Where do my feet go?!?

[merit16]

So I've been working front hand front and front hand layouts off the rod into the pit with a mat lately, but I have a problem: I cannot seem to find the perfect place for my feet to rebound into the tuck. Often, I punch too far and I just shoot out, while other times I barely make it to the pit. I always start in the same place, do the same steps and same front handspring though...hmmm...any thoughts?

 

[Deleted member D3987]

my thoughts are that you are NOT starting in the same place OR you are adding steps. try putting a foam cube or a sock down where you place your hands on the round off. that might help.

 

[jaxelyn]

Front handspring fronts to pit

Sounds like you are not putting forth the exact same effort (and same shapes/ tightness) on the front handspring. If you squeeze your body into a tight arch, count your steps, and start in the same place, you should be fine every time. Here is something I have my gymnasts do: Put down a hurdle line on the floor (a line with chalk or a piece of tape, that you cannot step past), and just on the other side of that (closer to the pit) put down a flat mat like a sting mat, or a cartwheel mat, or even some cubes from the pit. You have to hurdle before the hurdle line each time, and your hands have to reach over the mat/cubes each time. I suppose you could just use two pieces of tape and step no further than the first but reach beyond the second one. That should give you some consistency.