Somersault - Types of Somersault

Types of Somersault

There are many variations of front and back somersaults, with most technically recognized versions being defined in the competitive sport of trampolining, in which a somersault can be competitively performed in three positions: tucked, piked or straight.

In addition to full somersaults, somersaults can be used in 1/4 rotations. These create variations such as:

• Crash dive (3/4 front somersault to back landing)
• Lazy back (3/4 back somersault to front landing)
• Ballout (11⁄₄ front somersault to feet from back landing)
• Cody (11⁄₄ back somersault to feet from front landing)

Within British gymnastic associations, the above terms have been deprecated in favour of more standard terms. For example, a crash dive is referred to as a 3/4 front somersault (straight). Similarly, the previously named Barani Ballout is now termed a Ballout Barani to indicate that the forward somersault is executed before the twist.

In addition there are many variations of double and triple somersaults, often including twist rotations and can end in body landings.

Other associated moves include:

• Barani (front somersault with 1/2 twist)
• Rudolph (or Rudi) (front somersault with 11⁄₂ twists)
• Randolph (or Randi) (front somersault with 21⁄₂ twists)
• Adolf (or Adi) (front somersault with 31⁄₂ twists)
• Full back or frontfull (back somersault or front somersault with 1 twist) less common with single fronts
• Double (double front or back somersault)
• Double full (back somersault with 2 twists)
• Half out (double front somersault with 1/2 twist in the second somersault)

• Back in - full out (double back somersault with 1 twist in the second somersault)