How to Learn a Roundoff Dismount on Beam
How to Do a
Round Off Dismount
A round off dismount takes the power and snap of a round off and combines it with the precision of beam. The goal is to reach the end of the beam with confidence, place your hands accurately, turn your body through the round off, snap your feet together and land facing the beam with control.
What Is a Round Off Dismount?
A round off dismount is a beam dismount where the gymnast performs a round off from the end of the beam and lands on the floor or landing mat with both feet together.
The skill begins similarly to a regular round off, but the beam creates a much smaller area for the approach and hand placement. You also need to judge where the end of the beam is so your feet clear the apparatus and your body finishes over the landing area.
A strong round off dismount should look confident from beginning to end. The gymnast reaches forward, places the hands securely, drives the legs overhead, turns the hips, snaps the feet together and lands upright without falling backward or taking unnecessary steps.
Before You Practice the Dismount
Make sure the regular round off is consistent before trying to perform it from a narrow raised surface.
Strong Floor Round Off
Your floor round off should have straight arms, fast leg action, feet together and a controlled rebound or landing.
Round Off on a Line
Practice keeping the entry, hands and feet close to one straight line so the skill does not travel sideways.
Comfort at Beam End
Practice lunging, reaching and placing your hands near the end of a floor beam before performing the entire dismount.
Controlled Landings
Practice landing from jumps with both feet together, knees soft and your chest lifted.
Learn beam dismounts with a qualified coach.
Use an appropriate landing mat and progress from a floor beam or low beam before performing the skill from a higher apparatus. Your coach can help make sure you have enough clearance from the end of the beam.
Round Off Dismount Step by Step
The goal is not to rush off the end of the beam. Each part should set up the next one.
Approach the End of the Beam With Control
Move toward the end of the beam using the approach your coach has taught you. Keep your body upright and know where the edge of the beam is before beginning the round off.
- Stay centered over the beam.
- Keep your eyes toward the end.
- Keep your steps controlled.
- Prepare your arms for the lunge.
- Avoid rushing the last step.
“Know where the end is before I start the skill.”
Reach Into a Long Lunge
Step into your lead leg and reach your arms forward and upward before your hands move toward the beam.
- Keep your lead foot centered.
- Reach forward through your shoulders.
- Keep your arms straight.
- Keep your back leg long behind you.
- Stay aligned with the beam.
“Reach forward before I go upside down.”
Place Your Hands Securely Near the End of the Beam
Place your hands in the position taught by your coach while keeping your elbows straight. The hands should guide your body through the turn and toward the landing side of the beam.
- Keep your arms strong and straight.
- Use your fingers for control.
- Keep the shoulders active.
- Place your hands deliberately.
- Continue driving your first leg overhead.
Your hands should help direct the skill out from the beam, not sideways beside it.
Drive Your Legs Up and Turn the Hips
Kick the first leg strongly overhead while the second leg pushes away from the beam. As the legs rise, begin turning your hips so the round off finishes with your body facing back toward the beam.
- Keep both knees straight.
- Point your toes.
- Drive the first leg aggressively.
- Push through your shoulders.
- Turn the hips as the legs pass overhead.
Your legs go up first, then your hips turn sharply to finish the round off.
Snap Your Legs Together
As your hips finish turning, bring both legs together quickly. The feet should move as one unit toward the landing mat.
- Squeeze your legs together.
- Keep both knees straight until the landing preparation.
- Push strongly away from your hands.
- Keep your core tight.
- Bring your feet underneath your center.
“Legs together fast, then find the floor.”
Land on Two Feet and Lift Into the Finish
Land with both feet on the mat and allow your knees and ankles to bend slightly. Keep your chest from collapsing forward and bring your arms into a controlled finish.
- Land with both feet at the same time.
- Keep your feet about a comfortable landing width.
- Bend your knees softly.
- Keep your chest lifted.
- Hold your finish before stepping away.
A good dismount finishes with control, not just with getting safely off the beam.
The Round Off Dismount Flow
The Landing Is Part of the Dismount
A powerful round off can still look messy if the landing is rushed. Train the finish just as carefully as the upside-down part.
Absorb the force without collapsing.
Let your ankles, knees and hips soften enough to absorb the landing while your upper body stays lifted and controlled.
Feet Together
Finish the round off with both feet arriving together rather than one foot reaching the floor early.
Soft Knees
Allow the knees to bend slightly instead of landing with completely locked legs.
Chest Up
Keep the upper body from folding toward the floor as your feet land.
Hold the Finish
Try to show control for a moment before taking a step or moving into your salute.
Round Off Dismount Progression
Develop the direction and landing on easier surfaces before performing the skill from a high beam.
Floor Round Off
Build a strong round off with straight arms, quick leg closure and a balanced two-foot finish.
Round Off on a Line
Practice keeping the entry and hand placement aligned with a straight line.
Floor Beam Dismount
Practice reaching off the end of a floor beam and landing on a mat.
Low Beam
Add height gradually with appropriate landing mats and coaching.
High Beam
Move to the high beam only after your direction, clearance and landing are consistent.
Common Round Off Dismount Problems
What happens during the landing can often tell you what went wrong earlier in the skill.
I land off to one side.
One hand may be reaching sideways or your hips may be turning before your legs have traveled overhead.
My round off feels short.
A short lunge or hand placement too close to your feet can reduce how far the skill travels from the beam.
My legs do not come together.
Train the second leg to catch the first quickly as the hips finish the turn.
I land with my chest really low.
Bring your feet underneath you and then lift your chest instead of reaching toward the floor during landing.
I keep stepping backward after landing.
If your feet are too far in front of your body, your momentum may continue moving backward after touchdown.
I get nervous at the end of the beam.
Rebuild confidence with repeated hand placement and dismounts from a lower surface before moving higher again.
Round Off Dismount Drills
Use these drills to improve the parts of the dismount that need the most attention.
Round Off on a Line
Perform round offs along a straight floor line to improve entry direction and hand placement.
Lunge-to-Hand Placement Drill
Practice reaching from the beam into your hand position without completing the entire dismount.
Handstand Snap-Down
Practice pushing through the shoulders and bringing the feet together quickly underneath your body.
Round Off to Stick
Perform a round off on floor and freeze the landing for several seconds.
Low-Beam Dismount
Practice the entire skill from a lower beam onto a padded landing surface with your coach.
Landing Holds
Practice jumping from a safe height and holding your landing to improve control after the round off.
Round Off Dismount Checklist
Use this before practicing. Focus on only one or two corrections per turn rather than trying to think about everything at once.
Finish the Beam Routine With Control
A round off dismount should feel like a strong finish to the routine—not a rushed escape from the end of the beam.
Approach with control, reach into a long lunge, place your hands securely and drive your legs overhead. Let your hips complete the turn, snap your feet together and prepare for the mat before your feet make contact. Then absorb the landing and show a confident finish.