, judges take up to 0.3 off for alignment faults.
High Bar
Men’s high bar is known for spectacular releases and twisting dismounts.
- The Kovacs with a full twist—a release skill with a flip and spin over the bar—gets a G value.
- The double-twisting double layout dismount is a common but high-risk finish, typically worth an F.
Perfect form and precise grip re-catches are critical. If a gymnast regrips late or in a twisted body position, the element may be downgraded.
Rings (MAG)
Rings routines don’t include twisting until the dismount.
- A double layout with one twist is rated E.
- A double-twisting double layout can reach G value.
Twists on rings must be initiated through controlled blocking, not “whipping” the shoulders. Any arch or tilt results in execution penalties even before the landing.
Parallel Bars (MAG)
Twisting is reserved for dismounts in parallel bars as well.
- A double pike with ½ twist earns a D.
- Add a full twist and it becomes an E.
Judges also penalize gymnasts who drift too far laterally—if the gymnast lands more than one bar-width to either side, a 0.3 deduction is applied.
Pommel Horse (MAG)
Twists are rarely used on pommel horse, though a few elements include them.
- The Tong Fei 1/1, a full twist during flaired circles, is worth a D.
While twists here aren’t a major scoring element, they increase risk. Judges mainly focus on keeping the hips above the handles and maintaining rhythm.
Trampoline & Double Mini
In trampoline and DMT, twists are frequent and quantifiable. Unlike artistic gymnastics, trampoline adds specific tenths based on twist quantity and timing.
- A single salto with ½-twist adds +0.10.
- More advanced twisting double saltos like the Miller (double layout with two twists) add +0.5 to +0.7 depending on complexity.
Unlike floor or vault, there’s no “straight” line to land on, but execution judges watch for symmetry, foot position, and twist timing closely.
What This Means for Building a Routine
- Vault offers big points—but big penalties too. A Yurchenko full gives you 0.4 more than the layout, but one small hop or off-line landing can cancel that out fast.
- Floor rewards smart combos. Link two twisting saltos in a row and you earn a 0.2 bonus—but only if they’re on the same pass. Do them on separate lines and you miss the connection.
- Beam and bars need early, sharp twists. These skills usually end blind, so gymnasts are trained to finish the twist before landing. If not, it’s an automatic 0.3 deduction.
- Men’s dismounts are high risk, high reward. On high bar and rings, twisting dismounts can score big—but only if shoulder and grip form is spot-on. The 2025 rules are strict here.
- Trampoline is twist-by-numbers. Each half twist adds points, but clean body lines and tight spins make the biggest difference in elite scores.
In the end, every event handles twists a little differently, and learning how each one works is the key to scoring high.
