What level do gymnasts learn a Bar Pirouette?

Gymnasts usually learn a Bar Pirouette between Levels 7 and 8. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.

How long does it take to learn a Bar Pirouette?

About 5 weeks once a Cast Handstand is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Kip, the whole progression adds up to about 15 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.

What should my gymnast learn before a Bar Pirouette?

Cast Handstand comes directly before it. The full progression is Kip, then Cast Handstand, then Bar Pirouette. Helpful but not required: Giant.

What are the most common deductions on a Bar Pirouette?

The ones to watch for are Incomplete Turn (usually about 0.1), Insufficient Amplitude (up to 0.20), Body Alignment (usually about 0.1) and Shoulder Angle (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.

How to do a Bar Pirouette

A Bar Pirouette is a bar skill on uneven bars that gymnasts usually learn between Levels 7 and 8, once a Cast Handstand is solid.

Also called: pirouette on bars, handstand pirouette bars.

Quick facts

Apparatus	Uneven Bars
Typical level (estimate)	Levels 7-8
Difficulty (Stickd rating)	7/10
Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate)	About 5 weeks
Whole progression (estimate)	About 15 weeks from a Kip
Fear factor (Stickd rating)	2/5

Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.

What to learn before a Bar Pirouette

Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Bar Pirouette.

Kip (Levels 4-5)
Cast Handstand (Levels 5-6)

Helpful but not required

Giant

Step-by-step progression

The path to a Bar Pirouette has 3 steps. Week counts are typical estimates for regular training.

1
Kip
Learn a Kip until it is solid, usually between Levels 4 and 5. About 6 weeks (estimate).
2
Cast Handstand
Learn a Cast Handstand until it is solid, usually between Levels 5 and 6. About 4 weeks (estimate).
3
Bar Pirouette
Learn a Bar Pirouette. Allow about 5 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).

Drills that build a Bar Pirouette

What good form looks like

Turn around the body's long axis in handstand on top of the bar, with a change of grip.

shoulders: extended
body: around_bar

Common deductions on a Bar Pirouette

Deduction	What it means	Typically
Incomplete Turn	Turn not completed to required rotation (e.g., under-rotated)	0.1
Insufficient Amplitude	Not enough height or extension on jumps, leaps, or tumbling	up to 0.20
Body Alignment	Body not in proper line (arch, pike, or lean)	0.1
Shoulder Angle	Shoulders not open to 180 degrees in handstand positions	0.1
Poor Turn Position	Body position not maintained during turn (leg position, arms)	0.1

Typical values; judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is, and the judges' score is the official one.

Watch an example

Watch a Bar Pirouette tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

Frequently asked questions

What level do gymnasts learn a Bar Pirouette?: Gymnasts usually learn a Bar Pirouette between Levels 7 and 8. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.
How long does it take to learn a Bar Pirouette?: About 5 weeks once a Cast Handstand is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Kip, the whole progression adds up to about 15 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
What should my gymnast learn before a Bar Pirouette?: Cast Handstand comes directly before it. The full progression is Kip, then Cast Handstand, then Bar Pirouette. Helpful but not required: Giant.
What are the most common deductions on a Bar Pirouette?: The ones to watch for are Incomplete Turn (usually about 0.1), Insufficient Amplitude (up to 0.20), Body Alignment (usually about 0.1) and Shoulder Angle (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.