Straddle Jump (Balance Beam)

Shilese Jones – 2023 World Championship All-Around

Event
Balance beam

Skill type
Dance

Value
B
(upgraded from A to B in 2017)

Known as
Straddle jump
Side split
Straddle pike

About
The straddle jump is a major favorite on Team Series Bonus. A one-tenth series bonus is awarded for combinations of three elements on beam (minimum B+B+C), and the most popular series deployed to get this bonus is typically front aerial (D) + split jump (B) + straddle jump (B)—which also fulfills the composition requirement for connected dance.

The combination possibilities for B dance elements make the straddle jump a ubiquitous piece in beam composition despite having a value too low to want to count for difficulty.

Because gymnastics is a comedy, not a drama