Thank you for posting this and postulating the question. I don't care for the tap swing either. When I coach new gymnasts on giants I discourage what I call the "dish rag" tap. Especially for new gymnasts, I think this loose arch causes an early tap and poor technique on the giants. Please also let me know if anyone understands WOGA's reason behind this technique and what the benefits are for any level. I would love to learn, I've been wondering this for years!
@aerialgymnast10 My gym doesn't let us do giants like this. This makes me think of back when I was in level 7 though, when I tapped at the bar and it gave everyone in the gym a heart attack every time.
I disagree with gymjenny, I am a taller gymnast, making it wayy harder to perform this tap. I started learning these giants because with the huge arch, you get a great kick over on your giants and mainly dismount. I had a problem with arching and then kicking on my straddle giants, with this giant I am forced to have a tap!:)
To be honest, I hate the tap. I first noticed it on Nastia and then realised that the bizarre leg bend is characteristic of almost all WOGA gymnasts. To me, it looks awkward and gives the impression that the girls cannot fit through the bars and have to distort their body. The tap doesn't seem to actually be generating any speed, and if the bars aren't set as wide as they can go, then I see no advantages; the only result is an odd and kind of lumbering giant. She has great lines though.
Its a bail tap. My friend does one because the other tap wasn't working for her... Maybe these gymnasts were just taught that way because that's the way the coach did it. Or the regular tap wasn't as clean or easy as this one.
This routine looks gorgeous except for you are tapping above the bar and that makes you lose your momentum around the bar. Try drills that help you tap sooner. You will find giants are easier!
who cares about the tap, i used to tap above the bars in giants and when i was made to tap below made it much more difficult, it depends in the gymnast and what they feel comfortable doing. If she prefers it that way then there isn't much you can do, when a gymnast is in a habt especially one like that it will be very difficut to change. i mean there isn't a deduction for it, and she has no technical deductions like bent knees so it doesn't matter.
honestly i think the tap is not good, but it looks like she's been doing it her whole life. and has mastered it. i think that if she is able to catch the reverse hect from that giant then she is good to go. if you were trying to teach a gymnast new to giants this tap, it would be unwise. but it works for her so let her work it
I actually like this tap before the low bar...she's tall...if she tapped much later she'd have to pike through or separate her legs and then tap. I say, split the legs and tap at the same time to save the nice body line. She doesn't look like it's degrading her energy to me. This was an awesome and beautiful routine. I say don't fix it unless it truly is broken.
the reason for this tap is because it works better for taller girls when they have the bars close. for the looks of the video she has the bars at FIG or near it.. when taller girls go at FIG they have to choices for tap, either an early one like this, or a later one. when they go earlier, they just arch to get back the low bar, when they go later, you have to pike past the low bar. it just depends on the way the coach teaches it.
It looks kinda like a mens high bar tap to me. but they have been teaching that type of tap a woga i have noticed. Sophia Lee also does that kind of tap in her bar routine. its not bad, its just ..... unique
@AxTraceur a tap (also called a tap swing) is when the gymnast quickly changes body position (usually from an hollow position to an arch, and back to a hollow position) through the bottom of the swing to help gain momentum for skills going over the bar (like release moves, or turning moves) or away from the bar (dismounts).
watch how her body changes positions before her dismount.
@AxTraceur It's the way they swing to get enough power to make it back to the top of the bar. Did you see right there at the end when they put it in slow mo? Rewind the clip and see it in the routine. You'll see she gets more momentum from her tap. They're talking about different techniques for tapping, but you can see how her feet drive her body back around the bar. Does this make any sense? I have a hard time explaining things some times :)
@AxTraceur A tap is how she swings all the way from the top of the bar and down to the bottom, she leaves her feet behind her when her feet should be slightly in front of her as they are passing the low bar.
the technique problem you're referring to is more apparent when she does straddle taps rather than with her feet together, and you're right, she lacks amplitude on her releases because of it, it looks like she's too tall for the bars... but who knows... i dont see a WHOLE lot of problems when she's not straddling - she seems to be able to maintain power and the likes - but definite problems when she is....
Very Simple Guys n Gals..... 1st please understand that not all taps can be judged based on low bar height seeing as how low bars are....well... adjustable, often higher or lower than 1 might think, thus changing the "actual" time of tap. 2nd, the tap action is not a universal thing, it's timing will change depending upon skill desired. You want to do a skill that goes over the bar? Tap later... A skill that stays in front Tap Early Etc...Etc.. Adjust accordingly
Some coaches are stuck in their ways and don't share an open mind to new and better bio-mechanical ways to produce power etc. It sure is a different way and seens I'm a Mens coach I'll leave it there.
