How to do a Back Pike
A Back Pike is a tumbling skill on floor exercise that gymnasts usually learn between Levels 6 and 7, once a Back Tuck is solid.
Also called: back salto pike, pike back flip, back pike salto.
Quick facts
| Apparatus | Floor Exercise |
|---|---|
| Typical level (estimate) | Levels 6-7 |
| Difficulty (Stickd rating) | 7/10 |
| Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate) | About 3 weeks |
| Whole progression (estimate) | About 23 weeks from a Handstand |
| Fear factor (Stickd rating) | 4/5 |
Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.
What to learn before a Back Pike
Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Back Pike.
- Handstand (Levels 1-2)
- Cartwheel (Level 2)
- Roundoff (Level 3)
- Back Handspring (Levels 4-5)
- Back Tuck (Levels 5-6)
Step-by-step progression
The path to a Back Pike has 6 steps. Week counts are typical estimates for regular training.
- 1
Handstand
Learn a Handstand until it is solid, usually between Levels 1 and 2. About 3 weeks (estimate).
- 2
Cartwheel
Learn a Cartwheel until it is solid, usually around Level 2. About 2 weeks (estimate).
- 3
Roundoff
Learn a Roundoff until it is solid, usually around Level 3. About 3 weeks (estimate).
- 4
Back Handspring
Learn a Back Handspring until it is solid, usually between Levels 4 and 5. About 6 weeks (estimate).
- 5
Back Tuck
Learn a Back Tuck until it is solid, usually between Levels 5 and 6. About 6 weeks (estimate).
- 6
Back Pike
Learn a Back Pike. Allow about 3 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).
Drills that build a Back Pike
- Back Pike Progressions
- Standing Back Tuck Progressions
- Hollow Body Holds
- Core Tension & Hollow-Arch Drills
- Stick Landing Drills
Technique focus areas: Set angle, Landing.
Common deductions on a Back Pike
| Deduction | What it means | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| Pike in Body | Hip angle showing pike when straight position required | up to 0.20 |
Typical values; judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is, and the judges' score is the official one.
Fear and confidence
Stickd rates a Back Pike 4 out of 5 for fear. It involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed, height off the ground. Feeling nervous about it is normal, and confidence usually builds step by step through the progression above.
Mental techniques that help
Box Breathing
A 4-count breathing pattern to calm your nervous system before attempting a scary skill.
Power Cue Words
Choose 1-2 words that trigger your best performance state and say them before each attempt.
Fear Ladder
Break the scary skill into a ladder of progressively challenging steps.
Watch an example
Watch a Back Pike tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).
Frequently asked questions
- What level do gymnasts learn a Back Pike?
- Gymnasts usually learn a Back Pike between Levels 6 and 7. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.
- How long does it take to learn a Back Pike?
- About 3 weeks once a Back Tuck is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Handstand, the whole progression adds up to about 23 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
- What should my gymnast learn before a Back Pike?
- Back Tuck comes directly before it. The full progression is Handstand, then Cartwheel, then Roundoff, then Back Handspring, then Back Tuck, then Back Pike.
- What are the most common deductions on a Back Pike?
- The ones to watch for are Pike in Body (up to 0.20). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.
- Is a Back Pike scary to learn?
- It can be. Stickd rates its fear factor 4 out of 5 because it involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed and height off the ground. Techniques like Box Breathing and Power Cue Words help gymnasts build confidence.