Mastering Flairs on the Pommel Horse: Drills and Techniques
In men’s gymnastics, few skills look as smooth and powerful as flairs on the pommel horse. When done correctly, flairs create a wide, flowing circular motion that shows both control and strength.
Unlike basic circles, flairs require gymnasts to open their legs wide and rotate their hips while keeping their body light and balanced on the apparatus.
It might look effortless when professionals perform it, but mastering flairs actually takes a lot of practice, specific drills, and a good understanding of body movement.
In this guide, we’ll break down what flairs are in gymnastics, the drills that help build the technique on the pommel horse, and simple tips to keep your momentum and body form strong throughout each rotation.
What Are Flairs in Gymnastics?
Flairs in gymnastics are a variation of circles performed on the Pommel Horse where the gymnast swings their legs in a wide straddle while rotating around the apparatus.
The movement follows the same basic rules as a regular circle, meaning the gymnast must keep their body fully extended and maintain smooth, continuous rotation.
The skill begins in front support, and as the circle starts, the legs immediately open into a wide straddle—at least about 135° apart. As the body rotates, the leading leg rises through the quarter position, and when the gymnast reaches rear support, the legs switch positions.
The hips slightly counter-turn so the lowered leg can perform a strong “heel kick” through the three-quarter position, helping maintain momentum. The legs switch again as the circle continues, finishing back in front support with the legs still wide and horizontal, ready to flow into the next flare.
Essential Drills for Learning Flairs
Learning Flairs (gymnastics) takes time, and the best way to build the skill is through specific drills that develop strength, flexibility, and body control. These drills help gymnasts understand the movement pattern while gradually building the technique needed to perform smooth flairs on the Pommel Horse.
1. Circles on Horse
Practicing circles on the gymnastics Pommel Horse is one of the most important foundations before learning flairs. Even though flairs involve a wide straddle, the basic circle technique is still the same.
Gymnasts must focus on body position, smooth rhythm, correct hand placement, and strong pushes at the ¼ and ¾ parts of the circle. One key difference is that on the pommels, gymnasts need to grip the handles more firmly compared to circles on a mushroom.
The good thing is that the width of the pommels can usually be adjusted so the gymnast can find a comfortable position while practicing.
2. Split
A Split (exercise) is a simple but very important drill for gymnasts learning flairs. It helps improve hamstring and hip flexibility, allowing the legs to open wider during the movement.
The goal is to reach a full 180-degree position, where the legs are straight and parallel to the floor. Practicing splits regularly—about 5 to 10 minutes a day—can make flare movements much easier and safer.
Gymnasts usually train three variations: right split, left split, and middle split. Once they can comfortably reach the floor, they can try oversplits by placing their legs on slightly elevated surfaces like panel mats.
3. Upper Arm Support on Parallel Bars (Flair Imitation)
This drill is performed on the Parallel Bars while the gymnast stays in upper arm support. After adjusting the width of the bars, the gymnast practices circular leg swings that imitate the motion of flairs.
Sometimes a barrel or padded block is placed underneath to encourage the gymnast to lift their legs higher during the circle. This drill helps build shoulder strength, body support, and the feeling of wide circular movement.
4. Flairs with Bucket
In this drill, one leg is placed inside a bucket or support while the other leg stays free. The free leg moves in a circular motion to imitate the flare movement. After several repetitions, the gymnast switches legs so both sides get equal practice.
This drill helps athletes understand how each leg moves during flairs while also improving coordination and control of the straddle swing.
5. Half Flair on Mushroom
The Gymnastics Mushroom Trainer is a great training tool for pommel horse skills. In this drill, the gymnast starts from standing and jumps into a half flare on the mushroom.
As the movement begins, the gymnast should try to open their legs as wide as possible during the first quarter of the circle. The drill finishes with the gymnast landing in front support on the mushroom with the legs still open. This exercise focuses on lifting the top leg and learning how to push properly through one arm.
6. Flairs on Mushroom
Once the half-flair drill becomes easier, gymnasts can begin practicing full flare progressions on the Gymnastics Mushroom Trainer. They usually start with half circles, then move to three-quarter circles, one full circle, and eventually multiple continuous circles.
When practicing partial circles, gymnasts should try to stay on the mushroom at the end instead of letting their feet touch the ground. This helps them learn how to maintain balance, feel their support, and smoothly shift their body weight from one hand to the other.
Tips for Maintaining Momentum
When performing Flairs on the Pommel Horse, momentum is everything. If the movement loses speed, the circle becomes heavy and difficult to continue. Here are some simple tips to help maintain good momentum during flairs.
1. Drive the Movement from Your Hips
In flairs, the hips play a huge role in creating power. Instead of forcing the movement with your arms, think about swinging your legs from your hips in a big circular motion.
When the hips stay active and lifted, the legs can travel around more easily and the circle keeps flowing.
2. Push Strongly Through Your Shoulders
Your shoulders should stay tall and strong during the entire skill. Pressing through the shoulders helps keep your body lifted above the horse, giving your legs enough space to swing around freely. If the shoulders collapse, the hips will drop and the momentum quickly disappears.
3. Keep Your Legs Wide and Straight
A wide straddle makes flairs smoother and more stable. Try to keep your legs straight, toes pointed, and your straddle position consistent throughout the circle. Bigger leg circles usually mean better rhythm and stronger momentum.
4. Focus on Smooth Rhythm
Flairs should feel like a steady rhythm rather than a rushed movement. Think of the skill as one continuous circle instead of separate parts.
When your timing between the leg swing and hand support is smooth, maintaining momentum becomes much easier.
5. Use the Heel Kick for Extra Power
During the back part of the circle, the trailing leg performs a small “heel kick” that helps drive the motion forward. This kick adds a little extra energy to the circle and helps the gymnast transition smoothly into the next rotation.
Keep Your Circles Smooth!
Flairs are one of the most exciting skills on the pommel horse, but they take patience to master. The key is to focus on wide straddles, strong shoulder support, and hip-driven momentum.
With regular practice and attention to form, flairs can transform from a challenging skill into one of the most exciting highlights of a pommel horse routine.
If your child is passionate about movement, strength, and confidence, the gymnastics program at Rockstar Academy is a great place to start. As a leading Sports & Performing Arts Academy, Rockstar Academy provides structured training that helps young athletes build strong fundamentals, improve flexibility, and develop discipline in a fun and supportive environment.
Students also have the opportunity to track their progress through regular Gymnastics Testing, which helps them see their improvement and stay motivated as they advance to higher skill levels. Students can also train in a structured setting that prepares them for the demands of high-level gymnastics like Elite Championships and RockOlympics.
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Want to see if it’s the right fit? Experience it yourself! Rockstar Academy offers a free trial class, giving new students the chance to feel the training, meet the coaches, and get a real taste of the program before committing.
FAQ
How to do Flairs on a Pommel Horse?
Start from front support, swing your legs into a wide straddle, and rotate your body in smooth circles while pushing strongly through your shoulders and driving the motion from your hips.
What are Flairs on a horse?
Flairs are circular swings on the pommel horse where the gymnast rotates around the apparatus with legs wide apart in a straddle position.