I think its a Eastern European Technique a lot of the Russian and Ukranians do it some manage to arch the back and not bend to clear the bar but some have those ugly leg bent. It might also have to do with the fact that Valerie was a gymnast and that is the way most MAG cast.
It seems to be a Russian style. The majority of the current Russian gymnasts use it, and it seems to give them a good amount of power and flight when everything aligns right. Tatiana Nabieva and Aliya Mustafina, 2 of Russia's top bar workers, use it. Rebecca Bross uses it and gets great height on her backward elements, like her Tkachev and Dismount. However, they do not bend their knees when doing things like Pak saltos and bails.
Her tap is definitely not what stands out in that routine. What stands out to me is her amazing execution and shaping. And it is SO refreshing to see a correct cast to handstand. This is not the routine to pick apart the tap because she actually does it very well (and with straight legs).
She got a 9.575 on bars at Nationals. I wouldn't call it poor technique, I'd call that a different technique. Clearly she can still do many of the skills in her set with no problems. And as far as body shapes go, she is on the money.
I almost never like the tap over the low bar. A smaller beat action is preferable aesthetically even if it results in slightly less power. In the USA you can widen the bars. Does this gymnast have them at the maximum width?
@saltocafe She has them at FIG international setting, which probably means that she is an elite, or trying to go elite. In elite, which is FIG, you can't widen the bars. For JO, which is this level of competition, you can, but if you are going elite, there is no sense in changing them back and forth for the different seasons.
I agree with you entirely, the tap is far too early, and therefore doesnt generate any speed. I actually prefer the tap in a giant to be underneath the bar or slightly later, so the gymnast can generate enough momentum to push their feet over the bar.
It's just because she's so tall...
alliecat2266 11 hours ago
that was ahhmazing!!!!
dtemg123 2 days ago
WHAT DO UR MEAN "POOR"? THAT WAS LIKE PERFECT!
LivLoveFantage 5 days ago
Thank you for posting this and postulating the question. I don't care for the tap swing either. When I coach new gymnasts on giants I discourage what I call the "dish rag" tap. Especially for new gymnasts, I think this loose arch causes an early tap and poor technique on the giants. Please also let me know if anyone understands WOGA's reason behind this technique and what the benefits are for any level. I would love to learn, I've been wondering this for years!
aerialgymnast10 1 week ago
@aerialgymnast10 My gym doesn't let us do giants like this. This makes me think of back when I was in level 7 though, when I tapped at the bar and it gave everyone in the gym a heart attack every time.
GymMusicAddict 5 days ago
At first I was like hmm is that a guy and then on the second round thingymajiga my bro came in and screammed haha gay guy!!
craftymelisma 1 week ago
Her technique is good, it's her execution that suffers .
masha5maria1965 1 week ago
the worst bar routine
eatsleepgymnastics12 2 weeks ago
She's awesome! Not a poor technique at all.
zqz321 4 weeks ago
I disagree with gymjenny, I am a taller gymnast, making it wayy harder to perform this tap. I started learning these giants because with the huge arch, you get a great kick over on your giants and mainly dismount. I had a problem with arching and then kicking on my straddle giants, with this giant I am forced to have a tap!:)
AnnieCampana 1 month ago
i did that too, because i was a really tall gymnast. it was easier to do giants like that, because otherwise it was harder to get around
gymjenny 1 month ago
PIIKKEEE!!!!
MsKylaDawn 1 month ago
Nastia & Rebecca are both from WOGA and they both do that in their UB routines, so must be something to do with the coaches?
xxTotallyGawjusxx 1 month ago
thats great technique! what are you talken bout???? i cant even get close to anything like that!
tikiratgirl 1 month ago
@tikiratgirl your slow, read the description.
watsshakinbacon20 1 month ago
yeah that tap is strange...
kaprantil 1 month ago
pure? **
MatsTricking 1 month ago
How is that poor technique?
klegler1664 1 month ago
Comment removed
Huskyowner2007 1 month ago
@klegler1664 I think she used her hips and not her legs to do those giants but don't quote me
Huskyowner2007 1 month ago
It seems like she did perfect... she didn't break her neck so in my book, thats a win!
