Vertical Finger Twirls

To do vertical finger twirls you must be able to do a simple finger twirl by holding the baton at the center. Then, you move the baton over your first finger so it is between your first finger and your middle finger. Then, you move your baton over your middle finger so it is between your middle finger and your next finger, and then you just send it back.

Doing vertical finger twirls is quite easy if you already know how to to the finger twirls. First, you move the baton through your first two fingers, and while doing that you should be in an almost lunge facing to your right, with the baton next to your right side, and you left hand should be straight in front of you, to the right. Then, you move to the front and move the baton back to your first finger. You then move the baton to your last two fingers while moving toward your left side and doing pretty much the same thing as you did on your right side. Then, you make the baton do a C shape and bring it to the front again and move your baton back to your first finger.

This trick is really pretty if it is done fast, but it should be done slow at first so you can perfect it.




photo by melanieeex06

Layout

Doing a layout is really fun once you get the hang of it. To do this move you have to know how to do a double snake roll. First, you hold the baton off-center in your right hand. Then, you let the baton roll over your hand but, not all the way. You then bring your arm in so the baton will go over your elbow (like doing the second part of a double snake roll). Then, when the baton is about to go over your elbow all the way and it is at a slant, you bring your arm up and out to your side (like you are presenting something). Make sure your arm goes on the outside of the baton and not the inside. Then, the baton will slide down into your hand that is facing up so you can catch it.



Photo by Twirl Planet

Waist/Ankle Roll

To do a waist or ankle roll you need to know how to do a lasso neck roll to be able to understand exactly how to do a waist or ankle roll.

For a waist roll you start holding the baton in your right hand at the very end (it is easier to hold the baton at the smaller end). Then, you would want to do a lasso before you start the waist roll to get momentum going. After you do your lasso, you would then swing your right arm with the baton to your left side and let go as soon as your baton hits your left side so the baton will go around the back of your waist. Once your baton goes around your waist, you catch it in your right hand. It helps in this move if you move your hips with the baton.

For an ankle roll you do almost the same as you would do for a waist roll. Instead of rolling the baton around your ankles you roll the baton around the back of your knee. First, you do a lasso into the move. Then, you bend down as far as you can to reach the back of your knee and make sure they are touching each other side by side. You then let your right hand ,with the baton, swing it to the left side of both your knees and let go quickly. Once the baton goes around you catch it with your right hand.

Both of these moves have to be done fairly quick or you probably won't catch the baton, and make sure you catch the baton with your right hand.



photo by obta

Fish Tails

To do fish tails, you start by holding the baton off-center. Then, you let the baton go over your hand like a back-hand toss, but without tossing it. While you do that you scoop your hand in to your left while the baton goes over your hand. You don't want the baton to go over your hand so you make your hand go the other way, to your right. Then, you just keep moving the baton over your hand left and right, this move (if done right) looks like a fish. This move also should be done fast with quick movements.



photo by melanieeex06

Suicide

A suicide is a baton trick that looks like someone is almost bowing under a high thumb toss. It is sometimes difficult to do because you have to take your eyes off the baton during the move.

To do a suicide you first have to be able to do the body work and be able to do it in four counts. For the body work you put your right foot pointing straight and your left foot pointing a little towards the left. Once you do that, you use your hands and slice through the air, putting your arms out like an airplane, while bending down like you are sneaking up on a chair to sit in it. Make sure your right leg doesn't bend when you go down, but your left leg should. Also, make sure your arms go flat when you put them out. The only other thing you have to do for a suicide is a thumb toss that is at least four counts high and is straight up. It might take some practice to get the toss and body work, but you should practice them separately before you put them together. This move is really fun to do and amazing to watch once you get the move right.




photo by melanieeex06

FSU Fire Baton Twirler

This person is amazing. I could never twirl like that even with regular batons yet, but I am happy that I will get to start twirling fire soon and I hope to be as good as this person. I just found this video on youtube and thought the person was awesome so I decided to share it. I also, have never seen someone that could twirl like that with fire. =)

Three Elbow Roll

To do a three elbow roll you need to know how to do a double elbow roll first. Before you start, you need to know the feet work. For the feet work you act like you are standing on a clock with your feet together at the 6. Then, you move your right foot to the 9 and then you move your left foot to the 12. After that, you move your right foot to the 3 then quickly bring your left foot back to your right foot.

Now it is time to learn the baton work. You do the move like you are doing a double elbow roll at first. You move your right foot to the 9 when the baton goes over the first elbow. Then, you move you left foot to the 12 after it goes over the second elbow and you very quickly put both of you arms as far back as you can but make sure your arms are still flat. While doing that you move to the 3 and the baton should go over your first elbow again which is when you catch it.

This move has to be done QUICKLY but only go as fast as your baton and don't make your baton go faster than you.




photo by mgarren