Let’s take a look at some of the most common bar transitions. Level 9 and 10 level bar routines will generally include multiple transitions from low bar to high bar and back from high bar to low bar.  You will sometimes see the flight versions of these moves at level 8 but it is rare.

There are many additional options and you will see a much larger variety of skills at the Elite level, but at level 9 and 10 there is a core set of bar transitions used by the vast majority of gymnasts.  Feel free to leave any unique or less commonly used examples in the comment section below.

Low Bar to High Bar Transitions

Squat or Stoop On Jump to High Bar

This is the most common way to reach the high bar and is seen in almost all routines level 4 and above.

At level 10, the gymnast is only allowed to complete one of these.  Additional basic jump to high bar moves will result in deductions (see Uneven Bar Compositional Deductions).

Toe Shoot and Variations

The toe shoot is the most common variant, but this skill can also be done as a counter forward movement to high bar from a clear hip or stalder (Ray) or inside skill as well.

Schaposchnikova and Variants

You will often see this spelled Shaposhnikova as it is in the video below.  In the official code of points it is spelled Schaposchnikova so that is what I went with.

In this bars transition, the gymnast performs a circling element, releasing the low bar on the way up and flying to the high bar.  There are many variants of this skill.  It can be completed from clear hip, toe on, stalder and inside skills and can also contain a half or full twist during the flight stage.  Here is a video outlining the variations on this bars transition skill group.

High Bar to Low Bar Transitions

Straddle Back

The gymnasts swings on the high bar facing out and then releases the bar on the back swing to fly in a straddle position over the low bar and grasping the low bar on the way back down.  When landed in handstand as seen below, the value of the skill increases from a C to a D.

Bail/Overshoot

This is probably the most common high bar to low bar transition seen in JO gymnastics.  The gymnast swings down and releases the high bar does a half twist over the the low bar and grasping the low bar.  This skill also increases from a C to a D if you can land in handstand and also has a B version if the gymnast does not start or end in handstand.  This easiest version is fairly easy for all gymnasts to learn and could be why you see so many of them.

Pak Salto

This is not seen quite as often as the Bail/Overshoot but is still quite popular, especially with those gymnasts on the potential elite track as this is an almost ubiquitous move in elite level bar routines.

Uneven Bar Transitions – Values

2.205 – Straddle Back from counter swing  – Land on low bar NOT in handstand – B
2.305 – Straddle Back from counter swing- Land in Handstand on Low Bar – C
5.303 – Straddle Back from handstand –  Land on low bar NOT in handstand – C
5.403 – Straddle Back from handstand – Land in Handstand on Low Bar – D

3.301 – Clear Hip w/ counter movement to high bar – C
6.305 – Stalder w/ counter movement to high bar – C
7.310 – Toe on w/ counter movement to high bar – C
7.313 – Clear Pike Circle w/ counter movement to high bar – C

3.401 – Clear Hip facing out with flight to high bar (Schaposchnikova) – D
6.405 – Stalder facing out with flight to high bar  (Chow) – D
7.410 – Toe on facing out with flight to high bar (Maloney) – D

4.204 – Overshoot/Bail – start from less than handstand to land in less than handstand – B (will receive C if immediately follow D/E Release Move)
4.304 – Overshoot/Bail – Start in handstand to land in less than handstand – C
4.404 – Overshoot/Bail – Start in handstand to land in handstand – D

4.406 – Pak Salto – D

photo credit: Erin Costa TWU Gymnastics [Bars] Brittany Johnson via photopin (license)