Hobosdkcheese 1 month ago 2
i thought it was AWESOME
kkford8 2 months ago 17
what's a tap?o.o
finnieonfate 2 months ago
she didnt want to hit her feet on the other bar?
WestpalmFreerunner 2 months ago
basic*
sorry for the second post...
RGAgymnastVideo 2 months ago
a tap is used to make the swing bigger, it's the most basc skill after the regrip on the bars.
RGAgymnastVideo 2 months ago
i dont see what the bad technique is
cheergirlz90 2 months ago
She has a nice routine. Btw, I know someone who has that floor music! 0:34
Lolkkitkat 2 months ago
i thought she was gonna hit the small bar with her feet!
TheAwesomeRolo 2 months ago
It is a Chinese tap from mens gymnastics.
marlonkc 2 months ago
Whats a tap? Im confused! I though she was amazing :)
MeganLRBS 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
She straddles WAYYYY to early and doesn't scoop. Thats why they look so ugly.
tayyyya 3 months ago
Generic routine.
OllieTheArtist 3 months ago
i cant even do a pull up.....T.T
wowMVPdude 3 months ago
To be honest, I hate the tap. I first noticed it on Nastia and then realised that the bizarre leg bend is characteristic of almost all WOGA gymnasts. To me, it looks awkward and gives the impression that the girls cannot fit through the bars and have to distort their body. The tap doesn't seem to actually be generating any speed, and if the bars aren't set as wide as they can go, then I see no advantages; the only result is an odd and kind of lumbering giant. She has great lines though.
nicki446 3 months ago
WOW!!!
holsbolsx 3 months ago
I'm starting to see a trend- maybe WOGA teaches them to bend their knees when going over the low bar?? I noticed Nastia does that too.
abbythegymnast98 4 months ago
the awkward moment when u click on this and find out its you...haha jk :)
gymcheer44 4 months ago
right ... so what went wrong? ...
ihugaplant 4 months ago
what's the trick at 0:27 called?
theblinddonkey 4 months ago
@theblinddonkey a chinese sit-up
gymcheer44 4 months ago
@gymcheer44 thank you!
theblinddonkey 4 months ago
what was at the end in slow mo?
SomethingToBeProudOf 4 months ago
I agree that the tap is too early
memerulz05 4 months ago
i think the parkettes r pretty good too
supergymnaststar 5 months ago
half the people who commented on this video either didn't read the description or didn't comprehend what it was saying :P
calpolygirl8 5 months ago
how is this poor technic
megueize 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Kiss your hand x10
Say your crush x15
Post to 2 videos then look at your hand
skateitof 6 months ago
Its a bail tap. My friend does one because the other tap wasn't working for her... Maybe these gymnasts were just taught that way because that's the way the coach did it. Or the regular tap wasn't as clean or easy as this one.
gymplus16 6 months ago
you kidding me!!!!! shes amazing ;o i dont know anyone who can do that......
cupcakebuddies100 6 months ago
I am guessing the tap is used to slow down the giant, therefore the piroutting skills are easier to control and you are able to hit your handstands.
GymchampZW 6 months ago
Hey, that's Megan.
YaroslavtheAwesome 6 months ago
Her feet are SO close to the smaller bar!
LittleElastics 8 months ago
This routine looks gorgeous except for you are tapping above the bar and that makes you lose your momentum around the bar. Try drills that help you tap sooner. You will find giants are easier!
Gymnist381 8 months ago
who cares about the tap, i used to tap above the bars in giants and when i was made to tap below made it much more difficult, it depends in the gymnast and what they feel comfortable doing. If she prefers it that way then there isn't much you can do, when a gymnast is in a habt especially one like that it will be very difficut to change. i mean there isn't a deduction for it, and she has no technical deductions like bent knees so it doesn't matter.
jerricalovatt 9 months ago
honestly i think the tap is not good, but it looks like she's been doing it her whole life. and has mastered it. i think that if she is able to catch the reverse hect from that giant then she is good to go. if you were trying to teach a gymnast new to giants this tap, it would be unwise. but it works for her so let her work it
VaBeachGymnast 10 months ago
Its good but her back isnt straight or strong enough at some points.
