Women Twisting in BWO

[traininghard]

I'm a first-year Xcel Platinum, and I've been having trouble with my BWO on beam. My series is bridge kickover-back walkover, and I can't land my feet on the beam for the BWO. I never miss in the bridge kickover, but in the BWO, I'm lucky if I make 3 in 10. My coaches have told me a couple different problems; I'm twisting as I fall for the BWO, I'm letting my right hip (I'm a righty) 'pop' up, and that's why I'm twisting, and I'm not staying tight when my hands hit the beam. I can feel all those things once my hands hit the beam, but I can never feel them when I'm falling, which is where I need to fix it. I should add that this problem never happens on floor or a road beam, just on the actual beam.

My first meet is next weekend, and I'm pretty stressed about this series. When I make it, it's almost always no wobbles, but lately, I've only been making 2-3 in half an hour on beam. My first meet is next weekend, and I really want to do well, especially on beam. This is my last season, I want it to be a good one. Honestly, my gym wouldn't have let me go Platinum if I wasn't a senior. I'm so, so grateful to them for letting me -- it's been my goal to compete Platinum ever since I joined, and I love being able to compete the skills I've dreamed about for years. I guess I feel a bit like I need to do well to prove they didn't make a mistake. Beam is my best event this year, I think I have a good chance of medeling -- if I don't fall. I have four practices left to figure this out; any and all advice is really appreciated!

 

[Coach Kate]

As you're coming out of the bridge kick over, push really tall both down into the beam and up through your arms. Full extension both ways. As your hands find the beam, think about that vertical position through your shoulders as you find that split handstand and watch the beam as you bring your foot down onto it.

 

[Gymgirl84]

I'd practice going down to a bridge on floor beam or whatever easy surface you have, and while doing that, push the standing leg hip up and forward. If you still can't feel it, stand in front of the beam with your arms on the beam (think like you were going to do front kicks holding to the beam, but with your feet further), then arch like you are going back and push that same hip up and forward. When you really feel that, then try to feel that when you are going down on the back walkover on the beam.

 

[traininghard]

Thank you! I'll try these at my next practice