1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Gymnastics

How to Do a Perfect Handstand

By Amy Van Deusen, About.com

6 of 7

Try it Without the Wall

When you feel ready, attempt your handstand without using the wall. You may want to have a spotter to help you balance. The spotter should hold your legs once you kick up.

In your first attempts, you might be a little nervous that you will kick too hard and go right over the top. A spotter should be able to prevent this from happening, but you will want to learn some good ways to come out of your handstand when you don’t have a spotter:

  • Roll out: Bend your arms, tuck your head under (chin to your chest), and do a forward roll out of your handstand.

  • Pirouette: Twist your shoulders and walk one hand around. Your body will make a quarter turn, and you will be able to step down without going over the top. Though this method seems more complicated, most gymnasts prefer it once they learn it.

6 of 7

Nick Laham / Getty Images

Beijing 2008: Live the Olympics

Dig into athlete profiles, lessons on how to play the sports, and image galleries of Olympians at play.

Explore Gymnastics

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Gymnastics

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.