How to teach circles and flairs: 34 drills, step by step

Name: Circles Flairs 1
Uploaded: 2026-02-06
Description: You teach circles by building a straight body with extended hips, a shoulder lean that moves against the legs and a steady rhythm on a mushroom or floor first. Flairs add straddled legs and more height. This series builds both for men's pommel horse. It is for coaches developing pommel horse basics.

You teach circles by building a straight body with extended hips, a shoulder lean that moves against the legs and a steady rhythm on a mushroom or floor first. Flairs add straddled legs and more height. This series builds both for men's pommel horse. It is for coaches developing pommel horse basics.

34 video steps · pommel-horse

Step 1 of 34, free: Circles Flairs 1

The phases

Support: hold straight arms and an active shoulder push in front and rear support.
Body line: keep the hips extended and the body straight through the circle.
Shoulder lean: shift the shoulders opposite to the legs to keep balance.
Rhythm and hand changes: place the hands on time to keep the circle smooth.
Flairs: straddle the legs and lift the hips higher while keeping the circle.

Before you start

The gymnast should have solid support strength, a hollow body, a good straddle range and some experience on a mushroom or floor trainer.

Common mistakes

Piking at the hips: the circle becomes small and slow.
No shoulder lean: the gymnast loses balance and stops.
Late hand placement: the rhythm breaks.
Bent arms: the support collapses and the circle drops.

Coaching cues

Hips open
Lean away from your feet
Straight arms, push tall
Keep the rhythm

All 34 steps

Frequently asked questions

Should circles be learned on the floor first?

Many coaches use the floor, a mushroom or a circle trainer first. Gymnasts can then learn body line, shoulder lean and rhythm before working on the pommel horse with pommels.

When should a gymnast learn flairs?

When circles are consistent with a straight body and good rhythm, and the gymnast has strong support and open hips in straddle. Flairs need more hip and shoulder control than circles.

What is a Circles & Flairs? Read the glossary entry