Event
Uneven Bars
Skill type
Same-bar release
Known as
Ray
Toe-on Tkatchev
Toe Tkatchev
Ray II
Named for
Elise Ray (USA)
About
It’s an odd quirk of the code of points that no one got the toe-on Tkatchev named until Elise Ray as the skill had obviously existed for years before her. In fact, you will occasionally hear old-timers refer to the Ray as a Hindorff (which is the name of the clear-hip version) because pre-Elise, Hindorff was sometimes used as a catch-all to refer to both skills, much the way we use Shaposhnikova (or Tkatchev for that matter) to refer to several skills of different styles that exist in the same family. Now, for the sake of clarity, Hindorff should really only be used to refer to the clear-hip version because we can call this one a Ray.
For name clarification, refer to: Shaposhatchev Dictionary
The popularity of the Ray has fallen since it was downgraded from an E to a D, with most gymnasts electing instead to go for any of the smorgasbord of other Tkatchev variations that remain valued at E for a chance at that 0.2 CV.
This is the second of three uneven bars skills named after Elise Ray, with the stalder shoot being the Ray I and the layout double double dismount being the Ray III. While she performed both the Ray I and Ray II at 1999 worlds, she saved the Ray II for event finals, so that’s why the Stalder shoot comes first.
Value
D (2013—)
E (2006–2012)