Event
Vault

Known as
Handspring pike 1/2
Piked Cuervo (1/2 turn to back pike)

About
The handspring pike 1/2 was a favored vault in elite gymnastics in the early 2000s, but like all handspring vaults, it has found its subscribers dwindling in the years since. At least, its international subscribers. The handspring pike 1/2 is experiencing a deep renaissance in NCAA gymnastics in because of its juicy, juicy 10.0 start value. It has become the 2nd-most-popular 10.0 start behind the Yurchenko 1.5.

This also illustrates the deeply arbitrary nature of vault difficulty valuation. In NCAA, the handspring pike 1/2 has a 10.0 start while the Yurchenko layout full has a 9.95 start. Meanwhile in elite, the handspring pike 1/2 is worth two tenths less than the Yurchenko full as of the 2022 update. Which is right? Who can say. Oh, right. Me can say. The NCAA one is correct.

Like its tucked sister, the front pike with 1/2 turn and 1/2 turn into back pike are considered the same vault in the elite code, and you will also hear the latter referred to as a piked Cuervo.

Value
4.00 (2022-)
4.60 (2017-2021)
5.00 (2006–2016)