What press handstand do you prefer?

[GymnasticsOBSESSED]

straddle or pike?

 

[I-Heart-Beam]

Could never do stupid pike presses. Grrr.

My straddle press, on the other hand, was quite good. (Even if I do say so myself).

 

[maddiekate]

Straddle presses are a lot easier but pike presses look nicer IMHO.

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

I'm with maddie on this one. Straddle presses are easier, but if you can pull off a straight-arm pike press, it tends to be a head-turner.

The difference between a straddle press and a pike press is much like the difference between an average handstand and a perfect straight handstand (ie Sasha Artemev on p-bars). It's not big and flashy, and will probably not make a huge difference score wise, but it makes all the coaches stop and think "wow, this kid's good."

As for my preference to do, I like pike presses on floor and p-bars; they just feel so much more satisfying when you hit them (and, at least on floor, they're worth more)

On rings it depends on the situation; if I'm being lazy and just getting up to handstand to work some other skill (giants, dismounts, etc) I'll usually do a straddle press, but if I'm having a good day and/or focusing on strength and/or have an audience that includes any girls my age, I'll do either a pike press or (on a really good day) a straight body press.

 

[Tim_Dad]

but if I'm having a good day and/or focusing on strength and/or have an audience that includes any girls my age, I'll do either a pike press or (on a really good day) a straight body press.

Clearly your priorities are in order. :highfive:

When my DD tries her straddle press to handstand, she gets lots of oooh and ahhs just for trying. In our gym, only two or three L8's can do them.

 

[GymLyon]

It's probably because of my flexibility, I could never do a pancake, but I could lay flat on my legs in a pike. Pike presses were and still are easier for me, dunno why. Never really hindered me though, everywhere where a straddle press is applicable, so is a pike, and sometimes it give you extra value, except of course in compulsories =P. Pike has my vote!

 

[CoachGoofy]

I'
On rings it depends on the situation; if I'm being lazy and just getting up to handstand to work some other skill (giants, dismounts, etc) I'll usually do a straddle press, but if I'm having a good day and/or focusing on strength and/or have an audience that includes any girls my age, I'll do either a pike press or (on a really good day) a straight body press.

Gotta impress the girls. Haha.

I prefer doing straddle presses, because I can't DO a pike press except when we used men's p-bars (the floor gets in the way...). But I have great pancake flexibility so a straddle press was easy for me.

 

[sgnsp235]

Welll I cant do either
But I think straddle looks harder and prettier
Even though the pike is probably harder...
idk, both of them look impossible for me
But i think a good straddle looks amazing

 

[BlairBob]

Pressing from a standing pike was always easier than from a straddle for me. Lean into the shoulders, lift hips and go to HS.

Pressing from an L was still easier than a straddle when I was a lot stronger. This wasn't gonna happen on floor but could happen on PB. I never tried it on rings at the time.

 

[GymnasticsOBSESSED]

Woops, I forgot to mension a V-Press .. but i'm pretty sure no one likes that. lol