Tosses and Turns

Twirling Fun for Everyone

Tosses and Turns

Aerial Thumb Toss

Hold your baton straight out in front of you. Make sure you are not at an angle. Hold the baton loosely so your wrist can be flexible, meaning you should not grip the baton. Your palm should not make contact.

Next make a clockwise turn about 3/4 of the way around.

As shown in the illustration, you can see the point where the clockwise turn ends, the green arrow. Your baton is in a straight verticle position. Next, in blue, is where it rolls slightly off your thumb. White arrow is the point where it is released in the air.

Flat Twirls

Move your baton in a flat circular motion in the direction of the arrows. If you are doing this correctly, watch the baton as it circles toward you. The ball as it comes around will circle OVER your arm. See above illustration.

And the tip of your baton as it comes around toward you will go UNDER your arm, as illustrated above. Make your circular turns as close to your arm as possible so they are flat. A mirror will help.

The Flat Toss

Next practice your flat twirls, and this time on the count of 4, bring your arm straight up directly in front of you and release the baton in the air.

Turns

This is just the way I do it, the only method I know.

Start out with your feet spread slightly apart.

Now try one fast, tight spin using the ball of your foot. Keeping your arms close to your body will help you spin faster. Keep practicing. Then practice your spins with an aerial or flat toss.

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