How to Do a Pullover on Bars

Doing a pullover on bars is one of the most important beginner skills in gymnastics. As you first begin training, the pullover move is how you will mount the bar to prepare for other moves. In advanced gymnastics, more difficult mounts are used. Start by learning the walking pullover, then try the standing pullover.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Doing a Walking Pullover

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  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Grab the bar with your fingers facing away from you.
    Position your hands at shoulder-width and wrap your fingers around the bar, making sure your thumb is on the same side as all other fingers. This is a common mistake beginner gymnasts make that can lead to broken fingers.
  2. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    Instead of standing with your feet right under the bar, take a step back. Your feet should be lined up with each other and close together.[1]
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  3. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    If you're right handed, step forward with your left foot; if you're left handed, step forward with your right foot.
  4. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    Keep your leg perfectly straight and your toes pointed. The momentum from your leg will lift your body up and over the bar.[2]
  5. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    Your hands will still be gripping the bar, elbows bent, while your legs swing over the bar and your body rotates in a circle. Your body should be anchored to the bar right across your hips.
    • It helps to look for your legs on the other side of the bar as you rotate. Keep your head tucked in so you can see your legs coming down, and the rest of your body will follow.
    • Rotate your wrists as your body moves around the bar. This will enable you to finish upright.
  6. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    Raise your torso above the bar and finish with your body in a straight line: straight arms, straight chest and straight legs. Pause for a moment in an upright position before dropping to the floor.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Doing a Standing Pullover

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  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Grab the bar with your fingers facing away from you.
    Position your hands at shoulder-width and wrap your fingers around the bar, making sure your thumb is on the same side as all other fingers. Your elbows should be comfortable relaxed.
  2. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    Instead of starting from a step back, stand right under the bar. Your feet should be lined up with each other and close together. Starting from this position is more difficult than starting from a step away, since all of your momentum must come from moving your legs forcefully out of a standing position.[3]
  3. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    Keep your legs perfectly straight and your toes pointed and swing them powerfully under the bar. The momentum from your legs will lift your body up and over the bar.[4]
  4. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    Your hands will still be gripping the bar, elbows bent, while your legs swing over the bar and your body rotates in a circle. Your body should be anchored to the bar right across your hips.[5]
    • It helps to look for your legs on the other side of the bar as you rotate. Keep your head tucked in so you can see your legs coming down, and the rest of your body will follow.
    • Rotate your wrists as your body moves around the bar. This will enable you to finish upright.
  5. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Do a Pullover on Bars
    Raise your torso above the bar and finish with your body in a straight line: straight arms, straight chest and straight legs. Pause for a moment in an upright position before dropping to the floor.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I've been practicing my pullover with my spotter, but I can't do it all by myself. What do I do?
    How.com.vn English: Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Work on your abdominal strength and your arm strength. I had this same problem and you just need to keep trying and do strengthening exercises like sit-ups, V snaps (or jackknives), and push ups. Also, if you have a bar which you can use at home or at a park nearby, then try to practice on that every day if you can.
  • Question
    How do you get your feet up while doing a sanding pullover?
    How.com.vn English: Puppies1228
    Puppies1228
    Community Answer
    Keep your elbows bent, and watch your toes as you kick over the bar.
  • Question
    I did it before, but then I couldn't do it. What happened?
    How.com.vn English: Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Like in basketball, when you shoot a ball, sometimes it goes in and sometimes it doesn't. That's what happened. Keep practicing and soon enough you will be able to do it almost every time.
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      Tips

      • Don't drop your chin from the bar because if you do you can't get your legs up.
      • Don't throw your head backwards. It will make your hips fall off the bar, and you cannot do a pullover.
      • Try to keep your legs straight while pushing them over the bar if not get a friend to hold them or put something between them.
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      Warnings

      • Have a coach spot you until you get the hang of it by yourself.
      • Do not use MONKEY bars! Gymnastics bars have rubber inside them to protect you, monkey bars do not and you could get injured.
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      Things You'll Need

      • A bar
      • Strong abs
      • Strong arms

      About This Article

      How.com.vn is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 42 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 130,780 times.
      163 votes - 77%
      Co-authors: 42
      Updated: February 8, 2023
      Views: 130,780
      Categories: Gymnastics
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 130,780 times.

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