How to do a Cartwheel
A Cartwheel is an acro skill on floor exercise that gymnasts usually learn around Level 2, once a Handstand is solid.
Also called: side cartwheel.
Quick facts
| Apparatus | Floor Exercise |
|---|---|
| Typical level (estimate) | Level 2 |
| Difficulty (Stickd rating) | 2/10 |
| Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate) | About 2 weeks |
| Whole progression (estimate) | About 5 weeks from a Handstand |
| Fear factor (Stickd rating) | 1/5 |
Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.
What to learn before a Cartwheel
Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Cartwheel.
- Handstand (Levels 1-2)
Step-by-step progression
The path to a Cartwheel has 2 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. Allow about 2 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).
Drills that build a Cartwheel
What good form looks like
Lateral rotation with hands on floor and straight legs.
- shoulders: open
- elbows: straight
- hips: open
- knees: straight
Common deductions on a Cartwheel
| Deduction | What it means | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| Bent Knees | Legs not fully extended during skills requiring straight legs | 0.1 |
| Bent Arms | Arms not fully extended when they should be straight | 0.1 |
| Body Alignment | Body not in proper line (arch, pike, or lean) | 0.1 |
Typical values; judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is, and the judges' score is the official one.
Skills a Cartwheel unlocks
Watch an example
Watch a Cartwheel tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).
Frequently asked questions
- What level do gymnasts learn a Cartwheel?
- Gymnasts usually learn a Cartwheel around Level 2. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.
- How long does it take to learn a Cartwheel?
- About 2 weeks once a Handstand is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Handstand, the whole progression adds up to about 5 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
- What should my gymnast learn before a Cartwheel?
- Handstand comes directly before it. The full progression is Handstand, then Cartwheel.
- What are the most common deductions on a Cartwheel?
- The ones to watch for are Bent Knees (usually about 0.1), Bent Arms (usually about 0.1) and Body Alignment (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.