Gymnastic Bars

Gymnastic bars whether for female gymnastics or male gymnastics can be a difficult event. Although some gymnasts describe it as “exhilarating” and say “it feels like flying”. In male gymnastics, the bar is one single bar that the gymnast swings, flips, and turns upon to both entertain and gain a high score. This bar is called the high bar. Although in female gymnastics, there are two bars at two different heights that are set apart from each other. These are called the uneven bars. The gymnasts not only can flip, turn, and swing on the bars; they can also transition between the two bars. This adds difficulty as well as an entertaining transfer opportunity for gymnasts to show what they can do.

While doing the bars in a competition level, the gymnast can do a variety of stunts. Some of these include glide swings, reverse swings, hip circles, mill circles, casts, switches, and underswings. As gymnasts’ skill levels increase, the stunts they can do increase. These can include handstands, layouts, pirouettes, scoops, giants, and straddles. At the end of each bar routine, the gymnast must be able to dismount the bar(s) in a unique fashion while landing on the mat correctly. If the gymnast steps or shifts during the landing process, points are deducted. This can cost gymnasts greatly, especially if their routine was not exactly on par.

Whenever training or exercising on the bars, it is important to be spotted and to watch technique as much as possible. When gymnasts are first learning, an at home mini bar may come in handy to assist the gymnast in practicing handstands, pirouettes, and shifts. Practicing scoops can assist the gymnast in many different ways. The motion developed in using scoops can help the gymnast over the bar in a swing, help them when gaining momentum for giants, flips, and handstands, and can also assist in the dismount process.

The arch or the back should always be monitored while completing bar exercises. If there is not enough or too much arch, serious injury can occur as well as point deduction on a competition level. It is important to remember to use grips and chalk when completing any training or exercising on the bars. This will minimize your risk of injury as well as assisting in your ability to turn on the bars.

The bars themselves consist of a sturdy but flexible bar material. It is sturdy enough to hold the gymnast’s weight but is flexible enough to let the gymnast move freely and have bounce under his/her stunts. The regulation uneven bar measurements consist of a 166 centimeter+ low bar height, 246 centimeters+ high bar height, and a spread no less than 130 centimeters and no more than 180 centimeters.

The bars usually consist of a steel material that has been altered either by alloys or with a soft covering. This will make the bar bow in the center creating a “bouncy” effect that assists the gymnast in their turning and release. The high bar is usually 280 centimeters+ in height in a men’s competition. The bars’ length can vary but is usually between 5 and 6 feet long.

When using the bars, it is very important to release at the right time. If the gymnast releases too early or too late, they can hit the bar, swing out of the mat coverage area, or fall from a great distance up. This can result is serious injury such as broken bones, torn muscles, and ligament injuries. Not only can these injuries be painful but they can take a lot of time to heal which can affect the gymnast’s skills in the long run. Never use the bars without a spotter or coach present. Always remember to have a mat underneath you for your dismount or in case of a fall. Bar safety is important because of the high risk of injury.