How to do a Front Tuck
A Front Tuck is a tumbling skill on floor exercise that gymnasts usually learn between Levels 6 and 7, once a Front Handspring is solid.
Also called: front flip, front somersault, front salto.
Quick facts
| Apparatus | Floor Exercise |
|---|---|
| Typical level (estimate) | Levels 6-7 |
| Difficulty (Stickd rating) | 6/10 |
| Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate) | About 5 weeks |
| Whole progression (estimate) | About 17 weeks from a Handstand |
| Fear factor (Stickd rating) | 3/5 |
Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.
What to learn before a Front Tuck
Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Front Tuck.
- Handstand (Levels 1-2)
- Cartwheel (Level 2)
- Roundoff (Level 3)
- Front Handspring (Levels 4-5)
Step-by-step progression
The path to a Front Tuck has 5 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
Front Handspring
Learn a Front Handspring until it is solid, usually between Levels 4 and 5. About 4 weeks (estimate).
- 5
Front Tuck
Learn a Front Tuck. Allow about 5 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).
Drills that build a Front Tuck
- Front Tuck Progressions
- Front Handspring Progressions
- Hollow Body Holds
- Tuck Jump Height Conditioning
- Stick Landing Drills
Technique focus areas: Tuck position, Set angle, Landing.
What good form looks like
Forward aerial rotation with tucked body position.
- knees: tucked
- hips: flexed
- shoulders: neutral
Common deductions on a Front Tuck
| Deduction | What it means | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| Step on Landing | Taking a step after landing a skill | 0.1 |
| Insufficient Amplitude | Not enough height or extension on jumps, leaps, or tumbling | 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 Front Tuck 3 out of 5 for fear. It involves 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.
Skills a Front Tuck unlocks
- Front Full (Floor Exercise, Levels 8-9)
Watch an example
Watch a Front Tuck tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).
Frequently asked questions
- What level do gymnasts learn a Front Tuck?
- Gymnasts usually learn a Front Tuck 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 Front Tuck?
- About 5 weeks once a Front Handspring is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Handstand, the whole progression adds up to about 17 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
- What should my gymnast learn before a Front Tuck?
- Front Handspring comes directly before it. The full progression is Handstand, then Cartwheel, then Roundoff, then Front Handspring, then Front Tuck.
- What are the most common deductions on a Front Tuck?
- The ones to watch for are Step on Landing (usually about 0.1) and Insufficient Amplitude (up to 0.20). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.
- Is a Front Tuck scary to learn?
- It can be. Stickd rates its fear factor 3 out of 5 because it involves height off the ground. Techniques like Box Breathing and Power Cue Words help gymnasts build confidence.