9aliel 10 months ago
I actually like this tap before the low bar...she's tall...if she tapped much later she'd have to pike through or separate her legs and then tap. I say, split the legs and tap at the same time to save the nice body line. She doesn't look like it's degrading her energy to me. This was an awesome and beautiful routine. I say don't fix it unless it truly is broken.
oubeauty2008 10 months ago
i personally dont see anything wrong with it because people at my gym do that ...well atleast it looks like they do great routine
jogalevel3 11 months ago
I'm guessing so its the girls can hit their handstands easier? Like no go over too much.
GymchampZW 11 months ago
the reason for this tap is because it works better for taller girls when they have the bars close. for the looks of the video she has the bars at FIG or near it.. when taller girls go at FIG they have to choices for tap, either an early one like this, or a later one. when they go earlier, they just arch to get back the low bar, when they go later, you have to pike past the low bar. it just depends on the way the coach teaches it.
gimkid94 11 months ago
she tapped way early but looking at the rest of the routine legs were tight and toes were pointed but that tap should be fixed
historyism 1 year ago
yea I agree with you - they tap so early
zgeorgiegeorgez 1 year ago
**olympics
Cheerextremegirl173 1 year ago
Did she go to the olimpics??
Cheerextremegirl173 1 year ago
i agree, i think it isn't ideal technique, but as long as it works, i guess...
both nastia and rebecca bross use this tap since theyre from woga, but i think it takes away from the clean lines.
gymnastgrl4956 1 year ago
It looks kinda like a mens high bar tap to me. but they have been teaching that type of tap a woga i have noticed. Sophia Lee also does that kind of tap in her bar routine. its not bad, its just ..... unique
13shifter 1 year ago
that was the most beautiful toe heck i have ever seen
number1soifongfan 1 year ago
sorry to sound stupid here....but whats a tap?
AxTraceur 1 year ago 78
@AxTraceur a tap (also called a tap swing) is when the gymnast quickly changes body position (usually from an hollow position to an arch, and back to a hollow position) through the bottom of the swing to help gain momentum for skills going over the bar (like release moves, or turning moves) or away from the bar (dismounts).
watch how her body changes positions before her dismount.
gymnastguy328 1 year ago
@gymnastguy328 Ohh i think i got what u mean, is it basically the 'wind up' in her final part of her giant before se dismounts?
AxTraceur 1 year ago
@AxTraceur It's the way they swing to get enough power to make it back to the top of the bar. Did you see right there at the end when they put it in slow mo? Rewind the clip and see it in the routine. You'll see she gets more momentum from her tap. They're talking about different techniques for tapping, but you can see how her feet drive her body back around the bar. Does this make any sense? I have a hard time explaining things some times :)
kevnliz04 8 months ago
@AxTraceur a tap is where you go from scoop to arch at the bottom of your swing to get more speed.
ever tried just swinging on a bar? your probibly tapping naturaly to swing.
gymnasticsgoanna 6 months ago
@AxTraceur Another traceur here, and i have to say damn gymnastics language is hard haha
Nidoslin 3 months ago
@AxTraceur A tap is how she swings all the way from the top of the bar and down to the bottom, she leaves her feet behind her when her feet should be slightly in front of her as they are passing the low bar.
lyndseybeck 1 month ago
she was so close 2 hitting that bar. so fricking close!
bobe164 1 year ago
the technique problem you're referring to is more apparent when she does straddle taps rather than with her feet together, and you're right, she lacks amplitude on her releases because of it, it looks like she's too tall for the bars... but who knows... i dont see a WHOLE lot of problems when she's not straddling - she seems to be able to maintain power and the likes - but definite problems when she is....
u3017913 1 year ago
Another thing is that why are the bars so close together? Don't WOGA gymnasts have to have the bar a certain length apart?
TheHottPartyAnimal 1 year ago
Very Simple Guys n Gals..... 1st please understand that not all taps can be judged based on low bar height seeing as how low bars are....well... adjustable, often higher or lower than 1 might think, thus changing the "actual" time of tap. 2nd, the tap action is not a universal thing, it's timing will change depending upon skill desired. You want to do a skill that goes over the bar? Tap later... A skill that stays in front Tap Early Etc...Etc.. Adjust accordingly
coachdwayne 1 year ago
the tap isnt to generate speed, it is like a chinese tap for guy gymnasts, they are doing it to generate rotation and distance from the bar
scissors0001 1 year ago
Some coaches are stuck in their ways and don't share an open mind to new and better bio-mechanical ways to produce power etc. It sure is a different way and seens I'm a Mens coach I'll leave it there.
steveo1600 1 year ago
I think its a Eastern European Technique a lot of the Russian and Ukranians do it some manage to arch the back and not bend to clear the bar but some have those ugly leg bent. It might also have to do with the fact that Valerie was a gymnast and that is the way most MAG cast.
GymCampos27 1 year ago
looks nice and different 2 me
danfearn 1 year ago
Lammeee...
IceIceFrozo 1 year ago
nastia liukin did the same tap and was the best ub worker in the world, im gonna have to go with WOGA's expertice on this one
mgl71594 1 year ago
shes amazing!
abbeyXdabbey1234 1 year ago
some tall girls do that so they dont hit the low bar. nastia liukin does that.
nmd556 1 year ago
It seems to be a Russian style. The majority of the current Russian gymnasts use it, and it seems to give them a good amount of power and flight when everything aligns right. Tatiana Nabieva and Aliya Mustafina, 2 of Russia's top bar workers, use it. Rebecca Bross uses it and gets great height on her backward elements, like her Tkachev and Dismount. However, they do not bend their knees when doing things like Pak saltos and bails.
ItsNastiaFan101 1 year ago
Her tap is definitely not what stands out in that routine. What stands out to me is her amazing execution and shaping. And it is SO refreshing to see a correct cast to handstand. This is not the routine to pick apart the tap because she actually does it very well (and with straight legs).
Beechurst10 1 year ago
i reckon she should bend more at the chest and not the hips
yokamotoh 1 year ago
WOGA's giants have always been bad.
ThePenguin888 1 year ago
She got a 9.575 on bars at Nationals. I wouldn't call it poor technique, I'd call that a different technique. Clearly she can still do many of the skills in her set with no problems. And as far as body shapes go, she is on the money.
saravutfrank80 1 year ago 22
@saravutfrank80 So do like the way it looks? I do agree that her lines lie all woga girls is great.
saltocafe 1 year ago 2
I don't mind how it looks. I've seen some atrocious giants in my tenure as a coach, and for me, even though not textbook, these still look fine.
saravutfrank80 1 year ago
@saravutfrank80 well obviously it's not poor technique. wow sara you're sharp as a marble!
GymLili95 1 year ago
ugh its like Nastia's stupid bent-knee tap. That bugged me to no end. It looks so sloppy and its so easily fixed. Come on now!
jkgymnast49 1 year ago
@jkgymnast49 nastia is from tht girls gym so thats probably how they teach it there.
nmd556 1 year ago
@nmd556 I just dont understand why you would ever teach something that is a deduction. Especially when we are talking about olympic level gymnasts.
jkgymnast49 1 year ago
@jkgymnast49 its so there feet dont hit the lowbar.
nmd556 1 year ago
@nmd556 There are other ways of not hitting the low bar besides bending your knees.
jkgymnast49 1 year ago
Third !
hendl55 1 year ago
I almost never like the tap over the low bar. A smaller beat action is preferable aesthetically even if it results in slightly less power. In the USA you can widen the bars. Does this gymnast have them at the maximum width?
RickMcCharles 1 year ago
@RickMcCharles Thats another interesting thing, the bars are not as wide as they can go.
saltocafe 1 year ago
@saltocafe Maybe she has trouble with her transition elements if the bars are any wider.
Beechurst10 1 year ago
@saltocafe WOGA might be trying to make it so that transfers are easier to swing out of so they don't have to muscle up the kips.
amaihito 1 year ago
@saltocafe She has them at FIG international setting, which probably means that she is an elite, or trying to go elite. In elite, which is FIG, you can't widen the bars. For JO, which is this level of competition, you can, but if you are going elite, there is no sense in changing them back and forth for the different seasons.
liznand10 3 months ago
I agree with you entirely, the tap is far too early, and therefore doesnt generate any speed. I actually prefer the tap in a giant to be underneath the bar or slightly later, so the gymnast can generate enough momentum to push their feet over the bar.
x20xRachx06x 1 year ago
@x20xRachx06x agree
saltocafe 1 year ago
@x20xRachx06x do not agree
scissors0001 1 year ago
Was it just this one girl or were most of them using it?
amaihito 1 year ago
@amaihito They pretty much all do it and I would love to hear why.
saltocafe 1 year ago
Second !
KrisAkro 1 year ago
first!
abareemo82 1 year ago